School Finds Lost Purse From The 1950s And It’s Like A Trip Back In Time

Have you ever wondered what life was like back in the late 50s? Well, a lost purse retrieved at the North Canton Middle School might just give you an idea. The school’s custodian, Chas Pyle, discovered the red purse sitting in the cramped space between a wall and a locker. It appeared to have belonged to a young lady named Patti Rumfola. The items recovered inside the purse proved that she was a former student of the school in the 1950s to 1960s.

Pyle located the purse as he was about to reattach a loosened trim between the locker and the wall. He then took it to the school office to seek assistance in going through the contents to determine the owner. Lo and behold, the contents revealed that the owner lost it back in 1957, over 60 years ago. North Canton City Schools first posted about the story on Facebook on May 31, 2019.

 

A mysterious red purse was retrieved by the school custodian last spring. It appeared to have belonged to a former student named Patti Rumfola.

Old Red Purse Retrieved at North Canton Middle School
North Canton Middle School

 

Old Red Purse Owned by Patti Rumfola
North Canton Middle School

 

This is a picture of Patty

Young Patti Rumfola
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's YMCA Membership Card
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's National JR. Hi-Y Fellowship membership Card
North Canton Middle School

A lot of people expressed their interest in finding the owner of the purse. And they eventually did. Sadly, a recent update from the North Canton City Schools has announced that Rumfola had already passed away in 2013. She is survived by her five children who were lucky to get a glimpse of her teenage life at Hoover High School. And that’s all thanks to her recovered purse and its contents.

North Canton City Schools Facebook Post on Patti Rumfola's Red Purse 1

 

North Canton City Schools Facebook Post on Patti Rumfola's Red Purse 2

Many people were eager to know the 1960 Hoover graduate’s life after high school. So, the school shared her obituary as featured in The Punxsutawney Spirit on October 22, 2013.

North Canton City Schools Facebook Post on Patti Rumfola's Obituary 1

 

North Canton City Schools Facebook Post on Patti Rumfola's Obituary 2

 

North Canton City Schools Facebook Post on Patti Rumfola's Obituary 3

According to her obituary, Rumfola was born in 1942. In 1980, she married John G. Michele, whom she had five children with. She spent her life working as a school teacher while being active as a costume designer and seamstress. She died on October 21, 2013, at the age of 71.

 

Rumfola’s purse contained membership IDs from various school clubs, makeup, photos, admission tickets to school games and library cards

Old Admission Tickets
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's North Canton Public Library Card
North Canton Middle School

 

Photos Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse 2
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's Identification Card for Sterling Insurance Company
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's American Junior Red Cross Membership Card
North Canton Middle School

 

Photos Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse 1
North Canton Middle School

 

Makeup, Pencils, and a Comb Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse
North Canton Middle School

 

Pastel Pink Hazel Bishop Lipstick
North Canton Middle School

 

Evening in Paris Compact Powder 1
North Canton Middle School

 

Evening in Paris Compact Powder 2
North Canton Middle School

 

All these recovered items reveal a glimpse of her colorful high school life

Vikings North Canton High Football Schedule 1956
North Canton Middle School

 

1956 Pocket Calendar from Ilotycin
North Canton Middle School

 

Handwritten Left and Reverse Counts
North Canton Middle School

 

Rose Rumfola's North Canton Public Library Card
North Canton Middle School

 

Myers Chevrolet Baseball Team Schedule 1957
North Canton Middle School

 

Drawing of Mr. Weatherbee
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's Old Wallet
North Canton Middle School

 

Patti Rumfola's Viking Sr. Hi Booster Club Membership Card and Photo with Dedication from Bonnie
North Canton Middle School

 

Photo with Dedication from Bonnie to Patti Rumfola
North Canton Middle School

 

Handwritten Addressesof Sandra McCraskey and Marilyn Carmen
North Canton Middle School

 

Going through all Patty’s items is literally a blast from the past!

1957 Pocket Calendar from Market Heights Pharmacy
North Canton Middle School

 

Baseball Game Admission Ticket
North Canton Middle School

 

Photo Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse 3
North Canton Middle School

 

Old Receipt Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse 2
North Canton Middle School

 

Old Receipt Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse 1
North Canton Middle School

 

Beech-nut Gum
North Canton Middle School

 

Passport Previews Song List 1
North Canton Middle School

 

Passport Previews Song List 2
North Canton Middle School

 

Passport Previews Song List 3
North Canton Middle School

 

Necklace and Religious Article Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse
North Canton Middle School

 

Name Cards of Jean Ann Mutchmore, Dean A. Schauffler, and Marilyn J. Carmen
North Canton Middle School

 

Jack Matson and Patti Rumfola
North Canton Middle School

 

Each of her five children kept one of these wheat pennies as a remembrance of their loving mom

Coins Found inside Patti Rumfola's Purse
North Canton Middle School

 

 

Source: North Canton City Schools