In 1971, freshly graduated from a Pennsylvania State Teacher’s College (just renamed a university), I started to look for a job. It was not a great time for new work, jobs were scarce and many my age were still available for the draft, which made job hunting even more complicated. I had a very low number in the first draft lottery meant to fill military quotas for Vietnam, and my college had a huge mandatory Army ROTC program at the time. When I checked with my draft board in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, the woman with whom I spoke said, “Pack your bags!” There was a big draft call and enlistment from central Pennsylvania. We all were hunters, familiar with the use of firearms, and prime prospects.

When the second lottery happened, 365 was added to my original draft number and I was granted some breathing room. People were beginning to be pulled out of Vietnam and pressure from the U.S. populous was forcing some changes in administrative procedures. President Nixon began to “adjust” his approach to the war. It was a challenging time for our country and for those who served. With deep regret, I lost friends.

With the help of one of my college professors, I sent applications to every state and the territories. Responses were not plentiful. Offers weren’t exactly rolling in! Possibilities included a reservation position with AmeriCorps VISTA, an opening in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and a couple New Jersey public schools. My aunt Louise lived in Caldwell, New Jersey and she lobbied hard for me to apply for jobs nearby. At that time, an interview opportunity arrived from Montclair High School just a short distance from Caldwell. I interviewed for both New Jersey positions and was offered a job at both schools. I chose Montclair.

In the early 70s, big public schools were going through some stuff. In the case of Montclair, students were being bused between local neighborhood schools and it was a really challenging environment. Montclair High School was pretty big with students interacting from diverse backgrounds. Many of the teachers hired with me left halfway through the school year.

Anyway, while I was teaching Geography/Earth Science, I was still messing around with mostly black and white film and an old but new to me Zeiss Ikon 35mm camera. Lots to explore in my new neighborhood and “Down the Shore,” as my new New Jersey friends used to say. I took students to the beach on “field trips” (aka escape from classroom) and up north to see cows and rural areas. In the course of my explorations, I came across a place called “Eagle Rock Reservation” on the border of Montclair and West Orange. It is from this location that I made the above photo in 1971.

It’s a bit of a fuzzy image.  I guessed at the exposure and did not have a tripod (leaned against a stone wall) but the view looks from Eagle Rock across Newark to lower Manhattan where you can see the World Trade Center buildings still under construction along with flaring lights from densely populated areas. It was the only exposure I made!

Today, after the terrible disaster, there is a permanent marble memorial with all the names of those who lost their lives. I have not been back to Eagle Rock since around 1975 when I left teaching, however my memories of that view stay with me and probably will forever.