Former students Ted Lobdell and Barry Hix have been the leaders of the pack. They have organized several all-school reunions.
When I entered the first grade at Edgewood, the building housed all eight grades. The junior high had not yet started. Edgewood was a crowded building that year. As second-graders, my class began as the older class opening the new James Whitcomb Riley Building on the same property. Riley became the school for first- and second-graders.
We returned to the main building for Grades 3-6. The start of our seventh grade marked the opening of Perry Township Junior High. My class was involved when our junior high was converted to Southport High; that’s when the new fieldhouse was opened.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Dick Poppa and share some Edgewood stories. He and his sister, brothers and mom attended Edgewood. Dick was a member of the school board when the decision was made to close and raze the school. He saved the large piece of concrete that supported the door frame at the school. The name of the school is carved into the cement.
He had this placed on his home property in several states throughout the years. It will now have a special resting place back on Perry Township School property. Dick told me that he has a scheduling conflict and might not get back to Indianapolis in time to attend the dedication. He said several of his family members would speak at the dedication.
I was extra lucky when it came to Edgewood ... I later drove a bus for the school. I have so much fun attending our reunions because I get to interact with my former classmates, folks who were maybe a year or two ahead or behind me and students who I drove to school.
Should you know any former Edgewood students or staff, please contact them and make sure that they are aware of the dedication.
I will share more information about the program in next week’s column.