ISLAND FALLS — The Island Falls Alumni Banquet/Reunion was held at the Municipal Building, Island Falls with 154 alumni and guests. The Class of 1962 was the honored 50-year class, with 11 members seated at the head table.
REUNION — The Island Falls Alumni Banquet/Reunion was recently held at the Municipal Building, Island Falls with 154 alumni and guests. The Class of 1962 was the honored 50-year class, with 11 members seated at the head table. Taking part were, front row from left, Edwin MacArthur, Kathy Desmond Merrill and Wendell Roach; middle, Reginald Watson, Charlotte Morrison Durr, Sandra Pipes Anderson and David Campbell; and back, Tom Hawkes, David Sewall, Andrew Porter, Sherry Edwards Hosford, George Neunaber and Delmas Hastey.
A buffet meal catered by Big Valley Sno-Club was enjoyed, a brief business meeting was held. Entertainment was Paul LaPointe of Houlton with songs from the 50’s and 60’s decades. The flag salute was led by Ted Pettengill ’65, the invocation given by Keith MacKenzie ’64 with a time of silence for 15 deceased classmates. The benediction was given by Rebecca Joy Drew ’67.
Seated at the head table from class of ’62 were Edwin MacArthur and Judy, Wendell Roach and Donna, David Campbell and Dawna, David Sewall and Jill, Kathy Desmond Merrill and Bob, Reg Watson and Rayna, George Neunaber and Sandy, Sandra Pipes Anderson, Sherry Edwards Hosford, Charlotte Morrison Durr, Tom Hawkes, Andrew Porter and former class member Pam Hillman Oliver. Edwin as senior class president made the introduction and opening remarks for the table. Stories, memories and updates were shared by each members, confessions of past misdeeds brought laughter to all.
A roll call of classes began with Verna Prescott MacArthur ’36 being first respondent. Two members of the class of 1937, the 75th-year class were present and stood to applause. Althea Drew Given of Brewer and Rodney Palmer of Houlton were presented with corsage and boutonniere. A greeting was brought from C. Larry Thorne the remaining member of ’37. Ophelia Duguay LaPore ’41, Clayton Webb and Riva Donham Hawkes ’42, Malcolm Palmer ’43, Leithia Varney Porter ’44, Annie Jane Porter Smith, Carl Shields, Eunice Carr Rectanwald ’45, Mabel Lenentine Desmond, Edward Dwyer ’46, Edith Dwyer, Marion Lane Hoar ’47, Harold Sherman, Raymond Porter ’48 and Derald Pelkey ’49 finished the early decades.
From the 50’s were Owen Botting, Ron Edwards, Jean Porter Smallwood, Richard Martin ’50, Mary Dwyer Lawler, Merlyne Porter Ryan, Louella MacKenzie Ryan, Marjorie Pulkinnen Carter ’51, Barbara Thorne Pulkinen, Walter J. Bishop, Joyce Curry, Donna Stevens Curry and James Shields ’52, Carol Clarke Starr, Carletta Pettengill Nevers, Virgil Lynch, Rebekah Tingley Stephens, Ed McGraw, Marilyn Hartin Noyes, Gilbert Sirois, Marion Grant Burton, Ed Campbell, Richard Pulkinnen, Richard Ryan’53, Nancy Pendleton McGraw, Sandra Morrison Shields, Nancy Gerow Moody ’55, Charles Pelkey ’56, Jeannette Cameron Sherman, Terry Dwyer, Shirley Pipes Sides, Sylvia Morrison, Walter Pulkinnen ’57, Susan Berry Prescott, Beverly Dickinson Long, Bob Pendleton, Margaret MacARthur Coolong, Eric Pettengill, Jerolyn Jones Ireland ’58, Rodney Bishop and Frank Edwards ’59.
A larger representation than usual attended from the 60’s and 70’s. Phil Curry and Cecil Given ’61, Barbara Parady Sleeper, Mary Hathaway Sherwood, Betty Astle Harris ’63, Brian McNally, Keith MacKenzie, Richard Armstrong ’64, Larry Given, Suzanne Banton Cates, Diana Porter Daniesl, Ted Pettengill, Dianne Curry ’65, Gail Webb Davis, John Walker ’66, Steve McNelly, Nancy Palmer Kennedy, Rebecca Joy Drew ’67, Dianne Drew Given ’68, Sandra Newman, Warren Walker, Valerie Lake Powers, Darlene Hartin, Winnie White Desmond ’69, Laura Jones Farnsworth, Ted Hartin ’70, Charlene Hartin Cram, Verna White Jones, Elizabeth Ryan Lord ’71. Gathering for a celebration of 40 years from class of 1972 was Donna Ireland Walker, Sona Smith Hallett, Randy Curry, Sandra Fogg MacArthur, Rodney Drew, Amy Joy Detour, Jane Pomeroy Foster, Dale Webb, Patti Desmond Hartin and Carrilee Dunphy. Members of the final graduating class of 1973 were not represented.
Also attending were Janice Palmer, Charlene Webb, Chris and Amanda Hawkes, Maurine Hannaford, Priscilla Palmer, Elfrieda Shields, Kurt Pelkey, Dorothy Martin, George Wagner, Harry Carter, Sonny Starr, Doris Lynch, Nevers, Royce Smallwood, Florence Burbee, Don Burton, Barry Pelkey, Joan Pelkey, Bob Sherman, Joan Pulkinen, Polly Curry, Bill Daniels, Terry Pettengill, Ralph Powers, Jerry Farnsworth, Donna Hartin, Don Hallett, Pat Drew, Ernie and Edna Rassmussen.
A highlight of the evening was the viewing of a quarter-scale replica of the former Island Falls Highs School building. Built as the result of a request of Val Lake Powers ’69, Ernie Rasmussen of North Carolina constructed the replica from photos and input from graduates. The replica is currently on view at Katahdin Public Library in Island Falls.
