Growing up a Houghton Gremlin is a lifetime memory for many of us in our own way. We shared the same classes, the same teachers, and the same hallways. Nearly the same everything. All the students throughout different graduating classes at Houghton High during the past years have much the same memories. Orange. Black. The giant study hall. The classes, the lunch room, track meets. What are your favorite memories?

School flies by in a flash — at least it feels like once it’s over. Making the most of it, is the best advice for sure. The years in high school definitely affect your life afterwards. It helps you find out what you’re passionate about. What you may want to do in your future. Life is easier if you enjoy what you’re doing as a career. Or hobby. What motivates you? School helps to figure that out.

Going to Houghton my whole life, I definitely grew up a Gremlin. One small way my class was different; was that we were a class that went to both the old school and the new present-day high school. I was orange and black through and through.

Being a Houghton Gremlin was important to me. It made school a lot more fun. Being involved in sports and even watching sports. Cheering on the various teams — that made school a lot more exciting for sure. Be it football, basketball or hockey. Track events, swimming meets even watching “High School Bowl” on Channel 13. Great times.

There were school dances, pep assemblies, fan buses, health classes with resuscitate Annie, and many, many, more great memories. Bonfires before the big football games, that Coach Jim Luoma created. To pump up the football team prior to the big game — Copper Bowl. Experiencing that in junior high was one of my favorite memories. That was outside the old high school on the hill. Right next to the school. There are so many memories to recall.

These are my memories as a student. I’m an introvert and an extrovert at times. However, in school I was more of an introvert. My favorite memories revolve around sports. I love all sports, and especially team sports.

However, I also loved English, history, biology and all the Science classes. Mrs. Longenecker and Mrs. Erm were two great English teachers that I recall. Both wonderful, efficient, and quality teachers. Even if it was an English assignment I was not fond of, I still embraced learning. From my typing teacher, to my accounting block classes.

Mr. Randall Robert’s taught accounting in a block class. He was a nice teacher. Kind of quiet, but we had a great time. He taught balancing your accounts and doing checks, etc.

Mr. Don Miller, taught us all how to type. And, I’m sure glad he knew how to teach us not to be “chicken peckers.” I ended up using my typing skills in most of my different career endeavors. Mr. Miller was a one-of-a-kind teacher. He did his job, and he did it well. Plus, he had charisma as an instructor. We all learned to type efficiently.

I even enjoyed shop class with Mr. Schuster. He made it fun, and he listened to us. And, he cared about our fingers. And, watermelon gum. Brian, his student helper sanded all our finished pieces we treasured.

Basically, I loved my classes. All of them. And, I loved all my teachers. I especially loved all my coaches. I even loved my drivers ed. teacher. Mr. John Kolehmainen. Each for different reasons. And, for many reasons. He was obviously brave in this job, but he had a quiet kindness to him in every way. And, he was an excellent teacher. Mr. Bob Backon taught a few different classes. He was a great teacher and funny too.

Other favorite teachers were Mr. John Christiansen, Mr. Jack Powell, and Mr. David Heikenen. They were all super kind and made learning fun. Mr. Heikkenen would reward us with playing his favorite songs near the end of class if we were done with our class work before the end of our class. Or he was feeling like listening to music. One favorite song he played of our class was John Mellencamp’s ” Hurts So Good.” That’s one he would play often when he was taking requests.

In general, I loved learning anything and everything. But, ultimately what drove me was learning basketball. It became my passion in life. There was so much involved with it to learn as a sport. It was hard and it was easy. It was time, effort, learning and practice. You learn early, that you get out of it what you’re willing to put into it. Precisely that.

My basketball days actually begin in the fourth grade. That’s the first time I received a ball. Next, learning how to shoot, learning how to dribble. It definitely was not pretty. It felt impossible. I was small and the ball was really big compared to me. Despite that; I kept at it. What once was difficult; slowly but surely became much easier. The ball did not seem too big after all. And, nothing seemed impossible anymore. I realized that it only took more time and effort to build more success. The days turned into months, and the years flew by.

My first coach ever in elementary school was Mr. Richard Fezzey. He was a perfect elementary school basketball coach — enthusiastic, kind, and knew how to teach the fundamentals.

He also made the games alot of fun to play. He had a smile on his face and smiling eyes too. We learned to enjoy basketball because he passed that love on to us. Mr. Fezzey was also my fifth grade teacher, so it sure was another reason to join the team. He sure was one of the best teachers ever. Both in class and on the court.

Another memory of this earlier time was “the big rock” out back. Many a weddings took place there. Then there were marbles, chicken fights on the balance beams, kickball, touch football, and track events. Boot hockey, the wood structure, the swings, and hot dog and crab rides.

Everyday running out to recess. Hopscotch. Jump rope. So many choices of games to choose from. Hands down, our favorite was kickball though. Probably because the game was easier to play more people. It was exciting, and yet different each recess. What were your favorite games?

Other things etched in my school memories are watching the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster live with the rest of the country: touring The Ranger III as a class and visiting the Quincy mineshaft — going underground into the dark mines (and seeing the bats hanging upside down). And, going to the spring school Carnival. Winning a cake walk or a goldfish. Mr. Sipola, our principal was always at the carnivals helping out too. He was an incredible principal. Helpful and kind.

My very first teacher was Mrs. Peach for kindergarten. She was an amazing kindergarten teacher. That year itself could fill pages of memories. My first year of real school. My best friend. Everything in kindergarten was pretty easy except nap time was not for me. That was the low point for me. Playing and learning were on the agenda, it made me too excited to nap. Naps were non-negotiable in a way. However, Mrs. Peach made class special every single day. Kindergarten went by fast.

Fast forward to seventh grade. That’s when sports turned up a notch. We got to have a real team, and a real game schedule. We played against Chassell, Baraga, Lanse, Jeffers, Lake Linden, Dollar Bay, arch rival Hancock, and Calumet. Our junior high coach was Mr. John Hanner. It was a great two years with Coach Hanner. Being a Houghton Gremlin was the best of times. This part was a lifetime memory for sure. As Coach Hanner made sure of that. We learned to love the game of basketball even more. Coach Hanner was an incredible coach. He was enthusiastic, kind, and knew the game well. We learned a bit more basketball knowledge. Jennifer DePuydt was our team manager. She was helpful, cheerful, and dependable. Always at every game cheering us on. She was a great part of our team as well.