On Oct. 2, the halls of Ledgemont Elementary School filled with community members, alumni and current students alike, permitting a final exchange of memories before the school’s close.
On Oct. 2, the halls of Ledgemont Elementary School filled with community members, alumni and current students alike, permitting a final exchange of memories before the school’s close.
Attendees milled about, recalled hallway rules, pointed to photographs of teachers and classmates, and toured the building. Beside trophies lined on a table in the cafeteria, a sign encouraged, “Please Feel Free to Take Memorabilia That is a Memory For You.”
Around 6 p.m., attendees assembled in the school’s gymnasium for the opening of the school’s two time capsules.
“Although we tend to view this as a sad occasion, we can also view this as a celebration about the great years and all the great times we had in this school,” said Berkshire Schools Superintendent John Stoddard. Ledgemont merged with Berkshire Schools several years ago.
Shaun Forbes — who teaches physical education at Ledgemont Elementary School and spearheaded the event with Sarah Svoboda Sidley — introduced the first time capsule.
It was a letter tucked inside a medicine bottle, kept in the school’s inscribed “1981” brick. Written by Audrey Soldat, a student, and titled “The Year 1982,” the letter recalled prairie skirts, Ronald Reagan, Atari and gas at $1.50 per gallon.
“‘A lot of our parents are out of work and we are just getting by. It’s getting so bad, even the pigeons are walking,’” Forbes read.
Soldat ended with school pride, calling Ledgemont “a very modern school,” noting its elevator and electronic scoreboard.
Pat Sidley, who was the athletic director from 1999-2000, introduced the second time capsule, which was dedicated before a Redskins Football game on Sept. 9, 2011, and stored at the athletic field.
Its contents, laden with an earthy scent, included news clippings about “The Mighty Mont” and the burial of Thompson Army Staff Sgt. Sean Landrus. Letterman jacket patches proclaimed the Redskin’s success as 2010 NAC co-champs at the district-semifinals and 2010 NAC champs regional qualifiers, along with a yearbook and 2010 sports program.
Before the crowd dispersed to devour sizzling bratwursts topped with sauerkraut and chips — a $5 meal provided by local Broken Yoke Ranch with proceeds going toward Berkshire’s special needs program — Mary Lou Hope, who taught language arts and career education from 1981-2005, made an announcement.
For the past 17 years, Hope has admired a Power of the Pen trophy her eighth-graders won in March 2004. Hope asked if anyone knew the girls named on the trophy, so she could pass it on.
“Power of the Pen is a big writing competition with all the schools in our area. Geauga County was real fierce. Perry was one of our competitors,” Hope said. “For us to come in fourth place (that year) was just one of those moments … It’s not the lost trophy, but it’s a trophy that needs a new home.”
Elizabeth Wheeler, who graduated in 2007 and was a former student of Hope’s, recognized nearly all the girls on the plaque as friends. Wheeler offered to take it to one of the winners she has remained in touch with.
The night finished with a bonfire in the field behind the school. Flames clawed at a navy sky as children ran in the grass and trees looked on, waiting for the future of their brick-and-mortar neighbor.
Forbes said certain state, district and regional trophies will be moved to the new Berkshire school being built on the Kent State University-Geauga campus. Meanwhile, the class photos are planned for eventual display at the old high school.
The fate of the elementary school building remains uncertain.
“It really was the heart of the community,” Pat Sidley said. “We came up here every Friday night or during the winter. We had sporting events and held together and everybody talked and caught up and, that’s what we did. It’s the heart of our community. We wish the new owners luck and hopefully she succeeds and keeps it thriving.”
