Retired Teacher to be a Centenarian

by Bill Tobin 2/10/12

 Thelma Pond will celebrate her 100th birthday on March 1, 2012.

Thelma retired as an elementary school teacher in 1972 from the Wilder School on Baker Street.

Thelma Pond will be 100 years old on March 1st celebrating with her 98 year old sister Grace (Pond) Monahan in the home they share on Cranberry Lane.

Thelma and her family moved to Holliston from Ashland to Irving Place in Holliston when she was four years old. She graduated from Holliston High School and went on to Framingham Normal School (now Framingham State University) to become a teacher. It was then a three year progam, but Thelma took additional courses and attended for four years. 

After graduating from  Framingham Normal, she began her teaching career at the Wilder School on Baker Street and remained there except for a brief time at the Andrews School during renovations at the Wilder. 

The old Wilder School was replaced with the "new" Wilder, pictured above in 1926 for $10,000 and not one penny more, as recalled by Thelma. In 1972 Thelma retired as a permanent teacher but remained active at Wilder on a one-on-one basis volunteering for about 20 more years, giving students an extra boost with their reading. 

Thelma enjoyed a cruise to Alaska after retirement.

Thelma on the left is pictured with her sister Grace who at 98 may be the oldest living World War ll veteran in Holliston. Thelma recalls growing up in town with furniture stores downtown, the horse pulling the plow to clear the sidewalks of snow, and the delivery man coming in his wagon in the morning to get her mother's grocery list and delivering those groceries later that day.  

Thelma and Grace enjoy a recent Christmas in their home at 59 Cranberry Lane.

Do you have a memory of Thelma as a teacher, colleague, friend or neighbor? She loves recalling local events of decades ago. Her centennial is  March 1st, but she does not want to be the center of attention, so a celebration party is out. However, a birthday card with fond memories would make her day. Perhaps you were a student of hers and can recall the annual May Pole Dance, or your outer winter garments drying on the school radiator after recess of playing Fox and Geese. Maybe you recall the way she got you interested in reading or in numbers. One shared memory will bring a mountain of happiness to one of Holliston's oldest. Please do not telephone, but do write to her. 

The Massachusetts House of Representavies and the Senate have issued proclamations to recognize this remarkable teacher.

Thanks to neighbor Nancy Daggett for scooping this centennial celebration.

HollistonReporter.com wishes Thelma continued good health and a wonderful year to Thelma and Grace.

Posted in Local Lore, Comings/Goings.

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