OAKLAND — Hyland and Elaine Barrows of Oakland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 7, 2011, at a surprise party at the Belgrade Community Center.

Mr. Barrows and the former Elaine Stevens were married Oct. 21, 1961 at Penney Memorial Church in Augusta by Rev. Alton E. Maxwell.

Mrs. Barrows was employed by RSU 18 in Oakland. Mr. Barrows was employed by E.D. Bessey and Son in Hinckley.

The couple have five children — Christina and husband Bill Randall of Palmyra, Belinda Barrows and companion Tim Minor of Palmyra; David Barrows and wife Frieda of Vienna, Colleen Barrows of Jackson, Mary and husband Steve Hill of Manchester, N.H.; 10 grandchildren — Joey and Emily Randall of Palmyra, Joshua Morosi of Waterbury, Conn., Chelsea Young of Oakland, Evan Barrows of Vienna, Brianna Barrows and Michael Cain of Jackson, Cassandra Boucher of Terre Haute, Ind., and Quinton and Aliza Hill of Manchester, N.H.