Nederland memories: Remembering Nederland High School’s past through photos and yearbooks.[/caption]

The 120 year old cabin known as the Gillaspie House Museum, the home built by Dr. Carbon Gillaspie, which also housed his medical practice, contains many items from Nederland’s past. These cherished artifacts have been curated by the Nederland Area Historical Society (NAHS) from donations by local residents and relatives of Nederland’s early settlers.

Every summer the Gillaspie House, located at 363-449 North Bridge Street, opens to the public, along with The Nederland Mining Museum. When you visit the cabin and look through all the curious knickknacks of times past you may encounter tightly bound tomes, each entitled The Nugget, with a span of years listed underneath the title.

Those tomes are Nederland High School yearbooks, dating as far back as 1942. The Nugget: 1943– 1944 highlights each student’s accomplishments in every class, and even includes poems that celebrate them.

One of Nederland High School’s sophomore students from 1944 is alive and well today. 97 year old Roy Slaughenhoupt, a former Trustee on the Nederland Board of Trustees, and a bus supervisor for Nederland Elementary School, having moved from Nederland several years ago, is planning to return to his hometown for its sesquicentennial celebration.

From Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 4, 2024, the Town of Nederland will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of its incorporation, which aims to laud Nederland’s present and future while honoring its past. Nederland’s Public Engagement Manager Peter Cacek, along with volunteers from several non-profit organizations and collaborations with local businesses, have been organizing themed activities for the three-day event.

Nederland Area Seniors Inc. are organizing a Pancake Breakfast which will serve as an opportunity for the town’s royalty to be recognized. From 8 to 11 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, August 3, those like Slaughenhoupt who remember a different time will be able to meet and talk with one another about Nederland’s halcyon days.

While being served a full pancake breakfast prepared by Natalie Duplessy of Peace, Love, and Cake and other volunteers, these keepers of a cherished past will also be presented with a historic slideshow from NAHS. Nederland High School yearbooks, dating as far back as 1939, will be on display for attendees to peruse, and several reunions will be recognized, including the Class of 1974’s 50th High School Reunion.

A special quilt, designed and crafted by the sixth grade class of 1976 to honor Nederland’s centennial celebration, will also be on display, along with a scrapbook documenting the creation of the quilt.

As the summer months bring the busy buzzing of tourists, it becomes that much more important to remember that which made, and still makes, Nederland such a special place to be. With places like the Gillaspie House, with historians like Slaughenhoupt, and with events like Nederland’s 150th, our past can be brought to light, bringing clarity to our present and hope for our future.