Mapleton High School Class of 1949 held its 60th class reunion at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center June 24. In 1945, 51 freshmen entered Mapleton High School. At the present date, 30 class members are still living.
Attending the class reunion from the Class of 1949 were: Earlon Braley of Spanish Fork, Utah; Esther (Bull) Hewett of Presque Isle; Arnold Carter of Winslow, Fern (Condon) McDonald of Passadumkeag, Esther (Cray) Lyford of East Machias, Elwood Dean of Poway, Calif.; Barbara (Dudley) Loving of Arlington, Texas; Norman Dubay of Bangor, Carol (Griffin) Zullo of Cheshire, Conn.; Jacqueline (Griffin) Owen of Bridgeton, Mo.; Althea (Kenney) Sweeney of Portland, Connie (Moran) McCrum of Presque Isle, Dawn (Packard) Kenney of Mapleton, Catherine (Smith) Wallace of Bangor, Edwin “Skip” Staples of Mesa, Ariz.; and Roland Tompkins of Presque Isle.
Guests also attending that evening were: Dorothy Dean, wife of Elwood Dean; Lois (Dean) Cobb, sister of Elwood Dean; John Sweeney, husband of Althea (Kenney) Sweeney; Christine (Kenney) McPherson, sister of Althea (Kenney) Sweeney; Nina Staples, wife of Edwin “Skip” Staples; Lyle Kenney, husband of Dawn (Packard) Kenney; Don Wallace, husband of Catherine (Smith) Wallace; Pauline Tompkins, wife of Roland Tompkins; Ben Zullo, husband of Carol (Griffin) Zullo; Laurie (Zullo) Moreno, daughter of Carol (Griffin) Zullo; Carla (Owen) Kunstel, daughter of Jacqueline (Griffin) Owen; Iris (Dudley) Towle, sister of Barbara (Dudley) Loving; and Vella (McHatten) Condon, sister-in-law of Fern (Condon) McDonald.
On June 27, class members attended the annual Alumni Banquet held at the Mapleton Elementary School. Sixty percent of the living members attended the event. It was a great weekend for the Class of 1949. All departed with high emotion, wishing good health and happiness for the future for everyone.
Birthday wishes this week go out to Josh Fisher, John Edgecomb, Amelia Grace Dyer, Michelle Michaud, Geoff Skidgell, Gene Hoffses, Wayne MacFarline, Winnie Ireland, Ryan Kenney, Rachel Potter, Heather Hanks, Shayne McHatten, Lynn Hansen and Willie Soucy.
Happy Anniversary this week to Glendon and Anne Braley, Ross and Susan Doyen and Leslie and Nola Farley, all on the 24th; Dale and Trudy DeBlois on the 26th, Scott and Rena Carlin and Josh and Melanie Duncan on the 27th; Chad and Emily Carter, Jeramy and Melissa Buck and Terry and Heidi Chasse, all on the 28th.
Remember, each morning at 9 a.m. senior citizens (as well as others) are invited to meet upstairs at the Lion’s Hall for an hour of indoor walking. Following at 10 a.m., adults will be given the opportunity to use the Hall’s facilities to enjoy some craft time, listen to music or play games. All activities are free! Please contact Rec Director Melanie Mowbray at 551-5752 for more information.
July 26 is a busy day if you like celebrating those “little known holidays.” Two well-known childhood characters are celebrating birthdays. Sesame Street’s “Bert” and Bugs Bunny are both turning a year older on Sunday.
Another unique holiday July 26 is Aunt and Uncle Day. It only seems fitting that we honor our aunts and uncles during the year, since we recognize mothers, fathers, and grandparents!
In 1994, President William Clinton proclaimed the fourth Sunday in July as National Parents Day. This year, Parents Day will be celebrated July 27. The purpose of this day (according to my research) is not to give gifts, that’s reserved for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The best way to mark this day is by spending time with your parents doing something fun. This coming week (and all year long!) let your parents, aunts and uncles know how much they are loved and appreciated!
Even though this year’s community Vacation Bible School has already begun, there is still time to join the fun! Bible School is being held at the Mapleton United Baptist Church from now until July 24 from 12:30-3 p.m. This exciting time travel expedition, led once again by Josh and Melanie Duncan, is one you don’t want to miss! Bible School will travel back in time and visit three of the world’s most important events. All children from ages four and up are invited for lots of fun games, crafts, and some prizes, too! For more information, please call 764-0398.
The Haystack Historical Society will be hosting a garage sale in the east wing of the museum through July and August every Saturday that the museum is open. Summer hours are on Saturdays now until Aug. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Anyone interested in helping preserve the building and its contents are encouraged to attend the group’s next monthly meeting Monday, July 27 at 7 p.m. at the museum.
The Society has voted to offer a couple’s lifetime membership for $150. If two people from the same family would like to join, this option would save $50, rather than purchasing one lifetime membership for $100.
The Grange Hall is available for rent May 1-Nov. 1. Please contact any member if you are interested in renting the hall for your event. The Society meets one night a month from February through November and welcomes new members. Please consider helping the Society preserve a piece of local history.
The United Methodist Church luncheon will be held Friday, July 24 at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
