LYMAN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATED ITS
CENTENNIAL DURING THE 2022–23 SCHOOL YEAR
“Lyman-Memorial-High-School-100-Year-Anniversary.”
or contact
LymanMHS100years@gmail.com
In an extraordinary gesture, upon the December 1919 death of George W. Lyman, he left a major share of his estate to the Town of Lebanon to build a high school. Lyman’s bequest of $15,000 towards construction and $36,700 for maintenance ($200,290.50 & $490,044.00 in today’s dollars) was accepted by a town vote of 180-16 on October 4, 1920. In accordance with a clause in Lyman’s will, the school was to be named after him. The school, located on the town Green where the current Town Hall is, opened September 11, 1922, for Lebanon students grades nine through twelve. There were two members in the 1923 graduating class.
Increasing enrollment resulted in the building of a new school. In 1959, the second location opened at 891 Exeter Road (now the Middle School). The Junior-Senior High School served grades seven through twelve. A Vocational Agriculture Center, serving nine area towns, was built adjourning the school and opened in 1961. Again, another school was needed to accommodate the growing student enrollment. In 1992 the current location at 917 Exeter Road opened for grades nine through twelve.
Now at its third location and building, Lyman Memorial High School still carries the name of the man who had no children of his own but left his fortune to benefit all the children of his hometown.
AN ALUMNI ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEBANON HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO PLAN A SERIES OF EVENTS TO HONOR THIS INCREDIBLE MILESTONE
Anniversary Committee:
Jay Apicelli, Lyman Memorial Principal,
Barbara (Brewster) Wengloski-Class of 1979,
Mary Lou (Padewski) Beckwith-Class of 1960, Shayla (Kuzel) Coutu-Class of 1980,
Faculty liaison: Molly (Lyon) Lathrop-Class of 1982, Catherine (Petrowski) Pomerleau-Class of 1990,
Emily Sciglimpaglia-Vigue - Class of 2012, Kendall Breault-Class of 2023
OUR CELEBRATION HAS ENDED – WHAT A YEAR WE HAD!
The Lyman 100th Anniversary celebration concluded with graduation on June 13, 2023. The Anniversary Committee, comprised of the principal and seven alumni, began meeting in February 2021 and met every month, even during the pandemic, to plan events and activities for a year-long celebration for the students, alumni, and community. The year began with banners on the light poles, on the fence, inside the school and displays. We received letters of congratulations from several state dignitaries, U.S. Secretary of Education, and a proclamation from the Town of Lebanon.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
On August 29, the first day of the new school year, the Anniversary Committee, Lyman administration and staff welcomed the entire Lyman population back to school as we begin our centennial year.
The Anniversary Committee, through donations received, provided the entire student population with special tee shirts, Cheers to Lyman’s 100 years.
AN AWESOME WEEKEND AS WE CELEBRATED LYMAN’S 100 YEARS!
SEPTEMBER 9-10-11, 2022
There are those who questioned why the Anniversary Committee picked the weekend of September 9, 10, 11, 2022 for our centennial celebration. The answer is, we celebrated exactly 100 years from when the first Lyman high school was dedicated (September 9, 1922) and opened (September 11, 1922).
Friday, September 9, the Lyman girls’ varsity volleyball team won their home match against Haddam-Killingworth 3-1.
At the same time, a dance at the former Junior-Senior school took place with Gail Ladd as the DJ. Not many attended our opening event. However, there was more socializing with old friends and classmates than dancing and all had a good time. Everyone enjoyed the photo frame with a variety of costumes and "100".
On Saturday September 10, we welcomed over 200 alumni, former administration, and faculty to our celebration. With our special guests, families, students, baseball players, there were over 350 people who attended the different activities throughout the day.
We began with a ceremony welcoming our alumni who had come from near and far to be with their old friends and classmates. Some from AR, FL, MA, MO, NH, NY, PA, WA, and many from Lebanon and Connecticut.
