Welcome to another week!
The annual Fallowfield School Reunion was held on Saturday, October 4 at the International Odd Fellows’ Hall in Atlantic.
It was a chilly, gray day, but it was warm and welcoming inside. The hall smelled wonderful.
The dinner was served at 1 p.m. by the Rebekahs, their daughters, and friends.
Alumni enjoyed a meal of stuffed chicken breast or Swiss steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, coleslaw, applesauce, rolls, and homemade pie. Coffee and water accompanied the meal.
The hall was decorated with yellow mums, scarecrows, gourds, and silk flower arrangements of sunflowers and russet mums.
Tables were covered with amazing pictures from the 1930s through 1970s, including class pictures and snapshots. Alumni could even look through Mary Skelton’s flight log.
The memory of alumni, who passed away since last year’s reunion, was honored with a moment of silence. A display of their obituaries and a lit candle also honored their memory. Deceased alumni include Tom Shearer, Elanda Winkle, Don McElhaney, Earl “Boots” Klink, and Ralph Calvin.
Fiddler Dave Gessler provided the entertainment. Classmates finished their meals and chatted while Gessler played Appalachian tunes, Irish Jigs, and reels.
Gessler was really great. He played for 20 minutes. I would’ve listened to him for two hours.
He played “Boil Them Cabbage Down,” “Old Joe Clark,” “Ashokan Farewell” (The theme song to Ken Burns’ The Civil War), and “Soldier’s Joy,” (An English or Welsh tune whose name derives from the morphine given to wounded soldiers.)
He also played “The Arkansas Traveler,” an Irish jig, an Italian dancing song, and a few bars of Charlie Daniel’s classic, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” He jokingly changed the lyrics to “The Devil went down to Atlantic, lookin’ for somethin’ to eat.” Everyone chuckled.
The classmates honored the class of 1936, including the oldest living Fallowfield School student, Marie Thomas Shepherd. They also honored the Greatest Generation: World War II veterans, their wives, and all who lived during those years.
Treasurer Louise Pfaff Walker gave the treasurer’s report and asked all alumni to look at the photo of alumnus Charlie Williams. He rode his horse in this year’s Crawford County Fair. He is 92 years old.
Secretary Anne Valesky read last year’s reunion minutes.
President Nick White asked for nominations for a new president. Alumni voted to retain the 2014 reunion officers.
Next year’s reunion is planned for Saturday, October 3, at 1 p.m.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!