Gilford High Class of 1976 reunites after 50 years to open time capsule

GILFORD — The first graduating class at Gilford High School received their diplomas 50 years ago. While they might look a little different than when they were in their teens, it only took a few minutes of mingling and walking the hallways for them to get back to their old chummy ways.

The class of 1976 held its 50th high school reunion on Saturday, at The Lake Estate on Winnisquam. To kick off the weekend, on Friday afternoon, a couple dozen classmates met at the high school, to open a time capsule removed from a marked cornerstone of the building.

“I’m surprised this many people came, and they all seem really excited about it,” said Viella Joyce Evans, class vice president, who spearheaded the event. “I had no idea what to expect, and didn’t really have expectations, so this is great. People have come from near and far, so it’s quite amazing.”

Many students didn’t remember putting anything into the capsule, as those years just tend to slide by, leaving a haze in their wake. It was a surprise for them to see what was inside the unearthed metal box.

Inside was an array of artifacts, including the Gilford Police Department badge from the days when Bruce Cheney led the department.

Letters from the town’s select and school boards, and the Gilford Women’s Club, were inside, rolled up like scrolls. They were nestled in along with a handwritten list of the students of the inaugural senior class. There was also a photo and letter commemorating Alvah Wilson, who previously owned the land where the school was built. The road the high school is on was named for Wilson on April 30, 1975.

Principal Anthony Sperazzo noted many changes over 50 years.

“Oh, the student handbook,” he said. “I wonder how much that’s changed?”

Also inside was a manila folder full of photographs of the class. Its members — most now approaching 70 — got a kick out of them.

“Want to see what I used to look like?” Karen Blandford asked, pointing to a photo. “That’s me right there.”

Blandford now lives in Portsmouth, and still has family in Gilford, so she hasn’t been a stranger. This was the first time she had been in the school since graduating, however.

She tried to keep in touch with as many classmates as she could, but admitted it gets harder and harder as time goes by.

“The faces are strange, because they change, but the voices bring me right back,” she said.

Blandford was standing with a group of women rummaging through the photos, looking through the student handbook, and flipping through the pages of their yearbook. Suzan Fellman, now living in Los Angeles, said she has a lot of mixed emotions, because of the drastic change compared to when she grew up.

“It’s a little culture shock, but as time goes, it is getting more comfortable being back,” Fellman said. “There’s some nostalgia.”

Kim Bennett now lives in Sanibel Island, Florida, and came up for the weekend. She was excited to see the yearbook included in the capsule, noting she was the one who named it. She stood alongside Norma Jordan, who was flipping through the yearbook with a big smile on her face.

“Fifty years is five decades, and yeah, things have changed,” Bennett said. “It’s really nice to be back and reconnect.”

Jordan, who now lives in nearby New Hampton, said she had never opened a time capsule. She remembers standing outside with her classmates when the capsule was filled up.

“This is even more special, because it’s something we did as a group,” Jordan said. “I was trying to remember, but I couldn’t remember what was put in, but it’s just really nice. I like it. It brings back great memories.”

Jordan agreed with Bennett, saying it was great to be there reconnecting with classmates she doesn’t see often, or at all.

Sandra Lavallee, whose last name was Morton in high school, laughed, and said everyone looks different. While she thought the time capsule was interesting, she was hoping there would be a little bit more inside that showed the time period.

“I honestly thought there was going to be, like, a music tape, or the sketches that Larry [Frates] did,” she said. “But, I mean, it’s very cute.”

Lavallee said interacting with the people she knew a lifetime ago was the best part of all.

“I think it’s great,” Lavallee said. “I wish I could say I remember everybody, but I don’t.”

Same went for Ernie Millette, who was looking at a photo of his classmates in front of the school. Even though memories can fade a bit, one thing he knew was, “this was a great class.”

“I only recognize two people, but they are all still handsome and pretty,” Millette said.

Paolo Musante, who went by Paul in high school, said this is an experience which was admittedly strange, but also fun.

