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James Hamilton, M. D.

Mark Schweickart

Cool piece of history, Jim. Good digging. Like others, it does seem odd to me that we never had this presented to us, although I don't imagine many of us would have cared much at the time. And not to be too flippant, but man oh man, how many collection baskets did it take to pay for that mini-Parthenon someone erected?

Lawrence Foster

Thank you Jim for this great read  - and to all you others who have added to it.  I enjoyed it all.

Fred Clem

By the way, Bishop Watterson was succeeded by Henry Moeller, who was here for less than three years.

He left when he was named Archbishop of Cincinnati and I believe there's a high school named after him as well.

David Mitchell

Jim, Great to hear your comments. 

I also used to wonder about this myself. I guess there is a lot they didn't teach us.

When Mary and I moved back from Denver in '88 and put our three kids in Watterson, I asked (then Principal) John Durant about Bishop Watterson, and why no historical plaque on the wall? His response stunned me; "Oh he was really just a historical nobody."  Hmmmmm?

My dad - who had close relationships with several  bishops of Columbus from about the 50's to the 80's (some good - some not so good - lol) thought Bishop Watterson to be a rather pioneering figure, but I never asked him about it.

I do know that Dad was in those early meetigns with Bishjop Ready and some laymen committees about the plans for a new crop of co-ed Catholic high schools. In fact I think Dad and Stan Kronenburger's dad may have been involved in that committee who chose the name for the school - and for the next couple of new high schools.   

I think I read somwehere years ago that Bishop Watterson was the first Catholic clergyman to ever give a public speech from the State House lawn - and that it might have been about civil rights - not sure, its been years since I read that article. He was a big advocate of Temperance. He also established the Josephenium, which I think is still the only property actually owned by the Roman Pontiff in the Western Hemisphere.  

(** jump in and corrret me if I'm wrong on that - or on any of this - going from memeory, which has long since become like three-day old scrambled eggs with mold growing around the edges).

Speaking of what they didn't teach us, I didn't learn that the punishment for Catholics (at least those living in Italy) for voting, running for office, holding office, or owning or even reading the Bible was death, up until the late 1800's. Yikes - no wonder we didn't learn to read Scirpture!

Sometime I should share some af those funny, and not so funny stotries about Dad and his good friend Bishop Issenmann (fellow stamp collector and world traveler - lol) , and his not so good friend, Bishop Ready (Dad's nemises in trying to operate his pet project, "Brother Martin's Home" down on Rich Street).

p.s. Is anybody else having trouble with the "return" button on this site ???? 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Timothy Lavelle

Jim, please be very careful of how you handle these compliments because most of these people just wat free medical advice....and I don;t want anyone to get in front of me when I am trying to show you this odd bump on my shoulder.

I think, while I am no longer enamored with the Catholic side of life, I am very happy that our patron's name was Watterson instead of something like Letsget. I can only imagine how difficult it might have been for many to find meaningful employment with a resume that showed early education at Letsget High School. I mean, it was the 60s, after all.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Tim, Sadly, the states in which we live (WA and CO) have many Letsget Highs! By the way, there is a Rocky Mountain High (School) west of Denver for those of you who remember John Denver's signature song. As for the lump on your shoulder, does it have two eyes, a nose and a mouth?

Linda Baer (Schell)

Business and pleasure has taken me to New Orleans, Charleston and Savannah in the last month.  The above ground cemeteries and large monuments, parks, statues and fountains were all beautiful. I came home to shiny Dallas feeling a bit disconnected from all this southern history..( even though I would love a hoop-skirt). Anyhow, I  signed onto  Class of 66 and I see this beautiful, large, fancy, carved, above ground monument inscribed with BISHOP WATTERSON..  Really!!   I do have ties to some history... And I will be home in September!  Thank you for the great timely story.  

PS  it is regretful we were not taught any of this..in Watterson History 101😀.

Joseph Gentilini

I love all these jottings about Watterson and its history.  Fascinating.  Thanks for contributing all of these stories.  Joe

James Hamilton, M. D.

I have no idea who was responsible for paying for the Bishop's monument. Like some, maybe many of you, my first thought upon seeing it was that it was "over the top". However, I recall that his was not the only large monument in the Priests' Circle. Perhaps this was standard back then. Was it paid for by collection baskets? An anonymous doner or doners? His family? If any of you can find out it would add interest to this thread. Several other Diocesan Bishops are buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Does anyone know if they have such monuments?

