In June of 2023, a black granite plaque was placed on the 1976 tower housing the Hardwick Academy bell located in Memorial Park in Hardwick.
Members of the Hardwick Academy Class of 1970 gathered in Memorial Park, September 17, to participate in the “Bells Across America” event by ringing the historic Hardwick Academy bell at 4 p.m. for one minute, joining the ringing of bells across the country in celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. The event was organized locally by Jeannine Young of the St. John de Crevecoeur Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 1970 class members attending included, front row, (all from left): Annette (Renaud) Gann, David Manning, Nicole (Michaud) Duhamel, Carolyn (Harvey) Ryan, Roger LeBlanc. back row, Elaine (Mercier) Gendron, Patricia (Clow) Webster, Orise (Dufresne) Ainsworth, Maurice Goodell (one of the original five who saved the bell), Jeannine (Dufresne) Young and Ruth Hay.
Vanessa Fournier graduated from Hazen Union School in 1973 and went to work taking photos in Bennington, then returned to Hardwick to work for Vin Zecchinelli of Farland Studio for several years. She started her own photo business in 1979. She's been in photography for over 50 years, working for The Hardwick Gazette for 44 years. She retired in 2023 and is still taking pictures for The Gazette because she still loves what she does.
