DIXFIELD — The Dixfield-Dirigo Alumni Association recently held its annual alumni banquet at the Kelly Middle School with 122 members and guests attending. 

Tribute was paid to a former English, French and music teacher, Mrs. Nat Weston, who will turn 100 years old on Oct. 20. Nancy Mason, Class of 1967, read a biography of Weston’s life.

The meeting was called to order by president Betty Stearns. A potluck supper was held.

The secretary and treasurer reports were read and accepted.

The oldest class members were Muriel Robbins McAuley (1940) and Albert Spaulding (1942). The youngest members were husband and wife Dana (1988) and Jennifer (1989) Whittemore.

The following classes were honored: 1948, 65 years, with six members; 1943, 70 years; 1953, 60 years, with six members; 1963, 50 years, with 17 members; and 1973, 40 years.

Members traveled from Utah, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Virginia and Arizona.

Judy Horne won the 50/50 and graciously returned it to the alumni.

This year’s scholarship recipients are Tyler Stone, Jenn Smith, T.J. Frost, Cody Chaisson, Dick Young and Tom Barrett. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship for the alumni.

Charlene Farrell and her helpers decorated the hall in blue and white, Dixfield colors.

Former teacher honored

Mrs. Nat Weston, former teacher, will turn 100 years old on Oct. 20. The following message was narrated by Nancy Mason, Class of 1967.

Nat Weston was born Oct. 20, 1913, in Renville, Minn. She was the first of three children of Alvin Henry and Sophia (Wulf) Riedler. Her sister Phyllis is still living in Minnesota; her brother Alvin passed away in 2008.

She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1934. With her degree she was able to teach business courses, French, English and history as well as music.

She attended college during the Depression and the college advised all students at that time to obtain as many degrees and majors as they could to assist them in obtaining a job during this period in our country’s history.

She met and married William Henry Weston from North Woodstock, N.H., when he worked for Diamond Match Co. in Lincoln, N.H., and had been transferred to Colquet, Minn. He attended the church where she was the choir director and he sang tenor in her choir.

One night she needed a ride and Bill offered to drive her home. Thus a relationship developed. They were married on June 15, 1941, in Renville, Minn. When Bill was transferred back to Maine, they lived in a cottage at Worthley Pond in Peru for the first year before they settled on Weld Street in Dixfield.

She obtained work as a teach in the Dixfield School System in about 1956. She was teaching English, French and directed the girls Glee Club. During her years at Dixfield High School she also directed the senior play and prize speaking. The Glee Clubs went to regional music festivals and received high marks. Dixfield also had students selected for the State All-State Music Festivals.

While in Dixfield she also was organist at the Congregational Church and directed the choir. Before beginning at Dixfield High School she founded a woman’s vocal group called the Schubert chorus and taught private piano lessons.

She also chaperoned groups of students from Dixfield and surrounding towns with various other chaperones on several occasions to Europe.

After retirement and moving to New Harbor, she continued with her music by founding the Occasional Chorale and also substituted in various churches in the area as an organist.

For hobbies she enjoys knitting and the more complicated the pattern, the more she enjoys it. She is still active in her church with the Willing Workers Womens Group and the Early Bird’s Morning Bible study group. She volunteers at the Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta. She also loves to play bridge.