The College Years
Summer 1959—Ruth graduated high school in Jan 1959. That summer, Pat & Mildred purchased a new home 12 miles northeast of Southern Ave, in the rural village of Kingsville. Pat had always wanted land and this ½ acre property at 12122 Jerusalem Rd suited him.
The front porch, veranda, and driveway that featured in so many photos over the years.
Two NY families visit Kingsville. Four on left: Cousin Marie, Uncle Frank, Cousin Vera, & Frank’s wife Millie. Four on right: Uncle Gene (Eugene) and his wife Tesse. Behind them are sons Angelo and John (middle brother X is missing). Photo taken in the backyard near the veranda and outside the dining room window.
On the same occasion & location, but Pat, Ruth, & Mildred step in: Aunt Millie, Aunt Tessie, Cousin Angelo, Cousin Vera, father Pat, Ruth, Cousin John, Cousin Marie, mother Mildred, Uncle Eugene, & Uncle Frank
Pat’s brother Gene (Eugene) and his wife Tesse, probably in their Brooklyn home.
Summer 1959?—Ruth & her parents possibly visiting Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) as a prospective student.
Fall 1959?—Ruth & “Aunt” Annie in Kingsville, possibly before Ruth left for college.
Fall 1959?—Ruth & her parents, possibly on her first day at Western Maryland College.
The WMC campus
Baker Chapel (Little Baker) on the WMC campus
The WMC campus
Ruth visiting the former WMC campus (now McDaniel College) in Mar 2022 with Dave. Her dorms were in the building behind her.
Ruth in Alumni Hall at WMC. Completed in 1899, the historic building was specifically constructed to serve as a primary gathering space for commencement exercises, banquets, literary society meetings, and religious services.
Betty & Seth Hester, friends from church, visiting Ruth at WMC.
Summer 1960—This was the first summer after moving to Kingsville & Ruth’s youth group from Jerusalem Lutheran Church visited the Verdone’s new property.
Summer 1960—Ruth with members of the church youth group. The older man on the right is likely Pastor Manrodg.
Each summer in college, Ruth worked at Edgewood Arsenal (now Aberdeen Proving Ground—APG), a US defense research facility. Ruth on a date with Lenny Muller, a co-worker from Edgewood Arsenal. Lenny was from Wyoming, so Ruth taught him how to open Maryland crabs.
Sep 2, 1961—Ruth with Allen Spicer in Bethpage NY for the Labor Day weekend. She had continued to date Billy Yutzy since high school, but met Allen in the spring of her freshman year (1960). Allen was 5 yrs older & in seminary. He was likely on campus because his father was head of WMC’s math department.
Sep 2, 1961—They began dating pretty seriously, which explains why he went with her to visit Ruth’s family in NY for the long Labor Day weekend. Her parents thought they would marry, but he was an only child who was coddled by his mother. When his mother made it clear Ruth would soon be taking over care of the 25-year-old man, Ruth’s interest in him waned quickly.
Ruth likely dressed for an event held by her summer employer Edgewood Arsenal.
Ruth likely dressed for another Edgewood Arsenal event.
Possibly yet another Edgewood Arsenal event.
Ruth likely with members of her church youth group, possibly at Gettysburg or another retreat.
Ruth with Ann Weidermire, who dated Ruth’s brother Paul for several years. Ruth did not remember the house, so it may have been Ann’s house.
Ruth standing just outside her dorm building at WMC with an unknown friend.
Ruth outside the WMC dorms with two women should could no longer identify.
Ruth at WMC.
Mar 1963—Ruth with Paul Palumbo, who was a teacher while Ruth was student teaching. They didn’t date long. Ruth had no photo of Fran Stanton, whom she dated seriously for several years before Paul. This image was taken in the Kingsville driveway looking NE before there was a house there. This was mere months before meeting Jim.
After graduating from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL in June 1961, Jim Neumann accepted his first teaching position at First Lutheran School in Towson. He lived on the upper floor of 44 Burke Ave—a home adjacent to the church with the downstairs converted into a classroom.
On Wed evenings Jim did laundry at Norge Laundry & Dry Cleaning in Towson, where Ruth’s mother worked. Knowing Jim was a relatively recent transplant to MD, she introduced him to her daughter when Ruth picked her up one Wed evening. Neither were particularly impressed with the other. She was dismissive and he thought she came across as snobby with hair pulled back. Still, he invited to a concert under stars in Towson.
Jun 1963—M. Ruth Verdone’s college graduation announcement.
Jun 1963—Ruth’s formal portrait from Western Maryland College.
Jun 1963—Ruth at home possibly on graduation day.
Jun 1963—Ruth on graduation day with good friend Mariam.
Jun 1963—Martha “Marty” Olson was a couple years older than Ruth. They both went to WMC & attended youth group activities at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Jun/Jul 1963—That summer Ruth traveled cross-country with her brother Pat and his family. This may have been Jim seeing them off from the Kingsville house.
Jun/Jul 1963—Ruth & Jim with Pat’s kids Joyce, David & Donald. When she returned, her mother offered to give Ruth Jim’s address so she could write to him. Little did she know, the two had already written each other throughout the trip.
Summer 1963—This photo was likely taken when Jim came to visit Ruth after she turned from her travels across the US. Ruth was not impressed with Jim’s 1960 or 1961 Rambler Classic four-door sedan by American Motors Corporation (AMC).
Summer 1963—Ruth felt the Rambler looked too much like a station wagon. Jim proposed with an engagement ring placed in the glovebox one rainy night. Fortunately, her opinion of the car did not cloud her feelings about the man driving it.
A sweet letter written to Jim from his mother about his budding romance with Ruth. In a triple coincidence: both their mothers were named Mildred, both of their fathers had birthdays in November, and Ruth and Jim’s mom also shared a January 19 birthday.
1963?—Ruth & Jim in the living room at the Kingsville house. Now dating, Jim continued to teach 5th and 6th grade and was also named principal. The two decided on a summer wedding in 1964.
