Members of the Boyden High School class of 1959 celebrated their 55th reunion Sept.26 and 27. On Friday evening classmates and guests enjoyed fellowship and a bar-b-que dinner at the Crescent Club House. A group picture was made by Charles Goldman.

On Saturday the group met at Dan Nicholas Park for a cookout. Bob Roakes grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings, with assistance provided by other classmates. Members of the planning committee were Phyllis Beck, Edith Julian, Charles Goldman, Bob Roakes and Marilyn Fisher.

Out of state classmates attending were Frank Ramsey, Wasilla,Alaska; Barry Torrence, Chattanooga,Tenn.; Jim Koontz, Largo, Fla.; Teresa Carrigan Simmons, Kingwood Texas; Odell Sapp, Kerrville Texas; Judy Cress Yarbrough, La Grange, Ga.; Richard Bradshaw, Gloria Misenheimer Goodman, and Joyce Randall Seabrook, Greenville, S.C.

Out-of-town members were Mike Feezor, Chapel Hill; Priscilla Waller Eller, Yadkinville; Ann Caldwell Beck, Concord; Mick Houck, Mooresville; Jerry Wise, Clemmons; Eddie Stone, Greensboro; Bunny Clapp Cummings, Winston-Salem;

Pat Dees Wright, Mickey Goodman, Asheville; Doug Montgomery, Southport; Nelson Bostian, David Kesler, Lexington; Judy Cline Harrelson, Mint Hill; Norma Kluttz Henderson, Pat Schawitsch, Southern Pines; Jerry Eagle, Summerfield; Dan Julian, Ocean Isle Beach; Jerry McCombs Wertz, Cramerton; Frank Feeney, Huntersville.

Local classmates celebrating were Marilyn Benson Fisher, Jack Brown, Judy Correll Schenk, Carol Daniel Hopkins, Judy Ann English Deal, Edith Folger Julian, Charles Goldman, Gerald Hamm Graham, Jim Honeycutt, Perry Hood, Ann Jones Wilson, Phyllis Kennerly Beck , Danny Kesler, Tommy Lewis, Brenda Mickey Bernhardt, Miles Mintz, Sam Owen, Karen Rawling, Brenda Ritchie Fulk, Bob Roakes, Susan Rouzer Waller, Eleanor Sifford, Linda Sink Efird, Tommy Thomason, Tommy Thomason, Bill Torrence, Rachel Wyatt Safrit and Tommy Yarbrough

East Rowan High School Class of ’64 recently celebrated its 50th class reunion with a weekend of activities.

On Friday afternoon, Sept. 12, 66 classmates and their guests met for a tailgate party at Christiana Lutheran Church. College BBQ provided the meal and Dale Beaver blessed the food. A group picture was taken on the steps of the church. Afterwards, the party moved across the road and sat in a group at an exciting football game between East & Cox Mill. East won — go Mustangs!

On Saturday night, Sept. 13, the group celebrated with a dinner at the Salisbury Country Club. Background music from the ’60s was provided by Virtual Sounds. Mike Bernhardt, committee chairperson, welcomed the crowd and served as master of ceremonies and Dale Beaver blessed the food. Candles were lit for the 30 classmates who are now deceased. Entertainment and laughs were provided by Glen Yost, local magician. An open mike session was held, and many classmates shared special memories and lots of funny stories from their high school days.

The reunion planning committee consisted of Dale Beaver, Mike Bernhardt, Tommy Brown, Claude Hamilton, Sandra Nash Hamilton, Deanie Brown Jones, Kay Grubb Jones, Linda Holshouser Kanipe, Tommy Kimball, Tessa Lesley, Kay Eller Moody, Carolyn Eichler Peeler and Nancy Sherrill Poe. In five years, the committee members look forward to planning the next reunion.

The Mount Ulla High Class of 1954 celebrated its 60th reunion at the Olive Garden in Salisbury on Sept. 20.

Special recognition went to Ralph O. Lanier, the principal of Mount Ulla High School 1954 and a celebration of his 92nd birthday.

Thirteen of the class membership of 24 were present and enjoyed renewing friendships.

