Yearly reunion full of emotions, positive and negative
Stecoah – For years, the graduates and former students of the Stecoah community have been gathering in the hallowed halls of their alma mater to share memories, catch up with friends and remember classmates who have passed away.
On Saturday, the Golden Tornadoes filled the halls of the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center and celebrated friendships and days gone by. There was laughter as they remembered basketball games, French class, and the days when an entire class could fit into one car and ride home from school together. There was rivalry when they remembered classmates who transferred to Robbinsville and ended up on the first-string basketball team, only to be defeated by the Tornadoes.
Most of all, there was a feeling of nostalgia and pride that was shared by all who came to honor their school and schoolmates, and remember the glory days of their youth.
C.E. Holder, Class of 1956, remembered his class of 13 students. The highlight of his time at Stecoah High School was making All-Conference in basketball. Holder attended business school after graduation and spent 46 years in Atlanta. He retired and now resides in the Waynesville area.
He laughed about the “French” country accent that he acquired in Mr. Edwards’ class.
Paula Edwards Rogers, Class of 1968, said her most vivid memory of her school days happened when she was around 13 years old.
“I remember being told about President Kennedy being shot,” Rogers said. “We were in class, and they just walked into the classroom and told us.”
She also shared memories of her dad (and teacher) Howard Edwards. She remembered Mr. Edwards being in charge of the first yearbook at Stecoah. He took the pictures, he developed the film in the bathroom at home and then sent the materials off to be assembled. The first yearbook cost $2. Rogers resides in Robbinsville, where she spent over 30 years teaching at Robbinsville Elementary School.
Lowell Crisp, Class of 1961, said he could diagram a sentence like nobody’s business. He remembered reading McBeth in Mr. Edwards’ English class. He later joined the faculty at Stecoah and taught accounting and typing, before he became principal and superintendent at Robbinsville High School. He currently lives on Sawyers Creek.
Everyone agreed that going to school at Stecoah was a privilege.
“Being at school here was more like being at home except you had to learn,” shared RoAnn Gordon.
All former students agreed that one of the best things about school was the food. Cafeteria workers like Minnie Taylor, Vergie Crisp, Blanche Bradshaw, Myrtle Lequire and Eldred Paige were complimented on their rolls. They remembered the ladies saving them rolls to take home after basketball practice.
The meals were homecooked, and everyone had a favorite meal, from the fried chicken to the soup, peanut butter and Karo syrup sandwiches.
They recalled assemblies in the auditorium each morning, which included devotion and pledges. They spoke of riding a bus to Robbinsville to watch movies and playing basketball on the dirt court before the gym had been completed. Some shared that they remembered walking home at lunch and returning to class afterward.
“Freedom, small classes, good instruction…and we had the best talent shows,” they all agreed.
The reunion concluded with a program held in the auditorium. Dwight Bradshaw opened the program in prayer, and former teachers were recognized. Lowell Crisp, Marlene Hyde and Cindy Bradshaw were in attendance. The oldest to attend was recognized.
There was a moment of silence and a flower presentation for each classmate who had passed away since the last reunion. Eighteen names were read and a white rose was placed in a vase in memory of each classmate. The program ended with C.E. Holder singing “If You Only Knew” while everyone stood – and then there was homemade cakes served, donated for a cakewalk.
As the classmates took their cakes and returned to their homes, they left feeling a little younger and very blessed to be a part of the Golden Tornadoes of Stecoah.
Stecoah School was opened for instruction in 1926. After 68 years of educating the community, the school closed and students were consolidated to Robbinsville. The last year of school was 1994.
Each year, the reunion is smaller in number. The older classmates keep the reunion alive.
“The saddest thing is that many people that used to come have passed, and now we are the old people, and the young people are not interested,” Gordon said.
The next reunion is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2025.