Earl Montel (L) and Danny Michael sit outside of the school while speakers reminisced. Montel wore his letter jacket for the occasion. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

A crowd assembled outside of the school Saturday, July 23, to bid farewell to the structure. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE – The old Silver Lake High School – home of the Ramblers – will soon be demolished, but the memories will live on.

Dozens of people gathered outside the 90-year-old building on Saturday, July 23, to reminisce and say goodbye to a building that they say was more than just a three-story brick learning center.

The building will soon be demolished and eventually replaced with a community center.

The school was originally constructed at a cost of about $88,000 and opened in 1930.

The final graduating class left the building in 1966. Several years later, it served as an elementary school. The building closed in 2005.

Two Silver Lake Town Council members, Hugh Murfin and Jean Weller, helped organize the farewell and Weller led off the event by leading the crowd in signing the old Rambler’s fight song.

After that, folks stepped up and shared their memories about their favorite teachers, favorite lunch, the playground and the building itself.

The school, said one speaker, was a “second home” for many in the community.

Jama Owen, the fourth generation of her family to be part of the building, recalled how her grandparents first met in the gym.

“This building was more than just a school. It’s how my grandparents began their love story,” she said.

Earl Montel, a 1953 graduate, attended all 12 years at the school and told the crowd that he recalled a sense of sadness on graduation day.

“All these kids were like my brothers and sisters and I knew there would be some of them that we’d probably never see again,” Montel said.

Montel wore his letter jacket to the event.

“I figured what better way to memorialize Silver Lake than this,” he said.

Miles Hoffman, from the class of 1960, pointed out that the building relied heavily on stairs and that its lack of accessibility was one of the final downfalls in its legacy.

“It’s a shame, but all good things have to come to an end,” Hoffman said.

Afterward, people had a chance to look at the items inside a memory box that was established in 1930.

Those items will eventually be part of a display in the future community center. 

Murfin said a committee is helping guide plans for the center and said a survey will be used to determine aspects of the building.

Jean Weller (seated) reads from documents found in the 90-year-old memory box. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

A view of the building at the corner of High and Walnut Streets in Silver Lake. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Anyone wanting bricks from the school is asked to wait. Bricks will be left outside neear the curb. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.