Page 14 - North Haven Magazine Issue 32 Winter 2024

UNEARTHING MEMORIES OF
UNEARTHING MEMORIES OF
ORCHARD HILL
ORCHARD HILL

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL by Susan A. Iverson
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Jack and Annette Brenner presenting findings Jack Brenner explaining how Orchard Hill JHS
about Orchard Hill JHS time capsule time capsule was opened
nnette and Jack Brenner have so many the metal box. While Jack worked at prying
Amemories of growing up in North Ha- open the container, participants recollected
ven. Annette clearly remembers attending how students had to attend double sessions
the dedication ceremony marking the open- until the building was ready for occupancy.
ing of Orchard Hill Junior High School, One person recalled that the students were
where she was a member of its first eighth charged with transporting the library books
grade class. She recalls seeing a time cap- Mr Frank Riggs at dedication of Orchard Hill JHS in from the old facility to the new building.
sule being carefully placed in the vault be- 1968 - photo found in time capsule They had to carry the books, board and dis-
hind the cornerstone of the new building. from time to time in the early ‘eighties and embark from school buses in just the right
She remembers listening to speeches from I was impressed with its design.) By 1986, order so that the books would be placed in
then-Principal Frank Riggs and several town North Haven did not have a need for the the proper order on their shelves!
officials. building, however, and so it closed. It was
Many years later, as their 50th reunion drew eventually used by Gateway Community Once the capsule was opened, Annette
donned gloves and carefully removed its
College, then ACES, which is presently be-
near, Annette found herself wondering what ginning a major renovation of the structure. contents: an 8mm tape recording on a large
had been stored in that time capsule. It be- Mr. Freda was able to collaborate with Wil- metal reel, paper bits, some with a distinc-
came important to Annette to examine its liam Rice, Assistant Executive Director of tive orange color, and a stack of photos that
contents; she believed that it would bring ACES, to extract the time capsule buried be- had fused together over time. Jack and An-
back the story of a school that had been sig- hind the cornerstone for the last 55 years. In nette painstakingly peeled apart the photos,
nificant to so many of North Haven’s youths. early June of 2023, Annette and Jack Brenner revealing snapshots of the dedication cere-
She spoke with former classmates, who also were witnesses to its removal, fulfilling An- mony. There was a printed roster of students,
had memories of the event and this motivat- nette’s vision and uncovering the building’s mostly crumbled to fragments, but enough
ed her to reach out to our First Selectman, past. The Brenner’s had given much thought to see Jack Brenner’s name included! After
Michael Freda, for some assistance. An- to how the capsule would be opened. They processing, the tape revealed an audio re-
nette knew that the building now belongs to immediately sealed it with tape and sched- cording of the dedication ceremony. It had
ACES; had the time capsule been removed? uled an “opening” at their home where inter- somehow survived 55 years in its metal cas-
If not, could it even be accessed since the ested parties could be witnesses to the event. ing and was mostly understandable. Annette
building no longer belonged to North Hav- and Jack had unearthed history!
en? It took the better part of twenty years,
and several starts and stops, but she and her In October 2023, the Brenner’s presented
husband, Jack, succeeded. This is their story, all the found artifacts to the North Haven
their piece of North Haven history! Historical Society for safekeeping, along
with an animated and enthusiastic presenta-
Orchard Hill Junior High School was tion of their journey back through time to
opened in 1968 to North Haven seventh and a moment important to them. The orange
eighth grade students. It was an impressive paper bits were eventually identified; it was
structure, outfitted with the latest education- the Dedication Program, a copy of which
al technologies and surrounded by playing has been in the Historical Society’s archives.
fields. A sleek wood wall sculpture – very Everything is presently on display at the so-
modern – decorated the main lobby. It was ciety, including the audio recording, the vid-
clear that administrators and town officials Time capsule placed in cornerstone retouched eotape of the capsule being opened and the
were immensely proud of this building and On June 22, 2023, the Brenner’s hosted an photos found. Please take a few minutes to
their pride was contagious. opening of the time capsule, revealing for visit the collection. It will bring back mem-
Annette must have sensed how special the the first time the contents of the box. Jack ories if you were a student at Orchard Hill
Junior High School or may just inspire you
and Annette videotaped the proceedings and
building was and carried that with her into had the appropriate tools on hand to open to go on a “history dive” of your own!
adulthood. (I visited the junior high school
14 North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2024