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Milford School Reunion
The reunion of the pupils and teachers of the Milford school who
attended or taught at Milford in the ‘70s and ‘80s which was held in the old
school house and school yard on Tuesday August 12, was an event in many ways
unique. We understand that recently a class from the Milford school had a five
year reunion but so far as is known this is the first reunion ever held of the
old scholars. The credit for the events due largely to Gene Hooper and Mrs.
Effie Willard Rogers who planned it and worked out the details.
At one o’clock a fine basket picnic dinner was served on the lawn: hot
coffee, lemonade, and ice cream being furnished in addition.
After the dinner there was a short program, Mrs. Rogers acting as
toastmistress. In her remarks she stated that in the ‘70s and ‘80sthe school
house was a real community center. It was the heart of the village and all important
meetings were held there. Long before Gary was thought of scholars at the
Milford school chose the subject which they wished to have taught and had self
government. At the school house were held church services, chair meetings,
funerals, sugar parties, debating society meetings, public exhibitions and
community Christmas trees. Milford was then an important center, containing a
store, tow blacksmith shops, a flour mill with a capacity of two hundred
barrels a day, and a saw mill, and it was a busy place.
Among other teachers at the Milford school were late Herman F. Wieman of Kansas City and Henry Holmes of Cleveland, Ohio,
both of whom chose Milford girls for brides. Jessie Harsh Wieman
and Gussie Bemis Holmes were both present at the reunion and Henry Holmes
telephoned his greeting to the meeting from his home at Cleveland.
Henry and John Faville spoke of the days when
they were teachers in the Milford school Henry Faville
taught in the old school house in ‘68 and ‘69. This school house is now a dwelling
house situated directly east of the school house. He was the only teacher and
at one time had ninety pupils in one room. John Faville
taught in the new school house in 1871-2 being the second teacher after it was
built.
Mary Bemil McClure read a poem written by
Josephine Howard Armintage, know in those days as
"Dode" which brought in every pupil then
attending the school.
Mrs. Alice Willard Bellack read a parody on
"Hohenlinden," written in the school days
by Lillian Hooper Burmeister.
Mrs Mary Bissett Udey recited a parody
written during school days on Maud Muller.
Following
these talks almost everyone exchanged reminiscences of the old school days.
Letters were read from Mary Silliman Fisher and Lucina
Bear Yeale, both of Glendale, California.
At about three p.m. a shower drove everyone into the school house but
this only added to the pleasure of the occasion as the visiting became fore fast and lurious and finally the
reunion was closed with the singing of some of the old songs- "When You
and I Were Young Maggie," "Auld Lang Syne,"
"Love’s Old Sweet Song," God be with You, "Till we Meet
Again."
Pictures were then taken by the Lake Mills photographer Mn. C. W, Panzer, which by the way have turned out to be
very excellent photographs.
From the Lake Mills Leader,
August 21, 1924