2021 Reunion Vt
When Betsy Ryan announced we could not have our Annual Reunion in Lenox for 2021 as BU was renovating Main House, Amy Messina, who lives in Vermont proposed another option … a place important to our school history. This was a very special reunion as we returned to the place of beginning, where our beloved school was born in America in Windsor Vermont in 1939. We experienced the panoramic view from a portico high above the Connecticut River Valley that inspired Max and Gertrud to name their school Windsor Mountain School. Windsor Mansion Inn (formerly known as Juniper Hill Farm) is now a combination B&B and Event Space with 14 hilltop acres, beautiful mountain views, large verandas, gardens and terraces.
This Reunion was similar to the Reunions 2016 – 2019 in Lenox, that tend to be smaller allowing for new friendships and bond[y]ing of the alums blending the span of our years, then and now, into our one unique WMS community. Adam Thielker has perhaps summed up our 2021 Reunion in Vermont best on Facebook:
“This reunion was a day worthy of the name. The fact that there weren’t so many of us meant I could spend better time with each of us who were there. When Bill Dobbs walked through the door the history of these years since [1996 Reunion] formed a circle. A larger circle fell into place, learning that on October 1, 1939, 82 years ago, the Bondy’s began their work in America. I felt a new connection with the work that Gertrude and Max started all those years ago. Look how we have grown. Standing on the ground where they brought their dreams and hopes to America shook me. I had never heard the story that Maurice told about how he came to know Heinz and grew from student to a position I will call Dean of Students [Assistant Headmaster] was a revelation. Some years back, I asked Maurice why it was so difficult for us all to find a place beyond race. Beyond division. He told me he didn’t know. Today I wept, telling him that Windsor was the closest I have ever come to living in such a world.”
Saturday, October 2nd Reunion: alums to arrived around 11:00 AM, with a Food Truck onsite. We had secured a Food Truck, Jeff’s Smoke Shack (aka Truetexassmokehouse.com) for the day. There was plenty of outdoor seating, however, if weather was uncooperative, there were many cozy indoor sitting areas, eating areas, and even a full bar. Average temps were around 66 day, and 50 evening, with a short rain fall in the morning. We revived the Windsor afternoon tradition of Milk & Cookies, many brought a plate of their favorite cookie/sweets to share, along with a Plaque presentation by Maurice. For dinner there were many offsite choices, such as Windsor Train Station and Harpoon Brewery (reserve early!), and if you wanted to stay onsite, many local restaurants choices from Chinese to Pizza. In the evening we enjoyed conversation along with Ron on his various guitars (sample).
Dedication Plaque: Around 3 pm Maurice presented the Inn Manager, Andy, a dedication plaque (click to hear his amazing speech). The plaque will join others that commemorate other historic events at the Inn such as Presidential visits. If your up in VT in the future visit/stay at the Inn look for our plaque in a sitting room or Library. Thank you Merryll Pension for making this possible.
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