Students mowed the lawn for free. For his high school years, the treasurer went to Birch Tree High School, the cultural center of this town, now with a population of 599. In Holden's time, the town was a little smaller. It's the kind of town where reporters touring the old high school are trusted with the keys to lock up after looking around. Most residents now work in one of the many wood mills, but in the 60s the town offered a few more occupational options including a shoe factory.
Residents say when the railroad left town, the jobs went with it.
Holden graduated in 1967. She said there were about 12 teachers, including the principal and superintendent. Each subject had its own classroom among the nine the three-story brick building held. There wasn't a wide variety of courses. There was home economics, but no industrial arts.