Photos from 2008 Richardsville Community Reunion

It is unclear how many people attended the gathering, but thought to be near 100.

Photo from 2008 Richardsville Community Reunion

I thank everyone who shared photos!

Left to Right"

Ken Boyer, (I need help here) Deb Long, Devere Boyer

The Brookville Class members of 1974 at Reunion

Back row: L to R

Russ McKinney, David (Leroy) Rhines, Rodger Long

Front Row L to R

Barb (Owens) McKinney, Shelly Skalicky, Janet (Carrier) Sarvey

"Mom's Girls" Left to right

Rachelle, Ran'a, Lucy (Long) (Brosius) Stotts

Lucy Long was a Pupil at Richardsville School.

Everett Long's Richardsville Ball Team uniform, with photo of him and team. (est. 1920's)

Kilee Carpenter with Grand Dad's (Everett Long) Base Ball uniform from Richardsville's Ball Team, early 1900's.

This is part of an e-mail I received from Ran'a, Kilee's mother:

Kilee is our ball player here, the pitcher on her team. So I can't wait to have the picture of her blown up with Grandpa's Team picture, and have them framed together.  I use to tell Jim and the kids stories of Grandpa always listening to the ball games on the radio while we would play outside every summer. I wish they could have met him.

Left to Right:

Shelly Skalicky, Ed Kerchinski, Janett Kerchinski, Child ( I need help here with ID), Don Gillung

New friends visiting like old pals.

Left to Right

Beverly (Beatty) McClosky, Shelly Skalicky

Future generations who attended

Payton McAninch who would be the Great,Great, Great Granddaughter of Lewis Evans (and she is very proud of that I might add.  She is getting into this old stuff!)   

And the boy is my brother Jeff's Carrier's son, Lance Carrier, who would be the Great, Great Grandson of Lewis Evans.

(Janet (Carrier) Sarvey of Brookville shared the photo, and I.D.)

Mac Cable enjoying Emma Work's Richardsville Baptist Church Book.

Need help on ID

Left to Right

unknown, unknown, Mac Cable, Susan Cable, unknown

Enjoying the wall with poster size early 1900's Richardsville class photos with names

Need help with ID, and name spelling on this photo

Left to Right back row standing

Danny Long, (unknown), (unknown) Edeth Rhines

Front row sitting down

Dever Boyer, Rodger Boyer, Ken Boyer

Returning home to Direct Descendants of Mr. Lewis Evans

Left to Right: Rocking Chair and 1870's Warsaw township school records, Victrola and the original shipping crate. 

 All of these items came from the Lewis Evans farm in Richardsville.  Mr. Evans was the school Secretary in the late 1800's  These books chronicle all of the old one room schools, pupils names, ages, attendance, grades, teachers names, and lessons taught in that period in Warsaw township. 

The Victrola still works, and includes the actual records that was used by the Evans Family, as well as the original shipping crate the Victrola came in.

All of these items were held by Lewis Evans son Tom and his wife Marie (Long) Evans until both of them passed, then held by Marie's only brother, Everett and his wife Julia (Lindenmuth) Long until they both passed.  Since then they have been held by the Long children (Mary Jane, Lucy May, and Daniel Nathen) until the 2008 reunion.  Then the 1870's school records were signed over to the "Jefferson County Historical Center" Curator Carole Briggs.  The chair and Victrola handed over to Lewis Evans Great Granddaughter Janett (Carrier) Sarvey and her husband Bill Sarvey of Brookville Pa.

The Carrier/Sarvey familys were good enough to actually crank it up and play a few tunes for us!

Lucy is sharing a look at an original turn of the century map of the area.

Left to Right

JoAnn (Barber) Smith, Lucy (Long) (Brosius) Stotts

Lucy has protected this authentic Richardsville held map for many years, and brought it from Ohio to share at the Reunion

 Showing appreciation to Carole Briggs for making the time in her busy schedule to attend the reunion on a Holliday week end.  Carole is the Curator for the Jefferson County Historical Center.

Left to Right:

(thought to be Huck Vogel ?) Danny Long, Rana' (Brosius) Carpenter, Carole Briggs, ( I need a name here) Chad Long.

Two items display on the table are 1865 Civil War portrait of Lewis Evans in the original frame, and medicine bottles from the days when Richardsville had a Doctor, Dr. Stahlman.  In the background you can see one of the 7 old reunion/group photos that were enlarged for help in photo ID.  Some of the large panoramic photos displayed were as much as 9 feet long and laminated for posterity and getting help with ID.

10/01/2008

By Laura Lynn Yohe
RICHARDSVILLE - Sitting on the "corner" of what is now known as the Richardsville and Moore Bridge Roads, a sturdy, square, building holds the memories of residents past, the interest of those present, and the hope of those in the future.
The structure is the third of the known school building at the site. Classes opened 85 years ago in the Fall of 1923 for students in the West Warsaw Township School District.
Although the blackboards are still on the walls, the last students attended classes there in 1957. To preserve the facility, on Sept. 5, 1959, 29 citizens signed the Articles of Incorporation for the "Richardsville Social Center".
Rules adopted at the time allowed for "no less than 24, nor more than 30" members of the Board of Directors and "at least 12 married couples" had to be included in that group.
On the incorporation papers, the stated purpose was to "establish and maintain a social or civic center for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of said Village of Richardsville, and all persons residing in the vicinity thereof, in the Township of Warsaw."
The invitation for the building's use is extended to "all such persons as may desire to enjoy the facilities thereof in order to cultivate and promote friendship, sociability and culture among its members."
In conclusion, the statement mandates: "and to do all such other things as will foster an interest in civic and social affairs and better the welfare of the community served by it."
Among the first challenges faced by the organization was making payments on the $1,200.00 "bank note" for purchase of the structure. Minutes of the Jan., 1962 meeting record that Paul Rhines loaned the group the $1,000 then owed on the note.
Each of the then-board members promised to contribute $3.60 each, per month, to pay back Rhines. The pledges were fulfilled by Jan., 1963.
Honoring its mission to be used by the community, the facility has housed countless meetings of organizations like the Kiwanis, American Legion, Cub Scouts, Women's Christian Temperance Union, United Farmers Association and others.
Untold numbers of gatherings for area churches, festivals, reunions, dances, receptions, dinners and other events have been held in its familiar confines. Musicians regularly play there for square dances.
Looking toward Sept., 2009, and the 50th anniversary of its use as a social center, the present board is saving the money needed to install a new roof on the structure.
To that end, there will be musical entertainment, a "carry-in" dinner and Chinese auction held on Monday, Oct. 6. Capping
off the evening will be the drawing for the 1998 Subaru Legacy donated by former Richardsville area residents Dan Long and Shelly Skalicky.
Only 500 tickets are available for the car. Further information is available by calling (814) 328-9989 or 5255 or by visiting www.richardsvilleroad.com and clicking on the "Raffle" link on the left hand side of the home page.

As things quited down, Darrell and Jean Hidinger, with Dorris Harriff entertained us with some beautiful old music.

Near the end of the day we had a 50/50 drawing, the winning ticket was held by Ran'a Carpenter.  Ran'a and her sister Rachell, brought their mother, Lucy (Long) (Brosius) Stotts in from Ohio for the Reunion.  Shown in the middle is Master of Ceremonies Deb Long as she announced the winner.

I was given the honor of ringing the old Richardsville School Bell at the close of the day.