2009 Cromwell All School Reunion
Imagine, if you will, a small town in New England. The year is 1956. A brand new high school has just opened its doors for the first time. You are about to enter The Twilight Zone...
It is a new beginning for the high school students of Cromwell, Connecticut. For the very first time, they will be attending their own high school, instead of being bussed to nearby Middletown. It is also a new beginning for something else all across America: the birth of Youth Culture. For the first time a whole young generation embraces its own language, its own way to dress, its own hairstyles, and its own music! Yes that dreaded Rock'n'Roll is here to stay!
Cromwell students emerged from the relative safety of the quiet '50's and into the turbulent '60's with the rest of the nation. In 1960, America elected a young, vibrant, good-looking president, who admonished us to, "Ask not what your country can do for you; but what you can do for your country!" Young Americans responded by volunteering in their communities and around the world. We experienced assasinations, protest marches, the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, the tragedy of the Vietnam conflict, and Woodstock: "What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for four hundred thousand!"
We are here today to celebrate that first generation of CHS Grads, especially the Class of 1959, on their 50 year anniversary! Many of the traditions established in those early years are still going on. The strong school spirit, high academic standards, outstanding athletic and artistic achievements continue to keep CHS among the best public high schools in the state. Just this year, Cromwell won the Class S State titles in both football and basketball. Rest assured that we can all be proud of Cromwell High and what it has become in its first fifty years!
Before we proceed with the rest of the festivities, there are a few people we need to acknowledge: Barbara Moore and the staff of Chatham Caterers; Dave Cooligan, CHS '77, who provided the lights; Brian Barbour, Music Plus DJ; Tim Farrell, CHS '80, of Edgewood Rentals for the tents; Jim Bellamo, CHS '79, for spraying for mosquito prevention; Sue Schein and Brett Trepanier and crew, Town of Cromwell Parks and Recreation Dept.; Cahills for the Port-O-Potties; Dattco Bus Company; McCutcheon & Burr Insurance; The Cromwell School System; Elisa Camera for taking the Class Photos. The committee thought you should know how your money was spent!
Putting on an event of this magnitude takes a lot of planning and time. The class representatives and the reunion committee spent countless hours attending to every detail to ensure that the day would be enjoyable for all. How about our Webmasters Susan Butler Czaja '63 and her brother David Butler '70, for the super job they do on the alumni website? We would especially like to thank Dianne Dagle Brainerd '74, her sister Nancy Dagle '66, and Peggy Peterson Sims '77, for their leadership and countless hours of hard work. Also, Dianne's husband Russ Brainerd and Peggy's husband Fred Sims did a lot of behind the scenes work. We would also like to thank our parents and the teachers and staff of all the Cromwell Schools, both here and beyond.
And now for the person who travelled the farthest distance to attend; I'm proud to announce that it's Roger Capilos from the legendary Class of '66, who came all the way from San Francisco, California! Enjoy the rest of the day!
- John Swingen '66