Can everyone remember who their first grade teacher was?
A good number of people probably can’t.
But for a group of students who attended the old Grazierville School from 1928 through the mid-1960s, the names of all their teachers just seem to roll off the tongues.
“We really didn’t have any intentions of making this thing grow like it has,” said Dan Irvin, president of the Grazierville School Gang. “Next thing we knew, there were a hundred people here. It just got crazy, but every minute of it is a good time.”
According to Irvin, the Grazierville School Gang was birthed in April 1989 after the brainstorming of four friends who all attended the school. These include Irvin, Jim Bonsell, Jerry Steal and Jim Wilson.
The group began meeting in the restaurant area of Wissinger’s in Bellmeade one morning each month, but after a few meetings, that area became too small to accommodate the growing attendance of the group. They then moved into a banquet room on the property to conduct meetings.
“Each one of us brought a friend to that second meeting,” said Irvin. “Then we asked each of those friends to bring another friend the next time.”
According to Irvin, the number of attendees sometimes numbered well over 100 people.
“We’ve dwindled down a little bit since then, but we still never dreamed of getting as large as we did,” said Irvin.
So what do a bunch of old schoolmates talk about?
“Really about anything,” said Irvin. “Fun at recess, lunchtime, our old teachers.”
Teachers like Mrs. (Fannie) Shiffler, who taught grades three and four, and former principal William Barr, who also taught grades seven and eight, were all topics of conversation at one point in time.
“We talk about the old times, the good times and the new times,” said Irvin. “We talk just to have a good time, and that’s exactly what we have.”
The meetings are no longer in Bellmeade and have changed from the early morning hours to a luncheon meeting. The group now meets on the first Monday of every month at LaScalia’s Restaurant in Vail.
“Anyone who attended the Grazierville School are welcome at our meetings,” said Irvin. “We don’t charge dues and really don’t accomplish that much. We just want to meet and remember how the good times were.”
The group spends a lot of time learning which fellow students have fallen ill and makes efforts to contact these people by telephone or through cards. It also holds a picnic each spring and a Christmas party.
Those looking for more information concerning the Grazierville School Gang is asked to contact Mr. Irvin at 684-4903.
