Alumni and others from Pottsville Area High School attended a gala Saturday honoring the 80th anniversary of the "Castle on the Hill."
The school at 16th and Elk Avenue opened Jan. 3, 1933.
Held at the Pottsville Club, the evening featured a cocktail hour, dinner and musical numbers from current students and alumni, including the Christmas Brass ensemble from the high school.
School superintendent Dr. Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, a 1986 graduate, and others seemed to enjoy music, fellowship with friends and good food.
"It's just a wonderful evening," he said.
Students, past and present, make the event special, he said.
Singing "Always True to You" from the musical "Kiss Me, Kate," Catherine Nadeau, Class of 2012, asked the audience "Did you like it?" part way through her song. Claps followed.
District solicitor Richard A. Thornburg was enjoying the evening.
"I think it's wonderful. It's absolutely wonderful," he said, "It's always great when a school gets to show off it's talent," he said.
Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley said the talent was "outstanding."
Dr. William Davidson, a former high school principal and superintendent at the high school from 1973 to 1993, who still lives in the city said "I fell in love with the school" during the time he was there.
According to the program for the event, an insert says there has been only one major catastrophe at the high school.
"In the 80 years that Pottsville Area High School has been running, there has only been one major catastrophe and it has been kept secret for a long time. Twenty-two years ago, one of the beautiful glass chandeliers fell from the ceiling and shattered. One of the teachers at the time built a replacement that hangs in the auditorium until this day."
The program also describes the paintings behind each water fountain in the school and the history behind some of the rooms.
Time has been kind to the building, Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said.
"We're proud that the building has withstood the test of time," he said.