Crawfordsville news

Recent visitors in the home of Joe and Alice Hochstetler were their daughter and grandson, Ilona Roberts and Grady of Milford, IN, granddaughter, Greta Hochstetler of Syracuse, IN and their son and family, Tim and Kim Hochstetler, Alena, Bennett and Corina of Goshen, IN.

Like everything else, due to COVID-19, The 95th Crawfordsville High School Alumni Banquet scheduled for June 13, 2020 has been cancelled. The next few paragraphs are related to what would of been celebrated and presented, had it been held.

The honored classes for 2020 were to be the 75 Year Class of 1945. Of the original 11 graduates only two members are still living. They are Joan Maxwell Anderson and Ruth Rich Eash; the 70 year class of 1950 had 12 members and five remain: Nancy Anderson Johnson, Ruth Davis Erwin, George Fulton, Drusilla Graber Rector and Marilyn Miller Martens; Of the original 1o members of the 65 Year Class of 1955 only four members, Carl Chalupa, James Edgar, Nancy Edgar Wombacher and Darlene Goodwin Funston are left and the 60 Year Class of 1960 had 12 members and have seven remaining: Jerry Barnhart, Jerry Beauchamp, Larry Fletcher, Shari Hamil Frantz, Kenneth Lee, Sue Miller and Carol Thomas Hawkins.

These CHS graduates have passed since last year's reunion and a little bit about each one.

Class of 1945-Ruth Schantz Johnston: Her favorite song as listed in the yearbook was 'It Might As Well Be Spring.” A cheerleader in 1946, she apparently did a great job as the boys basketball team went to the State Tournament. Ruth married Dale Johnston and they lived south of Ainsworth on the farm and raised three daughters.

Class of 1946-Robert R. Lowe: When Robert graduated in 1946, Crawfordsville graduates totaled 487. Bob was a member of the 1946 State Basketball Team that had a record of 29-2. He was a career naval officer residing in Brea, CA, after retirement. Bob was the last of eight members of the Lowe family to graduate from CHS and he attended many alumni banquets.

Class of 1948- Cleo Dean Cherryholmes: He was also a member of the 146 State Tournament team and he hardly ever missed a banquet, as well. Cleo, his wife, Wanda and their son, Steve produced a DVD titled 'Our Town”, a history of Crawfordsville and the local schools. The DVD's were donated to the alumni association and sold to alumni members providing the association with financial help to keep the banquets funded.

Class of 1950- Raymond Reschly: He led the baseball team in hits and fewest strikeouts in his senior season. Raymond was the project leader when the brick circle around the flagpole in front of the school was rebuilt in 2002.

Class of 1952-Mary Virginia Twinam Peterson: Salutatorian of her class and in the senior class play 'Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick” was cast as Gladys May Marriedew, 'a sweet young thing”. A member of the class that could say I graduated in the top five of my class”. (the class had five members).

Class of 1955-Allen Darbyshire: President of his senior class. In the class 'will” he willed his 'shiny black Ford” to Bill Paisley. He and his wife Fran had two daughters and lived in Washington where he was an insurance adjuster for 25 years and was very respected by both his company and customers.

Class of 1956-Betty Griffith Blythe: After high school she married Merv Blythe of Williamsburg, IA. She became a 'true farmer's wife”, raised three children and was very active as a long time 4-H leader, officer and community volunteer.

Class of 1959-Larry Westen: Salutatorian of his class and graduate of the University of Northern Iowa. He married Carolyn Conrad, class of 1961. He taught school in Eagle Grove, IA and Antigo, WI. At the 2019 banquet he was the spokesman for his class, which was the 60 year class.

Class of 1959-John Anderson-Valedictorian of his class. He attended the University of Iowa where he earned a letter in Fencing. To the best of anyone's knowledge he was the only CHS Alumni to letter at the University. He was a photographer and journalist and was the editor of a 'shooting” magazine??

Some the Alumni Projects:

Contributed to building the shelter house at the Crawfordsville Ball Field.

Flag Pole at the schoolhouse

Video titled 'Our Town” by Cleo Cherryholmes.

Video of all the class pictures.

Miscellaneous items from the CHS Caller (the Yearbook).

In 1949 there were 20 weddings, 33 births and 3 deaths.

In 1999 the banquet was moved from the school to the United Church of Crawfordsville.

From the 1945 Class Caller- 'If you could have one wish, what would it be”? A couple of answers- Don Monson: 'That the Cubs would win the World Series” and Bob Lowe 'That I could get out of Biology”.

Song Leader- 1945, our very own mezzo-soprano from the State Music Contest: Joan Maxwell Anderson.

When the 60 year honored class was in 1st. Grade (1949) the honor roll was: Mary Jo Davies, Larry Fletcher, Shari Hamil, Judy Norenberg, Judy Starner, Carol Thomas and Denny White.

In 1951, Miss Bailey got a new book and they drew names to see who got to read it first. The winner was Dave Henderson.

This was all put together by the faithful Alumni Committee: Phyllis Eisele, Larry and Donna Fletcher, Geri Farrier, Ruth Erwin and Pat and Daryl Owens.

I am finishing up this week's news with an original poem given to me by Winfield resident, 90 year old John Wittrig:

I'd Like To

I'd Like to- Eat TappyOaky With A Spoon

I'd Like to- Visit Ireland by Afternoon

I'd Like to- Sleep With a Cool Breeze, Not so Muggy

I'd Like to- Drive Around in an Amish Buggy

I'd Like to- Run ‘round the Bases Like Willie Mays

I'd Like to- Hit Home Runs While People Gaze

I'd Like to- Be Reborn, but as a Teen

I'd Like to- Do Over My Shyest Scene

I'd Like to- Say Just What I Think, When I Think it First

‘Cause Thinking it After is Just the Worst

I'd Like to- Go in Mammoth Cave in old Kentuck

I'd Like- to Grab up my Gun and Shoot a Duck

Most of All Before I'm Ninety-three

I'd Like to -See Faces of Smiles of My Family