MEMORIES

The following was submitted by Kris (Behling) Hall - a history lesson for the PHS Class of 1967! 

There were seven kids that went to the Portage Cottage School, a small school located on Thompson Street in the First Ward. As you drive from the Market Square hill, across the canal bridge, toward Fairgrounds, it is on the left (today, it is a home). Kindergarten was in the basement, First and Second Grades on one side of the building and Third and Fourth on the other.  Two grades were in each of the upstairs rooms, with a total of three teachers. I am not sure, but I believe the school was closed soon after we moved to the red brick building. It was in need of repair and so small the School Board decided to close and move all kids to the white stone building next to the red brick one (and the then High School).  My Father was the President of the School Board and helped make that decision.  He also signed all of our diplomas!  

Our class consisted of Larry Martin, Cheryl Martin, Ronald Rammier, Terry Lamphere, Bill Czeskleba, David Mongey (sp?) and myself (Kris).  We all transferred to the red brick building for Fifth Grade, so we did get there before the St. Mary's, St. John's and all outlying elementary schools came. You can see by the people listed above that maybe all did not graduate with us and some dropped out of school.  The end of the story is that only Cheryl and myself are still living.

(Thanks, Kris-for the trip down the lane.)