NHS Class of '61 to Celebrate 50th Reunion

Selectmen on Tuesday gave a special call-out to the Class of 1961, which is celebrating its 50th class reunion this weekend.

The festivities will kick off this evening with a casual reception from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at classmate Jim Mahoney’s house. (Details on all activities are available at www.classcreator.com/Needham-MA-1961.) On Saturday morning, the group will enjoy a bus tour of Needham, with the option of touring the high school as well. On Saturday evening, there will cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dancing at the from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. And the weekend will conclude with a Sunday morning brunch at Dunn-Gaherin’s Food and Spirits in Newton Upper Falls.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Selectman Dan Matthews read a proclamation acknowledging this milestone for the Class of ’61, noting that the class was the largest graduating class in history, with 355 students receiving their diplomas that year.

Other interesting facts noted in the proclamation, which was written by classmate David Svendsen:

• The Class of 1961 dedicated its yearbook, “The Advocate,” to the town of Needham, which was celebrating its 250th anniversary at the time.

• The class donated the first tree to be planted on the Webster Street side of the high school in honor of Dr. Walter Patterson upon his retirement as principal.

Svendsen also shared some of his classmates’ fondest memories of growing up and going to school in Needham:

“The Class of 1961 grew up in Needham at a time when televisions first appeared in family households, there were horse-drawn wooden sidewalk snowplows, multiple dairy farms, penny candy, carnivals at Memorial Park, circuses at Stephen Palmer and a movie theater…

“When Elvis rocked, police directed traffic at the ‘box’ at the intersection of Great Plain Avenue and Dedham Street, doctors made house calls and the was lit for the first time…

“When a female operator would answer the phone as you picked it up, ask for the number you were calling and call that number for you…

“When we skated on ponds, caught fireflies in a jar, rode one-speed bicycles and were taught cursive writing…

“When hot lunches cost 25 cents, John F. Kennedy visited the cafeteria and a picture of that event appeared in Life Magazine…

“When ‘Snake Dances’ were held on a Friday night before a home football game, the Thanksgiving Day football game with Wellesley was ‘special,’ a man would raise and lower a crossing gate on Great Plain Avenue as trains passed through town, Calverts provided a great buy in clothing, ‘soda jerks’ worked at many of the pharmcies and Brigham’s ice cream store and Howard Johnson’s restaurant were ‘meeting places’…

“When boys had to register for the draft within five days of their 18th birthday, ‘Duck and Cover’ was supposed to ‘save us’, the Fourth of July parade and fireworks were always special and ‘perfect weather completed the perfect ending for the outdoor the outdoor graduation exercises.”

Welcome back, Class of 1961, and happy 50th anniversary!

Share your congratulations or other messages with the Class of 1961 in the comments below, or post your own photos from days gone by.