Page 15 - Fall 2019 Newsletter

A Flash From the Past

By Karen Eleiott Donato ‘69

When I graduated from Houlton High School 50
By Erica (McGary) Tweedie, '00 years ago I took a class called “Senior Special”. It
was an elective that provided another credit toward
graduation. It was part of the Home Economics
class now called Consumer Science. The course was
taught by Vera Hutchinson, who had joined the
district in 1964 and continued in that position until
‘92.

During that time, home ec encompassed a broad
range of topics, and was only for girls. One not
only learned skills in cleaning, ironing, cooking
and sewing, but also developed public speaking
skills, common courtesy, how to write a note of
appreciation, how to manage introductions and Fashion show models: The senior high Home Economics Department
work in a public setting. presented a Fashion Show in the high school auditorium. The students
created and modeled their own creations. The two little people
are Laurie Swimm in a two-piece play suit and Donnie Goodall in
She initiated a three-week nursery school program a sports ensemble. Standing from left: Luanne Belyea in a sports
ensemble; Sandra Estabrook in a lace shift; Brenda Clark, in an A-line
in the spring for pre-school children, whose parents shift; Carole Tracy, in a paisley bell-sleeved A-line and Joanne Fowler in
worked in the district. Students enrolled in her high a lace over taffeta semi-formal. Photo from the ‘60s.

school program would experience what a career in early
childhood education might involve. Another popular
class was Fashion Merchandising. Many students taking
home ec were members of the Future Homemakers
Club of which she was the advisor for many years.
Students could take Home Ec all four years and over
time, the courses offered more specific interests for
students to pick and choose from. Later in her career
boys were also included in some of the courses.

Mrs. Hutchinson often invited professional people
within the community to her classes to discuss how
their business operated and what they might be looking
Mildred McIntosh, proprietor of Bither’s Ladies Shop visited with for in future employees. For this issue of the North Star
students of the fashion merchandising class. Mrs. McIntosh we have included some clippings from her scrapbook
demonstrated a variety of ways to tie scarves or neck-ware and belt
accessories. She convinced the class that scarves or accessories that appeared in the Houlton Pioneer Times in the 60s.
were an exciting way to expand and update ones wardrobes.
Standing from left: Amy Hubert, Julie Duff, Kim Blood, Vera
Hutchinson, class advisor, Kristy Wilson and Mrs. McIntosh. Seated is Mrs. Hutchinson continues to keep busy in retirement
Myrna Jewell. Photo from the ‘90s. with her church in Monticello and is always interested
in what her former students are doing.

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