Here’s some old news from the Andover, East Andover, West Andover, Potter Place, and Cilleyville “gossip” columns of the Franklin Journal Transcript, selected by Heather Makechnie.
June 2, 1966
Andover Students Mark Memorial Day. A parade of students and teachers marched from the school to the Andover Town Monument on the green. Exercises included speeches from the Principal Ray Burton, prayer by Town Minister Reverend Kelsey, and the national anthem led by School Music Supervisor Doris Pierce.
Following songs sung by the students there were recitations by Thea Shanelaris, Stephen Johnson, and Barbara Coffin. Memorial remarks were by Captain Irving R. Stultz, USN (Ret) and now College Placement Director at Proctor Academy.
A wreath was placed, taps played, and then the parade marched to the Blackwater Bridge, where ceremonies commemorated lives lost at sea.
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Much sympathy goes to the family of Mrs. Ethel Clark, who passed away at White Maples after a long illness.
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. Van Oley (Betty Huntoon) Duff. The couple was married on Sunday, May 22, at the Proctor Chapel by Reverend Herbert Kelsey.
Much sympathy goes to Mr. William Clapp and family on the death of his wife, Mrs. William Clapp, after a brief illness.
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bedare on the birth of a son, Scott Bedare, weighing seven pounds, on May 26.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Dannie Walker on the birth of a daughter, Trisha Lourne, seven pounds 11 ½ ounces, on May 28.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, playing at the Regal Theatre: Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, with Vincent Price, Frankie Avalon, and Susan Hart.
June 9, 1966
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Robinson of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, have purchased the Rosemere Cottage and home from George Weatherby at Taunton Hill. The Robinsons, a young couple, plan to continue the operations as usual. Ann and Tom are skilled showmen with their horses, competing in many shows around New England.
Seen Any Balloons Around Lately? If you’re out and around in the fields and forests in this neck of the woods, and you keep your eyes peeled, there’s an outside chance that you may spot the remains of a small red balloon, with a long strip of bright red plastic attached, along with a small plastic envelope. Mr. and Mrs. Max Andrus of the Flaghole area found one on Thursday. “Where’s it from?”
The answer was in the small plastic bag, which carried a postcard and the following note:
“Dear Finder: our sixth grade science class is conducting a scientific experiment from the elementary School in Bernardstown, Massachusetts. We have sent up 100 helium-filled balloons to which postcards have been attached. We would appreciate your cooperation in helping us complete our experiment by returning the enclosed card. Please fill in the space on the card telling us where you found the balloon.”
The experiment, it seems, was one on upper-air currents, and the balloon found by Mr. and Mrs. Andrus — who, by the way, were out in their hayfield working when they spotted it — was the third response reported back to the sixth graders. The first was found in Gloucester and the second in Nova Scotia.
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Andover is planning its fourth (and growing) annual Arts and Crafts Festival on the weekend of July 4. Mrs. Annaleida Van’t Hoff, professional artist and teacher and chair of the festival, invites all amateur and professional artists to participate.
The 1964 Annual Report of the Town of Andover, a top prize-winner in New Hampshire competition, has gone on to win a high award in the 21st Annual Municipal Reports contest sponsored by the New England Council. Municipal Reports Awards are given for excellence in reporting municipal activities and include special recognition of such items as “attractiveness,” “reader appeal to the citizen,” “comprehensiveness,” and “contribution to citizen understanding of local government.”
It is announced with regret that Ray Burton will be leaving this fall after two years as principal.
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. John (Mary Jane Greenwood) Whitcomb. The couple was married in the Immaculate Conception Church on Saturday.
Much sympathy goes to the family of Ralph “Pop” Low. Pop, as the townspeople knew him, used to own the One Stop Shop.
June 16, 1966
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Braley, Jr. on the birth of a son on June 4.
The younger school children enjoyed a trip to Benson’s Wild Animal Farm on Saturday. It was a very pleasant day for all. Grades five to eight students took a class trip to Shelburne Museum in Vermont on Thursday and had a good time, but came home very tired. Grades one to four went to the Weirs Beach Animal Forest.
June 23, 1966
Gary Peters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Peters, had perfect attendance in school. Gary is going into second grade in the fall.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard George and family have moved up to Burlington, Vermont, in a trailer close to Howard’s construction road work.
On June 1, the Reverend Herbert O. Kelsey, Jr., Pastor of the Congregational Church, submitted his resignation after four years as the Pastor and also the first Town Minister of Andover.
James Delaney, son of Mrs. Alice Delaney, left for the Marine Corps and Paris Island, South Carolina, on June 16.