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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Schools Of Buffalo > PS 56
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13-JAN-2006 Karl R. Josker

PS 56

716 W. Delevan, Buffalo

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/60s f/5.6 at 17.0mm iso200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time13-Jan-2006 18:26:45
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 20D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length17 mm
Exposure Time1/60 sec
Aperturef/5.6
ISO Equivalent200
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programshutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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George Schwartzman 13-Jan-2020 01:30
I attended School 56 for Kindergarten through 3rd grade (1950-1954). I had Miss Nelligan for Kindergarten, Miss Hassan for 1st grade until she took sick leave and soon after passed away. I had Miss Miller for 2nd grade, and Mrs. Tillotson for 3rd grade. I recall Mrs. Tillotson as having a "snobby attitude". I started 4th grade with Ms. Morganstern as my teacher, but after the first week of school, I was accepted to Campus School at Buffalo State where I completed my elementary school grades. School 56 was OK, but Campus School was the best! In 2019 I toured the School 56 building which was converted to apartments. Despite the building conversion, there are areas that remain the same including the gym, and staircases.
Bonnie Cooper 07-Jan-2019 21:29
I remember School 56 well. I attended from 1960-1969. I had Mrs Lorenz for Kindergarten, Miss Kellman for 1st, Mrs Muscarella, Mrs Tillotson, Miss Leary, Mrs Raiser, Mrs Rappaport, Ms Zuppa, and Miss Torre. My Brylinski and Miss Poole. Mrs Launspach for Music. My classmates included: Joe Monte, Steven Regan, Cindy Reynolds,
Tony Page, Richard Winnie, Annie Cammarano, Donna Moretti, Peggy Como, Elaine Fox, Terry Calabria. And, Miss Plumley for Art. Remember James Stormer and Maurice Willis aka MoJo cool!
Leo 13-Feb-2018 19:24
I attended School 56 in the early '60s. I remember being in Mrs. Waite's 3rd grade class, Room 216, on Friday, November 22, 1963, when we got word that President Kennedy was assassinated. I had Mrs. Lorenz in kindergarten, Mrs. Kring in 1st grade and Mrs. Urso in 2nd grade. Mrs. (I think it was Mrs.) O'Rourke was the principal. Used to be able to walk to school from my house on Potomac and to go home for lunch. Classmates whose names I remember: Joe Monte, Larry Guest, Diane Winkelstein (sp?), Noah Wolkenstein, Keith Gromer, John Dann, Michael Vaccaro and Richard Dennis---if pressed I could remember others but we're going back over 50 years!! I remember the house next door to the boys' entrance had a giant chestnut tree and the playground was huge. I really enjoyed my time there--if there were any bad times they have been long suppressed and forgotten. Changed schools at the ripe old age of eight.
Wiley 15-Sep-2016 22:24
I was blessed to attend this school in the 7th and 8th grades, graduating in the Summer of 1966. The teachers were wonderful. Mrs. Zupa, Mr. Hume, Ms. Eiwinski and many, many others. There were strict but fair. Today, more than ever, I appreciate the lessons learned.
Bob 08-Jun-2016 03:22
To Lee Sandquist: Did you also attend School #30 on Elmwood before you attended 56? If so, I remember you! You were one of the nice ones!! Hope the years have been good. Take Care!
Guest 09-Apr-2016 18:17
I attended this school from 1972 through 1979. During that time the 3rd floor art room underwent a major change to a modern Library Media Center, with the art room being moved to the first floor. In addition, the decades-old wooden seating in the auditorium, complete with graffiti scratch in dating to the 1920s, was torn out and piled in the parking lot in back, and the floor was resurfaced to be able to be used as a basketball court, with tables and chairs usually being there to replace the tiny lunch room that had been in the basement.

The auditorium mostly served as a lunch room from that point, with occasional seats being set up for assemblies. I don't recall the basketball court ever having been used at all.

Before the seats were torn out, around 1972, we would sometimes be taken out of class to watch Disney movies and cartoons.

