Robert Nowicki

When McDonalds came to town on West Center St  it was a good deal. 15 cent hambergs, 15 cent fries and 15 cent shakes. I much prefered the taste of Burger Chef hamburgs. They had the real charcoal flavor. They were on Main St. just a block and one half north of MiddleTurnpike. There were many franchises around the country untill the 1970's when they were bought out by Hardees.

Nancy Jackson-Sava

Thank you Jackie Cook Giffen for your kind words. Made my day. My husband passed away in November and I am still struggling some days. This site has helped me through some bad days. So enjoy the memories. We went to Friendlys after the basketball games and drank awful awfuls. 

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

I can't believe that I don't know what an awful-awful is!  I remember hiking down the hill after a game and getting a banana split or a milk shake at Friendly's, but I sure don't remember an awful awful!

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

I'm sorry to hear about your husband, Nancy.  That had to be awful for you.  My husband has Alzheimer's, and it's such a slow,  terrible progression.  Sometimes he actually has his sense of humor back, and then he'll do something that just doesn't make sense.  Today, he just couldn't stand waiting for me to start the dishwasher, so he started washing everything by hand and putting the soapy dishes away.  Then he got angry when I re-loaded the dishwasher.  I still somehow expect him to understand logic, but that's not going to happen!

Mikk Hinnov

I am truly sorry to read, Jackie, that you never had an Awful-Awful and thus missed out on the great gustatory experience of our time! I can understand, however; you were a slim slip of a girl, and the Awful-Awful may have seemed overwhelming. It would have put a pound on your frame immediately. And it was expensive - 35 cents! A regular shake was only a quarter. 
I am also sorry to read of your husband's affliction. It will an ordeal for you. As they say when you get your flight safety briefing, "Put your own oxygen mask on first". You'll be no help to him if you push yorrself past your capacity.  Get help when you need it. I speak with some experience of the matter with my current wife's mother who was similarly afflicted and lived with us for only a year or so before she died. I wish you strength. 

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

Thanks, Mikk.  Yes, strength is definitely needed.  I don't think anyone can appreciate what it's like unless they've lived with it.  Any illness that doesn't have hope of improvement is probably similar, but the deterioration of the mind is a difficult pill to swallow.

Douglas McBrierty

Jackie, Prayer for you both, and Hugs.

My older sister has Alzheimer's I can see that she is scared and confused. Music seems to help her.

Nancy Jackson-Sava

Jackie, so sorry to hear about your husband. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to deal with his health issues day to day. My husband had a leaking thoracic aneurysm which was repaired but during a CT scan they found lung cancer. He pretty much gave up. I was able to have him home in home hospice care at which time he lasted about a month. I was able to hold his hand as he passed with 2 of my daughters by my side.  
 

Wishing you the strength to carry on!

Philip Rice

For those who have been reflecting on our MHS years, I'd suggest accessing the Manchester Historical Society site which has Somahis yearbooks available for viewing. Like many of you, I had friends in classes other than our own and the Somanhis  volumes of these years has been a delightful memory of past friendhips as well as an education in Manchester history.  I didn't know that before our school was built, the school district scheduled double sessions.

Robert Nowicki

When we were growing up, Connecticut still had it’s “Blue” laws in place. Among them was that stores were closed on Sunday. If you needed bread or milk, you were out of luck. Gas stations only sold gas and oil. There was one exception. The Memorial Corner Store on Main Street near the hospital was open on Sundays. They saved many a party or picnic!

Richard Berube

Sorry everyone but I need to jump into the fray. I lost my wife Susan Donahue, class of 64, last June after 13 years with Alzheimer's.  I know what it is like to care for someone for such a long time who was such a vibrant healthy best friend  for 50 years. I pray for all our classmates dealing with spouses or family members with a similar affliction.
     And yes, I remember the 15 cent fries at the Burger King on S Main St. Made that 2 mile walk home so much easier.

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

Thanks, for that, Richard.  it really does take someone who's been through caring for someone with dementia to understand what that means.

Philip Rice

Another picture from the archives: Green School 6th Grade, 1956 or 57.  Can you identify any of these happy faces?

Michael Churilla

Douglas McBrierty

Wonderful pictures Philip and Michael it was nice to come to MHS with grammar school classmates

Frederick Odell

Classmates

Pretty sure I have Christine Dingwall (front), Philip (of course) Beverly Harmon (center 2nd) Bill Stanek (rear); still many maybe including Kenny Sharp and Joh Gregan with Joe Privazzino and Elizabeth Neubert.. Few more margueriitas and I write more.

Fred Odell

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

Thanks for that, Fred.  I couldn't for the life of me remember Chris Dingwall's name last night.  I always enjoyed her after we got together at the high school.

Philip Rice

Round Table Singers.  I'm pretty sure this photo was taken by the Manchester Evening Herald.

Robert Nowicki

That is Mr. Pearson sitting on the left. Who is that conducting?

Laurie Osborne-Green

As freshman so many of us had good voices they created the junior round table.   That was the only year they had it.    

Richard Berube

A note about Christine Dingwall. She and her husband were clients of mine in our general lines insurance agency in Tequesta, Fl. They had just moved from Ct. to a Jupiter, Fl golf community. She looked terrific and her husband gave me box seat tickets for the US Open Tennis Tournament years ago.

Frederick Odell

To All

Christine Dingwall was sister to George Ross Dingwall who has a section of I-91 dedicated to him. He died tragically in a chase of a felon while an officer in The Middletown PD; this happened in 2020. when he was 48 and had served 19 years. My younger brother John was a classmate and remebers Ross fondly from the neighborhood and MHS.

Fred Odell

Lenore Johnson-Henderson

i think the director  was dave almond 

Arlene Snyder

Hello Everyone,  I've been enjoying the recent conversations for quite a while now.  It is great to see the message forum so active.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you that have lost spouses and that are now caring for your ailing love ones.  I found these pictures a while ago and debated, once again, to save or not.  Thought you might be interested in seeing them.  

Jackie Cook (Giffin)

Is that really our class?  What a sea of graduates we had!  Re: the photo with Dave Almond conducting, what is the name of the girl who is 4th from the left in the front row?  It's awful how the names are gone since I've been gone for so long.