Victory No. 8 School Reunion -- 2012

BAESE, FILLINGER, SWANSON, MATTSON, WESLEY, VORHIES, LYON, HOSTETLER, MESSER, SMIDDY, MILKS, OLSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/1/2012 at 14:04:50

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Pages 2 and 3

Reunions

VICTOR No. 8 SCHOOL

Former students and families associated with the 121-year-old Victory No. 8 School east of Four Corners recently gathered at the school for a reunion.

It was the first year not one of the known six living former teachers was able to attend. It was the first reunion missed by former teacher Elaine BAESE, who recently moved to Oklahoma to be near her daughter, but a special card was prepared with a poem and signed by all present to be mailed to her.

Books have been purchased in memory of Lucille FILLINGER and Raymond SWANSON, and a book on doll collecting will be purchased in memory of Mildred HILL.

Roberta MATTSON and Jim FILLINGER were thanked for cleaning the school and outhouses. MATTSON provided coffee and other drinks were provided by Donna and Jim FILLINGER, and all present brought a dessert to share.

The WESLEY family was commended on upkeep of the grounds through the summer. Verne VORHIES Jr. brought the old clock that hung in the school and it was hung for the reunion; it will be placed in the Van-Vorhies Haus in Mount Pleasant and returned each year for the reunion.

Memories shared included: How chances on something were sold and purchasers were given a stick of gum in exchange; How County Superintendent Miss Arissa LYON had a way of "putting the fear of God" in the students -- and the teachers for fear of misbehaviors while she was there -- who would show up unexpectedly and very quietly, but not quiet upon leaving; Bible verses were said, and listened to on a radio at 1 p.m. every day; hot lunches were practically nonexistent until some years prior to closing; there was no running water -- a student was paid a nickel to go to the home of nearby Ray VORHIES to get a bucket of water in which one "community-property dipper" was drank out of by all; later, a cooler was provided and cups were turned upside down for safer drinking, but heat from the potbelly stove incubated the germs -- "we could have died" one present laughingly said; another noted now their well was near the cow lot and never thought a thing about it, but sometimes it smelled and their father figured there was a mouse in it, the mouse was strained out, and that took care of the smell and they still drank the water -- all six children in that family are still living; Roberta MATTSON recalled her teacher could not teach one day and Roberta as an older student was asked to sub and her brother, three years younger than she, behaved badly and was in BIG trouble when he got home.

Those present were reminded the 0.8 acres on which the school is located was part of the property of Ray VORHIES and the property sold with a clause in the contract that required the building and yard to remain intact as long as a reunion or other community function was held there at least once a year; if that ever ceased to take place, the school could be torn down and the ground farmed.

LaVonne HOSTETLER and Gloria MESSER did a skit on a "Conversation between God and St. Francis," which reflected the change of times.

MESSER shared a small card from Victory School, Winter of 1890-91, given to her by someone who found it in a Mount Pleasant antique shop. The motto printed on it was "Attend to your own business and leave others entirely alone" and the list of students was quite lengthy, including names of many relatives of those present at the reunion. MESSER also shared a 1955 Phone Directory which included listings for Glasgow, Lockridge and Salina.

Current officers were again "railroaded" in: President Thelma VORHIES SMIDDY; Secretary Kay VORHIES MILKS; and Treasurer Gloria SWANSON OLSON MESSER.

The next Victory No. 8 School reunion will be Sept. 15.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.