New "Stuff" on our Blog!

Thanks to Betty Lou (Williams) Eden; we now have an 8th grade graduation picture (1946) posed in front of the old BHS, posted in the Classmate Photos section. Take a look and notice the dead pan expression on all of our faces (click here, or click on the Classmate Photos tab at the top). This class continued and emerged from BHS as Class of 1950. Sadly, at least 5 have passed away. The little gal on the bottom left is Lorna Finley, my wife. We will be married 60 years, April 2012.

Also, take a look at the picture of Everett (Skip) Oesch. He was the first graduate in 1938 of BHS and he was a "Class of One".  Not many schools can duplicate that performance!

Another comment was submitted by Patsy (Combs) Hornaday of her first grade memories with Miss Barker.

More and more of our classmates are being dredged up from the contacts that I've made. Today, I received a disappointing email from Bernard Ousley stating he will be unable to attend. I was really looking forward to seeing Bernie after all these many years. Fortunately, our list is growing and so far it looks like about 60 people are planning to attend. I'm optimistic we will more than double that figure once the word spreads about this reunion.

I would like to find a representative from each class that have had reunions in the past and hope they could help in notifying their classmates too! Or send a list to me (via email) and I will follow up. Networking is the best solution to getting the word out to all.

Check back often to keep up with the latest developments.

The Red Schoolhouse and BHS Reunion Blog has Updates

New pages and updates have been added to this blog.  Be sure to check out the new tabs, including:  Our Memories of Miss Barker, Who's Coming?, and Classmate Photos.  Just click on the tabs at the top to see these new features and updates.

If you have memories or photos you would like me to share on this blog, please send them to me via email at joesow@gmail.com. Also, if you have any ideas for the reunion, please feel free to make suggestions and we will consider them. Our Reunion Committee, Elaine (Combs) Noble, Jean (Wee) Webb and myself are working hard to present the best reunion possible. This will be the last reunion for many of us and we want it to be the best too!

We would love to get some feedback about the blog, please leave a comment by clicking on the comments below.

(I owe a debt of thanks to our Blogmaster, my daughter Diane, who keeps this blog in a state of work in progress and up to date)

It's Official: Reunion is set for May 27, 2012

The Reunion will be held at "The Columns" in St. Charles, MO. We firmed up the Contract Monday. More information to follow so please check this blog often and new things are happening almost daily for our Reunion on May 27, 2012.

Your help and assistance in passing the word about this reunion will be appreciated as one of the hardest parts of a Reunion is contacting all the Alumnus. If you find someone, have them contact me via email - joesow@gmail.com and I will add them to the list to keep them informed and in the loop!

Stay tuned Folks, we are going to have a great time at this Reunion and a lot of plans are underway to make it a great "Last Hurrah" for many of us.

Joe H. Sowders

I just hung up the phone talking with Coach Schnell and he will be in attendance. Little by little we are whittling away at finding folks and friends.

Welcome to our "Last Hurrah" Reunion: May 27, 2012, St. Charles, MO

THE LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE AND BERKELEY HIGH REUNION  

Classes of 1938-1960

It has become apparent that our ranks are thinning exponentially and a combined reunion for all from 1938 to 1960 are included in this reunion. We are dedicating this Reunion to "Miss Barker" who many, many of us started in the first grade with her as our teacher. (If anybody has a picture of her, please send it to Joe H. Sowders - joesow@gmail.com)

The instigators of this idea of a combined Reunion started with email chat between Pat (Combs) Hornaday and Joe H. Sowders. From there, Pat got her sister Elaine (Combs) Noble interested and since then, Elaine and Joe have been fast at work putting this whole affair together. At this moment it is in a rather nebulous state and attempting to finalize a venue for the gathering. "The Columns" in St. Charles, MO is an ideal Banquet Center and very handy to Motels and the Airport. We are in the process of negotiating with them to establish a reservation for May 26, 2012.

Once we have a firm meeting place, we will them formulate further plans as to the monumental  task of getting the word out to the multitudes. Elaine is optimistic that we could conceivably get 150 to 200 Alumni gathering at this Reunion.  The biggest task ahead of us is getting the word out and locating all possible Alumnus. I have located 15 so far. We are attempting to enlist help in networking helpers to find as many people as possible. It seems each time I contact somebody, I get another lead which can be followed up to spread the word.

I find this quite exciting as our school was unique in that many of us started in the first grade and completed our High School together. We were practically "Family" after all those years.

The ol' clock on the wall "sez" it is time for me to think about bedtime and hopefully tomorrow, we will have more information for all.

Joe H. Sowders

joesow@gmail.com