HONESDALE, PA — Tick Tock’s Restaurant was the setting for the 65th reunion of the Honesdale High School (HHS) Class of 1959 on Wednesday, August 21. 

Forty-two people attended; this included 23 members of the original class of 80. Class president Paul Meagher welcomed everyone after an hour of social gathering. A special welcome and recognition was given to honored guest Barbara Baxter Edwards, who was one of the class advisors and a very good friend to the Class of ‘59. Also recognized was Kevin Edwards, noted sportswriter of The Tri-County Independent in northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Personalized yearbook photo name tags designed by Quality Printing & Design were provided to all members of the class. Wrist corsages with the class flower—the yellow rose—were presented to all women in attendance.

The Class of 1959 was the first class to graduate from the “new high school on the hill”; they spent the first part of 1959 in the old high school on Church Street. 

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Lynn Smith asked for an invocation and blessings on those in attendance and a moment of silence for the 39 deceased class members. A prayer was also said for the class members who could not attend due to illness or difficulty in traveling. 

A wonderful buffet dinner was then served by the staff of Tick Tock’s. 

Meagher, who acted as moderator and was assisted by Kay Ashworth Stephensen, explained that Carl “Dobber” Doherty and his wife Marie of Millington, TN were unable to attend and donated a cash prize for a class member to win two free dinners. Joan Reed Palasia and her husband Pat were the lucky winners of the raffle drawing. A phone call was then placed to Dobber and everyone had an opportunity to speak with him. 

Following that, a phone conversation with Don Kimble from Little River, SC was enjoyed by all. 

A news report comparing the costs of items in 1959 was presented. 

Loaf of bread, 20 cents

Gallon of gasoline, 25 cents

Average yearly wage, $5,000

Average cost of a new house, $12,000

Average cost of 10 acres of land, $1,000. 

Meagher then talked about the news coming out of Israel, the Holy Land, Ukraine and Haiti recently and—we all have to be very thankful that we live in the United States of America.

In closing, the entire group sang several verses of “God Bless America.” 

The Class of ‘59 has had a reunion every five years since graduation and is looking forward to the next reunion in 2029. Members of the reunion committee are Kay Ashworth Stephensen, Mary Jane Eberhardt Burke, Karen Dirlam Burlein, Dan Guinther, Bill Schevey, Marilyn Weidner McElroy, Bill Polt, Mary Lou Robinson Murray and Paul Meagher.