Class of 1961 Alum Recalls What Life Was Like at Andrew Warde and in Fairfield a Half Century Ago

Imagine what it must have been like to be a high school student living in Fairfield 50 years ago. Don Messer, a member of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1961, still remembers his days at the Melville Avenue school vividly.

"Andrew Warde in the early days was very sterile and (we had) vast distances to walk for special activities," said Messer, who is looking forward to his 50-year reunion later this year. "My brother went to Ludlowe, which had a rich history" that Warde didn't have at the time, according to Messer.

His class was the second to complete all four years at Warde after the school opened in the Fall of 1956. Ludlowe, meanwhile, which was located in what is now Tomlinson Middle School, was the established secondary school in Fairfield and was overcrowded. Students attended split sessions until the opening of Warde on the other side of town.

"There was an intense rivalry between Ludlowe and Warde, as many of the students knew each other in their grammar school years," added Messer, who was a member of the 1959 undefeated football team and a captain of the 1960 squad. "Many of my opponents in football were my teammates in Little League baseball. The new school was an inspiration that all who attended were going to get the best high school experience that was to be had."

He noted that the town was more close-knit a half-century ago. "Fairfield in the late fifties and early sixties was a much closer community, especially when a police officer would catch you necking with your girlfriend and he would turn out to be a friend of your own father," joked Messer, who attended Grasmere Elementary School and now lives in Redding.

What establishments did the students frquent back then? "The Rocket Drive-In was the Warde hangout, and the Dutchess Drive-In was Ludlowe's," he said. "In my brother's day, it was Rawley's or The Dugout. I used to ride my bike up Black Rock Turnpike to go fishing in Samp Mortar, and there weren't any businesses past Dolan's Corner and little traffic."

As for the upcoming 50-year reunion, Messer is thrilled with the response thus far. "The reunion for the Class of 1961 --- Nifty at Fifty --- is exciting, indeed," the Norwich University product admitted. "Classmates have almost lived full lives and have many stories and experiences to relate. Most people are really excited because we only had one reunion ( 20th ) and that was not enough."

The 50-year reunion will be held Saturday, October 15, at the Scandanavian Club, 1351 South Pink Creek Road in Fairfield. More than 150 former classmates have been located, and Messer hopes the reunion committee can locate many more. There is still much work to be done, but he is confident the reunion will be a tremendous success.

Despite the passage of a half-century since his high school graduation, Messer still stays in contact with many former classmates. "I have been in touch with close friends from high school, mostly fellow football players --- some daily, some weekly --- through phone calls and visits. The reunion is being headed up with the help of old friends I have stayed in touch with."

Paul