Saturday, Aug. 4 saw an unusually small group of Island Falls alumni attending the annual banquet/reunion. Only 65 graduates were seated for the evening with guests and band members, making the total 94.
Following the invocation given by Keith MacKenzie, ’64, a delicious meal catered by Big Valley Sno Club was enjoyed. The brief business meeting followed with review of the minutes and acceptance of the treasurer’s report.
The roll call of classes began with Malcolm Palmer ’43 being the first respondent. This was the 75th anniversary of his graduation, with Mac being the only surviving member of his class. Carl shields ’45 with Elfreida, Mabel Lenentine Desmond ’46 and granddaughter Jennifer, Lillian Clukey Little and Marion Lane Hoar ’47, Harold Sherman ’48 and Derald Pelkey ’49 with nephew Kurt finished the decade.
From the 50’s were Edward Quinlan and Owen Botting ’50, Merlyne Porter Ryan ’51, Muriel Hosford Fogg and Donna Curry ’52, Carletta Pettengill Nevers ’53 with daughter and son-in law and Virgil Lynch ’53 with Doris, Elinor Brooks Savage ’54, Charles Pelkey ’56 with Joan, Donna and Dennis Hayford,’57 Shirley Pipes Sides and Jeannette Cameron Sherman with Bob, ’58 was well represented for their 60th with Gloria Given Rivers, Susan Berry Prescott, Merrilee Sherman Kirby, Priscilla Stevens Young, Beverly Dickinson Long, Robert Pendelton, Eric Pettengill and guests Mary Pettengill, Marilyn Newton and Linda Vigil.
1960s-era graduates were: ’60 Connie Walker Hollis and Bill, ’61 Dennis Ryan and Caroline, Phil Curry and Polly and Cecil Given. ’62 George Neunaber and Janet, Sherry Edwards Hosford and Sandra Pipes Anderson. From ’63 was Mary Hathaway Sherwood and Marilyn Given Oakes. ’64 Richard Armstrong, Keith MacKenzie, Paula Gellerson Lilley with Perry. ’65 Larry Given with Marc Poulin, Dianne Curry and Brenda Webb. ’66 David Fox, Darrell Hartin and Gail Webb Davis with former classmate Gary Springer. ’67 Nancy Palmer Kennedy, Kathy Mooers Beran, Candy Newman Rupley. ’69 Valerie Lake Powers, Maitland and Annette Michaud Stevens, Darlene Hartin and guest, Steve Porter, Winnie White Desmond, Sharman Hoar Ball.
The final years of classes from Island Falls High School were the first three years of the 1970’s. The school had already begun the process of consolidating into CSD 9 when the grade school and gymnasium buildings in Island Falls burned in 1974. These three years were the beginnings of a different era for the region as well as the country, with the Vietnam war looming and the “Peace” movement becoming daily news.
The last years of Island Falls High School attending the banquet were ’70 Laura Jones Farnsworth, Susan York Archer and Ted Hartin, ’71 Elizabeth Ryan Lord, Charlene Hartin Cram, and Verna White Jones. ’72 Sona Smith Hallett and Don, Kareen Given King, Randy Curry and Patti Desmond Hartin. The class of ’73 had celebrated a 45th anniversary together but was not represented at the banquet.
Two members of the Class of 1968 were present, marking 50 years. Dianne Drew Given and Ronda Stairs Slauenwhite were honored at the head table. They shared a bit of the past years since graduation.
Entertainment was provided by Katahdin Country and Friends with 50’s/60’s music enjoyed by all. The evening adjourned with the singing of “God Bless America” and a benediction given by Paula Gellerson Lilley ’64. A group stayed to enjoy music and dancing.
