Part 9 – Bridgeville High School, 1946-1947

The Bridgeville Area Historical Society series of “Second Tuesday” workshops continued in February with a focus on the graduating classes of 1946 and 1947. The facilitator began with an overview of the social and cultural environment of the time. The War had finally ended and its survivors were euphorically looking forward to a future of peace and prosperity. The high school students were eagerly awaiting the return of their relatives and neighbors from Europe and the Pacific.

Newspaper clippings continued to be reminders of the difficult times that had just been completed. Marine Sergeant Dean Lesnett was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds he had suffered at Leyte and Okinawa. Radio Operator John Moutz was killed in a crash while aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress in Panama.

High School Principal William Liggett had returned after four years in the Quartermaster Corps. Colonel Eddie Croft’s Junior Commandos were still going strong, with no indication of when they would receive their Honorable Discharges and return to civilian life.

The 1945 high school football season was a “mixed bag”, four wins and a tie in a nine-game schedule. Fortunately the final win was a seven to zero victory over South Fayette with “Nimmie” Kreiger scoring the only touchdown.

The basketball team also had a lackluster season despite the presence of three of my neighbors – Bill Hopper, Bob “Slugger” Bailey, and Bob “Rum” Rothermund.

Science teacher Mrs. Roth O. Montague organized a Science Club that was affiliated with a group sponsored by one of the daily papers. It reported that she had recruited 209 students, a record for Allegheny County. Perhaps Eddie Croft was her mentor.

Historical Society Founder and President Mary Weise was a prominent member of the ’46 class, especially in things associated with music, drama, and journalism. Almo Pruner was their President; Louis “Skip” Colussy, Vice President. This class recorded its legacy in a very respectable paper-back Yearbook, the “Bridge”.

Virginia Kuten was May Queen, with Dorothy “Dot” Degrosky as Maid of Honor. The group of boys waltzing to the strains of “Blue Danube” included such Lotharios as Frank “Cutter” Cortazzo, Richard “Dit” Corey” and Carlton “Curly” McKee, among others.

Both Charles and Sheila Banks were members of the Class of 1947. They were neighbors of ours, as was their sister Kathleen, whose memory is honored by the name of the building that houses the Bridgeville Area Historical Society, the very building in which this workshop was conducted.

The 1946 football season began with a 19 to 6 loss to Carnegie, with Curtis Copeland scoring our only touchdown and ended with the locals being shutout 6 to 0. Worse was the fact that the other seven games were all losses.

In retrospect it is hard to believe that a team containing two of the best athletes in the history of the high school – George Maioli and Leonard Villani – plus numerous underclassmen who, one year later, began a twenty five game win streak, would compile BHS’ worst record ever.

Fortunately, “help was on the way”. A newspaper clipping in January reported the hiring of Bob Hast to take over the head coaching jobs in football and basketball. An alumnus of Bethel High School, Hast had completed an outstanding football career at Duquesne University and Columbia University sandwiched around service in the Navy during World War II.

Coach Hast was signed immediately after playing in the Blue-Gray All-Star game in Montgomery, Alabama. He proudly wore his Blue-Gray jacket for most of his days in Bridgeville. I believe his service in the war included participation in the D-Day invasion.

In addition to newspaper clippings and Yearbooks, the history of Bridgeville High School in those days was recorded in their monthly periodical, “The Bridger”. Items in it report occasional serious problems as well as the positive accomplishments of the students.

Bridgeville businessmen had donated $1200 for the purchase of fifty band uniforms; sixteen of them had disappeared already! Who are these miscreants who want to emulate Philip Morris’ Johnny? In addition, a baritone horn is missing. Band Director Mr. Menham is wringing his hands in dismay.

And then, there is the “Disgrace of the Library”! The round reference tables have been defaced by “certain students’ selfish desire to have their initials in the school”.

The 1947 basketball season was a reversal of the preceding disastrous football season. In addition to Maioli and Villani, this team included Bill Hopper, the Batch twins, and Richard Deep. They ended the season tied with Snowden for the Section championship, then lost a heart-breaking playoff game 24 to 22.

The 1947 Yearbook was the first to be named “The Lincoln Log”. An excellent source of information about life at Bridgeville High seventy-one years ago, it begins on a sobering note with a listing of the fifteen BHS graduates who lost their lives during World War II.

Dr. Colton and Mr. Liggett were firmly in control of things in those days, aided and abetted by a staff of faculty ranging from the sublime (Mrs. Trula Holman) to the ridiculous (name deleted to prevent litigation). In between were Gloria Lutz, Jane Patton, “Pop” Ferree, Frances Krenz, and a handful of others we remember fondly.

Ed Woodall was Class President in 1947; George Maioli, Vice President. George’s recent passing reminded all of us of his lifelong commitment to service to his community. We knew a lot of the kids in this class, including Tom Paholsky, Chuck Robertson, Bud Struth, and Bob Volle. Incidentally Bob receives this column by email, so a special “Hello” to him!

Being a connoisseur of May Queens and their courts, the facilitator suggested that this may have been BHS’ best ever. Queen Dolores DeBlander, Maid of Honor Betty Jean Miele, and attendants Jane Connor, Mary Louise Ollett, and Velma Viale, just to name a few! I doubt that another class can match them.

Our class were sophomores that year and it is quite nostalgic to skim through the old “Bridgers” and see the silly, gossipy comments about us. It is difficult to believe anyone could have been that naïve.

Our next workshop is scheduled for 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 13, at the History Center. We are tempted to skip over the Class of 1948 and spend most of our time on the ‘49ers, but I doubt that we are that courageous. Let’s assume the evening will be equally divided between both.