Page 39 - Newsletter_Spring_2022

to come to Houlton this year in their February edition of school recessed for two or Dunn’s Furniture deserves
for our 55th class reunion Downeast. I am just sending three weeks and “us young special recognition in this
and celebrate however it to you as it is all about my people” helped harvest the department as their huge
way available. There is talk growing up in Houlton and potato crop. My friends and display windows always
of an all-class reunion this thought some folks might get I would call around to local held magical life size scenes
year. There is still a lot of a kick out of it farms and ask if we could like Santa’s workshop with
uncertainty, but we hope the Sincerely, hire on to a picking crew. moving characters.
third try is the charm. Keep Mary Carton Seward The farmer would drive to After college I moved to the
your fingers crossed. town with his canvas covered Downeast area where I have
I do know that David and Class of 1968 truck outfitted with planking lived for the past 50 years.
Mary (Clark) Grant are new December 14, 2021 around the inside perimeter Yikes I cannot believe it’s
great grandparents. Their to serve as seating. He would been that long! My husband
grandson Parker and Renee Dear Editorial Staff, stop at each house and blow and I have four children, one
have a very precious little boy. The bridge in your photo is the horn; we kids would come who now lives in Hodgdon
As of this letter he has grown in my hometown of Houlton, running, lunchbox and water (right outside of Houlton).
quite a bit. Brenda (Clark) Maine, and the river winding jugs under our arms. It was so We get to revisit the old
Paget and husband Steve through is the Meduxnekeag. cold at 6AM in late September hometown occasionally and
have been anxiously waiting When I was growing up in and October we would have reminisce about my growing
for the border to open since Houlton in the 50's and 60's on our winter jackets. The up days. Writing this letter
they usually spend time in that bridge was nonexistent. digger would have plowed was a surprisingly enjoyable
Florida during some winter There were two or three up several rows of frozen journey. Thanks for your
months. Their first trip over driving bridges that spanned ground by the time we arrived photo- it rekindled some
sadly was for the funeral of the river but not a walking at the field. The little brown precious memories.
John Fitzpatrick, class of 1957, one. It is such a lovely flannel gloves were not much Sincerely,
he was 83. Sad that their first protection against the frozen Mary Carton Seward
trip over was for the passing addition to the town. dirt. We learned about hard Gouldsboro, Maine
of a very dear friend. Houlton in the 1950's and work, bought our own school
60's was an idyllic small town. clothes and had a lot of fun
Please keep in mind, this is The population back then too. Class of 1969
our 55th this year and not was about 9-10,000 people Karen Eleiott Donato
sure when this letter will be including the outlying farm The town square in the PO Box 1756
seen, but please reach out communities. Although background of your photo Houlton, ME 04730
to me with any news. I love potato farming was the was paramount to life in abcmaine@hotmail.com
reading all the news from major industry, the town also Houlton. Every type of store
all the classes and am sure boasted a small liberal arts you could ever want: Penny’s, Class of 1970
all the others who get the college, Ricker College, which Boston Shoe Store, the Rod Cindy Hagerman Milton
newsletter feel the same. My added diversity and boosted and Gun, Western Auto, 6 Leonard St., Apt. B
address and phone number the economy. Fogg’s Hardware, French’s, Houlton, ME 04730
are included so hope to hear and White's Drug stores, cindyh.milton@yahoo.com
from you soon. Also, I am on As children we enjoyed three different 5 and 10's,
Facebook. In closing I have the pleasures of walking 2 jewelry stores, children's Paula Woodworth
news to share. I am retiring to school- even coming clothing stores as well as 7 Highland Court, Apt. 18
after 39 years at RSU29 as of home for lunch. We had a adult dress shops, Browns Houlton, ME 04730
June 30th. I am so excited. No community outdoor skating Department store, Dana's 919-221-8115
plans yet but time will tell. rink in the winter and a restaurant, Temple movie spudzy52@gmail.com
Hope to see you all soon. recreational center that was theatre, Sadie’s bakery, S and
a hub for young folks. The H green stamp store and Molly Swett Dumont has
Andrea Tidd ’67 Rep Coles Shoe Store, Town and
REC organized everything moved back home to Houlton
Class of 1968 from swimming lessons Country family clothing, and from Southern Florida.
at Nickerson Lake to high Dunn’s Furniture Store as well She is reconnecting with
Dear Houlton Alumni, school dances. It had tennis as family markets like John local friends and is already
I recently sent this letter courts, indoor and outdoor Dickinson's, or Skehan’s Meat working part time as a nurse
Market. During the Christmas
to Downeast Magazine in basketball facilities, pool season the lampposts would at Houlton Regional Hospital.
response to their “Where in tables, ping pong, board be decorated with greens Our Northern Maine winter
Maine” section. I received a games, and provided a great and wreaths, Christmas was not too much of a shock
nice note from them that it hang out place. music echoed through after living in Florida as Molly
was their favorite letter and Lest you think young people loudspeakers, and store fronts has been spotted frequently
they sent me a calendar. Also in Houlton only played at were exquisitely decorated. out walking the Riverfront
printed part of the letter leisure activities, every fall Trail even on the coldest days.

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