Sunday, March 19, 2006
Welcome To Your Community- PCHS Class Of 1958
Pontiac Central High School class of 1958, this is your communal space. A place to share your memories and current affairs (well maybe not all your affairs). And for planning class reunions and parties. I have learned the last couple of years that our classmates are intensely interested in the past, current, and future of the people we shared our high school days with.
As you probably know our beautiful (well at least attractive) school was replaced with, in my eyes anyway, a less engaging structure. Here is a picture of our school when it was built in 1913 .
This is the website for Pontiac High School: http://216.11.111.59/education/school/school.php?sectionid=24
The site is worth visiting for some current school information. Also, this very short history on the main page:
In 1849, The first high school in the City of Pontiac was erected. By 1858, the school in enrollment had already increased to the point that a new school was necessary.The new school built in the oak grove on Huron Street, was finished in 1871, and called Oak Grove High School. In 1913, a new school was built at 250 Huron street and was officially called Pontiac High School. This building served the city high school students for 60 years, with additions made in 1928 and 1953. In 1958, with the opening of Pontiac Northern High School, Pontiac High School was renamed Pontiac Central and the great cross-town rivalry began. Our present seal was designed in this year. In the late 1960's, after the roof began to fall in, it was decided to build a new facility for Pontiac Central. The present building was opened in September, 1973. Pontiac Central is reverse model of itself, forming the two wings including a media center, auditorium, gymnasium, field house, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The Frances W. Staley auditorium seats 1000 people and can be sectioned off in to three smaller audiences. The Arthur VanRyzin field house seats 3000 people for many types of sports and entertainment, primarily basketball games.
Following our last reunion in 2003 there have been two class parties due to the hard work and generous nature of classmates. In 2004 Sandy Sommerville Setterlind hosted a fun-filled party in Las Vegas. Last year (2005) for three days in September David and Barb Patterson ('59) Kimball arranged and hosted a wondeful three days in Carmel, CA.
Here are just two pictures of some of your classmates in Carmel.
Look at many pictures (classmates are identified there!) from the Carmel party at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhath/ .
Several ideas and locations for a 2006 and/or 2007 party have surfaced. And, of course we need to start thinking about the blow-out 50th reunion in 2008.
Another news item. Gretchen Whitmer has just been elected to the Michigan Legislature as a Democratic State Senator for the Lansing area. Gretehcn is the daughter of our classmate Richard Whitmer. You probably remember Dick Whitmer as a stand-out football and basketball player. He is now the President and CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan. Retirement is planned for mid-2006.
Finally, let us remember (mourn yes, but better yet celebrate the memories of) classmates no longer with us.
Please post comments including, family (we all love to hear about kids and grandkids), hobbies, interests, memories!!, travels, and thoughts on class get-togethers and reunions.
Join in the discussion. Become part of our PCHS 1958 community. Send me a message including your email address (is that redundant?). I will add you to the approved blog posters. It is easy to sign up and create your own posts.
Or send me your ideas for posts and pictures that I can use on this site.
My email is rhathaway2@comcast.net . Mail: 2609 Edgebrook Dr. Lansing, MI 48906 Phones: 517/321-4272 517/896-3026
That is it for now. Time to do yardwork. Still cold here in Lansing but maybe I can get the leaves and sticks and stuff out of the front yard.
Dick Hathaway
