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Sharing Memories with Grace Devino

photo provided Surrounded by her family, Grace Devino celebrates her life in Vergennes and the community around her. Front: Grace Devino, Second row: Granddaughter Jackie and daughter Julie, Third row: Grandson John, Anne and son Jay.

photo provided One secret to keeping young for Grace Devino is family, including her two youngest grandchildren twins Ian and Victor. They love their grandmother.

Tuesday May 5, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

    If you are up early enough and driving to work with your cup of coffee and jelly donut in hand, you will pass the dedicated walkers, pushing through their daily exercise and their tour of  Vergennes. One of these early risers is Grace Devino, who was born in Panton seventy-eight years ago and has called the surrounding area her home ever since. While meeting with Grace at her home in Vergennes, it is easy to see that a positive attitude and persistence are a permanent part of Grace’s life and account for her energy and activity level.

    “It never used to be like that,” Grace remarked commenting about her new television set. “We used to make American products in most things. Occasionally I saw a toy from China, but growing up the made in America label was on everything. That is one of my greatest concerns for the present and future is that we seem to have become consumers and not producers. If we were there once, we can be again.”

    One fact that contributed to Grace’s independence and resilience came from the school system in place at the time she was growing up. While Vergennes High School existed on Green Street and was a large three story wooden structure, it was mostly attended by students from the town only. “It wasn’t a union school then,” Grace remembered. “And you have to realize that living eight miles away was a major transportation issue. There were no buses and a lot of us had to make a choice about attending school or not. The solution was from Monday- Friday we boarded in Vergennes at a home, went to Vergennes High and then worked for our room and board. I lived with Mr. & Mrs. Olson from my fourteenth to seventeenth birthday and took care of their children and did house keeping. It wasn’t even until my senior year that some of the boys got a car and would pick up a load of kids to bring to school. We were used to being independent and working for our way to school.”

    When questioned about the obvious differences in Vergennes’ schools of today and yesteryear, Grace spoke at length about things in town for the teens to do. “I know the schools provide a lot of activities,” she remarked, “but I really feel there was more for us to do as teenagers. We had a movie theater in town (where Everywear is now located), several drug stories with soda fountains where you could get a Coke for 5 cents. Classes at the high school were small. My graduating class had only about 25 students in it. Most nights after school we would go as a group for a walk, a soda or just to spend time together. We couldn’t stay out late because we had to work at the homes we lived at, but there was time to watch a game, or be with friends.”

    Friday nights were also a group event at Vergennes High. “Most Fridays we had sock hops. Most of the time we played records, but once and a while there would be a band. They were mostly town boys who got together to play. I remember Glen Fay had one as well as Bobby Barrows. Most of us were not dating anyone special at that point and we literally went everywhere as a large group. Maybe it was a simpler time, maybe we were just happier with basic things, but it was a great deal of fun. Juniors put on the prom for the seniors in the gym. I remember getting cuts and blisters from cutting the huge crepe paper pieces into strips and decorating the school gym. We rented a huge cut glass ball from somewhere in Massachusetts. Graduations were at the Opera House and you posted the class motto and colors.”

    One of the groups who became central in Grace’s life was John Devino, whom she married in 1951. Grace’s life is full with children Jay, Jill and Julie and four grandchildren. About to celebrate her 61st graduation from Vergennes High, Grace shared that, “My husband and I never considered living anywhere else. After we sold our farm in West Addison, we bought this house on School Street and have been here ever since. We love living in this area and consider it a wonderful place to live and raise a family.”

    While Grace doesn’t envy the position today’s youth are in with the difficult economy, high college costs and uncertain future, she thought a moment and reminded them to think back to times before and to what makes the Champlain Valley unique. “Many times in the past we had to persevere,” she remarked, “and today’s youth can to. With hard work and remembering that the community is here to support them, they will all find their place. America is in a dip, not on her way out.”

    Tomorrow morning when you get up, consider putting on your walking shoes and joining that devoted group of early morning fitness conscious individuals. You will increase your cardio, decrease your pounds and have time to share some thoughts and memories with a special woman who proudly shares with all her love of her family, her pride in her community and her sense of what makes this a place so many love to call home.

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