In the summer of 1936, I attended the summer session of New York University. Edith Hodge, the Fort Plain Jr. High teacher, and I found out that if we wanted to continue teaching, in the Fort Plain School, we would have to either attend college for one year or take courses leading towards a Master’s degree during the summer. We were not able to get any advanced mathematics courses in Albany College that summer, so we decided to attend N. Y. University, where mathematics courses were offered, which would apply towards our needed requirements. I thought when Mr. Ridder first told me the requirements of the Board of Education, that it meant I would have to quit teaching. After talking it over with Herbert, he and I decided it would be better for me to keep on teaching, as we surely needed the money. He said he and Keith R. would get along all right. So one day soon after the close of school, Edith and I started for the big city. Neither one of us knew much about N. Y. City, and we surely had a lot of learn. We went down on the train, and then took a taxi from the Grand Central Station, to the Earl Hotel where we had previously secured reservations by mail. We had a comfortable double room, with twin beds. (I don’t remember what floor) From the windows in our room we had a very good view of the city. If I close my eyes, I still can picture in my mind that beautiful view of New York City, especially on a moonlight night.

After we had unpacked and had eaten supper at the hotel, where we had all of our meals, we decided to take a walk. The Earl Hotel is located near Washington Square. The N. Y. University buildings are located on one side of this square. We thought we would be able to take a walk for a few blocks without getting lost. We really went farther than we planned, and even walked on the lower side of the Square. As it was getting dusk, and we realized we were in the slum section, we hurried back to the hotel. The next day one of the university teachers told our mathematics class that students should not go below the Square, even in the day time. “Oh well, ignorance is bliss!”

Edith and I were not in the same classes, as she wanted a math. Course for Jr. High teachers and I wanted one for High School. So after breakfast we started out across the Square to see if we could find out where our class rooms were going to be. It was quite an experience for us to find our way around among 15, 000 students. It was even more difficult to get on an elevator to reach our class room on time. It was quite an experience to learn how to use the library on the 15th floor.

At the end of three weeks, Edith received word to come home as her father was ill. She expected to come back to school in a few days. Things did not turn out as she thought they would. Her father died, and she decided to stay home with her mother and not come back to N. Y. City. It was quite an adjustment for me to make. I can truthfully day I never have been so lonely and homesick as I was that summer. It surely helped a lot when Herbert came down 2 or 3 times to see me.

I decided that I was going to try to get around N. Y. City by myself and learn all I could. I used to walk a lot. I also used the subway and the Third Ave. Elevated Railroad, which were near the Earl Hotel. I sometimes rode the Fifth Ave. bus, which turned around in Washington Square. Each Sunday I tried to attend a different church. One weekend I went to Floral Park, L. I. to visit Nina Handy Levensaler and her husband. Janet Kilpatrick, a friend of mine, who used to teach in Franklin, was also attending school, but way on the other end of the city. After writing to each other we agreed to meet one evening at a restaurant in Times Square. I wondered if I would ever find her, but I did. After we had eaten dinner, we attended a Broadway show. I don’t remember for sure which one it was, but I know I enjoyed seeing it. When it was over, we bade each other goodnight. I took the Elevated Railroad, and walked from there to the Hotel. I arrived back in my room O. K. Can you imagine what would happen now to a woman alone at midnight in N. Y. City?

I have tried to think what Herbert and I did, while he was with me a couple of weekends. We decided to attend the Lutheran Church where Rev. Flanders was the minister. His home was near St. Johnsville and we had known him for many years. His church was at the other end of the city. We thought we had allowed plenty of time to get there by bus. When we knew we were not too far from the church, we took a taxi. We rode and rode and knew we would never get there in time to attend the service. If I remember correctly, our taxi driver did not know that part of the city. We waited in the vestibule of the church until the service was over. Then Rev. Flanders and his wife invited us to the parsonage to visit with them a while.

Another place we visited was a broadcasting station. I had secured tickets previously for Herbert & me. We did find our way there on time and by ourselves and enjoyed the afternoon. We visited Macy’s and Gimbel’s stores. I wanted to purchase maroon needlepoint which I needed for the large arm chair. I had purchased the blue smaller ones at Herkimer. I also wanted to buy new curtains for our dining room. I don’t remember for sure at which store ( I think it was at Gimbel’s) I found both the needlepoint and the curtains which I wanted.