The Epilepsy support group of Rowan County has merged with the group in Concord and meetings will be the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at NorthEast Medical Center. This group is open to adults with epilepsy, children/parents with epilepsy and caregivers. For addiional information call Sarah Powers at 704-403-1986 or Carole Young at 704-639-0847.

Renee Bradshaw, executive director of the Family Crisis Council for Rowan County, received a $100 donation from Jerri Peeler, president of the Holly Jolly Collector’s Club.

Bradshaw gave a presentation about the council’s 30+ years of advocating for victims affected by domestic and sexual violence.

For information about upcoming club meetings contact jlpeeler@earthlink.net or kitwdavis@gmail.com

For the remainder of 2014, there will be holiday events at member’s homes and sponsor store, Ann Crittenden Hallmark store. 2015 club meetings will usually be held in the Hurley Room at the library on fourth Saturdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. (This program is not sponsored by Rowan Public Library.)

Carolina Watchman, Tuesday, July 28, 1914: The first gathering of the descendants of Michael Braun was held at Peeler’s Grove, Granite Quarry, “for the purpose of effecting an organization among its descendants.” “400 people were out”.

Saturday, Oct. 20, 2014:  100 years later the Brown-Fisher Association met at Granite Lake, (formerly Peeler’s Lake), Granite Quarry to celebrate the first gathering. 

A 1887 Calliope owned by Edward Brown and operated by Paul Brown entertained.

The Larry C. Brown family was in charge of the lunch on the grounds, consisting of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with trimmings, apple pie and ice cream.

Following lunch, president Norman Ribelin called the meeting to order. Treasurer Larry Brown gave the financial report and Larry Brown, a member of the Rowan Museum board, gave an update of Museum matters.

Members voted on two changes to the bylaws which were approved by the membership in attendance.

The 2015-2016 slate of officers and board members were voted on and approved:  president, Stephen W. Brown; vice-president, S. Deane Brown; secretary, Patricia B. Beck; treasurer, Larry Brown; editor, Teresa Fox; coordinator, Juanita Fisher Lagg; past-president, Norman Ribelin; board members Candice Brown, Keith Wolf, Todd Berg, Rod Kesler,Sarah Z. Brown, Ann Stoner Bostian, Cathy Kirchin and Linda Shelton.

Edward Andrew Brown was recognized for his 30 year military service in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.

S. Deane Brown gave the real story of the Star Spangled Banner on the 200th anniversary of its writing and led the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. A moment of silent prayer was held for Brown-Fisher descendents who have died since the last reunion.

Sarah Brown recognized the five persons attending the reunion for the first time: John and Cindy Schroeder of Granger, Ind.; Nancy Brown Jones, George Jones and Ellen Brown Lewis, all of Wilmington.

Those traveling the greatest distance were Cindy and John Schroeder; the oldest member attending was John Fisher of Salisbury at 95 years old; the youngest child attending was 2-year-old Berkley Brown, daughter of Ben and Candace Brown and next, 22-year-old Hope Wolf.

Families with the most members attending were the Edward A. Brown family with six members and the Larry C. Brown family with  six members; families with the most generations were the Edward A. Brown Family with three and the Larry C. Brown family with three.

Each attendee received a raffle ticket for two Old Stone House clocks and two framed prints of the Old Stone House donated by S. Deane Brown. Winners were Cindy Schroeder, J. Brown, Jack Taylor and Cathy Kirchin. A third clock was auctioned off and purchased by George Jones. Cathy Kirchen provided a vintage post card of the Old Stone House to each person attending.

Juanita Ladd presented life membership pins to new members since the last reunion:  Cynthia “Cindy” Schroeder of Granger, Ind.; Matthew Kyle Barker of Louisburg; Joshua Earl Barker of Murfreesboro and S. Dean Brown of Spartanburg, S.C.  Life membership now totals 146 members.

Doug Robinson, member of the Nathan Brown Association, has been in contact with the state preservationist for help on the Nathan Brown house. He had a display set up on the Nathan Brown house.

The 2015 Brown-Fisher Association reunion will be held on Sept. 20 at the Old Stone House.