School Galleries

Richland Twp. Schools Reunion (6-13-09) : Former Two-Room School Students Convene in Waterloo _ by Bob Friend “Wow! Is that really you? It’s been over 50 years since we last spoke!” Comments like this were frequent in Waterloo’s Francis Thomson Park on Saturday, June 13, 2009, where former students reminisced at the Richland Township Schools Reunion. Over the years since my boyhood in rural DeKalb County, I had often wondered whether it would be possible to find enough of my fellow “old-timers” to have a get-together. Earlier this year, in an e-mail exchange, a fellow Waterloo High School and West Richland School classmate, Janis (Myers) Sproat (now of rural Butler) asked me what I thought about staging such an event -- and that was all it took to get the ball rolling. During the months leading up to the reunion, Janis and I worked diligently to locate and contact alumni from East Richland, West Richland and Corunna. Since I live quite a distance away (northwest of Chicago), I concentrated on such things as media contacts, e-mail communications and designing the promotional flyers, which Janis had printed locally and then posted in various supermarkets, churches, libraries, etc. In addition, she called many people personally, and I performed numerous Internet searches with some success. Although not everyone we reached was able to attend, we were pleased with the turnout -- approximately 75 (plus spouses and other guests). An adjunct event was a tour of the old East Richland School, now owned by Don and Pam Sebert, of Auburn. (Don spent grades 1~8 at East Richland; our first encounter was some 50 years ago when, as a member of West Richland’s softball-team, I pitched to him!) After I shot group photos at Thomson Park, a number of attendees drove to a well planned open house hosted by Pam. This is the only one (of the three old schools) still standing, and the exterior is pretty much the same as at the time of its construction (1914). West Richland’s roof collapsed some years ago, and the building today is largely rubble. At Corunna a monument now marks the site of the old school. (See < http://fotobyfriend.smugmug.com/gallery/2967601_HwGqB/1/160485530_5WM2n/Large > and < http://fotobyfriend.smugmug.com/gallery/2967427_bNW3q/2/160473772_FLXYE/Large > . Many expressions of heartfelt appreciation were expressed to Janis and me for organizing this event. But others contributed as well, especially Janis’s husband Ron, along with Connie (Roop) Combs and her husband Claude. Janis and I are also thankful to all those who attended -- some coming from far and wide -- to be able to reconnect with their old classmates. I hope you -- and those who could not attend -- enjoy these photos. If you see a picture you want to buy, just double-click on it and then click on "buy: this photo"; to purchase more than one pic, click on "buy: multiple photos." This service is offered as a courtesy, without obligation. You are also welcome to save this link and simply look at the pix -- which will continue to be viewable free online for the foreseeable future. A final note re the GROUP PICTURES: All three photos are shown four ways -- original, 5x7, 8x10 and 4x8. I did this so that if you want to order you will not have to worry about proper cropping -- it’s already done. Thanks again for attending -- maybe we can do this again sometime! ALSO, I WILL BE ADDING MORE DETAILED CAPTIONS AS TIME PERMITS. --Bob Friend (aka Little Bobby of Fike’s Corners and Kirk’s Hill) (West Richland 1953-'59; Waterloo 1959-'65) Robert E. Friend _ 512 Greenview Dr. _ Wauconda IL 60084-2555 PHONE FAX: 847-487-6535 _ CELL: 708-860-1123 _ E-MAIL: bobandkerstin@sbcglobal.net

Richland Twp. Schools Reunion (6-13-09)

Former Two-Room School Students Convene in Waterloo _ by Bob Fr ...

Updated: Jun 23, 2009 1:01pm PST

WHS 2009 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids : DEAR FELLOW W.H.S. ALUMS, ET AL. -- Thanks to everybody who attended the 2009 Waterloo Alumni Dinner. I hope you -- and those who did not attend -- enjoy the photos. If you see a picture you want to buy, just double-click on it and then click on "buy: this photo"; to purchase more than one pic, click on "buy: multiple photos." This service is offered as a courtesy, without obligation. You are also free to save this link and simply look at the pix -- which will continue to be viewable online for the foreseeable future. Thanks again for attending -- looking forward to 2011! --Bob Friend, WHS Class of 1965 Robert E. Friend _ 512 Greenview Dr. _ Wauconda IL 60084-2555 PHONE + FAX: 847-487-6535 _ CELL: 708-860-1123 _ E-MAIL: bobandkerstin@sbcglobal.net ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

WHS 2009 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids

DEAR FELLOW W.H.S. ALUMS, ET AL. -- Thanks to everybody who atte ...

