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Reunion planned Teen Town 'rocked' Ajax in the '50s By Dorothea Helms A reunion presents an emotional time - a time to reminisce about youthful exuberance during a more innocent era. The upcoming Teen Town Reunion in 2000 will offer a chance for those who remember rockin' and rollin' in Ajax 40 years ago, and who can still dance up a storm! "Back then, dancing was THE thing to do," says Ajax Councillor Pat Brown, reminiscing about the Teen Town dances held between 1955 and 1962 in Ajax. On Saturday, May 6, 2000, dancing will be THE thing to do again, when the Teen Town Reunion is held in the HMS Ajax Room at the Community Centre. There are a lot of happy memories to enjoy by those who looked forward to their Saturday nights in the fifties and sixties because of the popular dances. Pat's husband, Jack Brown, was one of the Pickering high school students who helped fellow classmates Danny Noland and Geral-dine Brennan start the "Ajax Recreational Committee" that arranged the weekly teen get-togethers. The ambitious group of young people took full responsibility for running the dances, including hiring off-duty police officers to stand at the door to ensure a safe time for the dancers. "There weren't many problems really," says Councillor Brown. "Every now and then, someone would slip in a mickey." During the early days of small town Ajax, the local police knew most of the youth, and some of the officers have attended the reunions held since that time. The joint was always jumpin' at the Teen Town dances, which were held in the old Ajax Community Centre and which consistently drew crowds of 400 to 500. The Community Centre burned down in the 1960s, and today the Post Office stands on its former site. "They came from as far as Scarborough and Oshawa to the dances," says Councillor Brown, "and once a year we held a parents' night." The organizing committee took charge of playing the records, and the admission fee of 25 cents (35 cents if you weren't a member) included a hot dog and a drink. No wonder the dances were always sold out! Over the years, Teen Town raised thousands of dollars for charity, with the Retarded Children's Association becoming the group's charity of choice. "There was a real pride of ownership associated with the group," adds Pat. "It was entirely run by the teens who had the total support of the Town." Many of the young people who met at the dances ended up married to each other, and numerous couples have returned to each reunion to dance up a storm once again. Remember the first Saturday in May for the next reunion - contact Jack or Pat Brown (905-683-4926) or Geraldine Brennan for details. Picture: Teen Town executive, 1959