June 6-8, 2008

The Class of 1958 set the bar high at the Lincoln Academy Alumni Banquet June 7, taking honors for greatest percentage of classmates participating, person who had come the longest distance to attend (Paul Robinson), greatest percentage of classmates donating to the 2008 Annual Campaign, and the highest amount of money raised by a class for the 2008 Campaign – $12,000. We believe is the highest amount ever raised by a reunion class! Plus Lew Burleigh was named Alumnus of the Year and John Chapman received the Alumni Service Award. Lew is the third member of our class to be named Alumnus of the Year; the award has gone previously to Harland Hatch and Bill Carter. John is the first recipient of the Alumni Service Award. We’ll be a tough act to follow!

"Back to the Fifties" Cruise

The Reunion Weekend started Friday evening as we gathered at Shaw’s Wharf in New Harbor. The weather may have been a little on the cold side, but warm hugs greeted old classmates, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in 50 years! We boarded the Hardy Boat for a trip to Round Pond and back, but we were too busy catching up to look at the scenery. Back on shore, most stayed for dinner at Shaw’s restaurant.

Campus Tour

On Saturday, reunion activities started with an eye-opening tour of the new Lincoln Academy campus – definitely not our 1950s school! The former Home Ec building has a new wing and houses English, Language and Art classes. In addition to the "new" Nelson Bailey Gym which has been around since the 1970s, there’s a brand new Ryder Science Wing with state-of-the-art laboratories. Where our parking lot used to be is the building that houses the school cafeteria, named the Alumni Dining Hall, the site of the Alumni Banquet. Walled with glass on three sides, it is quite different from our basement-level cafeteria! The tour took us to the Main Room on the second floor of the "old " building, our Study/Assembly Hall and Senior Home Room. Sadly, this magnificent room was chopped in half to form a library and computer area sometime in the 80s. There are plans to restore this room to its former glory and our class donation to the Annual Campaign will go toward this restoration effort. We were delighted to have former school secretary Amy Poole, who was celebrating her 65^th Reunion, join us on the tour.

50^th Reunion Reception

Following the tour was a reception for our 50^th Reunion Class in Borland Hall, currently the Alumni/Development Office. For those who didn’t attend the Friday night cruise, this the first opportunity to catch up with former classmates. Again, we were delighted that former Teachers Harry Hildebrandt, Neal Ward and George Cole were able to join us.

Alumni Banquet

Then it was on to the Alumni Banquet. The Class of 1958 gathered outside and all walked into the banquet together. Our class tables were decorated with yellow roses (our class flower) and blue and gold balloons tied down with 45 records supplied by Mary Jane Mulligan Buchan from her personal collection. Mary Jane also wrapped the miniature Hershey chocolate bars with 50's designs and phrases sayings that were scattered on the tables. As noted before, the Class of ‘58 "ruled" at the Banquet.

Party at Will’s

But the evening wasn’t over! Following the banquet, classmates gathered at Will Byer’s home on nearby Glidden Street to talk and "pahty." It wasn’t long before 50s music lured couples into dancing.

Brunch

Our last reunion event was a fabulous buffet brunch at the Damariscotta River Grill. One last chance to relive old times. Neal and Ginny Ward joined us for the brunch.

As they say, "A great time was had by all!" And this time it was true. Even the spouses had a good time! This Reunion Weekend will be a hard one to beat, but we can try again in five more years!

(Photographs from the reunion weekend are available at the Reunion Photos site.)