WAYNESBORO, Pa. — For many generations, cultural trends typically started in high school. Fads and fashion, knowledge and growth, and memories that last a lifetime are all built within the walls of academia. Some look back with fondness, others in dread. For some people, high school are memories they would like to forget, for others it is a time they long to go back to.
Life for Waynesboro teen in ’30s, ’40s, ’50s
From the 1930s to the 1950s, a teen could get a hamburger for a nickel or a dime. They could catch a movie at the theater for about a quarter. They went to church on Sundays and could be found at Zook’s Recreation Center when it was built in 1952. Their fathers worked at places like the Landis Company and ERD Company Incorporated, while their mothers kept the home in order.
Athletics shone on and off court
In the 1930s, Waynesboro football shone under the leadership of legendary coach Charles “Rip” Engle (1906-1983). Engle began his career at Waynesboro Area High School in 1930, where he was also a math teacher.
In 1933, he led Waynesboro to a perfect 10-0 season and led them to eight area championships in 11 years. Engle wasn’t just a great football coach, but a highly respected citizen of Waynesboro and a father figure to all of his students and players.
On the basketball court, both the boys and girls teams played proudly to honor their school and city, the boys team once again under the watchful eye of Rip Engle and the girls team led by Miss Louise Fitz. Over the years, local athletes wowed spectators and helped build the foundation and reputation of Waynesboro area sports.
Hard work means more play
When not in school or on the athletic field, area teens could be found at the bowling alley and rec center or spending weekends at Pen Mar Park. There they could ride the roller coaster, spend time fueling up at the concession stand, enjoy a dance under the pavilion or ride the small train. In the winter, Waynesboro had the perfect hills for sledding.
Waynesboro during Depression
The Great Depression hit the United States in 1929, and for 10 years many around the country struggled to survive. In 1930, Waynesboro residents had an average wealth of around $5,000, a significant difference from most places in the country, which averaged around $2,900.
The reason for this was the strong industrial manufacturing presence in the town. Many high school graduates found work in places like Geiser Manufacturing, Frick Company and Landis Tools. These hard-working young adults would not only help to keep the borough from collapsing under the pressure of financial strain, but would help build the next generation through the morals and ethics that they had learned in their teenage years.
Life through the lens
Many of the images featured in this article were taken by a man who was there, Sylvester S. Snyder (1907-2006). He graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1925 and dedicated his life to capturing the history of Waynesboro through photographs.
Forever freezing time through the lens of his camera, Snyder documented the changing culture of Waynesboro throughout his lifetime and left behind visual memories that many can only remember in their mind. Many of his photographs can be found at the Waynesboro Historical Society and the Antietam Historical Association.
