Hello.
THE 2020 REUNION of the Seaholm Class of 70 is now only eight months away!
After the last update we had a big jump in membership on the ”Seaholm Class of 1970” group page on Facebook.
We also had a good response from the Missing Information list which I hope will continue. So that you can see the progress I am attaching a revised pdf document at the bottom of this email in which the names of the persons “found” in October are shown in blue. Additionally, the names of persons who have joined the Facebook group but for whom we do not have an email address are shown with FB after their name. Please keep looking for people on the list and thank you for your help.
Construction
Lynn (Janes) and Clark Bell visited Birmingham and reported on their stay at the Holiday Inn Express. Their critique was kinder than Mary Lamont’s - their plumbing worked just fine. They found out that a renovation of the hotel is planned; larger lobby, redecorated corridors and guest rooms. The hotel intends for the work to be completed by mid-summer.
The Holiday Inn is not the only game in town but it is the most reasonable. Remember to use SEA as the group/corporate number to receive a discounted rate.
For those who prefer more luxurious accommodations, there is The Townsend Hotel directly across Shain Park from The Community House.
Currently under construction is a new “ultra-luxury” hotel, The Daxton, at the NW corner of Brown Street and Old Woodward. I have no idea about when it will be open or what the rates will be, but most likely... “ultra”.
In the summer of ‘17, Old Woodward was dug up and replaced, supplying all new infrastructure, sidewalks and plantings. It felt a little like living in a TV western with wooden catwalks and dirt streets, construction barriers and white lights strung about. All businesses remained open and even though traffic was rerouted, it was not so bad.
In 2020 you will get to see it all for yourselves, and not just the new street, as they will be at it again, this time replacing Maple Road from Woodward (formerly Hunter) to Southfield. I’ll send navigation information as it gets close to the reunion.
Seaholm Maples
After living on Greenwood Street for 28 years I finally attended a Greenwood Cemetery fall tour. I learned that Martha Baldwin, for whom both Baldwin Library and Baldwin School were named, personally beautified Old Mill Road from town to the mill on Mill Pond (Quarton Lake at the waterfall) by planting maple trees on both sides of the road. It was so appreciated the town renamed the street Maple Road. The athletic teams from Baldwin School became The Maples. Baldwin School became Birmingham High and later Seaholm High.
I was certain everyone but me must have known this but I tested my brother and sister and they had no idea, and so I share it with you.
And a Thank You
I see today's reports on teenage suicide and think, “There but for the grace of God, go I”.
In high school I was struggling with a lot of painful family and personal issues. I’m sure many of us were, but we didn’t talk about it then.
I credit school activities and your appreciation for getting me through that difficult time.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say to all of you, Thank You.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Wood