If you can easily recall 1957, you’re one of us – so called senior citizens, elderly, old timers. It’s so easy for me to remember that year because I was finally out of school, working and on my own, something I’d looked forward to since I was about 10 years old and thought I could make all my own decisions.
As we anticipate the rise in postage to 41 cents for a first-class stamp, remember 1957, when you could mail a letter (surface mail) for 3 cents. Air Mail (discontinued in 1975) cost more. I bet most of you remember when a penny post card actually cost a penny.
This year at the annual Windham High School alumni banquet, the class that graduated in 1957, will be seated at the head table. Each year, when the several hundred graduates get together, the “50 year” class is so honored. They’ll remember that when they graduated, the minimum wage was $1 an hour and Eisenhower was president.
In Windham that year, there were 4,500 people and the average price of a house was $20,000. Average household income for a family of four was $4,500. Gas costs a quarter for a gallon, and bread was 20 cents a loaf.
In 1957, schoolkids witnessed the first satellite to orbit the earth – Sputnik I from Russia. They also heard about federal troops being sent to Arkansas to facilitate integration (allowing black children to go to white-only schools), a little bit of life in America most of us here in the Northeast were unaware of.
I was working at the Canal National Bank at 188 Middle St. in Portland, in 1957. Today, the bank is called Key Bank and 188 Middle St., with its beautiful brickwork was (most recently) the ill-fated Pavilion.
Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957 and “American Bandstand” first appeared on television.
For some of us, some of the environmental news of today seems a rerun from 50 years ago, i.e., an Asian flu pandemic was reported that year and the killer bees were making their first appearance in Brazil (accidentally released).
In 1957, teenagers thought that a person 50 years old was really old. Life expectancy was 69.
Fifty years ago, political correctness and invasion of privacy were not of prime importance. The Windham town report of 1957 lists all the town poor, except for veterans who were identified with a number.
The same town report also states that in Windham, there were more than 33,000 chickens, 711 milk cows (plus 132 heifers), 40 steer, oxen or beef cattle and 78 horses. The 4,500 citizens also owned 118 boats and 1,300 television sets and radios. There were 40 tractors. Probably most people who live in Windham today who have tractors, own those riding mower-type to care for their lawns.
We’ve come a long way in 50 years and can only wonder at the changes in the next half century.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
