HHS class reunions held

    HOULTON — The Houlton High School Class of 1952 held its 60th class reunion on Friday, July 6, with a variety of events in the Shiretown.
    “Planning for the 60th reunion began several months ago,” said Michael Clark, a member of the class. “A committee comprised of Evelyn Graham Delong, Donald Scott and Bruce Arnold polled the class to determine what the members would like to have for a reunion.”
    According to the members’ wishes, the first event took place at Houlton High School on Bird Street as Joe Fagnant, director of music for the school, provided a comprehensive tour of the facilities starting at 1 p.m. Six class members participated in the tour.
Contributed photo/Debbie Clark
60TH REUNION — The Houlton High School Class of 1952 held its 60th class reunion July 6-7. Attending the event were, front row from left, Evelyn Graham Delong, Shirley Adams Mason, Wynn Lee Stinson Tidd, Patricia Crichton DiFrederico, Marjorie Carson Barton, Dolores Dunphy Briggs, Maxine Devoe Goodin, Catherine Jo Anne Hamilton King, Betty Adams Stone, Avis Sowers Arnold, Margaret McCluskey Cleary and Alma Lenentine Hutchinson; and back, Michael Clark, Robert Ivey, Charles Connors, Robert Suitter, Malcolm Davis, Kenneth Cosman, Donald Scott, Blake MacPherson, Bruce Arnold, Lawrence Haggerty and Richard Anderson.
    “They were stunned at the size of the physical plant, agreeing that it appears to be at least three times larger than when they were students there,” Clark said. “It is appropriate to mention that the Class of 1952 was only the second class to graduate from the Bird Street building, having moved from the old high school on School Street in the spring of 1951.”
    At 2:30 p.m., class members arrived at the home of Don and Vera Scott on the New Limerick Road at Nickerson Lake. A picnic lunch was presented in the late afternoon in a casual setting, wherein folks could renew old acquaintances.
    On Saturday, July 7, an optional breakfast gathering was held at the Elm Tree Diner, with 10 classmates participating. At 4 p.m., classmates gathered at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton where Delong and Scott gave a tour. The two are members of the museum.
    At the class picnic later that day, Arnold took candid photos of those in attendance. The photos were shown on a computer slide show with photos showing then and now. Additional photos were added to the slide show from pictures taken up to that point.
Contributed photo
CLASS OF 67 — The Houlton High School Class of 1967 celebrated its 45th reunion with a social at Bill and Gloria Folsom’s residence June 29 and a full reunion June 30 at the Houlton Country Club. Since graduation, 21 classmates had passed away. Attending the reunion were, from left, first row, Peg (Drew) Reynolds, Larry Dawson, Nancy (Merritt) Smith, Brenda (Clark) Paget and Mary (Clark) Grant; row two, Joan (Mooers) Fournier, Gloria (Drake) Folsom and Janice (Kirlin) Gulliver; row three, Andrea (Joslyn) Tidd, Lucy (Rush) Strawbridge, Barbara (Graham) Swallow, Nancy (York) Putnam and Terry Nason; row four, Jean (Fortier) Merritt, Elaine (Goodine) Labrie, Deborah (Peters) Donahue, Frank Bell, Becky (Campbell) Miller, Gail Schools and Bill Folsom; row five, Chip Currier, Andrea (Graham) Kjenstad, Nancy (Dow) Wright, Ethel (Schools) Mersereau, Jane (Mooers) Harburger and Thomas Carton; row six, Rellon Powers, Bill Callnan, David Grant, Gill Karnes, Kent Horten, Barry Campbell, Bob Grant, Paul Raymond, Larry Holmes, Laurell Farrell, Frank Gorham, Terry Larson and Mike London. Not pictured are Joannie (Fowler) Carpenter, Alan Smith and Bob Glidden.
    At 5 p.m. the formal class picture was organized by Clark for the 23 classmates in attendance. A potluck dinner was prepared for the banquet. Lawrence Haggerty offered the blessing. Those attending from away enjoyed the serving of fiddleheads, provided by Scott, while Delong made a minced pie with venison.
    A brief business meeting followed the diner. Scott introduced Chris Drew, a longtime employee at Baxter State Park serving as a ranger for Chimney Pond, Nesoudnahunk Field and Trout Brook Farm. Drew told several anecdotes of experiences he had in the park during his 23 years.