(C) 2020 Frederick E. Walton, Family Historian
Remember back when you were in school, the terror that struck your heart when your teacher said "do you want that on your permanent record?" That was generally enough of a threat to stop you from doing whatever it was you were not supposed to be doing. But now, many years later, you might wonder whatever became of your "permanent record". I'm not positive about your record or even my own, but I recently discovered that my grandfather's "permanent record" was lying in the dusty archives of the Tarrytown, New York school system and I was able to obtain a copy of his high school report cards.
It was interesting to see his scholastic record, however my real goal was simply to determine the years he attended high school, primarily to understand and document his achievement as a championship varsity player on the Washington Irving High school basketball team in the mid 1920's.
Fred Walton was born on December 17, 1908, the youngest and 12th child of George Walton (44) and his wife Constance Wilhelmina Walton nee Long (39). He was born and grew up in Tarrytown. His father died unexpectantly in 1910, but Freddie grew up in a household that his widowed mother held together, somehow, and he had the support of his older brothers and sisters, many of them accomplished athletes in their own right, eager to share their knowledge with their younger sibling. By the time Fred was in High School, his sister Connie had made a name for herself as a nationally recognized track star, as well as a touring woman's basketball and baseball headliner.
As a child born in December, the question becomes: when did Fred start school? He would have been four years old in September 1913, when school began that year. Did he start then, as perhaps the youngest student, knowing he would turn five before the end of the year? Or did he wait a year until 1914 and start school at age five, perhaps the oldest student, because he would turn six on December 17. More importantly, would his mother want her "baby" to stay home with her or was she so busy making ends meet that she welcomed the chance to send him forth into the world?
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| Contance with her two "babies" |
One source I consulted was the U. S. Federal Census, however the 1920 census only tells us that 11 year old Fred was in school, but not what grade. Constance Wilhelmina, 50 and a widow, lists her occupation as "none" although being a mother to a large family was certainly a full time job! Still living in the household are: Constance, age 18, a Stenographer for Erie Railroad; Frank, 17 a plumbers apprentice; Lillian, 15, a student and Jack, 13, also in school. The older siblings where off starting families of their own, but I believe some of them were still sending money home to help the family.
When I started reviewing the many newspaper articles praising "little Freddie Walton's" basketball prowess in the mid 1920's It was not clear which class he was in, although it seems he was a varsity player early in his career. I thought the former Washington Irving School system my have some records to share that would clarify this and contacted them for help.
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| Washington Irving High School, Tarrytown New York (Broadway and Franklin) |
Report Cards
The Tarrytown school district sent me three sets of report cards for the years 1924-1925, 1925-1926 and 1926-1927 which equate to grades 9, 10, and 11.
In September 1924 Freddie Walton, age 15, entered the 9th grade. He was probably one of the older students and would have been 16 years old on Dec 17, 1924. This answers the question of when he stared school. He would have started in September of 1914 when he was five, turning six in December.
Fred excelled in "Wood turning" and "Physical Training" (i.e. Shop and Gym). It was well know that Fred was a superb athlete and was rumoured to have been scouted for a pro baseball team in the late 1920's.
He was also active on Y. M. C. A. teams. In the first month of 1924, 15 year old 8th grader, Freddie Walton won the Y. M. C. A Bowling Champiomship, Bowling a record breaking 210 in a single game.
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| Tarrytown Daily News, 9 January 1924 |
Now playing for the Washington Irving team, young Freddie Walton was an aggressive and talented Basketball player who was small, fast and well liked by the fans. He frequently scored about a third or more of his high school teams total points and often in a crowd wowing style. He was a risk taker and in one game his chancy midcourt throw scored the winning point as the final whistle blew. He was well known for his skill on the YMCA "Midget" team, and as a Freshmen, he was already playing Varsity ball!
As the 1924/25 basketball season was winding down, star forward Freddie was ready to try out for the Baseball team and is listed among the "nines" playing for the high school that season.
However the rest of his grades were not so hot! He also had a high absentee record, missing about 5 days per month. The courses he was enrolled in included: Algebra (which he failed and was dropped back to 8th grade algebra), Biology, Civics, Reading and Writing and English. His grades hovered around failing.
I am sure that his high absence affected his grades, but it is not clear what caused the absence. My best guess was that he was working part time. According to Fred's son, my father, Fred worked at the YMCA and also played sports on the "Y" teams. His employment at the "Y" helped pay for his membership and probably provided a little extra money to bring home to help a struggling family.
Besides grades and attendance, the report card also listes the home address Fred lived at in 1924: 62 John Street, in Tarrytown, only a block from the new high school.
