Alumni invited to inaugural all-class reunion

CATAWBA ISLAND — The Catawba Island Historical Society is sponsoring the first official all-class reunion of students who attended Catawba Island School. This event is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at Union Chapel Museum, 5258 E. Porter St., Catawba Island. The museum displays offer a comprehensive view of the evolution of education facilities on Catawba Island. Major predecessor efforts to educate local children began in the 19th century. Prior to 1850, residents created tax levies, school boards and two separate school districts with Cemetery Road being the dividing line: • A schoolhouse was built for District No. 1 at the western end of Muggy Road. • District No. 2 conducted classes in a two-story framed building on the northeast corner of Crogan and Porter streets. • A District No. 3 facility was added to serve Catawba's Peachton community in the early 1870s. It was built on Cemetery Road where the present township garage now stands. Primary grades and township trustee offices shared the ground floor, and high school students occupied the floor above. In 1912, residents voted to construct a new centralized facility, Catawba Island School, on the corner of Schoolhouse and Northwest Catawba roads. It served the first consolidated school district in Ottawa County and one of the first in northwest Ohio. Students in grades K-12 attended classes there for nearly a century before it closed in 2007, and all activity was moved to Port Clinton's school district. The reunion will provide an opportunity to learn about the evolution of local education. Former students, teachers and employees are encouraged to bring grade cards, yearbooks, photographs and other applicable artifacts acquired during their years of making memories at Catawba Island School. The general public is also welcome to attend. Overflow from the museum parking may use the Miller lot at the corner of East Porter and North Crogan streets. People can contact Craig Koerpel by calling 724-713-7313 or emailing cihstrustee@gmail.com for more information.