From: Joyce Wiese

Saturday evening, May 26, fifty nine alumni and friends gathered at the Reinig Center in Toledo to celebrate the 137th anniversary of the first graduating class from the Montour High School. The first class to graduate from Montour included Gertrude Poyneer and Nellie Blake, the class of 1881. High School at that time was held in the hall above the drugstore. The brick schoolhouse on the hill didn’t go further than 9th Grade.

The last class to graduate from the Montour School before reorganization was in 1960. There were 11 graduates, Emily Tinker, Linda Rinnan, Thomas Cooper, Ronald Garrett, LeRoy Smith, Frederick Lowry, Alice Carkhuff, LeRoy Hoskey, Dennis Furrow, Caroline Brezina, and Robert Garrett.

President LeRoy Hoskey opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Prayer. Brian Hempy led the group in singing “God Bless America”. Speakers were Kay Gary Lowry, class of 1963, speaking in honor of her class of ’55 Year honorees. John Bro, class of ’68, represented his 50-year class. None of his 13 classmates were able to attend. John came from France where he has been since his graduation.

Members of the 60 year class (1958), present were Joyce Manfull Skala, Peggy Paxson Weuve, Robert Bent, Jerry Davis, Sandra Wiese Fowler and Loretta Atcher Werner.

The oldest graduate present was Dallas Wiese, Class of 1944 to the most recent, Bob Jones and Paul Bro, Class of 1976

The present officers will serve for another year, LeRoy Hoskey, President, Judy Durfey Detrich, Treasurer and Marvin Hoskey, Secretary.

The first Montour School was a small one room building on Old Highway 30, across from the Standard Oil Station. When this became too crowded, another building was moved in to set beside it and a few years later in the 1860’s the Brick School on the Hill was built. This held classes up through 9th Grade.

In 1936, a new $70,000 building was built, with Montour being able to hold all twelve grades, and having a gymnasium for the first time in its history. The first graduating class from the new building in 1937. This included William Korns, Mae Slingluff, Charles Linville, Helen Hempy, Edward Cronk, Merle Buchanan, Cleon Hoskey, Betty McCoy, LaVon Ellis, LaVerne Hiple, Fern Hayes, Donald Ellis and Dale DeFrance.

The buffet meal was catered by Rhonda Pokorny of My Mothers Place, Clutier.

The next meeting will be on May 25, 2019 at the Reinig Center.