A SCHOOL CALLED STEVENS

Since my graduation in 1954 from STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL, I have been aware over the years the constant and continual trend of residential change(s) and even before that time......it has taken several directions and,from my point-of-view, many misdirections....which many will dismiss as being so much 'water-over-the dam',usually in the strong and often emotional belief that anything new is always better and the same for size, 'the bigger the better' and this has had many results as those who did not grow up in this town of CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, continue to add to the 'pool gene' of those attitudes..... A town is often defined, at least in some physical sense, by its buildings and in CLAREMONT, many buildings have been and continue to be demolished for a wide variety of reasons....but if one carefully looks about THE TOWN OF CLAREMONT THAT PRETENDS IT IS A CITY, the findings will reveal to any honest and objective observer,whether resident or not, graduate of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL or not, that vacant lots, vacant store fronts, parking lots, and abandoned buildings exist and,of course, various real estate speculators have operated over the years, often catering to out-of-town and out-of-state landlords plus the importation of numerous 'managers' whose fiscal policies and programs, whether liked or not, have had many economic effects, that include, as many well know, a number of perhaps costly lawsuits for the town that pretends it is a city. While this might seem not to be the place to discuss such things, the fact is that many years ago I predicted the DEMOLITION OF STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL, which plan is nearly in effect if certain factions and interests have their way. The alternative plans to this complete destruction of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL have some things to commend them, of course, but not everyone can or will nor is expected to accept or agree with any or all of them, to be sure......usually the more vocal groups, who have set up and developed a specific agenda tend to prevail and the public tends to remain apathetic for a variety of reasons that will be discussec on my other blog entitled, CLAREMONT CAPERS.......... THE STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION prides itself,of course, and rightly so, of being THE OLDEST HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN THE UNITED STATES but,despite the long list of outstanding and talented and a bit famous graduates that have come from there, not to mention those who merely attended but did not graduate for various reason but who became most successful in life, few pay attention to STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL...