Richard H Michel Before WWII

Richard Howard Michel was usually called Dick by friends and family. Content on this page covers from birth to entry into the US Army for World War II.

1920 thru 1940 — Birth through High School

1920–1934 — Birth through Junior High School

Jun 1920 – Richard Howard Michel (Dick) is born to John Lewis Michel and Elizabeth Howard on 27 Jun 1920 in Hazleton, PA. It is assumed he was born at 45 W Diamond Ave, Hazleton, PA; the home of his grandmother: Anna Braun Michel Fredrick.

Jun '21 Dick is baptized in the Church of the Incarnation in Morrisville, PA on 12 Jun 1921.

'26 – Dick is in First Grade in the Schwab School in Weatherly, PA. From his report card, it seems that he only attended from January through June of 1926. He was promoted to 2nd grade. The Schwab school was built in 1903 by Charles M. Schwab in honor of his wife Eurana who grew up in the borough. The historic school eventually closed in 1991.

Jun '29 – Dick was in 3rd grade at Highland School in Abington and was on the Honor Roll. He was 48¾" tall and weighed 77 pounds. Dick was promoted to Grade 4 beginning 4 Sep 1929.

Jun '33 – Dick gets a School Safety Squad award from the Keystone Automobile Club. He also received a "Cerwebpicate of Physical and Health Achievement" awarded by the Abington Junior School (AJS).

Jun '33 – Dick was ranked 4 out of 31 students in his 7th grade class at AJS. He was promoted to 8th grade.

May '34 – Dick and rest of the 6th , 7th , and 8th grade students participate in a May Day play at the AJS on 29 May 1934.

Jun '34 – Dick was "3" in "A Day in the House of Numbers" (a performance of some sort) during a promotion ceremony. Dick also received an "Abington Junior School Service Award" for being a drummer for four semesters on the AJS Bugle Corps.

1935 Thru June 1938 — Dick at Abington High School

Jun '34 – Dick has more C's than B's on his Sophomore report card.

Sep '35 – Dick promoted to Senior Department at Abington Presbyterian Church school.

Jun '36 & '37 – Dick awarded a Varsity A for soccer and swimming participation for '35-'36 and the '36-37 seasons.

Jun '37 – Dick receives "Cerwebpicate of Civic Attitude" twice during his junior year for having the "highest Civic Attitude" in his class for the first and second semesters.

Jun '37 & '38 – Dick awarded a Varsity A for soccer participation for the '37-38 season.

Feb '36 – AH swim team beaten by Norristown. Dick swims in 220 yard freestyle; comes in second. Winning time was 2:55. Today, the National Age Group Motivational Times for 16 year-old boys has times ranging from 1:58 to 2:37, so their time wasn't too bad.

Dec '36 – JLM is toastmaster for AH Soccer team's dinner after the team tied for the Suburban League's championship with Upper Darby.

July 1938 Thru 194X — After High School and Before WW2

Dec 1939 – A 31 Jan 1939 letter from Harry Haas, then Vice-President of The First National Bank of Philadelphia, to JLM (then at the Abington Bank and Trust) discusses how well Dick was performing in his duties. Evidently, Dick is employed in this bank after graduating from high school. The First National Bank, through a series of mergers/acquisitions, became part of Wells Fargo. Photos herein are by architect Theodore F Dillon (1890-1979), who worked as an architectural photographer for the Historic American Buildings Survey for the US National Park Service, with archival photographs archived in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. The bank building is now used as part of the Science History Institute Museum that tells the history of chemistry.

Sep'38 &ndash Dick starts work at First National Bank of Philadelphia as a clerk. His duties included discharged doemstic and foreign exchange duties, collections, custodian of safe deposit department, and accounting work.

Jan '42 &ndash Dick leaves as he was inducted into the US Army. When he left, he was making $120 per month (about $2,370 in 2024).


Additional Reading

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Copyright © Robert H Michel 2015-2025. For requests to use this copyright-protected work in any manner, send an email to rhmichel@gmail.com with details of the request, the content/material to be used, and how it is to be used.