1926 Wilderness Clan Picnic

AYERS, DINSMORE, FINLEY, GOLDEN, LOUGH, MATHEWS, ROOD, SADORNAS, WHITAKER

Posted By: Sandra Breitkreutz (email)
Date: 5/9/2003 at 21:22:51

WILDERNESS CLAN IN ANNUAL PICNIC
TEACHER FIFTY-SIX YEARS AGO GREETED BY SEVEN OF HER PUPILS
(from unidentified 1926 newspaper clipping)

Commemorating the forty-fourth anniversary of the destruction of the school house by a cyclone, June 17, 1882, members of the Wilderness Clan and a party of friends, numbering about 60, gathered at the Wilderness School house 4 miles south of this city, Thursday for the fifth annual picnic and reunion.

The Wilderness Clan is composed of people who have attended that school in former years. Among the party yesterday was Mrs. Laura Dinsmore Whitaker who taught the school in 1870 and seven of her pupils. The clan selected as the date for these gatherings that of the Grinnell cyclone which razed not only the Wilderness school house, but the ones to the east and west, when it swept over Story county in its devastating path, carrying death and destruction before it.

After an excellent picnic dinner, the oldest living ex-teacher Mrs. Whitaker of Des Moines rang the school bell and the old pupils, through force of habit acquired many many years ago, filed into their seats. A business meeting was held and the present officers of the association were re-elected for another year.

The officers are W.V. Finley, president, Chet Lough, vice president and Mrs. Ellen Ayers, secretary and treasurer.

A short program followed consisting of readings, music and talks by old pupils and visitors who were present.

Memories of the tornado which destroyed the school house many years ago were indulged in and other reminiscences revived.

Among the interesting visitors present was Augustine Sadornas of the Province of Ilocos, P.I., a student in the schools of Des Moines and guest of Mr. And Mrs. Laird. Mr. Sadornas favored the company with several violin selections and a fine talk on the Philippines and their progress, and Mrs. Whitaker with a reading from McGuffy’s reader.

An interesting feature of the event was the roll call of pupils of forty years ago when Miss Dinsmore was teacher. Those responding were: William Finley, Elsie Golden, Ellen Mathews, Ida Whitaker, Mattie Whitaker, Lizzie Rood and Effie Finley.

This picnic is an annual affair occurring on the 17th day of June each year. While the attendance this year was not quite as large as usual there was the same old spirit present and all bade each other goodbye promising to return in 1927.

NOTES FROM SANDRA BREITKREUTZ
The names of the 1870 female students are their maiden names, not their married names.