Former students and faculty gather for a Seward School reunion

DOUG SCHRODER PHOTO The Gazette
Members of Opal Adkins family were on hand for the reunion at Seward School on Sunday. Opal was a cook at the school for 35 years and was known as “everyone’s grandma.” Front row (L-R): Cathy Behn, Betty Groves, Shirley Crawford. Back row (L-R): John Behn, Ann Whitney, Don Crawford, Randy Groves, Andy Behn and Ali Behn.

Former students and faculty gather for a Seward School reunion
By Doug Schroder
CORRESPONDENT
The rooms, halls and gym of Seward School came back to life on Sunday, Sept. 22 when formers students and faculty members gathered from 1 to 5 p.m. to share some memories and a smile, or two, at the first ever Seward School Reunion.
Upon arriving at the reunion, guests were invited to sign-in in the guestbook. The line for signing stayed steady for sometime as people continued to arrive.
The halls were setup and filled with tables containing yearbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings and other various school memorabilia that attendees could look over and reminisce about from their time at the school.
At about quarter after one, guests were directed into the gym where Scott and Peggy Whitney gave a power point presentation about the history of the school. Both of Scott and Peggy are alumni of the school and have collected a wealth of information on the history of the school.
From Scott’s presentation it was learned that before there was any Seward School, children in the area went to one-room schoolhouses. Changes in State laws made it easier for schools to consolidate. In 1903 the residents of Seward got together and decided by vote that they would build a school in the village to consolidate three different schools to become Seward School District 121, which was the first consolidated school district in the state of Illinois. Land was acquired from the Crull family farm and construction of the building ensued.
On Feb. 1, 1904 the new school opened with much fanfare with dignitaries coming from all over the state to speak.
In the early days of the school activities such as fairs, crop growing and a horse show were quite popular.
The school did not have a gym yet, so events like basketball games were held at a building in town called Globe Hall, also known as Cleveland Hall.
“My grandfather told me the story of how they would put up baskets at each end of the building for basketball games and a guy on a stepladder would take the ball out after each basket,” recalled Scott Whitney.
Globe Hall burned down in 1929. A gym was then built onto the school in that same year. It is the same gym that is still in use today.
After Scott gave his presentation, Cathy Behn, one of the daughters of long-time school cook Opal Adkins and her husband Joseph Adkins, took to the podium to pay tribute to her parents. Opal was well known for the fantastic meals and baked goods she would prepare for the students. Her demeanor and caring ways led her to be known as “everyone’s grandma.” Joseph, who was very handy, was a janitor at the school. He also interacted well with the children. He filled the role as janitor for about a decade, leaving the building in good shape for his predecessor, Clarence Gruhlke.
After the presentations were done, many guests milled about in the gym, chatting with each other about school memories and posing for pictures.
The Seward School Reunion proved to be an enjoyable time for all. Most in attendance were still locals, but a few came from as far away as the states of Washington and Florida.