Let’s restore Milford High marker to its rightful place
By Daryle Ann Czajkowski (‘74)
As the numbers of individuals who attended past Milford High School All Class Reunions has diminished in the 30 years since the first reunion - and 40 since the closing of the school in 1983 - our collective knowledge is fading - even of those former students from the last graduation class.
Graduates of the MHS class of 1983 are now in their late 50s and rapidly approaching 60, and the reality remains that the love and history of preserving the memories of Milford High School is fading fast even among our youngest members.
So it is high time to mark our history before it is completely forgotten -forever. Here is my idea as to where we can do this!
To the upper right, is a picture of the front door facing the Duck Pond when Milford High School was in session. Below that, the same area of the current Thomas Parsons Complex. You may notice the darker portion of gray stucco to the right of the door on the bottom picture where the MHS stone-carved marker formally was located.
Where that darker rectangle is once displayed the words MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL. Most people probably don’t know that it was removed when the city took over the building. I have always felt that by its removal, it erased the memory of the many years where so many of Milford’s teens were educated.
I object as a former Milford Public School educator and MHS grad. This, plus the fact that my husband, Henry “Chip” Czajkowski, just retired from Foran last June after a 50-year career, and was the last teacher still working in the system who actually taught in Milford High, where he also graduated from!
I believe this is important. I am grateful that within my own MHS yearbook, I found this photo where the name was still displayed on the side of the front door.
As it was noted on this website’s Home Page, this may be the last “All-Class reunion.” As such, I think that we should think about putting a lasting mark onto the Parsons building to commemorate an important part of Milford’s heritage.
Perhaps in the way of a brass plaque like the one displayed to the right, where the former school’s name was displayed for decades but adding the school’s opening and closing dates.
Another consideration: Should all the years of the MHS’s existence be referenced on a new plaque, and, should one be placed at the adjacent ‘Yellow’ building that was also “Milford High?”
In any eventuality, I hope that you agree the time is now to memorialize the building’s heritage in addition to two display cases in front of the gym doors.
Let’s put a new memorial plaque up where it belongs that will outlive all of us!
SIGN THE PETITION on June 24
Above, two possible color renditions of a proposed new plaque to be installed where the former MHS stone-carved marker was located in former times, courtesy of former high school art teacher and MHS Class of ‘68 grad, Henry ‘Chip’ Czajkowski. Both Chip and wife, Daryle Ann (‘74) will have a table set up during the Reunion on June 24 near the old front door where you can sign the petition to restore a plaque commemorating the building’s MHS heritage.