A newspaper clipping provided by Caroline Martel promotes the Mount Greylock Class of 1962's class play, 'Our Town.'
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The last time the first class to graduate from Mount Greylock Regional School got together at the high school, members did not know it was the last time it could gather in that space.
"We had brunch there on Sunday in the cafeteria," Caroline George Martel recalled recently. "Some people hadn't even seen the new addition. We didn't have seventh and eighth grade there when I went there."
When Martel and members of the class of 1962 talk about the "new" addition, they mean the wing added in 1968.
Although portions of the original 1960 structure remain — notably the gymnasium and auditorium — most of Mount Greylock's original academic space was torn down during an addition/renovation project that welcomed students in the fall of 2018.
In mid-September, the school's first graduating class will gather for its 60th reunion — nearly 10 years to the day after that brunch to mark the 50th anniversary.
In 2012, the class held a banquet at the Williams Inn — another Williamstown institution that doesn't exist anymore — on Saturday night.
"This one is going to be a little more casual," Martel said of the Sept. 17 gathering. "It's going to be at the Waubeeka Golf Links with a social hour at 4 and dinner at 5. We're doing it early so people can drive home."
The school also has offered to give attendees at this year's reunion a tour of the new Mount Greylock while they are in town for the reunion, she said.
Martel served on the organizing committee for the 50th and again this summer is tracking down old classmates and inviting them to come celebrate their history and a significant moment in the histories of Lanesborugh and Williamstown.
"We don't do a Facebook page," Martel said of the organizing effort. "Quite a few of us don't have it. We have 11 members who don't do email even, so we have to send their invitations on paper.
"We didn't grow up with a computer."
Early responses were encouraging. In early August, Martel reported having heard from 13 of her classmates. "Not too bad, considering I just sent it out last week," she said.
Organizers are planning on a crowd of about 42 at Saturday's dinner, including, they expect, many out-of-towners who might be making their first trip to the Berkshires since the 50th reunion.
Martel, who lives in nearby Pownal, Vt., is one alumna who has been able to keep close ties with her alma mater.
"Our class gives a scholarship every year for a graduating senior and we show up to give it out on Class Night," she said. "We've been doing that since 2012. They try to alternate — giving it to a Lanesborough resident one year and a Williamstown resident the next. We rely on the guidance department to help with that.
"The young lady who got it this year is going to Russell Sage College. We got to meet her and her parents that night, which is nice for us."
Although milestone reunions are one way to preserve connections to the rest of the class, Martel said there also have been less formal gatherings over the years.
"We get together with people in the area whenever they're traveling and want to meet for lunch," she said. "I have someone coming from San Jose next week. She's only been to one reunion. We probably haven't seen her for 30 years. Her husband graduated from Hoosac Valley, and they're coming for his [reunion].
"We did the 55th reunion five years ago. In between, we lost 10 members. It's hard, because you lose people in between. We say this one is going to be it because it is a lot of work."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
click for more
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
click for more
Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more