Deering High School Class of 1936 Reunion

We hope that all 39 who attended our July 30 reunion luncheon for the Deering High School Class of 1936 will be with us next year, at our 70th. For that big anniversary, we may have even more attending!

Before the luncheon, at Verrillo’s at a small table in our private room there, we helped ourselves to an attractive and tasty plate of hors d’ouevres. They included crackers, cheese slices, grapes and fresh strawberries.

On the reunion committee are Eleanor Berry Beal, Anne Blanchard Foote, Betty Halloran Kennedy, Harold J. Griffith, Jane Drew Sampson, and Alicia Wilbur Watson.

Harold Griffith was our capable master of ceremonies. Just before the luncheon was served, he read the names of our members who have passed away since the last reunion, and we had a moment of silent prayer for them: Carolyn Baker Redlon, Harold Farrington, Matthew Flaherty, Edythe Marston Shaw, Eleanor Roche Watkins, Donald T. Wark, Corinne Nichols Rollins, Alice I. Nurse, and Richard “Dick” Doyle.

Harold then introduced Stanley Sampson, whose wife, Jane Drew Sampson, is in our 1936 class. In Stan’s invocation, he gave us an excellent message, leading us to recall our classmates who have passed away, and to appreciate this gathering, too.

After the luncheon, Harold Griffith read notes from members who could not attend, or from family members, writing for our classmates.

John Jetzzi, who has come down from Rumford each year with his wife stepped up beside Hal Griffith, to thank the reunion committee for their work in arranging these reunions each year. It was a very nice gesture.

Betty Kennedy brought a picture of fifth-graders at Heseltine School, which she attended. Several of our class were in that class, too. Winnie Marsters had several envelopes of pasted-up clippings from Portland newspapers, and urged us to take any we might recognize. I now have pictures of Barbara Bennett (Alden’s sister), at the time of her wedding to Vernon McKane; of Alice Gamage and Neal W. Allen Jr., announcing their engagement; and of Irving L. Pike, when he was elected as president of the senior class at Gorham Normal School.

I had brought a clipping from an early Ramblings column, of a group from the Deering High School Ski Club, taken outdoors at the Appalachian Mountain Club lodge at Pinkham Notch, N.H., where we had stayed, during winter vacation. Fred Cowan of our 1936 class was interested in that, and we both recalled the happy days at the DHS cabln, “Ski Haven,” and all that Ted Johnson, our ski coach, did for us all.

Also Allan Bonney, who was at our table at the luncheon, had praise for Ted, who was also our English teacher. Allan said that Ted gave encouragement to many of his students, who might not otherwise have gone on to college.

Allan drove down for our reunion from his summer cottage in Weld. He and Stan Sampson, also at our table, had a chat about relatives, and discovered that they have some in common! Also Hal Griffith talked to Allan about Luther Bonney, Allan’s uncle, who was the well-known dean of Portland Junior College.

Also at our table were Alice Gamage Allen, a good friend of mine from Westbrook Junior College days, and Marjorie Corson Hansen of Windham, and her daughter, Janet Waterhouse. Marj and her husband owned and managed the popular Top Of the Hill restaurant on Route 302 for many years. Marj is an accomplished quilter, too. We were pleased that she is now well enough to get about again, after several months of recuperating.

Greeting guests as they registered were Betty Halloran Kennedy and Madeline Griffith. Jane Drew Sampson arranged the table decorations, pretty violet plants, one at each table. The purple linen napkins, at each plate and on white linen tablecloths, carried out our Deering High colors, purple and white.

Our 69th reunion was a success. It’s a pleasure to enjoy a nice luncheon in a private room, and have a chance to reminisce together, too.

Those attending were the six committee members (named above), and Winnie Clement Marsters, John Jetzzi and his wife, Bea Sargent Straw, Fred Cowan and his wife, Madge Rhoads Frost and her husband, Dorothy Buffum Chase, Coleman Gorham and his wife, Alice Gamage Allen, Allan Bonney, Mrs. Betty Wark, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Cooper, Ken and Helen Schade, Gertrude MacLeod Harvey and husband, Norman, Marjorie Corson Hansen and her daughter, Janet Waterhouse, Frances Swasey Zemla, Marie Larson, Celia Galli Mooney, and, from the Class of 1935, Marie Dumont, and from the Class of 1937, Evelyn Gammon and Betty Carlton, and Harry T. Foote.

More beautiful flowers in Mayor Baxter Woods Park

I was thrilled, as I started a recent walk on the Forest Avenue entrance to Mayor Baxter Woods, to glance over at the small pond there and discover the gorgeous water lilies. There are at least 100 of them, most of them pink, but a few white ones too.

Even if you don’t plan to take a hike on the trails there, under the towering trees shading the walk, I urge you to park along Forest Avenue and at least walk a few steps over to the small pond, on the left of the entrance, to admire that water lily display.

I met a young lady last week, walking up a trail with her young son (not more than 2 years old) and her dog. We exchanged praises about these woods and she said, “You really wouldn’t think that they’re right here in Portland!”

I wish that Percival Baxter could have heard the nice statement. He gave us a wonderful gift.

Recipe

This is another recipe from “Color Me Cooking,” the cookbook compiled by the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. We enjoy apple pie at our house, but if you make your own pie crust (as I do), this apple dessert will take less time to assemble.

Peggy’s Apple Pudding Cake

2 eggs

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup oil (may use butter)

2 tsps. Vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsps. baking soda

2 tsps. cinnamon

2 tsps. nutmeg

1 tsp. salt

4 cups chopped apples, peeled

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Grease an 8×10-inch pan. Combine and beat 2 eggs, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 2 tsps. vanilla, and 4 cups chopped apples. Beat well to let juices come out of the apples. Sift 2 cups flour, 2 tsps. cinnamon, 2 tsps. nutmeg, and 1 tsp. salt. Sift and add to the apple mixture. Add 1 cup chopped nuts. Pour in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Ice the cake when cool. Refrigerate.

Icing

1/2 stick butter

1 pkg. (3 oz.) of cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. vanilla

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