Dear Warren... Thank you for your reply and for the photo link!
I attended HTS from late '49 on through until its closing and the subsequent move across from the church...Our principal was Sister Claire, while Sister Juliana was her top "administrator", so to speak.... I loved the school and without the foundation provided there, I could not have risen as I did within the academic community. Still serving my own community, I always try to imitate the selflessness and kindness shown by my teachers. I must report, however, my brothers did not claim similar experiences of their days at HTS
as they possessed somewhat more rambunctious natures, whereas I of course posed as the perfect, docile, quiet and studious young girl...
(he he). Hmmm, no Lane mini-chests in those years, lucky you!
As for my childhood home, it sat directly across from the large white mansion you referenced in your post (ours on the property that now holds the Camelot structure). Actually, in 1958, my younger sister (then age 2) accidentally bumped into the hand brake on our shiny new white Ford station wagon. Before anyone else could be seated, the vehicle careened down our very steep, sharply curved driveway, miraculously slipped through a narrow passage between two massive curbside trees, flew across Prospect Avenue, and jumped the opposite curb. My sister and the car ended up embedded in those lovely lush shrubs, the sturdy hedge you remember. That event began a closer, more neighborly connection between my mom and the nice lady who owned the house and the afore-referenced black Packard. One further note for those who keep an interest in the Fort Lee film industry...That old white mansion setting was filmed often. My mom would call us all home to watch the comings and goings of the great vans and film crews as they spent days shooting film on the site of that beautiful old mansion. Does anyone else know anything more on that subject? If so, maybe a new thread could reap much delight and interest.
My parents purchased our home in early 1947-48, but our family did not occupy the old Blickweed mansion until after it had been updated with modern electrical wiring and other standard 1950's style conveniences, such as an electric second furnace that sat behind the still functioning gigantic original old coal furnace in the basement. The home's exterior was also renovated, yet retained the distinctive elements of its charming nineteenth century architecture. Moreover, great care was taken to preserve many extraordinary details and features in the elegance of its old world interior, which included on the two main floors several enormous wood-burning fireplaces that commanded lavish attention. Oh, please excuse my wanderings...
Warren, several months back, I posted a reply to Top Of The Hill as follows...
"Our home was [located] on the property that the Camelot behemoth now covers....Gone are our gardens and the gorgeous beech trees I climbed, fearlessly I might add. Perchance, did you ever come to join in the sledding down the hill by the white-pillared southern mansion on the corner of Central across from our property? When it snowed the servants from that home would monitor our safety all day long. Kids came from far and wide... Hmmm....quite the childhood I had there.... sometimes I miss it so much, but then I look at the posts and realize how very much is long gone, or so changed".... Hope these musings bring warm memories to those who might wonder about the children who lived on The Prospect of Old...