A newspaper article once said  that ,”the Town of Windham, which has an ancient and honorable history, celebrated its Bicentennial  in June, 1892 with a big conclave of “Old Homers” and since that date has specialized in several “Old School” and “Old Home” reunions. “  The article went on to mention a gathering in 1897 when over one hundred pupils of  beloved North Windham teacher Porter B. Peck gathered at their old schoolhouse to do him homage. Having taught over forty years there, he had taught hundreds of local students. In 1905, Colonel John B. Welch, who had been principal of “The Natchaug High and Grammar School” for twelve years was called to Willimantic to be honored for all that he had done. After leaving Natchaug, he had moved to Columbia, Missouri where he established a private military academy which was, for a time, made part of the Missouri National Guard. On the day of his testimonial he spent the morning touring the Normal School facilities and in the afternoon there was social time at Natchaug School where he greeted old friends and acquaintances. That evening, there was a reception and a banquet.  At 11 P.M. over twenty people gave speeches. The gathering was so successful that the organizers, now calling themselves “The Old Natchaugers”, decided to hold another gathering in ten years. The idea caught on quickly and soon the whole town became involved and it was decided to call the event “Old School and Old Home Week”.  Planning in earnest began in December, 1914. The recent completion of the new Natchaug School, the building of the Normal School and the soon to be completed new high school generated much enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration/gathering which was to be open to, “all who ever went to school in Willimantic or the town of Windham”. Letters of invitation had already been sent out to almost all former students whose addresses were available and replies had begun come in from those in several states and, of course, those who were more local and they expressed not only excitement about the event but also plans to attend. Groups began to be formed to in order to honor favorite teachers such as Porter B. Peck of North Windham, Dr. Fitch who taught in South Windham, principal Thomas Weaver who had gone on to become superintendent of schools in Hartford and former Natchaug principal Frank Reede who had become superintendent of the New Haven Public Schools.  By May, a town clean-up week had been instituted and there was a push to complete the paving of Main Street with granite blocks. On the day of the celebration, former President William Howard Taft was the guest of honor and he delivered the main address of the day at Recreation Park. Every school in town held an open house and all were well attended, especially at the new Natchaug and Windham High buildings. In the afternoon there was a huge parade which ended at Recreation Park where President Taft (who was now a law professor at Yale University) was to give his speech. In it, President Taft said, “Willimantic is a hive of industry. You have leaders here who have made Willimantic known everywhere and they are trained to do things.” The day ended with more reunions and a reception at the Armory. Many other clubs and groups held receptions throughout the day at their locations. It is interesting to note that at the original planning meeting, it was stated, ”The celebration need not be elaborate or expensive but genuine in its spirit of reunion and friendship and serious in its thought of schools.”  The celebration was indeed genuine and, while not elaborate, was wildly successful. Visitors thronged in from all over the country. More than 15,000 people attended the “Civic Day” ceremonies.  And so, in typical Willimantic fashion of the period, by the end of Old School and Old Home Week, 1915, the idea of another celebration in 1930 was taking shape. This week’s photo

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