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| Garfield School |
Two Cedar Rapids schools celebrated 100 years of existence today. Arthur School, 2630 B Av NE, and Garfield School, 1201 Maplewood Dr NE, both were built in 1914 and began classes in the 1915-16 school year. I celebrated with Garfield, where my boys went to school, and where I've been able to continue my relationship as a classroom volunteer. Both schools continue to anchor residential neighborhoods, although their attendance areas--particularly Arthur's--are quite large.
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Principal Joy Long did the morning announcements outside,
as the entire student body assembled |
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Flag raising by the 5th grade Girl Scout troop,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance |
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Nancy Raue (left) attended Garfield and has taught there since 1989.
That's her VW. Based on the sign, she must have been Honorary Principal for the day. |
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| Even President Garfield was celebrating! |
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| Main festivities were scheduled after school |
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| ...including a hot dog supper... |
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| ...and a brief, well-attended program in the gym. |
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| Principal Joy Long kicks off the program |
A number of students present and past returned for the event, including one fellow who'd attended Garfield in 1936. At the evening program, former principal Rick Netolicky [right in picture above] emceed, paying tribute to his valuable secretary Chris Gochenour, as well as inviting past and present teachers and staff to stand and be recognized. Mayor Ron Corbett [center left] proclaimed today to be Garfield School Day in Cedar Rapids; of course, he also proclaimed it to be 2017, so take that how you will. Historian Mark Stoffer-Hunter [far left] recalled the origins of the school, pointing out the unique Egyptian columns at the main entryway. Current principal Joy Long dedicated a reading cart in memory of former secretary Kris Cessna, who died in 2013.
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| Hardwood features of the classrooms (here, room 106) give them an old-fashioned vibe |
Buildings like Garfield, the stories they have to tell, and the good service they still do, are testimony to worthiness of historic structures in cities like Cedar Rapids.
SEE ALSO:
Cedar Rapids Community School District, "Arthur and Garfield Celebrate Centennial Birthdays,"
http://www.cr.k12.ia.us/arthur-and-garfield-celebrate-centennial-birthdays/
Cindy Hadish, "Garfield and Arthur Schools to Celebrate 100th Anniversaries,"
Save CR Heritage, http://savecrheritage.org/garfield-and-arthur-schools-to-celebrate-100th-anniversaries/
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| Garfield's playground was re-constructed in, I think, 2003 |
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