----- Original Message -----
From: Stan Rolfsrud
To: Echo Press ; KXRA ; KIKV ; KSAX TV ; PRAISE FM
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 4:40 PM
Subject: District 24/460 Reunion Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Organizers of the District 24/460 All School Reunion July 31 are scrambling to locate alumni of the one-room "Oak Grove" country school that closed for good in 1970.
They hope for a large turnout at the Forada Supper Club, located just a few miles from the historic school yard in Lake Mary Township.
"We've contacted many former students," said Lorlee Bartos, one of the organizers. "But there are still a number who may not know about it. We hope that between local media, the Internet and word of mouth, we can reach everyone and encourage them to attend."
Cost of the event is $10 to cover food. It starts at noon. Attendees are urged to bring old photographs and school days memories.
As many as eight grades were taught by a single teacher in the one-room school located on Highway 29, a few miles south of Alexandria.
Each day students raised the flag, carried water, washed the chalkboards and helped each other learn reading, writing and arithmetic. A tiny library was supplemented by the occasional filmstrip borrowed from the county superintendent of schools.
The school opened in 1869, serving area children for 100 years.
Attendance peaked in the late 50s as administrators across the country struggled with the baby-boom surge. A second, part-time teacher was added for additional classes in the dark stone-lined basement.
The completion of Jefferson High School in 1959 and subsequent adjustments allowed for the eventual consolidation and closing of Oak Grove, and all other country schools in the state.
For more information contact Dorothy (Marquette) Hlinsky at 320-763-7402.
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Press contact:
Stan Rolfsrud--
612-516-5222
www.Rolfsruds.blogspot.com
