Reunion brings hundreds together

By STEVE NEWMAN

[email protected]

Ironwood - A group of over 450 people were registered and many of them gathered together in the Ironwood Memorial Building Saturday evening for the centennial celebration for the Roosevelt School, a school that served the community for many years in Ironwood Township. The group was brought together by a deep love for the school and the people of the area that was clear to see.

"They did a great job with this big of a crew," said Lynn Reini Schedl, who came from California especially for the event.

The auditorium was jam-packed for the evening banquet and get-together event. John Ostrom was the master of ceremonies and welcomed the crowd. After an opening prayer by Bruce Estola, Deb Hautala Wahlberg sang the national anthem. After just a few remarks, Ostrom helped find the oldest attender and the groups were off to be photographed by the decade they were at the school.

Julie Abramson, 93, got the prize for the oldest student at the event. She attended the school through ninth grade, moving on to the Ironwood School in 1939. She reminisced about being marooned at the school for four days with a group of students in 1938 when a massive snowstorm hit the area. "The school bus started to take us home, but had to turn back," she said. "We had more fun during that time." The students were left at the school and had to take care of themselves. Because the school had lots of food, "mostly in large cans," as she recalled, "we didn't starve." Abramson stated that the older students were in charge of taking care of the younger ones during the days in the school.

Her son, Gary, was also a graduate of Roosevelt in 1972 for eighth grade, and a 1976 Luther L. Wright graduate. He recalled watching Lady Bird Johnson go by the school on the way to the airport in 1964.

Tim Bale, a 1973 Roosevelt eighth grade graduate, and current Ironwood resident, said "It's like a big family reunion. The neighbors all had big families, and we were in with the same kids from the same families, so we all knew each other. A lot of these kids went on when they moved away to become good workers through their lives and were a real credit."

The event went into the evening. After the dinner, there was music from Vanderhagen Ray and more time for catching up and sharing memories.

Organizer Judy Holst stated that the event exceeded all expectations. "It was from the togetherness that everyone had there. The students, teachers and parents were involved together and it made for a great school."

"The best school, and the best of time of my years, was at Roosevelt School. Our roots are there, and the people here appreciate the beautiful school we had," said former student Rollie Menigoz.

"You couldn't ask for anything better, the education we had at Roosevelt School."