Eighty-four graduates were split equally – 42 males, 42 females
It has been 45 years since the Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Class of 1971 received their diplomas and turned their tassels in a Commencement ceremony in the school’s auditorium.
This past Saturday, September 10, they celebrated their 45th Class Reunion at Heritage Village’s Welcome Center.
There were 84 graduates in May 1971, with the class split equally – 42 males and 42 females. Eight members of the class are deceased.
Aside from sharing good time class memories, those attending had the opportunity to reflect on a few facts from that earlier era:
+ Average Cost of a New House – $25,250.
+ Average Yearly Income – $10,600.
+ Average Monthly Rent – $150.
+ Cost of a Gallon of Gas – 40 cents.
+ Cost of Movie Ticket – $1.50.
+ Cost of a Ladies 2-Piece Knit Suit – $9.98.
+ Cost of a United States Postage Stamp – 8 cents.
+ Cost of a Dodge Charger – $3,579.
+ Jar of Jiff Peanut Butter – 59 cents.
+ Cost of a Tape Cassette Recorder – $29.88.
+ Cost of a Side-By-Side Fridge – $704.95.
+ Richard Nixon was United States President.
+ 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, lowering the voting age to 18.
+ Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota opened.
+ Intel released world’s first microprocessor – the 4004.
+ Texas Instruments released the first pocket calculator.
+ First CAT Scanner produced by EMI.
+ Harris Public Opinion Poll claimed that 60% of Americans were against the War in Vietnam.
+ Walt Disney Resort opened in Florida.
+ Kevlar went on the market.
+ First soft contact lenses became available commercially.
+ United States Table Tennis Team visited the People’s Republic of China for some “Ping Pong Diplomacy.”
+ Greenpeace was formed.
+ Apollo 14 landed on the moon.
+ Apollo 15 astronauts the first to ride a lunar rover one day after landing on the moon’s surface.
+ Mariner 9 was the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
+ Federal Express was started by Fred Smith.
+ Cigarette advertising on television ended.
+ National Public Radio broadcast for the first time.
+ Charles Manson and three of his followers received the death penalty.
+ The Doors’ Jim Morrison was found dead in a bathtub in Paris.
+ Popular musicians included James Taylor, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Janis Joplin, The Who, Mungo Jerry, John Lennon, The Jackson 5, Ike and Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones.
+ Top songs included “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night, “”Maggie Mae” by Rod Stewart, “Me & Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin, “Knock Three Times” by Dawn, “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down” by Joan Baez, “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?” by The Bee Gees, “It’s Too Late” by Carol King, “Beginnings/Color My World” by Chicago, “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” by Cher, Theme from Shaft by Isaac Hayes and “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight.
+ The leading television shows were “All My Children,” “Mary Tyler Moore,” “McCloud,” “The Odd Couple” and “The Partridge Family.”
+ Popular films included Love Story, Summer of ’42, Ryan’s Daughter, The Owl and the Pussycat, The Andromeda Strain and The French Connection.