10th Grade
In 1925-1926 Freddie Walton, Age 16, was advanced to 10th grade despite his poor academic showing. The is a vary faint pencil notation on this report card that says "10th grade" to substantiate this conclusion. It is unknown how much his athletic contributions to a winning team may have helped him advance to the next grade.
Freddie again excelled in "Physical Training" (i.e. Gym) and his shop class, labled "sheet metal", but continued to have a high absentee record rising to 12-30 days per month. This, again, suggests he held a part time or perhaps multile part time jobs to help pay his way at home, interupting his school career. In a 1954 newspaper article, celebrating his 25th year with Con Ed, it was reported that he worked for the Pincus Ice cream store, at 35 Main Street, and Isaac T. Jones, a tin smith (50 Wildey St.), and the Chevrolet Motor Company before starting at Westchester Lighting and electric in 1928. Fred's older brothers William and Robert also worked as a Tinsmith and later for Chevrolet. I was unable to determine exactly where he worked and when, but it was most likely during this time period, which would have impacted his studies.
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| Modern View of Main Street, Tarrytown showing location of Ice Cream Shop at 35 Main Street where Freddie worked as a youth |
Fred's 10th grade curriculum included: Algebra , Civil Arithmetic, Biology, Civics and English. His grades were failing or a "D", probably attributed to his high absentee rate, and perhaps a lack of interest in the scholastic subjects.
Ironically, the January 7, 1926 issue of the "Tarrytown Daily News" reported on the sports page that:
"Those who are up in their studies and eligible to play are: Captain Mack, Fred Walton, Fred Couzins, Thomas, Tanaro, Haggerty, DeRevere, McDowell and Carpenter."
Fred Walton was a consistent high scorer and celebrated star of the basketball team, but they must not have seen his report card!
After a winning season on the hardwoods, winter melted into spring and the boy's thoughts turned to baseball, where Fred could be found in left field. He was again often on the newspaper sports pages being lauded for his standout playing in that position. When school was over, Fred could be found playing the same position for the Y. M. C. A. Hiltons baseball team, again getting his name in the paper on a regular basis.
11th Grade
In September of 1926 Freddie Walton, Age 17, was advanced with his classmates to his Junior year in high school. Once again Fred excelled in "Wood turning" and "Physical Training" (i.e. Shop and Gym), but miserably failed in English, Civics and Biology, getting several zero's, probably caused by lack of attendance.
The November 20, 1926 "Tarrytown Daily News" reported the beginning of the W. I. H. S. basketball season and named the players. All star Fred Walton was not listed among them. It is unknown if his grades finally caught up with him and made him ineligable to play or if he simply had a better offer. During the 1927 basketball season Fred can be found listed on the Tarrytown junior Y. M. C. A. team, the Ramblers, playing exhibition games in New York City and surrounding counties. He is occasionally listed as a sub or fill-in on the Tarrytown "Y" Big Five touring and playing against college and semi-pro teams. Fred was hailed as the star of the team and consistent high scorer in this tougher, semi-pro league.
In February 1927, 18 year old Freddie quit high school for good. It is unknown whether this was his decision or the schools, but that spring he was remembered as a"colorful outfielder" who played baseball for Westchester Light Company, who he eventually joined as an employee in 1928. Westchester Light Company eventually merged with Con Ed where Fred retired many years later.
Although he started his Junior year, he dropped out without completeing it. The 1940 U. S. Federal Census, stated that Fred's highest grade completed was H-2 (10th Grade).
Family oral history recalls Fred relating how all the Walton children worked and pitched in to help the family survive and stay together. None of his eight siblings completed their formal education, but nevertheless grew up as successful hardworking citizens (most of them veterans) who gave their children and grandchildren a stable and respectable platform with which to lauch their own future successes.
So did many other famous and successful men of earlier generations, including Billioniare John D. Rockefeller, whose Tarrytown estate bordered the lake where Freddie Walton's future wife's father was superintenant of the village water works. Other notables include author Mark Twain, who struggled with many occupations before being a successful writer and lecturer. Even Henry Ford and Albert Einstein failed to complete their high school education, but went on to brilliant careers.
By 1929, still a well know athlete in many fields, Fred got married. By 1930 he had started a family. Still playing baseball he stayed focused on his job even though the lure of a risky career as a pro ball player beckoned him. He had new family obligations of his own and settled into the roll of husband, father and breadwinner. As the years passed, He kept his athletic abilities sharp in the bowling alley and the golf course and occasionally as a surpisingly "colorful outfielder" at his company's family picnic games.
Notes:
Jones, Isaac T.; Tarrytown, New York, City Directory, 1918-19, Page 61.
