A Lost Class Ring from the 1960s Makes an Unexpected Journey Back Home from the Jersey Shore

After finding a decades-old high school class ring in the sand and returning it to Nebraska, a Jersey Shore walk became a significant moment of connection across generations and borders.

New Jersey homeowner Andrew Ciffer, who uses a metal detector along the shoreline, found the ring early on August 3 at low tide on a Belmar beach. Personal things are often lost in low tide’s damp sand, especially by ocean swimmers. The ring appears to have been lost near the surface, according to Ciffer.

Clear engraving on the gold ring made the discovery exceptional. The label said “Crete H.S.,” “1966,” and “BW.” Ciffer saw it as an emotional artifact and sought to find its owner instead of keeping it.

When she got home, Ciffer researched the ring. He found the ring belonged to Crete High School in Nebraska, not a similar school in Illinois, with help from a buddy who is a member of the East Coast Research and Discover Association, a local metal detecting group. That detail down the search.

Ciffer was led to the town library by Crete High School. After reviewing the school’s 1966 yearbook, a librarian identified Barbara Wielage’s initials on the ring. Inside two weeks, a school-affiliated nonprofit helped reunite the ring with its owner.

Although the ring was returned, how it ended up buried in Jersey Shore sand is unknown. Her relatives said Wielage lived in Boston for 50 years, but she doesn’t remember when or when the ring went missing. Nebraska-New Jersey is about 1,300 miles apart, adding to the enigma.

The restitution of the ring meant more to the Crete community than lost jewelry. Local citizens and school representatives thanked the effort to restore a little but significant piece of community history. Ciffer was commended by the Crete Public Schools Foundation for his perseverance and thoughtfulness in returning the ring.

Ciffer remarked that class rings are essential because they carry personal history and may be traced back to their owners, even though gold on the beach is rare. An accidental discovery became a story of honesty, goodwill, and respect for the past due to cross-state cooperation.

Sources

NJ Advance Media
Crete Public Schools Foundation