Comin’ Home 2010

 Excerpts from a press release…

As over 150 Chester High Alumni and friends gathered in town, one was heard to

These folks are not waiting for a train but this is about "days gone by."

comment “Where is Normal Rockwell when you need him?” The 108th anniversary of Chester High School was indeed a picture of history, nostalgia, and community/school spirit.  The annual reunion and meeting always draws a large number of people associated with the former Chester High School, including Chester Residents who graduated from Gateway after Chester High School closed in the late 1960’s. This year’s meeting was held on June 26 at the restored Chester Train Station.

Special recognition was given to Ralph Kenyon who was present for his 74^th reunion. Additional five year class attendees included William Holmes and Rita Mitchell Phelps, Class of 1945; Muriel Pease Boisseau, Edward Carrington, Rita Tracey Dempsey, Phyllis Salvini Donovan, Elinore Markham. Paul Mitchell, Maurice Pease, Fay Peltier Piergiovanni, Marjorie Morey Pulver, and Barbara Gerrish Thomas, Class of 1950. The “half century” class of 1960 included Gerald Biggs, Robert Goewey, Shirley Libardi Guzzo, Joan Hansbury, George Miller, and Paula Zisk.

What happened to the chocolate covered strawberries??

Association President Walter Boomsma noted that these reunions are “drifting in the direction of becoming as much a town event as a school reunion.” Noting that the Chester Foundation handled most of the meeting arrangements and food, he also pointed out that the Historical Society also supported the occasion by offering special hours for alumni to visit and arranging for a book signing by alumni and author Phyllis Salvini Donovan.

Author Phyllis Donovan is assisted by Fay Piergiovanni autographing "A History of Chester..."

“We had lots of help setting up and people who volunteered to stay and help clean up,” he said. “I think this is proof that small town America is alive and well, at least here in Chester.”

Election of officers was also held. Elected as President for his sixth year was Walter Boomsma. Also returned to office were Vice President, Robert Goewey; and Treasurer, George Morey, Jr. Judith Davenport Olson  and Edith Cooper Whitaker were elected to the Board of Directors. After accepting Secretary Edith Whitaker’s resignation with regret, attendees overwhelmingly elected Annette Fimbel LaMountain as to the office.

The Association has already started planning for the next annual meeting, scheduled for June 25, 2011. Those associated with or in some way connected with Chester and/or Chester High School are encouraged to be certain the Association has current mailing information by contacting Annette LaMountain, Association Secretary, PO Box 206, Chester MA 01011.

Preliminary Planning… 2010 Reunion!

If you do buy a calendar from the Historical Society, it will already have the date of next year’s reunion: June 26, 2010. That makes the fifty year class the class of 1960 — and you are featured on the jUne page of the calendar. The calendar lists James Mitchell, Glen Avery, Dennis Welin, Robert Goewey, John Walter Ferris, George Miller Jr., Roger McCaul, Gerald Biggs, Miriam Sternagle, Judith Rice, Joan Handsbury, Dorothy Blanchard, Bradley Black, Caol Pease, Paula Zisk, Richard Wilander, Marshall Black, Richard Carraway and Doreen Kelly as members. If you are one of these people… or have information about one of them, please let our secretary or let me know! If one of you would like to “organize” your class, we’ll help… it’s not to early to start contacting people.

Of course we’ll honor all the five year classes… so do the math! In fact, this is my own class’s 45th… so let’s see if we can “pack the depot” again this year… Any classes or ‘mates needing or wanting help, just let me know! We haven’t worked out the details yet, but don’t expect much change from last year… atttending is affordable, we’ve been at ten dollars per person in the past.

What other information should we list here to help you plan your trip?