The current Henry County Courthouse was not 10 years old when it happened. Their first meeting was held about 34 years before New Mexico became a state. In fact this group was formed nine years before the Henry County Historical Society – third oldest in Indiana – was organized.
The Spiceland Academy and Spiceland High School Alumni and Former Students Association gathered for the 135th time on May 18. Graduates and former students came from 10 states, including North Carolina, Texas, Oregon and yes – New Mexico, which didn’t exist when the group was organized.
It is the oldest organization in Henry County – and yet, perhaps one of the liveliest.
“A lot of people can hardly wait from one year to the next,” said Richard Ratcliff, whose tenure as president of this organization has exceeded Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential terms by more than 29 years. “It’s just become a big part of their lives.”
Other current officers working with Ratcliff on this storied alumnis group are Pat (Strunk) Bogue, Barbara (Anderson) Ward, Charles D. Brown, Dr. Jerry Murray, Beth (Wolski) Carr and Charlene (Brown) Williams.
The organization was formed in the home of Henry W. and Mary (Stubbs) Painter. The last 121 meetings have been held in the Spiceland Friends Church.
Appropriately, each meeting begins with a recording of the old Pickering Elementary School bell ringing and the alumni president informing all that “recess is over and it’s time to get back to our studies.” This year, about 300 people were present to hear and respond when the bell rang.
The true spirit of this event can be seen in the inspirational and stout-hearted faces of the oldest graduates each year.
“You had to be 90 to get introduced,” Ratcliff said.
This year, those recognized included 90-year-old Janet (Mercer) Copeland and Katherine (Mote) Schwomeyer, both of Indianapolis; 92-year-old Martha (Johnson) Solomon of Lapel; and 93-year-old Imogene (Shell) Reece of Muncie.
But they were not the oldest. That honor went to 100-year-old Carrie Johnson Ratcliff Goldberg of Richmond. She is the oldest member of the association and the last to graduate in the 1920s.
An aunt of Richard Ratcliff, Mrs. Goldberg graduated in 1929, 84 years ago. Her first husband graduated in 1920, 93 years ago.
One of the most popular parts of the meeting is the introduction of honored classes. As each class is introduced, a 20-member choir known as the “Swingin’ Spiceland Stingers” serenades the members with songs of that time period, often accompanied by skits that leave everyone in stitches of laughter.
“They can’t wait to see our foolishness,” Ratcliff said.
From the classic 1958 Bobby Darin hit “Splish Splash” – which featured Larry Wilson singing and dancing in a bathtub – to the choir’s version of Nat King Cole’s “Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer” that greeted 1963 alumni, the swingin’ Stingers added flair that was both historical and hysterical. Charlene Williams also performed a hilarious rendition of Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You.”
While laughter and fellowship are plentiful, the event annually features sincere reflection and memorial tributes as well.
Former teachers are always present and recognized. This year, the group included Ann Claire (Newkirk) Noel of Noblesville, Irene (Prignitz) Goodwin of Knightstown, Bill Byrket of Fishers and Esther Applegate, Virginia (Reece) Newkirk and Barbara (Anderson) Ward, all of Spiceland. Interestingly, all of those former faculty members are graduates of Spiceland High School.
A memorial service is annually held for graduates, former students and teachers who have passed away since the last meeting. This year’s tribute honored Cecil C. Tague, Jr. who taught and coached at Spiceland before he led New Castle to the state basketball finals in 1967; and Dr. Robert Linson, who was principal at Spiceland High School from 1953-55.
The alumni paused during their reminisces to honor current Tri High graduates with scholarships. This year’s awards went to Alexandra Feaster, Megan Groce and Meghin Paul. The recipients are all outstanding students and must be residents of Spiceland Township. Lee Ann Wallen and Carlene Creviston presented the awards. Since 1984, the Spiceland Alumni Educational Fund has presented $98,500 in scholarships.
Teasingly called “a dying organization” by some of its members, since there can be no more Spiceland High School graduates, the event ended with a rousing rendition of the Spiceland school song. But as they traveled home, the group that so enjoys revisiting the past carried with them one important future date – May 17, 2014, when the 136th meeting will be held.
Darrel Radford is a staff writer for The Courier-Times and a board member for The Henry County Historical Society.