Bridgeport Class of 1974 opens 50-year time capsule

BRIDGEPORT—Half a hundred years ago, in 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. The average price of a gallon of gas was 42 cents, a dozen eggs 45 cents, and the average cost of a new house just shy of $35,000. Muhammed Ali defeated George Foremen in the Rumble in the Jungle world heavyweight title fight in Zaire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa.

And, most important of all, the Class of ’74 graduated from Bridgeport High School. 

The city was completing its new city hall that same year. What better conjunction of events for a time capsule, the class concluded, so they put one together and stored it in a wall of the new building. The capsule was not just senior class mementos. Each Bridgeport class was invited to contribute an item to the archive.

Fifty years passed—enough time for Mike Davis to be the only classmate who remembered the capsule was even there. 

“The original plan was to get it out in time for Bridgeport Daze,” said classmate and Bridgeport resident Suzy Lamoreux. “But we were not able to gain access to it behind its brass plaque in time, so we scheduled the later reunion.”

On Saturday, Sept. 21, about a dozen alumni, two former teachers, and former principal, John Jager, gathered at Lone Point Cellars in Brewster to catch up with each other and open up that capsule. Including spouses, about 26 attended the event.

Lamoreux brought the group together.

“I started it because I had everyone’s address,” said Lamoreux. “Living in Bridgeport, it seemed like I was more connected than anybody else. I’m on Facebook with every woman in my class.”

Before their 50th, the class got together for their 10th and 20th reunions. Jim Alexander, now of Spokane, served as Master of Ceremonies.

Half-century reunions are often bittersweet occasions because time takes its toll on some classmates. Such is the case of the Class of 1974, where remembrances were shared in memory of more than a half-dozen of the departed. 

Though he did not graduate with the Class of ’74, Lemoreux said Ralph “Lightning Bill” Austin was probably the most well-known member of the class. Austin earned later notoriety as a long-serving fire-spotter in remote lookout towers in the local forests.

“He was so shy, quiet, and reserved when we were young that you would have never thought that he would end up being the most famous local person,” Lemoreux said.

In the category of outstanding achievement, Lemoreux singled out classmate Gail Miller of the Tower Rock Ranch at Leahy. A working cattle ranch since 1883, Tower Rock was selected as one of six nationwide by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as a regional winner of the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP).

Lemoreux said she encourages the current classes at Bridgeport to maintain the time capsule tradition by assembling their own archive to place in the wall. She also hopes to display the past relics in the local library or school.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media