- CLASS OF 1963 –

    This year we are the “50th Anniversary Class”….. a fact that I’m really having trouble wrapping my mind around. How about you? How could that be possible? As some would say, “That’s a lot of water over the dam!”

    As a “60 something” senior citizen I suffer from all-too-often memory lapses, but happily I have many vivid recollections of our class of 33 and the 13 years we were together at HLCS. One of the earliest is physically moving from our classroom in the old Odd Fellows Hall (now the site of the Adirondack Folk School) into a brand new school on Lake Avenue. (We were the first class to enter as Kindergartners and graduate as seniors.) We walked/marched as a group up Mill Street hill full of curiosity and excitement that we were going to a new building. Too bad there isn’t a picture of that. K-12 was under one roof and everything inside was looking and smelling fresh and squeaky clean. Some last minute projects were being completed and I was totally fascinated with the workmen installing the huge green boards on the classroom walls. When it was “naptime” I strategically placed my mat directly under the sand table so I could watch all the activity. I STILL remember the gentle scolding from Mrs. Manfred for not following the “rest-time” rules…. my eyes were supposed to be shut! Yup, I was off to a great start!

    Elementary school was fun and we were soaking up learning like little sponges. I remember Mrs. Mull’s 3rd grade in particular. If I shut my eyes I can see many of my classmates and how we were seated. Recess was on the playground equipment behind the school towards the Queen Anne. In 6th grade a small group of girls, myself included, decided that it would be fun to experiment with some lipstick so we all shared a tube. Imagine our chagrin when we were escorted to the bathroom in the back of the class, handed Kleenex and told to remove it ASAP. That was followed by a stern warning, “We do NOT wear lipstick in Mrs. ____’s 6th grade!!!” I think I still have dreams about that fiasco.

    Somehow we survived 7th and 8th grades and all the awkwardness that goes along with being new “teens”. High school was harder subjects and more homework which demanded better time management. Learning to maintain your grades and participate in school activities was the challenge. Clubs, sports, school plays, prom, band, chorus and numerous other choices kept participants occupied.

    Who can forget the day we received our class rings? Our yearbooks? The morning we left for our senior trip to Washington, D.C.? Graduation night? School years are some of the best of our lives. We change, but memories never do. They just get more precious.

Betty Jean Brannon Mason

    Our class of 1959 celebrated 50 years with a reunion at the American Legion in the fall of 2009. It was very well attended. We have always had a large number attend the annual alumni banquets. We have gotten together for lunch at various classmates’ homes for several years. Sandra Washburn Parker and her husband Ken have had us to their home in Bolton for a “bring a dish” meal several times which included a ride in their boat on Lake George which Ken narrated several points of interest. We’ve also gone to lunch at several area restaurants and even drove to Bennington, Vermont to meet halfway with Charlie and Leigh Fosberry who live in New Hampshire. We always have a great time. These get togethers have kept us close and in touch with our classmates’ lives. I would highly recommend other classes try the same if they aren’t already. You’ll be glad you did.

Alice Butler Winslow