MARYSVILLE Locals of vintage mintage gathered recently to celebrate their 58th high school graduation anniversary.
In fact three batches of Marysville High School graduates met for their annual picnic at Jennings Memorial Park, with about 50 or 60 members of the classes of 1949, 1950 and 1951 present.
This was the sixth annual meeting since the class of 1951s 50th reunion, and as their numbers dwindle members in their 70s shared fond memories and traded jibes in the big red barn. Many attendees had traveled the world in the intervening years, and some had stayed put the entire time. They all relished recalling the good times and the many changes to themselves and the town they call home.
Jim Kinder was celebrating 57 years since he graduated from the red brick building that stood on the downtown campus where Totem Middle School now stands, and even Jennings Memorial Park was a private farm in those years. Back then the area around the park was called Normtown, apparently after a guy named Norm, of all things. A retired construction manager with a water department, Kinder was one of the sprightliest members sharing food and friendship with his former high school peers. He was proud of being married for 37 years, to the same woman.
Its amazing, Kinder said as he took in the scene.
Many of the folks talked about the changes to Marysville in the almost six decades since they turned the tassels on their mortarboards. Back then strawberry fields were everywhere and cars were seldom seen; now traffic is horrible and the fields are disappearing, according to Al Lyons, making his second appearance at the picnic.
Im really looking forward to heaven 50 years ago Marysville was heaven, Lyons said. One bright spot, theres a Golden Corral.
Back then Granite Falls was considered the wilderness, he recalled.
It was rough and wild, now they even have a McDonalds.
Marge Lorenz Filbert was one of the gophers of the class of 51 who were always getting things done. She was kibitzing with lifelong friends Shirley Hovik Richardson and Margaret Guetlin Overturf as they poured over the Quil Ceda yearbook.
The scale and scope of life was different back then, Filbert said. Back then she worked at The Malt Shop, earning 87 cents an hour, with no tips. There was one stop light in town and when there was a fire it was The Malt Shop owner Ed Daviss job to walk across the street and turn the light red, by hand.
Marysville High School had 365 students back then and her graduating class numbered 76; of those Filbert said 26 are deceased. Back then she said everybody got along and that even members of the Tulalip Tribes were included in everything. Pointing to her copy of the Quil Ceda, she noted that Herman Williams was the class president. Junior or senior? I asked.
Dead! Filbert said bluntly.
The group is still plugging away, and Adrian Tike Damish laughed when he heard a colleague discussing plans for their 60th reunion.
Oh, yeah, right, Damish laughed. Stay out of the taverns and take care of yourselves.
Gene Robertson, class of 50, just retired a couple months ago after selling the wholesale building supply company he founded.
I was born and raised here in this town and had nothing but fun, he said.