Camden Courier-Post, April 7, 1950View transcription
Camden's Own 'Miss Chips'
Mentor to City's 'First Names' Thrills at Recounting Work
Former Pupils to Join in Fete for Lucy Dean Wilson
Lucy Dean Wilson says that if she had stayed in Camden High school any longer than her 37 years, she would have earned the right to be called "Miss Chips." And it's a sure thing that the thousands of pupils she taught during that span of time would heartily corroborate her opinion. Several hundreds of them are going to pay tribute to the veteran teacher—now retired—with a testimonial dinner at the Walt Whitman hotel on April 22. And the chief speakers will be two of her most distinguished pupils—State Supreme Court Justice Albert E. Burling and Congressman Wolverton.
"As I walk along Camden streets and see the dozens and dozens of names of people that I taught, it never fails to give me a thrill," said the blue-eyed 75-year-old "Miss Chips." "It seems as though I taught all the doctors and lawyers in town."
Started Teaching in '96
Miss Wilson started teaching music and dramatics at the school in September, 1896. It then was located in the old "Post-Telegram" building on Federal street, between Front and Second streets. "How well I remember the little wooden ferry house and the greasy approach to Federal street," said Miss Wilson, interviewed in her home at 408 Fourth avenue, Haddon Heights. "In those days, the school rooms were heated by big stoves," she said. "And we could hear the presses rolling when the newspaper went into an edition."
Horatio Draper was principal then, she said, adding that from the very beginning she taught the music public-speaking and dramatic classes. Logically enough, it was in the latter that Miss Wilson found the greatest drama—usually unintentional, of course.
Recalls Near-Tragedy
It was in 1936 that she experienced a near-tragedy while rehearsing a Christmas pantomime, which required not only a Santa Claus, enacted by a pupil named Ambrose Evens, but also a number of younger children taking roles as gnomes and fairies. "Late one afternoon, we were practising," said Miss Wilson. "Suddenly, I heard the voice of some of the little boys calling. But to save my life, I couldn't see where they were." At that, young Evens told Miss Wilson he knew where the voices were coming from. It turned out that there was a considerable space between the ceiling and the roof, and Ambrose climbed up there to find out what the boys were doing.
Rafter Hopping
Actually, they were hopping from rafter to rafter, with nothing between them and the floor but a thin layer of plaster and lathe. As Miss Wilson stood holding her breath, she saw the Evens boy fall through, his legs kicking wildly. "Somehow, he had the presence of mind to throw his arms around the rafter," said the teacher. "And then, by a terrific effort, he managed to pull himself up over the beam." But for months after that, Miss Wilson sighed, every time she glanced up at the ceiling, she saw those helpless, kicking legs.
A happier incident occurred during the performance of a play called "The Elixir of Life," which involved a scene showing the transition of a grandmother into an infant. That feat was arranged by having several actresses—starting with the grandmother—enter the stage, take a swig of the "elixir" and then return unmistakably 20 years younger.
My Grandmother
The climax, of course, was the appearance of a baby, enacted by Dorothea Pratt, herself a teacher now. Young Miss Pratt was carried onto the stage by her uncle, the late Thomas Pratt, who held her out to the audience, shouting: "This is my grandmother!"
"I think I was born to be a teacher, and I loved it," said Miss Wilson. But much as she loved her profession, she says she enjoys her retirement more. "I always liked an extended vacation, and the more extended it was, the better I liked it," she chuckled. "Retirement is my idea of the way a vacation ought to be extended."
Miss Wilson was born and reared in Philadelphia, and for many years she daily crossed to Camden on the ferry. In 1928, she otok an apartment adjacent to the school, and has been living in New Jersey ever since. "I knew I was a Jerseyite at heart," she said. "I love New Jersey." Miss Wilson retired in 1933.
Mentor to City's 'First Names' Thrills at Recounting Work
Former Pupils to Join in Fete for Lucy Dean Wilson
Lucy Dean Wilson says that if she had stayed in Camden High school any longer than her 37 years, she would have earned the right to be called "Miss Chips." And it's a sure thing that the thousands of pupils she taught during that span of time would heartily corroborate her opinion. Several hundreds of them are going to pay tribute to the veteran teacher—now retired—with a testimonial dinner at the Walt Whitman hotel on April 22. And the chief speakers will be two of her most distinguished pupils—State Supreme Court Justice Albert E. Burling and Congressman Wolverton.
"As I walk along Camden streets and see the dozens and dozens of names of people that I taught, it never fails to give me a thrill," said the blue-eyed 75-year-old "Miss Chips." "It seems as though I taught all the doctors and lawyers in town."
Started Teaching in '96
Miss Wilson started teaching music and dramatics at the school in September, 1896. It then was located in the old "Post-Telegram" building on Federal street, between Front and Second streets. "How well I remember the little wooden ferry house and the greasy approach to Federal street," said Miss Wilson, interviewed in her home at 408 Fourth avenue, Haddon Heights. "In those days, the school rooms were heated by big stoves," she said. "And we could hear the presses rolling when the newspaper went into an edition."
Horatio Draper was principal then, she said, adding that from the very beginning she taught the music public-speaking and dramatic classes. Logically enough, it was in the latter that Miss Wilson found the greatest drama—usually unintentional, of course.
Recalls Near-Tragedy
It was in 1936 that she experienced a near-tragedy while rehearsing a Christmas pantomime, which required not only a Santa Claus, enacted by a pupil named Ambrose Evens, but also a number of younger children taking roles as gnomes and fairies. "Late one afternoon, we were practising," said Miss Wilson. "Suddenly, I heard the voice of some of the little boys calling. But to save my life, I couldn't see where they were." At that, young Evens told Miss Wilson he knew where the voices were coming from. It turned out that there was a considerable space between the ceiling and the roof, and Ambrose climbed up there to find out what the boys were doing.
Rafter Hopping
Actually, they were hopping from rafter to rafter, with nothing between them and the floor but a thin layer of plaster and lathe. As Miss Wilson stood holding her breath, she saw the Evens boy fall through, his legs kicking wildly. "Somehow, he had the presence of mind to throw his arms around the rafter," said the teacher. "And then, by a terrific effort, he managed to pull himself up over the beam." But for months after that, Miss Wilson sighed, every time she glanced up at the ceiling, she saw those helpless, kicking legs.
A happier incident occurred during the performance of a play called "The Elixir of Life," which involved a scene showing the transition of a grandmother into an infant. That feat was arranged by having several actresses—starting with the grandmother—enter the stage, take a swig of the "elixir" and then return unmistakably 20 years younger.
My Grandmother
The climax, of course, was the appearance of a baby, enacted by Dorothea Pratt, herself a teacher now. Young Miss Pratt was carried onto the stage by her uncle, the late Thomas Pratt, who held her out to the audience, shouting: "This is my grandmother!"
"I think I was born to be a teacher, and I loved it," said Miss Wilson. But much as she loved her profession, she says she enjoys her retirement more. "I always liked an extended vacation, and the more extended it was, the better I liked it," she chuckled. "Retirement is my idea of the way a vacation ought to be extended."
Miss Wilson was born and reared in Philadelphia, and for many years she daily crossed to Camden on the ferry. In 1928, she otok an apartment adjacent to the school, and has been living in New Jersey ever since. "I knew I was a Jerseyite at heart," she said. "I love New Jersey." Miss Wilson retired in 1933.
