NH Splendor- From Mount Washington to Millville – St. Paul’s School 50th Reunion- Class of 1965

Fiftieth high school reunions only happen once!

Getting back to my native New Hampshire recently was really special in many ways!

I was fortunate to attend both our pre-reunion as well as the actual reunion from May 26 – 31.  My travels took me from southern, shoreline CT to northern and then central NH. Sugar Hill, NH; Crawford Notch and Bretton Woods, NH; Concord, NH (aka “Millville” by the St. Paul’s School community- allowed me to experience a variety of ecosystems and plants in bloom.  It was an unusually warm week. Visiting in-laws in Sugar Hill on the back side of Cannon Mountain, I breathed and viewed a second dose of my favorite lilacs in full bloom (two weeks behind our CT lilac richness).  Their little museum has a realy cool exhibit this summer about photography.  I’m so glad they took me to see it.  A visit to Sugar Hill must include a stop at Harman’s Cheese & Country Store for some of the best aged cheddar anywhere!

Next stop, Bretton Woods (now apparently a part of a town called “Carroll, NH”) and a short stop at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Highland Center.  I went there to see the new (to me) Center and especially the photo exhibit of Brad Washburn’s incredible; aerial and mountain photographs.  If you stop to view the exhibit, be sure to ask at the front desk for the audio part of the tour to hear Brad (now deceased) describe the images.

Wednesday afternoon was focused on a trip up the Cog Railway with some of my classmates and their loved ones.  It had been years since I had taken that trip with our family — bio diesel engine for our ascent and descent, but still a thrill to chug up and down and to walk around the summit at 6,288 feet.

For this slide show I have omitted many images of our receptions and dinners. But getting early morning shots (especially) around and in the restored Mount Washington Hotel was a spectacular experience for me.  In the 1970’s and ’80’s I had attended a number of professional conferences and then watched it deteriorate.  The Omni Hotels have done a grand job of bringing back this grande dame!

Thursday we took a long hike up the country’s oldest hiking rail, the Crawford Path to the summit of Mount Pierce. Descending, I took a bad enough fall that made me unable to row in the next day’s crew race in Concord.  It was a lovely hike, but that tumble forced me to take photographs of the race instead of pulling an oar despite having practiced for the past 5 years on a Concept 2 rowing machine. Back in Concord for the actual reunion, we held our race in matched 1972 Pocock shells- first time ever two full boats had competed in a 50th reunion! Special events included chapel services, magnificent organ and carillon music, and an alumni parade led by the oldest alum and ending with the Class of 2015 taking up the rear.  There were sporting events, cultural events, exhibits, etc., etc.

My few images give a sense of some of my highlights! What isn’t shown here are the special moments and conversations that took place with classmates and their loved ones.  I am already eagerly looking forward to our next quinquennial in 5 years but hope to stay in touch with a number of folks sooner!

Peter

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

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