The first day of school arrived for us in 1946 enrolling in the first grade. Many of us were placed on a yellow school bus OR walked to school with one of our parents with a Kleenex or two in hand for that sad but happy departure of their loved one. Ms. Leola Wilcox looked enthusiastically at her new “troops” as she seated them alphabetically. There were 10 of the 26 first grade students who made it through graduation twelve years later included: Bill Cooke, Bill Darby, Shirley Hildebrandt-Hall, Donald Lacko, Jerry Long, Sue Mokren-Summers, Ed Pelton, Patsy Radar-Roose, Bonnie Runals-Carpenter, and Ralph Siron. Other students that were in the classroom that first day included: Lawrence Wilson, Bobbie Cunningham, Joan Cunningham, Robert Yarish, Woodford Reed, Paulene Reaser, Alvin Mertz, Norene Moore, Dennis Kelly, George Edstrom, Roman Poll, David Haumesser, James Phillips, Alice Scott, Sandra Haas, and Loretta Howard.
The number of graduating students remained the same during the second grade throughout the year. Our teacher was Mrs. Hunt.
In the third grade we were pleased to have Roberta Larkins and Alex Moran join us. Mrs. Cox taught us this year.
The fourth grade we had Mrs. Helen Fitzpatrick as our teacher – no new graduate students.
Along came another year in 1950 for the fifth grade with Mrs. Winiford Heath. We had one new graduating student, Bernie Posey, enter in this class that fall.
Our sixth grade was a normal one with Mrs. Zola Hastings leading us in many a “spelling bees”. One would be able to stand until a word was miss-spelled. We had one new graduating student that year who was Judy Gregory who had moved into LaGrange.
In the seventh grade we had Mr. Morse as a Homeroom teacher. We did not have any new graduating student during this year. Our experiences were differing now that we had entered the Junior High grade levels.
In the eighth grade there were no new graduating students. We had Mr. Morrison for our homeroom teacher during this time. During this school year, groundwork was being laid for the merger of Penfield, West Carlisle, and a few Belden students.
So in the ninth grade our District was merged in 1954 and named LaGrange-West Carlisle District. The graduating classes for the next few years up to the 1960-61 graduating class remained LaGrange High School graduates. We gained twenty new students from the newly formed district. This virtually doubled our current graduating senior class numbers. The homeroom teacher for the ninth grade was Mrs. Nemmers. The new students included: Robert Bell, John Braeudigan, George Chuha, Lora Heath-Sheffield, Jean Jones-Mattis, Trudy Kopp-Roberts, Geraldine Lauer-Berg, Wayne McMullen, Charles Mekoleske, Eloise Mitchell-Hamilton, Joan MohrmanScott, Winifred Mueller, Barbara Neitzke-Blake, Darius Nutt, Richard Owens, Sherrill Prindle-Seeley, Philip Rowe, Nancy Tomkins-Burton, Marlene Weigl-Hazelton, and Jake Wolf.
The tenth grade began with two new class members, Bobbie Evans-Reagan, Jr. and James Jamison; homeroom teacher was Mr. Kata.
Our eleventh grade homeroom teacher was Mr. Kata. This school year began with two new members who would graduate with us in 1958. They were Carol Chapler-Brestoovansky and Cloya Scott. The first East addition to the school was added and a new auditorium complemented the building.
Finally, the senior year arrived with two more class members, Carol Crayton-Kopp II and Charles Hemp. Our homeroom teacher was Mrs. Helen Lautenschleger. She also instituted the Wildcat Whiz (LaGrange school newspaper) and promoted the sponsorship of the National Honor Society. Our class devoted the dedication of the 1958 Yearbook to her for her dedication to our class.
A few other class member names come to mind that didn’t graduate with us for whatever reason. Some were with us for quite a few years and others briefly. Bob Yarish (Navy), Pete Reindeers (Marines), Naomi Drake, Paul Longbrake, Sue McMullen (moved to Canton), Carol Dunbar (marriage), Cathy Roser, Donna Huddleston, Betty Ward, David Haumesser, Russell Page, Alfred Tyree, Ernie Wolford, Sara Ferguson, Marilyn Smith; and I’m sure there are others.
This concludes the history of our class members in a “nutshell.” The LaGrange High School graduating class consisted of forty members (twenty boys and twenty girls). The Graduation Commencement was conducted on May 25, 1958. Mr. Paden Coontz, Superintendent, and Mr. Smith, Principal, hosted the graduation ceremony for the class.
Researched and Compiled by Jerry Long.
Information compiled from school library, yearbooks, and memory(?). Complete accuracy is not guaranteed, our reviewers think it’s pretty close.
MISC. NOTES/COMMENTS:
1943- 1965 – Mr. Paden H. Coontz served as our School Superintendent, therefore serving all the school years of the 1958 class graduates. There was no question he knew each of us well!
April, 1954 – Lorain County Board of Education created a new school district known as West Carlisle – LaGrange School District. Penfield was also added to the District.
Dec. 30, 1956 – Two new Elementary Schools West Carlisle and Penfield Schools opened their doors. Elementary students from the North side of Rt. 303 went to West Carlisle and students form the South side of Rt. 303 went to Penfield Elementary.
1956 – A new addition of the High School was made to the East of the existing building we were in. A new auditorium with a nice stage was added. As a follow-up note, in 1963 another addition was made on the East side of the newer structure. This additional building houses a cafeteria, administration offices, library, and several classrooms.
May 25, 1958 – 40 graduating seniors were awarded LaGrange High School Diplomas commemorating their accomplishments.
Sept. 18, 1959 – A new lighted athletic field was constructed and initiated by a winning a football game with Midview School.
1960 – The LaGrange High School was newly named to Keystone High School matching the District name as determined through a name-the-district contest. The graduating class of 1960-61 became the first group to be recognized as the Keystone High School Senior Class.
1946-47 - the first grade class at LaGrange School were 26 class members. The first grade teacher for us was Leola Wilcox. Out of this original first grade group, 10 students continued on to graduation in 1958 of LaGrange High School.
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