As published
in the Queen Anne Cobblestone, September 2006
Queen
Anne High School--Our Anchor
By Kim Turner, QAHS board member, and Research Chair
I attended several Queen Anne events in August which were based
around the former Queen Anne High School and its students.
Queen Anne alums, for some reason, have a greater bond than
do the alums of many other high schools. It may be in part
due to the fact that the school is no longer a school. However,
over a thousand alums gathered to view the classrooms-turned-apartments-turned-condos.
This was probably one of the highlight times to remember
the school and for what it stood.
Several former teachers participated in the “open house”,
including Ethel Smith, Ed Billodue, Chris Kato, and others.
(These were the ones I saw). The affair lasted from 9:30 a.m.
until past 3:30 p.m. There were refreshments and delicious
catered snacks. For myself, highlights were having the chance
to talk with some members of my own class, 18 of whom attended
the affair.
The next stage was a committee meeting of my class reunion
group, over in Madrona. We do as much socializing as we do
getting things done. It has been great fun. I just wish there
were an easier way to find some of our “missing” alums.
The third installment was the annual Queen Anne Alumni picnic,
held at Woodland Park, where the first picnic was held in 1982.
In recent years, we had been holding the picnic at Magnolia
Park, but we have outgrown it. There were over 250 in attendance
at the picnic. A good time was had by all who attended.
The most recent installment was on Monday evening, August 21st,
when I actually did my practice walk around part of the top
of Queen Anne, in anticipation of the forthcoming walking tour.
I still have some research to complete, but have nailed some
fascinating sites along route to interest the walkers. It is
always fun to discover something new about areas one thought
one already knew.
Which proves that it is true—we never stop learning,
and never lose appreciation for what once was. It is “Queen
Anne” months such as this that keep my interest in the
neighborhood at a high level. See you at the Sept. 16 walking
tour, and/or at the Sept. 27 meeting!
Kim R. Turner, Research Chair
More Kim's Musings
 
|
