Ilion High School - Class of 1938

Utica Observer - August 14, 1938

Four School Janitors Long in Ilion Service

Article 10

Photo caption - Shows here talking over old times are the four best known men in Ilion. As janitors of the local public schools they have given 35 years of service to the school district. Their combined ages totals 353 years. Kindergarten children they have cared for have since grown up, raised families, have children of their own in school. From left to right they are Jesse Watchers, West Hill School, John Schneider and Andy Rasmussen, High School, Harry Brown, North Street School.

Four School Janitors Long in Ilion Service

Ilion - Four gray haired men are going back to school in September after spending a rather lonesome summer.

Neither teachers nor pupils, they expect to teach a little, learn a little, work a lot and hang up records of perfect attendance. They are the janitors.

Youngest in years but oldest in service is Andy Rasmussen, head janitor. Now located at the high school he has been on the job for 30 years, being first employed at Morgan St. School in 1908. He transferred to the new high school when it was opened in 1923. In all that time he had worked under only two superintendents, Harwood Schwartz, now of St. Lawrence University and Earl P. Watkin, and two principals, Miss Loretta Douglas and Prof. J. Guy Prindle.

Early Task Hard

Rasmussen had a hard job at Morgan Street. There was no steam heat and he cared, for 15 hot air furnaces. For three years all he had to do when tha weather grew cold was to start work at 3 a. m. and finish at 6 p. m. Even on his present job he averages 60 hours a week the year round.

His worst period was when a night fire damaged part of the school and scholars were housed in the Methodist Church and in the fire hall. He serviced the three buildings until repairs to the school were completed.

John Schneider, 63, is also located at the high school. He also was located at Morgan Street but was transferred to the present job when wings were added in 1925. He had previously been employed at Remington Typewriter Works as a mechanic and has been at school work for 13 years.

On Job 35 Years

Harry Brown is 62 and has worked steadily at North Street School for 22 years. His first principal was a Miss. Dibble and when she married the physical director in 1925 her place was taken by Miss Ethel Campbell, incumbent, then a member of the faculty. He formerly had worked in Library Bureau, Remington Arms and at Granville as quarry man.

Jesse Watchers will be 6O in May and he has been a janitor for 20 years. He also worked for a time at Morgan Street and when that school closed he came to West Hill and has been there ever since.

Most of his service has been under Miss Mary K. Hickock. Other principals were William Thompson and James Coon. He is a carpenter by trade.

During their terms, there has never been a serious fire, fatal accident or other calamity at the local school.

Recalls Pranks

Modern pupils are more original in their mischief making, Mr. Rasmussen recalls early pranks were limited to ringing the school bells on election nights, Halloween and other holidays. He has often sat up all night in company with a policeman to foil their efforts, sometimes without success.

He recalls with a chuckle how pupils two years ago kidnapped a white horse belonging to Daniel Weber and stabled the animal overnight in a high school cloak room. School authorities alternately frowned and chuckled.

The janitors look to the future with more satisfaction than last year. The Board of Education after talking it over for months, has finally decided to enroll the men in the New York Employees Retirement System. Applications were distributed yesterday.