Brown School
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About Shawn Gearin - ModeratorShawn is a former NBPTMA resident from 1967-1996. He lived at 5 Walnut St in a gray Greek revival home. He was a Whittier Tech 1986 graduate and a Northern Essex Community college graduate where he wrote and photographed for both school's newspapers. Finishing his education at Hesser College and North Shore Community College, he received a BA in Business Management and a FAA Private Pilot Certification. An aviation, photography enthusiast and telecommunications project manager, he enjoys writing history, personal memoirs, and asking lots of questions on his hosted websites. Now a resident of North Carolina, he lives with his family in a 1930 farmhouse on a gentleman's farm surrounded by cattle from other nearby farms. YEAT!
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Brown school Teachers 1942 era:
First Grade Miss Duffy
Second Miss Doyle
Third Miss Doyle (sister)
Forth Miss Chase
Fifth
Brown school Teachers 1942 era:
First Grade Miss Duffy
Second Miss Doyle
Third Miss Doyle (sister)
Forth Miss Chase
Fifth Miss Twomey
Same 1942 era:
Eddie Donahue was the janitor at the Brown School… while he also attended to the Jackman School…
Native Joppyite , Wow ! 1942 era …thats quite a memory .
1975 era
Principle : Mr. Arnold
3rd Grd : Mrs. Mulvaney
4th Grd : Mrs. Connely
anyone remember Miss Kuse ???
I had Miss Kuse for 4th Grade and she was still there 26 years later when my daughter was in the 4th Grade.
Principal: Mr. Arnold
Secretary: Joanne Brislin
Nurse: Mrs. Leary
1974 – Kindergarten: Ms. Alexander??
1975 – 1st Grade: Mrs. Bell
1976 – 2nd Grade: Mrs. Sappienza
1977 – 3rd Grade: Mrs. Mulvany??
1978 – 4th Grade: Ms. Kuse
Ah, the Brown School. I believe that in the five years I attended classes there, we had at least half a dozen “tough” kids who had stayed back enough times to be old enough to hold a Mass. driver’s license… I remember my first intro to one such “ruffian” a certain Patrick C.. Not being overly impressed with his physical stature, ( I never made the “cigarettes stunt your growth” connection…) I eagerly accepted his invitation to meet him after school for a fight. Not being too familiar with the ways of street brawling, I got the crap kicked, punched,and wrestled out of me. In South End terminology, I got “cremated”. Just as Patrick had predicted earlier in the day. In the fourth and fifth grades, I was chased home on an almost daily basis by an other over aged class mate by the name of Jimmy G. from Hancock Street. I’m sure that at the time, this was just fun sport for Jimmy. For me it was terrifying. I devised a plan that I was positive would out-smart my tormentor. For several weeks, I sought out Mr. Herlihy(sp?), one of the school’s custodians. I would make the rounds of the class-rooms with him each afternoon after school to help him sweep. My part was to move the dozens of desks to one side of each class-room so he cold sweep the floor. By the time I got done I could peer out any number of windows to assure that the coast was indeed “clear”. For several weeks, my plan worked flawlessly and I was able to safely walk the block and a half to my house on Franklin St.. Little did I know, I was living in a “fools paradise”. Sure enough, I had become complacent, my guard was down. And my day of reckoning was soon upon me…Jimmy had figured out the subterfuge. One fateful afternoon , I confidently pushed open one of the two old doors that led from the half cellar first floor entrance/exit leading out to Milk St. I climbed the few steps “up” to the walkway, not bothering to look left or right. Had I done so, I would have seen the dark, over sized, and menacing figure lunging from behind one of the cement pillars. I heard the words a split second before I broke into a run, “Thought you could fool me, huh”?,( actually I had done exactly that for close to two months straight… ). I remember the passing scenery as a blur as I sprinted for all I was worth. Once around the corner of Milk St. and onto Franklin, I was home free. I made a bee-line for Carlton B’s yard near the corner of Franklin and Purchase. I hurriedly fumbled with the latch on the chain-link driveway gate, opened it and rushed in to “sanctuary”. The South End “protocol at the time, dictated that once one was with-in the bounds of a sympathetic friend’s yard, one could not be “jacked” with. Jimmy was bound by this “rule of engagement”. Tough guy or no tough guy, he was beaten, at least temporarily. Oh I received the usual treats and promises of continued mayhem once he got ahold of me. That was expected. Somehow I was able to evade Jimmy for the next several months and then for the next several years. We all went our separate ways and went on with our lives. Most of us went on to the next level, the “Jackman School”. That’s another public school nightmare for another time.