David Mitchell

Wow Jim, seems like you struck a nerve with this topic. I think we should give you a prize - er sumpin'.

As I sit here reading how many people are interested I am asking myself this question; why on earth did we never ask this while we were there?

Colleen Cotter (Blumer)

Who knew?

David Mitchell

Jim, 

Some sort of plaque with a brief history of the man woud be a cool idea. It wouldn't have to be very elaborate. Is anybody in Columbus who knows who to contact listening?  

Jane? Fred? Mary Margaret? Class? anyone? ---- class? ----- anyone?

I'd gladly throw in a contibution. I think it would be neat to be our class project. A simple framed poster with names, photos, and dates of the past Principals might not be a bad idea either. 

(which reminds me of another great story between "Sister Frederick" and I - after she was no longer Sister Frederick - LOL - some other time)

Speaking of history - I remember being there for the groundbreaking ceremony. Dad was eagerly anticipating the event, and we were reminded about it again at Mass that morning at OLP. Dad felt we all had to be there. So there I am, maybe about age 6 or 7 (?) - running around in the crowd, out of control (as usual). My buddy Tommy Litzinger might have been there too - not positive. I seem to recall it was Bishop Ready (or was it the "Little Bishop" ?) and "Mouse", and other officials from the Diocese - standing approximately between where the baseball bleachers were later placed, and Cooke Road. I remember crawling between peoples legs on the ground to get a front row look while they dug with a silver shovel, wrapped in (I think?) a scarlet bow (as in school colors) on the handle of the shovel. And somebody was there taking pictues.

My two older sisters started at Watterson in those first years but soon begged Dad to get them out of there. They transfered to St. Mary's of the Springs following a nasty argument between Dad and Father Foley. In their one year there, my sisters saw violent bloody fights (between girls) in the cafeteria, large piles of sawdust in the halls with rats in them, and long boardwalks through the mud and rain to male and female "outhouses".

Note: this entry contained no mention of John Jackson's obsession with Wombats.  

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

I checked with Scott Manahan (Alumni Director) at WHS. He sent this pic of Bishop Watterson's recognition in the hallowed halls. He said it was in the Dominican Hallway showcase. I guess we can find out where that is if we go to the WHS reception on the Friday night. I also checked with the Chancery and the secretary said that the old monuments were paid for through the diocese and the parish funds.

Mary Clare

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Cool beans Clare. I gues we should give you the prize, or you can share it with Jim. 

Speaking of finding your way around the old hallowed halls, I stopped in several years ago and was shocked to see a whole new gymnasium - along with the old one. Yup, two gymnasiums with a 16-team girls holiday basketball tournament going on in both gyms simultaneously. And a back lobby that was huge and quite fancy. I think the new gym is slightly bigger than the old one. Amazing! 

Marrue Shirley (Bleau)

Does anyone know how I can contact Michaelyn Fiorini?  I have lost track of her over the years and would appreciate any help.  Thank you.

Monica Haban (Brown)

Michaelynn Fiorini is listed in white pages.com Columbus, Ohio.

She may be on Facebook .

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

MARUE, I have been trying for years to find her! Good luck! Kathy Wintering

Janie Albright (Blank)

Marrue, I sent you a private message with her address and phone. Let me know if you can reach her. Hope you are planning to come to our 50th! 

Janie

Janie Albright (Blank)

From Toni Borean - Fritz was inducted into the Bishop Watterson 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame yesterday and I had a chance to take some close up pictures of Bishop Watterson's showcase. It is really nice to see that the students get to know a little bit about him before their 50th reunion!
Can't wait to see everyone at the reunion...see you in September!

Janie Albright (Blank)

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Thanks Janie. Nice to see this. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fall is rapidly appropaching and that is my favorite time of the year. It certainly is the most photogenic season here in Colorado. This year I shall willingly miss the climax of the aspen tree color change choosing instead to renew old (really old!) acquaintences at our 50th reunion! A year ago from the date of this reunion I was fortunate to be in the Maroon Bells area near Aspen, CO and captured several images of this annual event. The pyramid shaped Maroon Bell peaks are some of the most photographed mountains in the state and, when reflected in the green mossy bottomed Maroon Lake along with the clusters of golden and yellow aspens that populate their surronding hillsides, create a picture that rivals the opening scene from "The Sound of Music". That 1965 movie was popular about the time we were entering our senior year at BWHS. So, I thought this shot of the Bells might help transport us back to those times. Can you hear Julie Andrews in the recesses of your minds? (Or maybe even John Denver?)

Jim Hamilton