Minnechaug Regional High School - Falcon Yearbook (Wilbraham, MA)

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New England ' s Showplace Wilbraham was settled in 1731 and incorporated on June 15, 1763. The town is located 8 miles east of Spring- field, and its area is 22 square miles. The town of Wilbraham was once part of the territory of Springfield. From its first settlement in the midst of the wilderness, the town of Wilbra- ham has always been in the forefront of the educational and social development of Western Massachusetts. In 1932 Pines School in North Wilbraham made its debut as small school needing only to meet the needs of a few school children. In 1953 an addition of the auditorium-cafeteria-gymnasium was made. In 1962 twelve classrooms were added. Memorial School was constructed in 1950. The addition of 7 classrooms came in 1953. It was necessary to en- large the kitchen and modify the combi- nation auditorium-cafeteria in 1961. Stony Hill School was built in 1956 to accommodate the rising number of grade school students. Not long after the opening of the school, it was real- ized that an addition must be built. It was planned and opened in 1958. Louis and Clark, America ' s favorite hangout. The autumn scenic view from Monson Road The newly constructed Wilbraham Town Office building is a beneficial addition to the community. Wilbraham Public Library is useful to area students and adults who need to research a topic. The country club is a favorite summer spot for golfers. Minnechaug opened in September 1959. Since its establishment, Minne- chaug Regional High School has ac- complished outstanding results aca- demically, musically, and also in sports. It has become one of the biggest little high schools in Massachusetts. The Glendale Methodist Church was built in 1868 and was dedicated on De- cember 30, 1868. Grace Union Church, was a church composed of Congretionalists, Baptists, and Methodists. The church assumed regular congretional affliation in May of 1 890, and it became part of the Unit- ed Church of Christ in 1960. Senator Edward Kennedy once said, With its natural endowments and the hard work of its citizens over the years, the town of Wilbraham has become a showplace for the best and most lasting values of New England Life. by Ruby-Ann Samsel Time, May 1983.

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Foreign Students Add Culture To School Life Seven daring young men and women spent this school year at Minnechaug What makes them special you say ' Well, each student ' s homeland was not the United States. They were all on stu dent exchange programs like AFS, EF and SHE. This year there were two AFS students, Oscar Ibarra from Para guay and Lars Hensen from Denmark Both enjoyed the year and the families they stayed with. EF is a program not as well known as AFS but this year two students from that program attended Minnechaug. Pernille Jorgensen ' s homeland is Denmark while Johan Mohler ' s is Sweden. These students, too, had an interesting experience in the United States. The SHE program, bet- ter known as Spanish Heritage hosted Oscar Ibarra, our AFS student from Paraguay. Clara Sanchiz is really participating in no par- staying with a family Carlos Garcia, a Spanish Heritage student came from Spain. Pernille Jorgensen is on the Educational Founda- tion Program and comes from Denmark. The foreign students have made friends in the United States as well as other countries of the world. Lars Hansen (left) is a Danish student while Jo- han Mohler (right) is a Swede on EF. u 9 t i .. Alvaro Trujillano is from Spain participating in the Spanish Heritage program. two of our Spanish students, Carlos Garcia and Alvaro Trujillano. The third Spanish student, Clara Sanchiz. stayed in Wilbraham independently. Coming to the United States and go- ing to school here was a big decision for these students to make. However, with the help of the International Club and school officials, problems the students encountered were solved. Spending a year abroad is an exper- ience that few students ever have a chance to do, but for those who have the opportunity, it is something that has changed their lives forever — for the better. Time, May 1983.

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Wilbraham ' s Sister Community With A Life Of Its Own Hampden was incorporated in 1878 and was then called South Wilbraham. Gover- nor Rice signed the bill incorporating the parish of South Wilbraham as the town of Hampden. The old Town Hall building with its ionic pillars in front of it is an outstanding exam- ple of the Greek Revival Era in architecture which flourished in 1844 when a group of public-spirited men started South Wilbra- ham Academy and erected it. Several other distinguishing features were lost when the building was struck by lightning about 70 years ago. Town meetings were held in this building until the new town house was erect- ed in 1932. The first Green Valley Drug Store was housed in the building just west of the Bap- tist property. A unique feature of the town ' s two largest general stores, was the delivery service free to all customers. Deliveries were made throughout the town and into the neighboring vicinities as well. Orders were taken in the morning and deliveries were made the same day. Deliveries were made from meat markets and fish markets as well as the local emporiums. The stage coach road came into Hamp- Today ' s special at the Village Food Mart Everything FREE! Hampden ' s countryside New England. is characteristic of Everyone in town visits Hampden ' s post office at one time or another. Hampden Country Club Hampden ' s Town House, the center of the com- munity. uxu ry in the midst of suburbia. den from the east and crossed Rocky Dun- dee Road near the top of Kiln Hill. The line came from Boston and went to Hartford and was of the first operations of the type in America. The name Seantuck, later, Scantic was given to our stream by the indians and it meant a branch of river or whiting fish. Goat Rock owned by William King about 225 years ago was a favorite picnic area before the days of automobiles because of the fine view toward East Longmeadow and Somers. One day one of Mr. King ' s goats was entangled in the rocks and was found dead. This is the source for the name Goat Rock. Prospect Hill Cemetery and St. Mary ' s Roman Catholic Church was given to the town in 1876 by Mrs. Lucetta Howlett. She gave the bell that appears in the Federated Community Church. She also left a consid- erable amount of money in her will. The town house was given to the people of Hampden in 1932 by Miss Elizabeth Ses- sions; it was actually the town house which suddenly changed Hampden from a small country village to a typical suburb of Springfield. Time, May 1983.