Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-05
Fortieth Anniversary at
Island Park Tuesday.
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath Enter.
tains Former Classmates.
Old Teachers There With Judge
larrabee Of School Board.


husbands and wives met Tuesday at Is
land Park in a reunion, which was in
many WAYS an occasion as unique as it
was enjoyable. Not only We're the major
ity of the members Of the class alive and
present at this occasion, but with them
were three teachers who guided their
feet along thu pathway Of khowl-
edge two score years and more ago in
old Gardiner, and Judge James NJ. Lar
r2bee, who as a member of the scnool
board presented the diplomas to the grail
yates of 1868.
The party left Gardiner on the 1915 Or
of the Lewiston, Augusta x WaterviEh
Street Railway and were Joined at ALL
gusta by Mrs. Heath, and at Island Park
they were met by Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath
whose guests they were for the day. OW-
ing 10 illness in Mr.. IIeath's family the
ladies az the house were unable to enter
tain at tlte camp at Lave Cobbosseecon-
tee as at first planned. so Mr.. a'id Mrs.
Heath entertained their guests at Island
Park Hotel, where fine shore dinner
was served. after which an hour was
passed very pleasantly in renewing the
memories of old school days. and manyta
lively story was told by those who wero
pupils and teachers so many years ago.
The party was taken around the lake in q
motor boat later in the afternoon and a
cali made at Mr.. IIeath's camp, with
which all We're greatly pleased. he par
ty left the park on their re turn at 40
Those present were Judge james NJ
LaTlabce, former member of the Gardiner
school hoard: Hiram b. Lawrence of IIol-
Oh e.Nr(
nor High school in 1865. ana his two as
sistants Of that time. Miss ISabolla p.
G"ddin@ of this city and Miss Mary f.
Glilden of Foston: Hon. and Mrs. Her
bert NJ Heath, Augusta: Mr.. and Mrs
Weston Lewis, Gardiner; Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry +. Davis. Chester, n. H.; Mr. and
Mrs. j.. W. Morrcll, Gardiner: j. t. Es-
mond, Boston; Miss Marie Fuller. Mrs
Margaret Wadsworth Smith, L. C. H.
Smith, Mrs. l.. T.. Purnell, Gardiner; Mrs
Medora CLARK Small, Oakland; Mrs.
George w. Gardiner, I';irmingda!e: Miss
Addie Perry, Gardiner.
The first class to graduate from
Gardiner High school after it had been
graded and a regular course of study
! established was that of 1868 The
graduating exercises. which the pro-
gram called "A Public Exhibition by
the Graduating CalSS," was held on
the afternoon of Friday, June 26. 1868,
at the Baptist church, which is now
Grand Army hall. Judge James M.
Lafrabce was one of the school board,
and presented the diplomas to the
graduates. In the evening Il reception
was given to the class by Rev. and
Mrs. John r. McGrath, at their home
on Pleasant street Mr. McGrath
having been principal of the school
when some of the class entered.
There We're 1G members of the class,
as follows, the names being given in
the order which they appeared on the
program: Herbert NJ. Heath, Addie
NJ Perry. Lizzie NJ. Watson. Joseph
3. Esmond. Alice l.. Chase, Jennie b.
Bradley, Weston Lewis of Pittston,
Medora +. Clark, Charles S. Plummer,
Henry +. Davis of Farminglale, Mar
garct T.. A. WadSWorth, Annie Bart
lett. Walton O. Hooker. Josie f. Small,
Ernest w. Morrell. Nellie +. Ring.
The three teachers Of the school at
that time were Hiram b. Lawrence.
principal, Miss Isabella ID. Godding,
first assistant and Miss Nary f. Gid
den. second assistant { he 16 men,
bcrS and three teachers there have
been but four deaths, Charles S. Plum
mer. Walton O. Hooker, Lizzie NJ.
Watson and Alice l.. Chase, who had
married Ivory Wakefield.
The class has not been together
since the graduation, and it was sug-
gestcd this spring that reuniGn be
| held in honor of the 4Oth anniversary
| The suggestion was favorably received
| and Mr.. Heath invited the members
ana their wives and husbands to be
| his guests at his cottage at Lake Cob
bcisc, ennt"c. The date for the re-
| union - fed for the first week in
| Augu to accommodate some of those.
| who would not be able to be present
| if it was held June 26. OF the II sur
| viying members six reside in Gardiner.
| Mr. Heath resides in Augusta. Mrs.
| Medora Clark Small lives in Oakland,
| J. b. F.smond lives in Boston. Henry
F. Davis in Chester, \. H.. Miss Bart
| lett in Haverhill and Mrs jennie
Bradley Roberts in Everett, Mass. I