Homecoming: Hinsdale Central Class of 1981 Looks Back

This weekend,  will celebrate Homecoming with a parade, a football game, and a dance. For the Class of 1981, though, this year's homecoming marks 30 years since they graduated from Hinsdale Central.

Maria Mohl, a Hinsdale resident and member of the class of 1981, is looking forward to reconnecting with her old classmates.

"I'm excited about seeing people I haven't seen in quite a long time," Mohl said. 

As she and her classmates look forward to reminiscing about their years at Central, Mohl remembers what it was like to be a Hinsdale teen in the early 1980s.

As you can imagine, the life of the high school student has changed quite a bit over these last three decades.

"The [fashion] trends were patchwork sweaters, very preppy, monograms on sweaters, turtlenecks, corduroy and loafers," Mohl said.

As for homecoming dance attire, Mohl said the dresses she and her friends wore were often strapless and "not that far off [from what girls wear today]. They were a little longer than they are today, and not quite as tight-fitting."

Members of the Class of 1981 hung out in downtown Hinsdale, but it looked a little different back then.

"We hung out in downtown Hinsdale at a store called Heritage House on the alley," Mohl said. "A lot of kids in my class worked there."

Another popular hangout was Poppin Fresh Pies (now a Baker's Square) on Route 83. 

Mohl also remember having dances with "Chicago" themes, and James Taylor was a favorite musician. The biggest change between 1981 and now, though, is the advances in technology, and Mohl thinks that social media has made reunion-planning easier.

"It's been so nice for the reunion because we have a Facebook page," she said. "I feel like there's so much access to the alumni of our class through technology. We were able to get a hold of more people, [and] the more people are talking about the reunion on Facebook, the more people want to come. [The Facebook activity] is causing more excitement." 

Mohl and her fellow alumni have a big weekend planned: Friday night they will get together for drinks in a tent at . Saturday morning will start with the parade through downtown Hinsdale, and then the reunion will end up at  for the football game against Lyons Township. After the festivities, the class will gather for dinner at . 

In addition to the reunion events, Mohl and some of her other classmates will be helping their kids celebrate Central's Homecoming as well.

"It's going to be craziness, trying to balance seeing everybody and doing everything with my own kids going to Homecoming," Mohl said. "[But] I'm excited about the busyness; we have lots of activities planned."

What was high school like when you graduated and how has the life of young people changed? Tell us in the comments!