Updated: Jun 12, 2009 9:33am PST

WHS 2007 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids & Groups : DEAR FELLOW W.H.S. ALUMS, ET AL. -- Thanks to everybody who attended the 2007 Waterloo Alumni Dinner. I hope you -- and those who did not attend -- enjoy the photos. If you see a picture you want to buy, just double-click on it and then click on "buy: this photo"; to purchase more than one pic, click on "buy: multiple photos." This service is offered as a courtesy, without obligation. You are also free to save this link and simply look at the pix -- which will continue to be viewable online for the foreseeable future. I am providing a printed album (at my expense) to the Waterloo Alumni Association; I believe this will become a valuable record for all of us over the years to come. Most of the 2007 attendees are pictured in the group photos -- I did my best to "corral" them! I wish that I could have had more time to talk to those in attendance, but I'd volunteered to do this photography thing, and no regrets. I would like to thank the several WHS alumni who offered their assistance in verifying some individual group-shot names. Thanks again -- looking forward to 2009! --Bob Friend, WHS Class of 1965 Robert E. Friend _ 512 Greenview Dr. _ Wauconda IL 60084-2555 PHONE + FAX: 847-487-6535 _ CELL: 708-860-1123 _ E-MAIL: bobandkerstin@sbcglobal.net ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

WHS 2007 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids & Groups

DEAR FELLOW W.H.S. ALUMS, ET AL. -- Thanks to everybody who atte ...

Updated: Jun 08, 2007 1:38pm PST

WHS 2005 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids : These photos are from the 2005 Waterloo Alumni Dinner, the first one I had attended in a number of years. I decided to include them as a separate section in the printed albums covering the 2007 Alumni Dinner. (One album is being provided to the WHS Alumni Association, another to the Waterloo Public Library.) I originally took these shots just for my own personal use, so I apologize for the disproportionate number in which my own "mug" is displayed! My old classmates will confirm that I have NEVER been known to "ham it up." Uhhh, yeah, right...! At any rate, I am pleased to be able to provide these for your enjoyment. --Bob Friend, WHS Class of 1965

WHS 2005 ALUMNI DINNER - Candids

These photos are from the 2005 Waterloo Alumni Dinner, the first one I ...

Updated: Jul 23, 2007 2:36pm PST

WERWAC V Bike Ride in DeKalb Co., Indiana (6-2-07) : On June 2, 2007, the WERWAC bicycle ride took place for the fifth consecutive year. Bob Friend proposed this general idea to fellow Waterloo H.S. graduate Joe Eldridge some years back. In 2003, they put it together with the valued assistance of Don Sebert, another WHS Class of 1965 member. Don came up with the original acronym for the ride, which Bob modified just slightly; WERWAC now stands for West-East-Richland-Waterloo-Auburn-Corunna. Because of schedule conflicts, the 2006 ride was held near Chicago, with all others taking place in the “ol’ stompin' grounds." Don was out of town for the '07 ride. Offers were extended to other classmates, but as usual there were no takers -- we're still hopin', though! Joe and Bob started the 2007 tour at Don's old alma mater, East Richland School, then rode to Auburn and Waterloo -- where they were joined by Bob's brother Mark (DeKalb H.S. Class of '74). The highlight of WERWAC 2007 was Bob and Joe's exploration of the ruins of their old school, West Richland. (Also see: http://fotobyfriend.smugmug.com/gallery/2967601_HwGqB .)

WERWAC V Bike Ride in DeKalb Co., Indiana (6-2-07)

On June 2, 2007, the WERWAC bicycle ride took place for the fifth cons ...

Updated: Jun 07, 2007 10:47am PST

Exploring the Ruins of Old West Richland School (6-2-07) : While on a bike ride with fellow West Richland School classmate Joe Eldridge, we happened upon the current owners of the property. They allowed us to take a look around. Joe and I were able to put our heads together and figure out pretty much where things used to be -- no small feat given the degree of decay. The old school was sturdily built by caring craftsmen, but years of neglect took their toll. Joe and I shared many bittersweet moments as we gazed upon the grand old lady's faded glory and reminisced... MORE DETAILED CAPTIONS TO FOLLOW as time permits. --Bob Friend

Exploring the Ruins of Old West Richland School (6-2-07)

While on a bike ride with fellow West Richland School classmate Joe El ...

Updated: Jun 07, 2007 11:50am PST

WHS Classes of '65-'66-'67 at D.Nodine's :

WHS Classes of '65-'66-'67 at D.Nodine's

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 3:18pm PST