Page 12 - Spring 2025

Spotlight on Alumni, continued...
screen, we could be sure of at least one cartoon and a
movie of some kind. We always had enough left after
admission for a chocolate ice cream cone.
Fall meant our three-week break so that I could join
a random crew of people who had shown up to help
my Uncle Hogan to pick potatoes. Waking up before
sunrise, having a light breakfast while still mostly
asleep, trundling out to the field on the back of a
potato truck, and then gradually shedding clothes as
the day became hotter – I remember the fun bits and
forget the drudgery that was surely a part of it.
Hunting after that – sliding in a plastic sled down
Reservoir Hill – finding a snow mobile to ride through
the woods – walking on the County Road as the earth
woke up again in the Spring – I never had good cause
to be bored in Houlton.”
Among his favorite memories of Houlton High School
are the Variety Show and the HS Circus. “That is where
we got to know just how impressive our friends were.
Musicians, dancers, comedians – Houlton kids had
game.” He remembers how classes would rally around
their candidate for Circus Queen, only to be beaten
each year by the seniors. He’s still convinced that Mr.
Scott had it rigged so that the seniors would win every
year.
Another fond memory was the Miss Ugly contest.
For the younger alumni, it’s not what it sounds like.
The intent of the contest was to try and look “ugly”.
While still not appropriate in today’s world, it’s a fond
memory for many.
Bruce was involved in a variety of activities while at
HHS.
“I remember doing a little bit of everything. At the
behest of Mrs. Wiggins, I tried out for basketball and
failed dismally. Mr. Emack organized a photography
club that I enjoyed.”
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Bruce has seen many changes in Houlton as he
manages to get back each year and re-live some of his
childhood experiences with his own children. “My kids
have discovered the candy store in Market Square, and
we go to the Temple Cinema once a week. We have to
get ice cream from the dairy stand. We also make a
reservation for The Vault.
I asked him what advice he would give to someone
considering a career in education, specifically as
teacher of English and Literature. “I can’t offer any
advice, but I would suggest that you might find
something that you like, and that you could stay
flexible in case that something doesn’t pan out and
you must go to the “something you like number 2.”
Be sure to go online now at
www.houltonalumni.com to
register for the ‘50’s drive-in
social and for the brunch at
the Lakeside Restaurant on
Sunday, July 6th.
He considers himself very lucky to have found a job
that he enjoys. “I would have been as happy working
as a forest ranger, running a small business or helping
people with their legal issues. I managed to find a way
to read books and discuss them in a room with other
people, and then to write about them and share those
written ideas with still other people. I still can’t quite
believe that someone pays me for this.”
Bruce Plourde - another Houlton High School
graduate making a difference in their community.
www.houltonalumni.com