Decades later my niece attended this school when it was a magnet school shortly before it closed. She had the same 6th grade teacher as I had had 30 years before.
JEFF 21-Sep-2015 10:29
JEFF- ATTENDED IN 1956 ,THEN WENT TO LAFAYETT HIGH, WENT INTO U.S.ARMY IN 1959 TO GERMANY, CAME BACK SETTLED IN CALIFORNIA, WORKED FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN OVER FLIGHT OPS, RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS, NEVER WENT BACK TO THAT HELL HOLE COLD ,KNEE DEEP SNOW ,RUN DOWN TOWN ,EVEN BORN THERE IN 1942 ,THAT WAS ENOUGH, BEEN MARRIED SAME WOMAN MET HERE IN BURBANK ,CA FOR NOE 53 YEARS, MADE A GREAT LIFE IN CALIFORNIA, DID HAVE FUN IN BUFFALO RAISING HELL AS A TEEN ,FIGHTING THE SO CALLED FOOTBALL JOCKS , THANK GOD WE HAD GOOD TEACHERS IN THOSE DAYS ,YOU LEARNED BACK THEN, I OUE A LOT TO THAT PORTION, MADE A GREAT LIVING OUT HERE NEVER WENT BACK ,NO FAMILY THERE ANYMORE, I SURE REMEMBER THE CORNER HIP HOPE PLACE CALLED CREAMOS IF THATS RIGHT, BEST TO ALL SOMEONE WHO GOT OUT AND DID VERY WELL, I HAVE MANY FRIENDS IN THE INTERMENT WORLD, I DID MEET SAMMY DAVIS JR, BACK THERE IN 1956 AT A DANCE CLUB, HAD FUN,
Bob 09-Feb-2015 00:26
To Jennifer. I would have gone to this school myself, since School #30 on Elmwood only went to the 6th grade. I wish there was a picture of School #30 on this site. You're right, it was beautiful. I was there from 1968-1971. Remember the antique regulator clock in the principal's office? Also, in the late-1960s, they still had those old fashioned intercom phones with the bell shaped ear piece. There actually a carbon copy of this school on East Delevan, but was torn down in the 1990s. They don't build them like that anymore.
Helen15-Mar-2014 00:41
I attended PS 56 from kindergarten through 8th grade (around 1958-1967). It was so unusual having a swimming pool in a grammar school at that time. But the “lunch room” in the basement was just a bare room with tables and chairs. I also remember the air raid drills. The entrances for the girls and the boys were on opposite sides of the buildings. Most of the teachers were nice, but I only remember Miss Poole by name because she scared me. Miss Helen O’Rourke was the principal. She was pretty scary in her own right. I also remember fellow student Karl Spahn. He was very smart. Is the building being used for anything at all now? It’s a good photo! - Helen B (Kelly) chai_priestess(at)yahoo(dot)com
Al Gardonier 11-Dec-2013 20:23
I graduated in 1956 and have fond memories of PS#56. I went on to Hutch-Tech and then graduated from Michigan State University, then moving on to Ft Lauderdale, FL after many spring breaks and to leave the snow and cold behind. I have occasionally looked at my senior photo and wonder what ever happened to all those graduates at PS#56 and great teachers that I had while there.
marty pecoraro 26-Oct-2013 22:29
My name is Marty Pecoraro I went to school 56 from 1996 till 1974 if anyone wants to do a reunion let me know... My cell (716)725-7999 some people I know are Nate Wright, Lisa Grisanti, Patty Pezzino and brothers, Scot Keller etc.
Guest 15-Jul-2013 15:33
I attended this school from fall of 1964 through summer of 1966 (7th and 8th grades). Have wonderful memories of the many great teachers there. Mr. Hume, Mrs Zupa, and many others.
dennis 17-May-2013 01:01
miss tores is still kicking lives but a few blocks from me,mr lee i remember u,
Lee Sandquist 06-Feb-2013 23:27
I attended 7th and 8th grade,1969-70, and would like to hear from my fellow classmates.Who can forget Mrs. Zupa? unfortunately,not me.. she still haunts my dreams..Lee Sandquist
Selma Goldberg 06-Jan-2010 23:49
I attended this school from 1934 to 1943. I remember lining up to enter on what would be the right side of this photo. The school had a swimming pool in the basement. I grew up loving swimming. Thanks for the memory.
Guest 03-Jan-2010 21:44
I lived across the street from this school and my little one came screaming after me when I left him for kindergarten in 1961, I never took him back. My 3 yr. old was struck by a car infront of it, but lived to be a handsome man.
Kathy Gugino Clark 24-Jul-2008 02:52
I started pre K at #56 the day I turned 4 years old in 1948. I graduated in 1956. My first grade teacher was Ms. Nelligan. Mr. Schamber was my 7th grade teacher and Miss Poole my 8th grade teacher. I am convinced that I completed graduate school on what I learned at 56.
Neisha 16-Jul-2008 23:19
I WENT TO OLMSTED FROM 2000 TO 2003. CLASS OF 2003 MR.GRUBER WAS PRINCIPAL MS.MORQUECHO WAS ASST.PRINCIPAL
Lewis McLean 16-Oct-2007 23:15
I went to kindergarten and first grade here in 1939-1941..I remember my first teachers, Miss Nelligan, in kindergarten, then Miss Summers in first grade. I tried to read a contraband comic book (Sheena of the Jungle)during one boring class day, and Miss Summers confiscated it! Early childhood trauma....not forgotten.
Quinn 20-Sep-2007 00:52
This school is now located at Kensington High School
Jennifer 01-Feb-2006 18:10
I spent a miserable few months in this school in the fall of 1976 (the school year began with a teacher's strike that left us for several weeks with substitute teachers who struggled to keep order and failed to teach us anything due to a lack of curricula). We were moved there from PS 30, a wonderful old building on Elmwood Ave near West Ferry that was torn down to make way for a bank parking lot. We left the city for the 'burbs and better schools just before the Blizzard of '77.