Lakewood Lore

Memories bubble up from fountain photo on new wall

“I’ll meet you at the fountain” was once among the most-often-heard parting words in the halls of Lakewood High School.

The long-gone War Memorial Fountain just inside the main entrance of the school was a favorite meeting place for between-class commingling and conviviality during 36 years.

Next week a new focal point will be unveiled on the first floor nearby. It will be called the War Memorial Wall and comprise bronze plaques bearing the names of those 190 Lakewood High alumni who lost their lives in two World Wars and the Korea an Vietnam conflicts.

Also featured on the wall will be a 4-by-6-foot picture of the historic fountain as it looked when installed in 1922, when Claude P. Briggs was principal and John C. Mitchell, assistant principal.

“It may be that the new veterans wall will replace the fountain as a gathering spot for students, bringing back a tradition that ended in 1958 when the fountain was dismantled and removed to accommodate extensive reconstruction and expansion of the school,” reported Anthony J. (Tony) DeBiasio, alumni director who is spearheading the wall project.

“No, the fountain itself is not coming back. It would cost too much. But the visual blowup should please the hundreds of alumni who return for class reunions each year remembering fondly the old landmark,” he added.

Above the early fountain, an original 1922 plaque, citing only World War I servicemen, read, “In memory of the boys of the school who gave their services for freedom’s cause, and to the following who made the supreme sacrifice: Carl Frey, Abram Frye, Victor Fuchs, Stafford Hagar, Carleton Pullen, Franklin Thomas, Hazen Vaughn.”

In 1945, the Parent-Teachers Association and the Student Council added plaques for more than 100 killed in World War II. Nancy Fuers, now wife of business tycoon and Lakewood High Hall-of-Famer Harry Figgie, was then secretary of the Student Council and responsible for much of the work involved.

Next week additional plaques will honor 11 who perished in the Korean War and eight in Vietnam, according to DiBiasio.

“Incidentally, none of our grads died in the recent Persian Gulf War but 22 of them served in the battle operations there,” he pointed out.

The dedicatory program for the War Memorial Wall will take place in the Lakewood Civic Auditorium from 10:30-11 a.m.-- “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” as the time of the signing of the World War I armistice is historically remembered.

An audience of about 1700, including the school’s senior and junior classes, and relatives and friends of the deceased servicemen, will attend the dedication. The public is also invited.

DiBiasio and Principal Charlane Bowden will welcome the assembly. Others scheduled to participate from the podium are Jack Ruppert, Class of ‘45 and former president of the Lakewood Board of Education, and Gilbert Fritzshe, principal of Emerson Middle School.

In addition, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 387, will post colors and Lakewood High Choir, directed by John Drotleff, will perform.

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post November 7, 1991. Reprinted with permission.

More Lakewood Lore