Gurney Arnold was principal in my day … and Mrs. Charlotte Brown, Mrs. Greenfield were teachers … who can forget when the fire horn sounded and we jumped from our seats … or when we collected the milk bottle tops with u.s. flags …
I remember Riverside Dairy issuing the “American Flags” series of paper bottle caps. First prize was a 1/2 gallon of ice cream. Runners up, or those who came up with a complete collection were entitled to free cones at Webster’s, ( the owners of Riverside Dairy). As I recall, Leo Quinn’s family on the corner of Franklin and Purchase Streets won the big prize. As for me, I got a cone, served up by the “Delightful” Ruth Webster.
I had Miss Lyons (sp?) for first grade at G.W. Brown in 1975-76. I think it was her first year. Her boyfriend bought the whole class popsicles once and she made the whole class promise not to tell the other kids. Not sure if that worked. Clearly, Miss Lyons had to be a rookie to let that happen.
Brown school was a tough little place when i was there. there was a physed teacher named mr coffee?? i think??? i remember him freaking out on one of the boys in class and pinning him by his shirt to the wall. feet dangle and all.
Principal: Mr. Arnold
Nurse: Mrs. Leary
1978 – 2nd Grade: Mrs. Sappienza
1979 – 3rd Grade: Ms Pickolet? (family farm in Rowley?)
1980 – 4th Grade: Mrs Nolan
Anybody remember the guy who used to come by the Brown School every year “Hawking” those cheap pad and pen sets? He used to hand out coupons to we students. They could combined with the nominal balance at the time of purchase at a table he had set up at Fowle’s. The sets consisted of a red vinyl pocket, a small attached writing pad, and four pens. The quality was questionable but we kids thought them to be kind of “Cool”. I used mine until the pens broke,( the next day…). And used the parts in combination with some modeling clay to add rocket nozzles to my toy cars.
A day or so ago, I was relaxing in my favorite easy-chair and enjoying a plate of cookies with a nice cold glass of milk. That got me thinking of the old days at the Brown School. The best part of the day there as I remember it was “Milk time”. You know, those little glass Riverside Dairy bottles with the red cellophane fastened with black paper tape on the rim. There were always the privileged kids who got to carry the big wooden cases with the wire grid bottle separators up to the hallway on the two main floors. From those old, worn cases, the bottles were sorted for each classroom into a smaller steel tote carrier and brought in to we waiting and thirsty students. The teacher would keep track of who had paid their fifteen cents that week and would make sure we received a wax coated paper straw. What a great treat this simple, tiny bottle of milk was. It can’t be compared to the watered down milk we get from a grocery store these days. It had a particular substance and flavor to it that I haven’t been able to find in the ensuing years. I also recall that we rarely removed the inner cardboard lid to drink it. There was a cleverly designed half moon shaped hatch of sorts, that one pryed up to reveal an equally clever yet “round” straw hole. Each of us seemed to have our own ritual at milk time. Whether it was shaking the contents, ( to get some milk foam going…), or in the way we methodically unwrapped the black paper tape. I do know how much I looked forward to that tiny bottle of cold milk every school day. I will not soon forget the “Bally-who” when one of the “milk boys” lost his footing while lugging one of those full cases up the many stairs… What a frightfully loud chorus of crashing and breaking milk bottles combined with our thrilled laughter in reaction. Of course, we were not so happy to be informed that some of us may have to forgo our much coveted ration of milk that day due to the loss of nearly the entire Case, some two dozen individual glass bottles, ( I think it was around that number…). One teacher though, had an idea… If we didn’t object to the concept, how would it be if we were to share the remaining milk by using paper cups and each of us getting at least half of each remaining bottle? We all pretty much agreed that this was indeed better than no milk at all, so we acquiesced. After writing about this remembrance, I have a craving for some of that “Milk time” beverage of yore. I am about to begin exploring the Internet in search of a local dairy that has whole milk in a glass bottle as an offering. Anyone out in “NEWBURYPORTLAND” got any suggestions? I only want to hear from “Real” Newburyporters, no “Carpetbaggers” please… . I was also reminded of 1st grade in Mrs. Higgins’s class-room right after Christmas break. The “New” year was 1962 and we students were invited to bring in one of our favorite toys we had received. Funny that I don’t remember what, if anything I brought in. I can only recall so many years later, some of the truly impressive toys that some of my class-mates brought in. “Mr’ Machine” seemed to have been the big favorite that year as up to a half dozen of them were seen moving about the old wooden floor. “Color forms” were also there in good number. I always wised I had had some of them. A class-mate was gracious enough to let me use hers for a little while that day and I was thrilled. I don’t remember what it was called, but there was at least one if not two, rather large and battery powered “Robot” toys. These were impressively operated by commands through some sort of ingenious micro-phone by the lucky owner. The toy would shoot, ( at great velocity,) a good sized metal ball from launchers on each of its two shoulders. These were the good old days when toy safety was not even a concept. Those were the few toys I can remember from that day, so long ago at the old Brown School. After about a half hour of chaos, the play-time was put to an end and we went about our usual 1st grade day. When the clock loudly “Clunked” at three o’clock, we rose from our small desks and lined up at the “Garage door” like black boards that doubled as closets, complete with coat hooks, to gather up our hats, mittens, coats and boots. We would then line up to be walked in an orderly fashion, down the sets of stars and landings to the front doors and on to our houses. These were simpler times and I truly believe we were better off for it. I didn’t save too many things from back then. But I have my old report cards, some drawings, and my 1st grade photo. What I wouldn’t give to go back and re-live that first year of public school at the Brown… I wouldn’t change a thing, especially the little bottle of milk after recess…
Does anyone know if Mrs Hicken of the brown schoolis still alive?I had her in the first grade.I am a native of Nbpt and lived in Joppa for all of my teenage yrs graduated from nhs.
mrs nolan,mrs hicken both have passed away a few years back
So sorry to hear of Mrs. Hicken passing. She was my first grade teacher and was a very good teacher and a real lady.
Gurney Arnold
Kindergarten: either Mrs. Blanchette or something that sounded like Windshield?
1st:
2nd: Mrs Sapienza
3rd: Mulvaney, who prompted me to skip school one morning because I hadn’t finished my math homework and I knew she’d yell at me
4th: Kuse!
Principals: Mr. Arnold, Mr. Jacobson
Kindergarten: Miss Jacobson (no relation to principal)
Wasn't there for 1st grade
2nd Grade: Mrs. Carl (Lingerman)
3rd Grade: Miss Moore
4th Grade: Mrs. Erekson
Mr. Arnold just passed away at the age of 88. He was a wonderful guy and will be missed by many.
I had Miss Jacobson (kindergarten) in 1984- what a witch. Everyone was lined up to go somewhere else maybe to an assembly? Everyone had stuffed animals and dolls they were taking with them, so I went back to get my stuffed animal, only to be yelled at- I mean YELLED at- for getting out of line and for foolishly thinking I could also bring a stuffed animal. Zillions of instances- one girl playing the piano, but God forbid I touch even a key- instantly came over and physically moved me from the piano. At the same time the other girl was pounding on it. Apparently public humiliation, decimating a child’s self esteem and physically placing your hands on a KINDERGARTNER was the name of the teaching game then. Miss Jacobson- I hope you see this and realize you had zero business being a teacher and you should be ASHAMED. I have never forgotten the way you treated me and there’s a special place for people like you. If you’re dead, you’re already there. If not- you are directly responsible for much of my therapy costs. Rot.
Man, I ended up from Newburyport to Boston to Brooklyn to jersey shore then back and let me tell you Brown school and the south end kids were tough. We were a different kind but some of those people were whacked.
I threw rocks through the second floor windows from the playground after school hours and didn’t think twice about it. BUT NOT A SEABROOKAH! Lol. The teachers room I did it to was awesome to me. Fights all the time at the playground. That was the spot well into 8th grade.
Teenager Mutant Ninja turtles, X-Men, and Power Rangers was the big things. Nirvana, Aerosmith, greenday was the music we listened too. I lived on orange street sands would walk to school there everyday. And everyday I was late. Special place to grow up and it was great.
1990-1994
1st grade: Mrs. Horse??
2nd: Mrs. Sorensen????
3rd: Ms. Kent
4th: Mr: Bowzer!