Retiring Teachers Honored At Supper

WASHBURN -- The Washburn Teachers Association held a retirement supper at Nightingale's in Mapleton for four SAD 45 elementary teachers who are retiring this year after more than 100 years combined teaching service.

The four retiring teachers are Mrs. Helen Beverage, Mrs. Ruth Conroy, Miss E. Mae Hanson and Mrs. Helen Holts.

Mrs. Beverage started her teaching career in 1929 at Westmorland. She also taught in Woodland and New Sweden before coming to Perham where she has taught grades three and four for eleven years.

Mrs. Conroy, also a Perham teacher, has been teaching grades one and two in Perham for the past 28 years. She started teaching in 1922 but did not teach continuously, taking time out to raise a family.

Miss Hanson started her teaching career in the Tabor school in Washburn in 1934. She also taught in the Crouseville Primary School, the Wade School, and in Perham. She was principal of the Washburn Elementary School for many years and has taught grade six in Washburn for the majority of her career. Miss Hanson has taught on a continuous basis and has more than 39 years of teaching experience.

Mrs. Holts taught for eight years in Perham, from 1929 to 1937, and then returned to teaching in 1958 in grade six in Washburn.

Each of the retirees received her training at Aroostook State Teachers College, the University of Maine at Presque Isle. All of the teachers were presented gifts by Albert Hobbs, chairman of the Board of Directors, on behalf of the school district, and by Sheldon Richardson, the toast master, on behalf of the Washburn Teachers Association.

[May 1973]

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