by Mary Grant and David Flint
It was sort of like a memorial service. But instead of remembering a beloved person who has passed away, it was the Grafton School that was sadly being put to rest, yet with a lot of fond memories recalled. Approximately 50 people attended the event on Saturday, June 22, that was billed as the opening of the Grafton School time capsule. Those attending included former students, faculty and staff, members of the community and members and officers of the Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society.
[private]Berlin Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young presented a brief history of the one room school houses that existed throughout the Town prior to the construction of the Grafton Elementary School in 1960. Graftonites tell Young that when the new school was built it was considered a modern marvel in the region.
Patrick Glover, former Head Teacher, recalled a number of special times that stood out in his mind. When he started teaching in Grafton in 1972 the school was already bursting at the seams. Eventually relocatable classrooms were brought in as a temporary measure; Glover noted that they are still here. He remembered Phil Garippa, the Principal. Garippa loved to create havoc; he would pop into a classroom and start singing Happy Birthday – didn’t matter that it wasn’t anyone’s birthday. Among Glover’s fondest memories was the annual balloon contest. Small tags with the school’s name and address were attached to helium balloons, one for each student, and the balloons were released to see how far they would travel. Many times people who found them would send a letter explaining how and where they found the balloon. Pins were then put on a map that was hung in the hallway. One balloon ended up in Canada on Prince Edward Island. The project attracted attention from afar, and one year student Carol Yerg found herself featured on the cover of Weekly Reader magazine.
Former Grafton teacher Marcia Trask remembered giving every student a flag, boarding a school bus and going off to watch the Olympic Torch run. Everyone worked together and solved problems together. It was a wonderful time here, she said.
Ruth Seel, former TA Librarian also said a few words. She considered the people at Grafton Elementary School to be her other family, and they are still close. Her son started at GES in Mr. Glover’s classroom. Her granddaughter also attended GES.
Students from 1961, when GES was originally opened, shared their memories. Herb Hasbrouck attended school at the Methodist Church prior to going to GES. Students back then, he said, were expected to toe the mark. Ken Sbrega attended school in the building that is now the Post Office. He recalled how students would have to shovel the snow off the roof – a good experience, he thought. Lily Hewitt remembered the day that the letter came to her parents explaining that she would be attending the new school in Grafton. She was excited; she felt like she built the school. She felt that Head Teacher Walt O’Brien was the kindest soul. She and he continued to write letters back and forth until he died. Frank Sbrega attended school in the building that is now the Town Library. He recalled that students knew their teacher Ms. Simmons was mad when she undid her hair and twisted it back up again.
On display at the ceremony were a large number of photo albums and other memorabilia that had been stored at the school. Katie Fiske, former GES student and current Vice President of the Berlin Board of Education, turned the memorabilia and the school sign over to the Grafton Historical Society. GHS President Allison Kirchner accepted the donation and read a letter of thanks.
The time capsule was a small copper box that had been inserted in a hollow foundation stone placed in the front wall of the school building. The Historical Society had decided to open it so that everyone could see what was in it. The 1961 students were filled with excitement and anticipation to finally see what had been placed in the time
capsule. Unfortunately, when the box was opened it was clear that the contents had mostly disintegrated. Everyone was very disappointed. There did appear to be some sort of a scrolled document in the box. Anne Kiely from the Historical Society is participating in a document preservation course in a few weeks so the scroll was left as it was with the hope that she will be able to inspect and preserve it in the future.
[/private]