Margaretta goes 'old school'

widman@sanduskyregister.comA stroll through the halls of Townsend School presents a local history lesson unlike any offered in a teacher's textbook.Forgotten items linger in vacant lockers.Some paint has peeled away.Dusty chalkboards adorn the walls, trimmed with wood paneling and antiquated stencils. Check out more Townsend School photosSince its debut in 1922, hundreds of students have passed through the halls of Townsend School, one of the first K-12, or "centralized," school buildings in the area.Through their fond memories, their alma mater's legacy lives on.On Saturday, the Class of 1965 — the school's last class of graduating seniors — will commemorate their 50th high school reunion with a ceremony at Margaretta High School.It's a milestone certainly worth celebrating.This past week, the Register met up with a trio who shared the school's storied past: three men whose combined time in the building totals nearly 30 years. — Remembering the pastAlthough it might be outdated by today's standards, Townsend School was once a state-of-the-art facility situated in Townsend Township, just east of Vickery. It was one of the first area school buildings to feature multiple classrooms.It offered heat and indoor plumbing.The two-story building, which underwent four separate expansions, was certainly an upgrade from Sandusky County's one-room schoolhouses of yesteryear.But despite its legacy, few written records exist regarding the school's past."We rely on oral history," explained Chris Wiedle, who attended in the late 1950s and early 1960s.He revisited the empty building Friday with classmates Denny Lidke and Mike Young, who all recounted their time as Trojans, the school's mascot.Boys learned about agriculture and industrial arts. Girls studied home economics.They remembered days spent in typewriting class and nights spent roller skating in the gymnasium.In a second floor classroom, Lidke pointed out the exact spot where he learned about former President John F. Kennedy's shocking assassination in 1963.When they passed the infamous basement boiler room, they all shared a laugh."We used to go down there, where we could hide in a small room and smoke," Wiedle recalled.They also chuckled about a day spent mixing foul-smelling sulfur in the science laboratory."We popped popcorn, too," Young said. "The teacher didn't like that too much."But as the group passed Room 210, near the school cafeteria, it became clear even the rowdiest boys often turned well-behaved after third grade."That's Mrs. Barr's old room, for fourth grade," Wiedle said. "She was such a lady, you'd never think of misbehaving in front of her. Never ever."— Changing the presentYoung, who graduated from Townsend School in 1962, was one of the school's last proud alumni.In 1965, the school merged into the Margaretta school district and permanently shuttered its doors from high school students.A push from state officials, eager to cut costs by consolidating smaller districts, sealed the deal.The decision left the Class of 1965 the final graduating seniors from Townsend School.High school students — including Lidke and Wiedle — were shipped off to Margaretta High School.But the history books almost recorded an entirely different tale.At one time, officials considered merging Townsend Township's school with other districts, such as rival York Township, just a few miles south.At the last minute, York Township apparently backed out of a potential deal."It went to a vote of the people," Lidke said, "and we agreed to go to Margaretta."In the following years, Townsend School housed different bodies of Margaretta Schools students.Most recently, the facility was used as an elementary school building.But in 2008, school board members agreed to close the school and move all elementary students into the district's Bogart Road building, citing dwindling enrollment district-wide.These days, only the school gymnasium is used for various activities.Townsend Community School — a budding charter school named in honor of the building — also houses some of its officials in a single office.— Celebrating the futureOn Saturday, Margaretta High School will honor all Townsend School alumni at a home boys basketball game, which begins at 6 p.m.The celebration will include a reception in the library with refreshments, old Townsend Trojan memorabilia and an opportunity to reminisce with other alumni.Members of the Class of 1965 will be recognized at halftime of the varsity game.The band will proudly play the Townsend School fight song, and alumni will sing their alma mater and the national anthem.Margaretta Schools treasurer Jude Hammond and several others organized the special event.First-year superintendent Dan Schroer, who lives with his family in Townsend Township, said he's enjoyed learning about the area during the process.He's certain Saturday's commemoration will be the first of many during his tenure."It's very important to celebrate Townsend School's success and rich history," Schroer said. "Margaretta Schools is honored to be a part of it and share in the celebration."Want to go?• Margaretta Schools will honor Townsend School alumni — including the 50th anniversary of its last graduation — during Saturday's home boys basketball game against Woodmore High School. Junior varsity tipoff is 6 p.m.• The celebration will include a reception in the library with refreshments, old Townsend Trojan memorabilia and an opportunity to reminisce with other alumni.• Two nearby parking lots will be available for alumni: the football lot west of the high school gymnasium entrance, and the Castalia Area Historical Society lot.• For more information, call the district's board office at 419-684-5322.Register photo/LUKE WARK Chris Wiedle, right, of Clyde, reminisces about his days as a Townsend School student while taking a tour of the building with classmates Mike Young and Denny Lidke on a cold Friday morning. Register photo/LUKE WARK Denny Lidke, a former Townsend School student, looks through the boiler room during a tour of the school building, where he and his classmates used to sneak away to and hide during class. Register photo/LUKE WARK Denny Lidke, a former Townsend School student, holds up an old basketball jersey saved from the days when the school was the operational. Register photo/LUKE WARK The empty rooms of Townsend School still seem ready for classes as the school's last graduating class celebrates the 50th-anniversary this year. Register photo/LUKE WARK Members of the last graduating class of Townsend School will celebrate their 50th-anniversary this year. Register photo/LUKE WARK Townsend School in Vickery will celebrate the 50th-anniversary of its last graduating class this year.