In attendance at the age of 97, was one of our oldest alumni, Helen Laibrandt Bender, who graduated from the original Lyman Memorial in 1942.
Special guests included State Department of Education Chief Strategic Planning Officer Keith Norton and Lebanon Board of Education Chairperson Sarah Haynes. In attendance were Bert Bosse (Acting Principal August to September 1984), James McKenna (Principal September 1984 to June 1995, Superintendent 1995-2000), Albert Vertefeuille (Superintendent 1992-1995) and Stephen Salisbury (Principal 2000-2013). Selectmen Kevin Cwikla, Kathleen Smith and Mark DeCaprio presented Superintendent Andrew Gonzalez a Town Proclamation recognizing the history and continuation of Lyman Memorial High School and marking the 2022-23 academic year as the Centennial Anniversary of Lyman.
The National Anthem was sung by Caroline Nettleton, Class of 2023. The Alma Mater was sung by alumni which was rewritten just for the special occasion.
Following the welcome ceremony attendees could tour the former Junior-Senior school, now the Middle School, or current high school and Ag-Science wing. Activities included wagon rides, a 100 Bulldog search through the building, department histories, a gallery of class photos and names from 1923 to present, citations received and other displays. Lyman school and Ag-Science recruitment videos and a 49-minute slideshow entertained all.
At noon, a ribbon cutting of the new baseball facilities and press box occurred. An exhilarating alumni baseball game followed.
A student/alumni band and chorus concert was performed at 2:00 in the auditorium. Having only rehearsed two times before the day’s performance they game together and gave a fantastic concert.
Former Lyman music directors conducted the concert, Jim Nardine, Ann Birrell, and Emily Blanchard MacKenzie, current director Katie Ricard and guest conductors Bertie Hawkins and Tyler Langworthy. Each group performed three songs and then came together for all to sing the Alma Mater.
The day concluded with a Lebanon Soccer Club boys’ game; and the Lyman girls’ soccer team won their game under the lights against Windham Technical School 4-0.
On Sunday morning, September 11, those who had registered for the weekend were invited to join alumni, former administration and faculty for a continental breakfast in the school cafeteria. More photos were taken, and goodbyes said. There were so many who came together to help bring this weekend to a successful conclusion, the Anniversary Committee and administration gives a sincere thank you to everyone.
GEORGE LYMAN’S LEGACY: SLIDESHOW (Youtube Video)
One of the activities most enjoyed by our alumni at the centennial celebration was the 49-minute slideshow, George W. Lyman’s Legacy, which highlights the 100 years of Lyman Memorial High School.
The presentation was assembled by Barbara Wengloski and Tom Nanos and does not even begin to tell the complete story. Photos used were collected from numerous people, the Lebanon Historical Society, Lebanon Regional Agriculture Department, and Lyman yearbooks.
To enjoy a trip down memory lane and see if you have been included, click on the link: https://youtu.be/8gcJNA4QgkY
100TH DAY OF OUR 100TH YEAR
In February 2023, we celebrated the 100th day of our 100th year with a student pep rally.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
For Memorial Day, we created a float to commemorate both the 100 years and honored our Lyman veterans, active service, and the three Lyman graduates who gave their lives for our country. On the float was a facade of the original Lyman Memorial High School built by the Tech education students. We were awarded the 2023 Best Themed Float Award.
CLASS OF 2023 AND YEAR END
We celebrated the Class of 2023 through the centennial year. At the end of the year, we recognized twelve students who would become second generation alumni, with one or both parents who had graduated from Lyman, and one fourth generation student (father, grandfather, and great-grandfather). For graduation, the students received blue, gold, and white honor cords representing the three school colors through the years and wore an anniversary pin. With the remaining monies we purchased a stone bench to be placed on the school grounds in the fall of 2023. Last, we created a Time Capsule to be opened in June of 2048, the 125th anniversary of Lyman Memorial. Items have been collected from our anniversary year 2022-23, representing the school, various departments, Lebanon Public Schools, and the Town of Lebanon. This will be placed somewhere in the school in the fall. We hope this portrays our current school life and community. A history of Lyman Memorial, A Lasting Legacy, will be printed in a limited quantity.
