West Chester alumni meet at annual celebration

West Chester Alumni and guests met Sunday June 1, 2014, at the West Chester Heritage Schoolhouse for the annual celebration and potluck dinner at 12 p.m. Sandra Bauer Kongable, from the Class of 1954, welcomed about 70 in attendance, with the quip, ?It was written in stone.? She told of the first time changes for the school, which were girls? basketball, an out-of-state class trip to Chicago, and a prom.

Ron Bower, Class of 1950, gave the invocation. Connie Crile Bauer, treasurer, gave the treasurer?s report. Sharon Sheetz Hahn read the minutes from the year 2013.

Members of the classes were introduced. Pat Griffith Dusenbery from the Class of 1942 was the oldest attending. Names of deceased members were: Glen Ladehoff (1950), Roger Mayer (1954), John Duvall (1947), Jessica Milam Riley (1953), Fred Bauer (1944), Ken Bauer (1957), and Gail Thrapp Blumenstein (1935).

Harriet Orr also passed away this year. Harriet and her husband Don, who lived next door to the school, were instrumental is starting the restoration of the schoolhouse in 1983. They had two sons, Jim and John, who graduated from West Chester.

Members from the Class of 1954 were recognized: Sandra Bauer Kongable, Mary Bowser Schlatter, Bob Brower, Larry Burroughs, Phyllis Coon Crile, Marvin Crile, and Howard Moore.

Carol Hough, events director of the Heritage, recognized the Heritage Board for all the work that has been done to preserve the West Chester Schoolhouse that was opened in 1917. The Heritage Board consists of Bob Hough, Terri Hoffman, Dean Greiner, Judy Augustine, Vanessa Eastwood, K.J. Jones, Melissa Doud, Carmen Woods, Bill Donaldson, Brandy Reschly, and Kevin Dunbar.

Many activities took place as the board has rented and promoted the use of the West Chester School building and its upkeep. Some of the organizations using the building were the Washington Chamber of Commerce for Alive After 5, the Washington County Historical Society, First Responders, and the Lions Club. The building has been rented 54 times during the year for weddings, birthdays, graduations, church activities, ball games, and other meetings. The Heritage Board rents and sponsors activities such as: football games, holiday celebrations for children, vendor fairs, and customer appreciation galas.

Carol reminded everyone that in 2017 the school building will be 100 years old and still in use as the landmark of West Chester!

Terri Hough Hoffman thanked the alumni for all the pride and respect that they have given to the town and the care of the old West Chester School Building.