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Community Corner

Former Students of East Marion School Reunite for the First Time

Many graduates of East Marion School, closed since 1967, got together on Saturday for the school's first-ever reunion.

Though East Marion School closed its doors 43 years ago, about 45 of the tiny school's former student population gathered for the first-ever East Marion School reunion on Saturday.

Members of the East Marion Community Association History Project organized the unique trip down memory lane, which began at the school's building — now a private residence — and ended at the East Marion Fire House.

"The history project is attempting to capture history and a sense of what life used to be like in East Marion before it gets away," said project member Ellen Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman said that East Marion school was an interesting and natural focus. It operated from 1869 to 1966.

"A lot of people around here went to the school, and as far as we knew there had never been a reunion," she said.

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Attendees representing graduating classes from 1929 to 1966 were asked to bring photographs and other mementos that could be scanned and placed in the history project's archives. They mingled, reminisced and swapped stories from their school days.

"Wonderful to come back and see all these people and the school – brings back memories of a different time," said former student Mark Quintana.

The old East Marion school had two main rooms, one for students in first through fourth grade and another for grades five through eight. Many alumni praised the current owners of the old schoolhouse for retaining details such as the blackboards and for allowing their home to be used for the reunion.

"There were two teachers for all eight grades, and the teacher in the big room was always the principal," remembered Richard Cowan, class of 1950.

Reunion attendees fondly remembered George Morton, the school's former principal and teacher. Gordon Rackett, a 1940 eighth grade graduate, remembered Morton as very strict but very fair and well-liked.

"And he was a good pitcher, put in a mean fastball," Rackett added.

During the reunion's festivities, Peter Dykovitz, class of 1934, received an award for being the oldest returning student present in the room. Lauretta Rackett, class of 1965, got the award for being the youngest returning student.

East Marion Resident Alice Cowan Jester, class of 1957, received the communicator extraordinaire award for the work she had done in contacting over 70 former East Marion school students to inform them of the reunion.

A letter from George Morton, Jr. was read to the assembled group. Morton wrote of his father and the school's principal George Morton:

"I know that he will be looking down from above at all the things happening (now) and wishing he could be here too."

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