THANK YOU
There are many people that need to be thanked that helped with this incredible milestone. The Committee would like to thank Donna Baron, Grace Sayles, and Alicia Lamb from the Lebanon Historical Society. Besides opening the museum for research, they helped create a special exhibit to coincide with our celebration. Thank you to Superintendents Robert Angeli and Andrew Gonzalez; Samantha Singleton (Assistant Principal), Kristy Michele (Administrative Assistant), Kristen Christiansen (Attendance Secretary & Ag Science Secretary), Christine Chalifoux (Guidance-Administrative Assistant), Robert Laskarzewski (Lebanon Middle School Principal), Chelsea Williams (Administrative Assistant-Superintendent’s Office), Mary Ellen Wieczorek (Town Clerk), Roselyn Marino and the 2021 fall semester Graphic Design Class (for their logo designs); George Gray and his Architectural Design, Construction 1 & 11 classes (for building a facade of the original Lyman used throughout the year), Kathryn Ricard (music director), John Klosowski (Lyman 100 webpage), Brian Girasoli (yearbook advisor), the Ag-Science Department, Scott Elliott (Athletic Director), Carlos Veracruz and staff (Chartwells Dining Service), Shane Morse and the Drone Pilot Certification classes, John Jarvis and the Lyman custodial staff, Thomas Nanos, Sarah Haynes, First Selectman Kevin Cwikla, Selectman Kathleen Smith and Mark DeCaprio, and Keith Norton (State Department of Education Chief Strategic Planning Officer).
Curt Adams, Barbara Archer, the late Michael Babinski, April & Victoria Beckwith, Ann Birrell, Bill Brauch, Sarah Buskey, James Choquette, John Clark, Owen Curtis, A.J. Dunnack, Tammy & Ryan Dungan, Rosalyn Etra, Martin Gomez, Alberta Hawkins, Sarah Haynes, Bill Hesse, Gail Ladd, Donna Lafontaine, Tyler Langworthy, Lynn Littlefield, Emily Blanchard MacKenzie, James Nardine, Caroline Nettleton, Angela Petrowski, Geoff Picard, Armand, Lauren and Katie Pomerleau, Joe Tomanelli, Susan Vigue, the 2022 girls’ volleyball team, and Stephen Wengloski. American Legion Post #180, Chet’s Italian Ice, Clubhouse Inflatables, John’s Twisted Q, Lebanon Leos, One Love Rolling The Cook Shed, Photo Connection of Colchester and Recognition Products of Lebanon and Matthew and Jennifer Roy Williams (Hidden Acres Farm), Friends of the Library, and Lyman Booster Club.
Our Lyman families who contributed to the class raffle baskets; musicians and singers; our alumni and special guests who attended the once in a lifetime event, those who made donations towards the centennial and purchased special anniversary merchandise. To all who supplied yearbooks, a variety of programs, scrapbooks, answered questions and provided pictures for displays, exhibits and the history book. For a complete list of donators at the different levels, please contact lymanmhs100years@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME MILESTONE!
Through signs, banners, special light pole banners, displays, events, merchandise sales, and pages in the 2023 yearbook, we have celebrated the George W. Lyman legacy. As we celebrated the past 100 years, we continued to look towards the future. It is the hope that a high school in Lebanon continues to serve our children and fulfil the legacy left by a man who had no children of his own.
LYMAN 100 MERCHANDISE
White Short Sleeve L-XL: $10, 3XL $15 Gray Long Sleeve L-XL: $15, 2 XL & 3XL $16
16 oz Glasses are $8.00 each
Please email Lymanmhs100years@gmail for more information or size availability.
