The Aberdeen All Class Reunion, celebrating Weatherwax High School’s 110th year, is just a week away.
Organized by Becky Carossino (Class of 1970), the event will take place next Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. on the northwest block of Third and I streets — the school’s original site. It also will spill over into the adjacent block, where Miller Junior High once stood; as well as the St. Mary playground.
Kitty-corner at Third and I is what remains of the Armory Building after a June 9 fire ravaged it. That will serve as a reminder to all who attend that the proceeds from ticket sales will help the Aberdeen Museum of History relocate and rebuild its collection.
Carossino is a longtime museum volunteer (along with her mother, founding member Emily Airhart, who died in February). She started planning the reunion last October as a museum fundraiser. But the fire sparked a more high-energy approach.
She and her daughter, Lori, came up with the idea to print T-shirts and buttons with the slogan “Aberdeen: Rising from the Ashes Is What We Do.” Sales of those items also are benefiting the museum after the party costs — she estimates $7,000 to $8,000 — are covered.
“She’s doing her damnedest to rally the community,” said museum director Dave Morris. “She’s running around here, there and everywhere rounding up sponsors and donors and making sure everything happens the way it should. The museum family is quite deeply indebted to her efforts.”
The festivities will begin next Saturday at 1 p.m. with organization of a group photo of past and present Weatherwax employees. Anyone who’s ever worked at the high school is welcome to come and be part of it. Then, at 1:30, there will be a guided tour of the current school building a few blocks away.
Throughout the day, attendees may enjoy a classic car show at Fourth and H, a beer and wine garden, and local food vendors providing burgers, sausage, pizza, baked goods and more. The Boosters Club and Music Boosters will be selling spirit gear and other items.
The vendors are not being charged for their space. Carossino said she’s asked them to look at how much they’ve made at the end of the day, then make a fair donation to the museum — except for the booster clubs.
“We’ve told the kids they can’t make any donations,” she said. “That money goes to the school. That’s the way the alumni would want it.”
Carossino is especially excited about the music, which will span all 11 decades over the course of those eight hours. It will start out with a DJ playing favorites from the early 1900s, followed by Olympia’s Juliet Tango performing tunes from the 1940s and ’50s.
From 3 to 5 p.m., Stan Foreman and the Aberdeen All Stars will cover the 1960s and ’70s. Foreman is an original member of the Beachcombers, and he’ll have fellow members Dave Reed, Maitland Ward and Bruce Hughes onstage along with a few others.
“I’ll be sneaking onstage with Stan Foreman,” said Morris, who plays bass guitar. “I might try to sneak on with a couple other bands for the fun of it. We shall see.”
Then will come Black Ice (consisting of several members of the Class of 1983, according to Carossino) playing 1980s music; Electric Eye for the ’90s; and Humptulips taking it from there, starting at 7.
Carossino said surrounding businesses and churches have agreed to allow parking for the event, and drivers will be able to drop people off at Third and H streets if need be before going to find a space to park.
Tickets (in the form of buttons) are still available for $15 at numerous locations in Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. They also will be sold the day of the event, but there are only so many buttons to go around; once they’re gone, attendees will have to settle for wristbands.
Visit AberdeenAllClassReunion.com for details.
