Photo 75-DLI-33

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Hartford School (Croton)

I went to elementary school here. Great school in a great community. I met one of the most influential people in my life here. RIP Ms Green.

This is the Hartford School on Delaware St. in Croton, Ohio. (Licking County) They were known as the Hartford Yellow Jackets. (orange and black) The school was k-12 until about 1959, then it was k-8 as part of the Northridge School District, but now it is no longer used as a school.

There old gymnasium on the lowest level was converted to the cafeteria in the later years. The "new" gymnasium was built on the west side of the building.

MY DAD ROYAL CLAYTON WAS JANITER FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND I HELPED HIM CLEAN THE BUILDING WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE HAD FUN PLAYING IN THAT SCHOOL. SOMETIMES IT WAS CREEPY,BUT WE STILL PLAYED IN EVERY ROOM OF THE SCHOOL. THEY HAD AN OLD COAL FURNACE YOU HAD TO PUT COAL IN ALL THE TIME. A LARGE DOOR TO ADD THE COAL AND IT WAS VERY HOT. THAT WAS IN THE BACK OF THE JANITORS ROOM. STAIRS TO THE TOP OF BUIDING ON THIRD FLOOR. AN OLD GYM ON FIRST FLOOR GOING DOWNSTAIRS ON BOTH SIDES. ALSO A STORAGE ROOM GOING UP A SMALL STAIRS TO IT. LED TO BACK TO 3RD FLOOR. THE DOOR BY THE GYM STAIRS. WE HAD MANY GOOD MEMORIES IN THAT SCHOOL. WE WERE JUST KIDS AND LOVED IT. MY DAD DONE ALL THE WORK, FIXING THINGS, CLEANING, PAINTING, AND TAKING CARE OF THE LAWN. NONE ELSE WAS HIRED TO DO IT. NOW THEY HAVE A PERSON FOR EVERY JOB. MY DAD DONE IT ALL AND WE WERE VERY PROUD OF HIM. SIGNED; JUST A KID WHERE HIS DAD WORKED HARD AT HARTFORD SCHOOL, CROTON,OHIO

FORGOT TO SAY WE ALSO HAD A FOOTBALL FIELD. HAD A GREAT TIME GOING TO THEM,SINCE WE LIVED RIGHT ACROSS THE FIELD. CORNER OF EVANS ST. AS I GOT OLDER MY KIDS WENT THERE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME WATCHING THEM PLAY ON THE PLAYGROWND. I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PLAYGROWND FOR A HARTFORD SCHOOL PARK.

hi, since the Hartford school was sold maybe we should have a park on the school grounds for croton community children to play and exersize. would be a great idea. that would help croton to grow again. hard to believe people let everything in croton die. we had everything back hen. games from the school, partys and places to eat and have ice cream and soda's.

I also lived in Croton and loved it our yard also was next to the football field. I played in school with the Clayton kids never thought it would end. Our old house is gone now and a doublewide there now and a bunch of trash said. No store no gas and no one I know anymore. I pray god to bless all there and the town. All my family is there in the graveyard.

still no park. what is wrong with people. nothing and getting worse. they put in sewer and not water. it is really high too. that is what happens when some of the townspeople take over. yes we also had a great neighbor. the rily family and metzgers. now those were great people. we grew up with mike. people now aren't as great as they were. there are a few. the hewetts. we love very much. croton was a wonderful town but now nothing. I still live here. I like country.

On my way to the Hartford Fairgrounds to see the Christmas lights, stopped by the old school. Does anyone know who owns it or what it's being used for?

This is my first school I moved to the United States after being in the Canal Zone (military brat) all my life were my Father passed away. And even though English was spoken it was more of a second language for me. This is were I learned phonics through some very patient teachers at the same time learning my second heritage (my Mother being a state department employee) and all the cultural nuances of being American. Seeing snow for the first time, lightning bugs or seeing how pretty and different the girls were here in the States. I only went to this school for one year but it made a huge impact in my life. Now every time I smell honeysuckle Blooms it reminds me of looking out the window to the football field smelling that and figuring out a problem in class, or was it did she smile cause she liked me.

Thank you for sharing your memories with us, Alex. It sounds like that year at school was full of growth for you both academically and culturally. I'm curious, do you remember any specific cultural nuances or traditions that were new for you? It's amazing how certain scents can transport us back in time, like the honeysuckle blooms. Have you visited Licking County since then? It must be interesting to see how it's changed over the years.

Alex, That is a great memory to share. If you don't mind, what year and what grade were you there. I thought there was an Ortiz in my class for about one year, but I could be wrong. (Like late 60's or early 70's?)

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