Silerton School reunion brought back decades of memories
According to Webster’s dictionary, a reunion is a reuniting or a gathering of persons after a separation. Planning must be done, a time set that hopefully can accommodate the most people who might come, a schedule set for the day’s activities, and hopefully a weather forecast that will allow outside time. All that and more came together so very well on Saturday, October 10, when 116 former students and 62 family or friends attended the second Silerton School reunion. The reunion coincided with the closing of the school 50 years ago this school year. The school opened in 1919, when it closed in May, 1966, it had served children in the Silerton area for 47 years. Older students can remember when approximately 300 students were enrolled and one could complete 10 years of education. Students who wanted to continue their education had to ride a train to Middleton to graduate. When the school closed, it was an elementary school and there were approximately 40 children attending.
The people who came in wheelchairs, walkers and with oxygen were the heroes of the day. Everyone loved hearing their stories of school days in another generation, the greatest generation, as Dan Rather referred to them in his book.
Walking to the former campus, now the Silerton Baptist Church, anticipation filled the air. With chairs in hand, from the parking lot and town streets, they came wide-eyed not knowing what to expect but everyone thinking something would happen they would remember long after the day ended. They were not disappointed. Smiles were the order of the day. Older students and some of the students from the last class mingled and communed as one. It was more than most probably thought, much more.
One former teacher, Norma Jean (Siler) Sedberry, a student who later taught second and third grades for a few years stated it was a very good day. Rush Siler, another teacher, was unable to attend.
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