Vincent and Doris Maillet on a trip to the Caribbean
Vincent and his wife Doris are still working and live in Gardner. Vincent is a quality controller for RR Donnelley in Bedford, MA and Doris works for the Henry Heywood Rehab Center in Gardner. They have no children but both are from large families and have twenty two nieces and nephews with many family functions to attend.
The couple both enjoy traveling and have recently bought a home on a golf course in Plant City, Florida. Some of their immediate family live in this area and Vincent plans to play golf in retirement. Other recent trips have included the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach. Next year, they are planning a trip to Hawaii. Two of Vincent's other hobbies include woodworking and photography. Vinnie is especially proud of his kitchen remodeling project (new cabinets, lighting, etc.) which he completed by himself in his "spare time."
Vincent sent us a black and white photograph taken at a grade 8 Open House at the Holy Rosary School in Gardner. You can view the photo by copying and pasting the following link into your internet browser:
http://www.box.net/shared/oosmfmhvgh
Photo courtesy of Carol Johnson Smith
GHS classmate John Awdycki was honored recently at his induction to the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame. The ceremony was conducted in Chatham, MA on Nov. 13-14 2009. John graduated from the University of Massachusetts and is a long time professor of Accounting at Mount Wachusett Community College. He won the Cape Cod League batting title in 1965, hitting .407 for the town of Orleans with 44 hits, 28 RBI, and 22 runs scored. John was also as a two-time All-New England and All-Yankee Conference player for the UMASS Minutemen during his college years. Later, he was a top hitter in the semi-pro Quebec Provincial League, a coach at Orleans, and general manger during his last Season.
Thanks to Tom Ryan for providing the lead on the this posting, and congratulations to John Awdycki for his deserving accomplishment.
Got news to share about another GHS classmate? Please send an e-mail to ghsclassof1960@gmail.com .
Images of America: Hubbardston
Arcadia Publishing recently released another in its series of local history stories, this time featuring the town of Hubbardston. Hubbardston began as a rural farming community, producing crops, livestock, and dairy products. Its millponds even generated enough power to run small millworks. For a time, inns and hotels also flourished as Hubbardston was on the north-south stage route, but the arrival of railroad in 1871 changed that. Later, a great influx of Finnish immigrants settled in the area. The book acknowledges the contributions of noted residents Adam Wheeler, second in command at Shay's Rebellion; Jonas Clark, founder of Clark University; and Waino Holopainen and Roy Handy, inventors of the first hydraulic backhoe. The author, Gary W. Kangas, is a member of the Hubbardston Historical Society. He grew up on a farm that was in his family from 1894 to 1998.
For those GHS classmates that grew up in Hubbardston, the Arcadia publication ($21.99, ISBN 9780738565156) may be ordered at http://www.arcadiapublishing.com or Barnes & Noble bookstores in the greater Gardner area.
The cover of the Hubbardston volume features a photograph of the 1933 Boy Scout troop. Classmate Robert Hunter Coffin, Jr. was quick to identify his father standing in the front row.
Ed and Sue (Skamarycz) Nobrega
Ed and Sue live in Duxbury, MA. Sue is a retired elementary school teacher and each keep fit, enjoy travel, and visiting with children. Both Ed and Sue attended the GHS Class of 1959 50th class reunion and have shared their observations and suggestions with our planning committee.
We invite you to send us a greeting that we can post to our GHS web log, along with a recent photo, to help remind us of the many common hobbies or interests that we share as former classmates. Please address your e-mail to ghsclassof1960@gmail.com.
One more time in the Hallowed Halls of GHS
The Gardner High School Class of 1959 held its 50th Class Reunion over the weekend of October 9-11, 2009. You can get details and photos at the Class of 1959 web site at http://www.ghs59.org . These include photos taken in the corridors, the gym, and the auditorium of our old high school. The Friday night social and tour of the old GHS building attracted 65 attendees; the Saturday dinner, 111 classmates and spouses or guests; the Sunday brunch, 57.
Now the Elm Street School, our former alma mater building is up to building code and features an elevator. Several of the Class of 1950 reunion attendees and the building principal were stuck in the elevator for several hours as firemen and elevator technicians worked to free them. Then it was on to William's Tavern and Restaurant where the Frday night social provided a great start to the weekend.
Both Judy Heino Collette and Suzanne Skamarycz Nobrega report that the Friday event was well attended and filled up the back room of William's Restaurant. Hearty appetizers were set up at one end of the room and rows of tables allowed attendees to sit and chat. If you have thoughts about the Friday night social idea for our reunion in July of 2010, please add a comment to this message or send an e-mail message to ghsclassof1960@gmail.com.
Pamela A. Marien, 1960 Argus Photo
Pamela A. (Marien) Schultz, 66, of Westminster, died in her home after an illness on Friday, October 16, 2009. Pamela attended Westminster Elementary and Junior High School before Gardner High School. She shares the "Little Oscar" award for wittiest student with Richard Kiiski.
Pam was a computer analyst for fifteen years at the former Digital Equipment Corporation before she retired in 1989. She moved to Cape Cod, where she worked as an accountant at Colson Landscaping, before moving back to Westminster in 2004. Pam enjoyed cooking and gardening. She is survived by her mother, two sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Lavery, Chartrand, and Alario Funeral Home, 99 Summer Street, Fitchburg, with calling hours on Saturday, October 24 from 9-11 a.m. followed by graveside services in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster.
Photo by Judy Heino Collette
In the August 1, 2007 edition of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, correspondent Shirley Barnes reported that "Seventy years ago, Harriet Lee won $ 100.00 playing bingo." Later, Harriet and her husband would use that money and other savings to start a small food stand on land near their home. Starting in 1937, they sold hot dogs and soda to workers at a nearby paper mill on the Otter River. The hot dogs were a foot long served in a ten inch roll, selling for 10 cents apiece. During World War II , the stand was closed. The original building was burned down in 1942, but a new stand was opened after the war.
A lot of GHS alumni remember the little building (no seating inside, only a take-out window) at the curve in the road near the railroad bridge over route 68 entering Baldwinville center. Lee's was popular for its many varieties of hot-dog toppings, including "the works."
