French School Reunion: a trip back in time

Everybody knows that there’s not much the Indy likes better than old photos and such, so an email message from Pete Motz this past week with information on reunion plans for alumni of the former French School resulted in a prompt hit on the "reply" button.

Might he have some photos to go with the information on the reunion being planned for Aug. 12, we wondered?

He did – lots and lots, it seems.

This week’s issue is the starting point for what we hope will be a French School Photo Album. Pete provided a photo of Helen Post, taken at the school with her class of 1941, along with a photo that he took in 2001 of the veteran French School teacher when she made her first return trip to the school in many, many years.

"Miss Post was kind enough to visit with me a few years ago when I called and asked if I could talk with her about school memorabilia," Pete says, citing the special interest he has in his "old" schoolhouse that now serves as an office for his business, Plum Line Landscape & Design.

"I asked if she would like to see the school – and she said yes."

That visit in 2001 was a trip back in time for the teacher and the former French School student.

"She sat down near the back of the room and just looked everything over," Pete recalls. "After a bit, she pointed with her cane to a stain on the floor and said, ‘I’ll bet you don’t know where that came from.’"

Her host admitted that he did not – but had always wondered what it might be, especially since he had the maple floor refinished and the stain remained intact.

"That’s where the old potbelly stove stood," the schoolteacher said. "I used to come here at 6 o’clock every morning to fire it up so it would be warm by the time the students arrived."

Pete and the other French School alumni who are planning the reunion are hoping that many more memories like that will be recalled when everyone gets together Aug. 12.

"We started working on this about six months ago, and things have just snowballed – we think it will be a lot of fun."

The Indy is happy to join in that fun by publishing old photos and interesting tidbits about the school. Katie Stockwell is coordinating that aspect of the reunion. Alumni with photos should call her at (989) 224-6333 or email information to kitt1930@aol.com