LOWVILLE — Lowville Academy and Central School's bicentennial celebration kicked off with a ceremony featuring speeches, music, commendations and even a long-awaited graduation.
Mary Boback Olmstead was a member of the class of 1929 but was unable to graduate because of extenuating circumstances, District Superintendent Kenneth J. McAuliffe told a large crowd at Thursday evening's opening ceremonies.
"That was a different era," Mr. McAuliffe said.
To rectify that situation, she was awarded her high school diploma at the event, held on the front lawn of the North State Street school.
"It's about time, 79 years later, that Mary Boback graduates from Lowville Academy," Mr. McAuliffe said.
One of the guest speakers, state Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome, later suggested that Mrs. Olmstead now is eligible for a bicentennial scholarship, which will be started with proceeds from the four-day celebration.
"She's going to be a freshman next year," he said.
The senator and Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, both gave their regards to the 200-year-old district.
"This is really a phenomenal occasion," said Mr. Griffo, who procured a $5,000 member item grant for the preservation and restoration of district historical documents.
"You have a wonderful sense of community in this school district," Ms. Scozzafava said.
Both state lawmakers joked that a proclamation honoring Lowville Academy's bicentennial was one of the few things the Senate and Assembly agreed upon this year.
Charles C. Merrell, Lewis County judge and president of the Lowville Academy Alumni Association, read a proclamation from Gov. David A. Paterson.
The event's alumni speaker, Louis C. Bush III, a member of the class of 1951 and a longtime social studies teacher at Lowville Central, recalled several things about his student days, including air raid drills, the polio epidemic and reactions to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the atomic blasts in Japan.
"Our PlayStations were the fields and gyms of Lowville Academy," he said.
Mr. Bush also urged listeners to uphold patriotism, thank our soldiers and demand that elected officials work to solve the energy situation.
"I am confident that Lowville Academy will continue to perform its duty to educate and inform its students as it has the past 200 years," he said in conclusion.
Lewis County Legislature Chairman Jack T. Bush, R-Brantingham, a 1965 graduate of the school, also spoke at the event, and Mr. McAuliffe recognized past and present administrators, staff and Board of Education members.
The superintendent particularly praised his predecessor, William H. Wormuth, who retired in 2001 after 17 years at the district's helm. "His vision created this modern-day LACS," Mr. McAuliffe said.
Following a performance by the Lowville Village Band, the superintendent gave special recognition to Millard Chamberlain, a retired Lowville Academy instrumental music teacher who has stepped down as the band's director after 32 years.
Bicentennial events Friday included a picnic barbecue, salute to the troops, alumni and friends chorus concert and fireworks display.
Today, a parade of alumni and staff members will begin at 3 p.m. from Veterans Memorial Park off Parkway Drive past Lowville Presbyterian Church to the school. Dances will be held tonight in the Lowville Academy gymnasium.
On Sunday, the Alumni Association will hold its annual meeting. The third annual Erik Sears Memorial Alumni Soccer Tournament also will be held, beginning at 9 a.m.
