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Liz Whited wrote this letter to the
editor of The Daily Jeffersonian in 1986, but for
one reason or another, she never sent the letter
to the paper. She has offered to share her
thoughts regarding the closing of the school with
all of us, by sharing her unsent letter. Enjoy,
reflect... |
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Elizabeth Whited
514 E. Main Street
Cumberland, Ohio 43732
November 18, 1986
Daily Jeffersonian
Cambridge, OH 43725
Editor:
I walked through history as thick as soup last
Saturday night (11/15/86) when the last dance ever
was held at the Cumberland Elementary School. You
see, its doors will close forever on December 1 if
all proceeds as scheduled. |
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It was cold out, but my family and I walked over
to the schoolhouse anyhow. We could see the
windows lit up, people moving about and hear music
playing. I told the kids to look hard and
remember because it would be the last time we
should see the old school like that; full of
life. |
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I walked the halls of
Cumberland School and looked at the graduation
pictures mounted on the walls. I saw a picture of
a young girl gazing out at an unknown future. Her
father had been on the School Board during the
building of Cumberland School. I turned and saw
the same girl standing behind me, only now she is
a teacher at Cumberland School. Standing next to
her was her daughter, who had attended Cumberland
School as well as her two granddaughters, who are
attending now. I felt the wonder of seeing three
generations standing under the same roof. Four
generations of that family were involved in an
institution that has brought Cumberland children
together to mold their future and build their
sense of community. |
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That was just one insight of the evening as so
many alumni attended that last ever dance. In a
month the school will be nothing but a hollow
shell, gutted and the children gone. |
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About 3/4th of the way into the
evening, Rachel Hall, Booster Club President and
one of the dance organizers, gave a short but
extremely moving speech, saying goodbye to our
school, followed by a brief farewell ceremony. |
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The students of Cumberland School were invited to
form a circle in the center of the gym. Together
they held the United States Flag. Next the alumni
of the past were called down to form a large
circle around the children, they also joined
hands. Together, everyone in the building sang
America the Beautiful. After the song was
sung, there was a spontaneous moment of silence
and a moment of deep, deep sadness for our loss. |
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Then, in a voice
choked with emotion, Rachel Hall thanked us, ended
our quiet little ceremony and had the dancing
start again. For the LAST TIME ever the
Cumberland School was filled with a community that
smiled, danced, that had come together in
fellowship, in a celebration of life, as well as
in sadness for our loss, in memory. Another
goodbye to a way of life that will be forever
gone. |
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In essence, what I am trying to say is that the
school linked past with future, nurtured deep
roots in Cumberland and grew lifetime
friendships. This loss will weaken the feeling of
an extended family for our little ones. It was
like that in our local school. Everyone knew
everyone plus most of the Moms and Dads, Uncles
and Aunts. It will broaden their horizons to be
bussed to Brook Elementary but their roots will
never be as deep in Cumberland as those who came
before them. |
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I write this letter to express the sadness I feel
along with the misgivings about the future. In
December, I will accept what has to be and try to
make it be the best thing to happen to the
children. To think – all this because we voted
for a levy to repair area
schools. |
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Sincerely,
Elizabeth Whited |
