Thomas Marshall Elementary

Rhoda was inspired by the Chester Elementary photo to look for Thomas Marshall Elementary photos.  She found these:

Taken in 1949  FIRST GRADE for Class of 1961

These are those that Rhoda could identify:

This was taken in 1949. Our class was in 1st grade with 2nd graders, at least for this picture.

BAck row, 3rd in from L., Kent S., Back row, from Ms. Dresher is Ann U.

2nd row, from L., 2nd in is Mike Domer, then Sandy S. older sister, with Steve S. on far end.

1st row from R. is Jerry F., Rhoda D., Norma R., Karen W., and the rest I don't recognize.

Our Graduation Night

On the Manchester Center for History site, there is a narrative about my Dad’s apple orchard—BEERY’S ORCHARD.  Here is a paragraph from that story:
Producing apples is a pretty high risk business. Late spring freezes, long periods of rainy weather, plus all the diseases and insects that can attack the crop, are a constant worry during every growing season. Only twice in 45 years did I have a complete failure of the apple crop—in 1944 and 1961. In 1961, the trees bloomed and set on a full crop and had apples as big as your thumb. Then a hard freeze came on May 25 and wiped out every apple in the orchard. That was the latest a crop was damaged by a late freeze. Over the course of the years, we had varying degrees of loss from late spring freezes, from 10% to 60%. In years when the crop was less than normal, we would buy apples from Michigan and other orchards in the area. Cider was a big drawing card when selling direct from the orchard. We had to take our apples to a cider mill to get cider made. Over the years, we went to cider mills as far away as Rochester (24 miles), Athens (18 miles), Columbia City (25 miles), and Huntington (18 miles). In 1978, we bought our own cider press and saved a lot of man-hours from running to the mills. 
That night of May 25, 1961 was our graduation night.  I remember having a party at Ann Urschel’s house and how cold it was that night.  I never had any trouble remembering the apple freeze because I always knew it was our graduation night.

Chester Class of 1950-51

SECOND GRADE

for the Chester students who graduated in 1961.

First row: Carol Sue Metzger, Vicki Miller, Morris Sites, Jimmy Utter, unknown________ (hand over face) unknown red haired boy________, Ronnie Baker, Jimmy_______, Kenneth Kline.

Second row: Esther and Evelyn Taylor

Third Row: Deloris Sites, Ethel Cook, Judy______, Brunette Bazoni, Carolyn Coon, Janet Bollinger, Hilda Haupert, Becky Myers, Janet Sue Purdy, Janet Hartsough, Barbara Stoops, Cathy Walter.

Fourth row: Joyce Beery, Mrs. Leffel.

Chester Elementary 1949-50

Dee Sites Johnke just sent this photo of Miss Ruth Dillman’s first grade class.  This is the class where the Chester kids in the class of 1961 started together.  If others of you have first grade photos of Servia or Liberty Mills or any of the town elementary classes, please send and we will post. FIRST GRADE
Dee has started to identify these folks, but we have some gaps.  If you can assist, send me an e-mail with the names. 
First row: Deloris Sites, Jimmy_____ Becky Myers, Keith Lytle, Janet Hartsough, Sue Houser, Janet Bolllinger;
2nd row: Vicki Miller, Jimmy Utter, Hilda Haupert, Ronnie Baker, Barbara Stoops, Esther and Evelyn Taylor, Cathy Walter, Ethel Cook
Back Row: Eddie Kline, Janet Sue Purdy, Morris Sites, Kenneth Kline, Joyce Beery, _____ boy with red hair, Brunett Bazzoni, ______ girl, Carol Sue Metzger

Can’t Believe our Reunion is here

Hello to all.  Your committee is furiously putting the finishing touches on all the preparations for our reunion.  Nancy Beam Wible reports that we have 70 reservations with 43 of those being our classmates.  We are excited about such a grand turnout.  Nearly 40 (total) have indicated that they will attend the Main View at 6:00 on Friday night.  REMEMBER THAT THIS IS FUN FEST “CRUISE IN”, and Main Street will be blocked and parking a premium. Arrive early and plan to walk a ways.

Nancy also reported that the Manchester Historical Museum will be open until 9:00 PM on Friday evening, so you might want to arrive really early and take a look at what they have on display.  At one time, they had a Manchester High School display with all sorts of memorabilia. We aren’t sure if this is still out for viewing. ( The Museum is in the old Oppenheim’s Store on Main Street ).

Mini Reunion At Main View

Marvin Allen sent this photo that his wife took as a group of MHS 61 classmates met at the Main View this summer.  Thanks for sharing, Marvin.  This is just a preview of all the fun we will have next month at our full MHS 61 Reunion. If some of you thought you didn’t want to come to the reunion, hope you are rethinking and will join us. There is still time to send your money to Nancy Beam Wible. Deadline is July 20.  Don’t forget to let Nancy know if you will join us on Friday night at the Main View.  So far, there are over 20 coming on Friday night.

Back Row:  Hilda Haupert Wilcox, Barbara Stoops Schannep. Marvin Allen Front Row:  Jerry Flinn, Norv Bradley, Steve Briner

Greetings from the Wild North

Len Grupp has decided to share a tiny piece of his life for the past 50 years and has sent a photo.  He is a fishing and hunting guide in the wilds of our neighbor to the north.  This is a far piece from the years since he graduated from Purdue and went on to teach and become a school administrator.  He won’t see us at the reunion in August as this is prime fishing and hunting season. 

 What a catch.  No wonder he doesn’t want to leave to come to the reunion.