By Stephen Smoot
For nearly five decades, starting in the year of America’s bicentennial, the Shinnston High School Alumni Association has held one of Shinnston’s most popular parties. Every four years, except in the year of COVID, the city would enjoy a weekend-long celebration of the former Shinnston High School, its students, and the traditions they carried forward even after the closing of the school itself.
Now, those who have provided blood, sweat, and tears needed to put on the extravaganza say that age has caught up with those most involved. According to Debbie Malone, president, the end has come because of “aging board members and not enough participate to plan an all-weekend celebration.”
After this year, they will not be able to put together any more reunions.
At one time, the Shinnston High School reunion better resembled a festival. Alumni, friends, family, and other community members enjoyed a three day celebration. It included a Friday night dinner, a downtown parade, and a Saturday night dance for those who attended the school, which operated from 1910 to 1978.
Malone remembered when alumni led by Pauline Reed would make sure that every downtown business had a reunion related decoration for their storefront windows.
This year, the festivities start on Friday evening, July 19, with a parking lot party held from 6 PM until midnight. Attendees are urged to bring a pop up canopy and chairs “so you will be comfortable.” Also, those who come may “buy your dinner from the food trucks that will be on hand.” The Alumni Association will provide water.
Alumni can enjoy an entire day packed full of events the next day. The fun starts early on Saturday morning with a free breakfast at the Moose Lodge from 8 to 10:30 AM. The Alumni Association asks that those planning to come make their reservations by July 1.
From 10 AM to 3 PM, except during a noon concert by the Shinnston Community Band at the Shinnston Fire Department, the Alumni Room at the Bice-Fergusson Memorial Museum will open. On display will be artifacts, photographs, and memories from the schools decades of service to the community.
Malone shared that “we do accept donations of anything but newspaper clippings” for the Alumni Room. Also, “there will be local artists displaying art during Alumni Weekend.”
Local historian Bobby Bice will provide free trolley history tours between 1 and 2 PM. Those who wish to join should gather at St. Ann’s parking lot and must also make a reservation by July 1.
The main event Saturday is the dinner and dance at the Best Western on Bridgeport Hill that lasts from 5 PM to midnight. The same establishment reserved blocks of rooms at a special discount for alumni attending the weekend reunion.
The dinner costs $30 per person, but the Alumni Association will collect no dues since no further reunions are planned. Malone said “we have for sale poster sized class pictures for $10 a piece” for the classes of 46. 47, 48. 49. 50. 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 68, 70, 71, and 74.
Photographs of the classes in each decade present will be taken and sold for $15. They will be available to take home by the end of the night.
The Alumni Association will continue to maintain the database of students who graduated from Shinnston High School. At one time, the list boasted over 2,500 active alumni, but in recent years that number has dipped to between 1,500 and 1,800.
Board officers currently working on the event are Debbie Malone president, Alice Bowman vice president, Paula Barron secretary and Mickie Arco treasurer. Those with questions may call Malone at (304) 203-1374 or Bowman and (304) 669-6180.