Submitted photo The Class of 1976 celebrate on the Broadwalk.

When Youngsville High School’s seniors participate in commencement activities on Friday, they will be literally following in the footsteps of YHS graduates from more than a century ago.

“COVID-19 has provided us a unique opportunity to work with Youngsville Borough to revitalize the Broadwalk and use it for Commencement this year as it provides a perfect — socially distant, yet meaningful — manner to celebrate the graduation of the YMHS Class of 2020,” Principal Amy Beers said.

The Broadwalk is a herringbone brick pathway that runs from Main Street to College Street between Bates and Church streets.

On Friday, a motorcade of the graduates will start at Youngsville Free Methodist Church at Davis Street. From there, the graduates will be driven individually to the school.

“At the corner of Main Street and Bates Street, the senior will exit the vehicle,” Beers said. “Remaining occupants will continue to process to the front of Youngville High School as the senior processes to the beginning of the Broadwalk.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Due to COVID-19, Youngsville High School plans to revitalize the Broadwalk for commencement this year. The Broadwalk is a herringbone brick pathway that runs from Main Street to College Street between Bates and Church streets.

“When the vehicle and the senior are in place, the senior will process down the Broadwalk to the front of the school,” she said. “At the midpoint of the front area of the school, the senior will receive their diploma and a gift from the school.”

There will be a photographer ready for the graduates.

“After turning the tassel — perhaps tossing the cap — and having a photograph taken by a professional photographer, the graduate will begin the recessional by entering the vehicle,” Beers said.

The vehicles will then move into the parking lot. At the end of the ceremony, those vehicles will carry their seniors on a police-escorted motorcade through town.

“At the end of the motorcade, building administration will wave to them as they go their separate ways,” Beers said.

Other traditions will also be followed.

“A full commencement video has been made to include all of the other aspects of commencement to cover the remaining traditions,” Beers said. “The prerecorded video will be made available for Valedictorian and Salutatorian speeches as well as the Historian’s reading the description of honor cords.”

The Broadwalk itself has seen better days.

Beers said the last reference she has found to the Broadwalk being used for Commencement was 1978.

It will return to its past glory on Friday.

“It was grown over in parts, but the Borough and the School District are working on the revitalization this week,” Beers said. “Homeowners are moving stuff around in their yards and offering powerwashing and access to water if needed, too.”

The borough, area fire departments, the Youngsville Public Library, and individuals are all working to help — cleaning up, gathering historical documents and photos, and generally trying to make this graduation a memorable one for the seniors of Youngsville High School.

“The history of the Broadwalk is extremely significant in Youngsville,” Beers said. “It is the name of our school newspaper. We have pictures dating back as early as 1908 and until the late 1970s with students utilizing the Broadwalk and the path to and from school and the Commencement pathway for years.”

COVID has provided us a unique opportunity to work with Youngsville Borough to revitalize the Broadwalk and use it for Commencement this year as it provides a perfect (socially distant, yet meaningful) manner to celebrate the graduation of the YMHS Class of 2020.