They stood outside in big long lines 50 years ago to get into the new Mexican Village restaurant on South Washington Street.
Members of the class of 1971 had no problem getting places to sit in the Mexican Village for lunch on Saturday. The tables were full, but they had been reserved for the class gathering during its 50th reunion.
At one table Saturday, Dan and Deb Goodman were talking with John Kosanda about high school days in the relatively new Red River High School. Though the Goodmans now live near Bemidji, Dan still has business interests in Grand Forks. Kosanda, a Minnesota lawyer, is the son of the late judge Frank Kosanda and a brother of the late judge Karen Kosanda.
As they tasted their food, the class members of 1971 shared memories of years gone by. They were one of the earliest classes to graduate from the new Red River High School.
Their memories flowed back to school days and eating at other restaurants such as the Red Pepper on University Avenue. They talked about going to the River Bend not far from East Grand Forks. They remembered the Bronze Boot, a favorite restaurant now long gone. And they talked of the Westward Ho motel, also long gone.
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Cruising Grand Forks was part of their visit. They remembered the days of bonfires in Lincoln Park and of sledding there along with golfing in the summer time. When they saw the relatively new Phoenix School they remembered Belmont School was there before. Like other high school alumni, they saw the Kegs now back in business.
Many of them felt they needed to stop at Widman’s for chocolates.
There was a tour of Central High with Rick Ferguson. A memory tour of St. James High School with Patty Keogh Hughes. The school merged with Central in 1969.
They took pictures at the rock garden in University Park. Those who have been away longer took a view of the new medical building on the UND campus and they saw the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Diane Sondreal Hilde was among the leaders for the Red River alumni. Barry Branvold was among those welcoming Central High alumni back.
These are the days people look around and ask, “Where has the summer gone?”
The serious folks nod and stroke their foreheads. The bring-on-life people insist – nowhere. They will milk summer for every drop it has in it. For every fly. And they will tell visitors the first day of autumn is more than a month away.
After all, the Norwegians among us are said to be planning a corn feed.