“It’s an experience that you both sort of dread and really look forward to at the same time,” Musante said. “I flew across the country from Washington state. It took an effort to get here, so I was iffy if I wanted to come or not, but I’m so glad I made it. Now I’m connecting, and it’s actually amazing how much I remember from our youth. This rekindles those old memories."

Musante recalled the time capsule being filled 50 years ago, saying he remembers being asked to include items. He remembered including artwork, but it wasn’t there.

The time capsule opening was an event, but Musante was more looking forward to seeing the building, and getting reacquainted with old friends.

They had a chance to tour the building, led by Sperazzo and Aaron Witham, a teacher and alum.

“It’s fantastic to be able to welcome back the class of ’76 to hear more stories,” Sperazzo said as he walked among the former students. “They used to walk these halls, and to hear firsthand what took place back then, what classes, what structures still look the same, and then walk them through to show them how it’s changed so much, as well.”

Plenty has changed, as it was formerly an open concept school. The building, at one point, had an outdoor smoking area in a courtyard, a sign of a different time. The building also once housed both middle and high school students.

“I’m kind of speechless,” Roberta deMontigny said. “It looks so different from 50 years ago.”

Being heavily involved in the school’s drama program, deMontigny remembered the auditorium well, but said the rest was amazing her by the second.

As they walked the building in groups, probably much as they did between classes, it was clear things were coming back to them.

“Hey, remember Mr. Edmunds?” one classmate yelled to another. “We called him 'Fast Eddie.'”

Another group of ladies behind them talked about other former teachers, some who they remember being tough, and others they were keen on.

“What a heartthrob,” one classmate said to another, as the group laughed.

Other former student-athletes were excited to see a sea of banners hung in the gymnasium.

Sperazzo started teaching at Gilford Middle School in 2004, a year after the high school was renovated and walls were added, and is now in his 12th year as principal. He loves to bring back alumni to see their old stomping grounds, not only to hear about how the school was different decades before he arrived, but also to share how far Gilford High has come over the years.

“Every time we host something like this, it brings in different community members who reflect on the rich tradition that we have in Gilford,” Sperazzo said. “I’ve been involved in these schools in various capacities for 23 years, so I’ve started to gain a lot of that history. I love learning more and more.”

It was exciting for former teachers and staff members, as well. Larry Frates taught art at what was then Gilford Middle High School in 1976, and was there for the opening of the time capsule. He said he was actually the one who remembered it, and brought it to Sperazzo’s attention.

“Well, it got to ’74, and I’m thinking that they’ll do something with the time capsule,” Frates said, remembering that class' reunion. “So, I called the principal, and he said, ‘what time capsule?’ I said that I knew there was a time capsule. I was there.”

Frates pointed to photo with a man with dark brown hair and a beard holding a camera, standing among students in front of the school.

“That’s me,” he said.

Frates said Superintendent Kirk Beitler also didn’t have any idea about the hidden box, and he told him to open up the yearbook, because there should be evidence of it. Indeed, there was.

“I said, 'It’s behind the cornerstone,'” Frates said.

Maintenance workers Mike Robbs, who was a member of the class of 1992, and Lloyd Miles then opened up the wall from inside the building, extended a camera through the wall, and located the capsule exactly where Frates had remembered.

Frates said the great thing about it being in the wall, in a metal box, was it stood the test of time. He said in Laconia, a capsule was unearthed near the school’s flagpole after 125 years, but water had leaked in, and a lot was ruined.

Robbs was excited to be a part of the process. He and Miles not only went into the wall to make sure it was there, but also removed the cornerstone with “1974” etched into it. Behind it was the capsule, and the look on everyone’s face when they saw it was telling of how much this little piece of history meant to them.

“It’s very nostalgic feeling,” Robbs said.

The time capsule was inspiring to Sperazzo, and ideas are in the works for another. The plan is to gather items from the class of 2027 to be buried and opened in the future.

“We’ll carry on the tradition.”