Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507140030
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAURICE A. WILLIAMS III STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We're overwhelmed with the beauty of it,'' said Cleria Via Key, adding that the she is glad the building has been put to good use.
The school closed in 1974, then was refurbished and opened in 1993 as a center for community services and the arts. The building is the home of city and cultural organizations such as the Roanoke Jaycees, Habitat for Humanity and the city's police academy and offices of mental health.
Classmates said they are happy to see that the building is still standing after all these years.
``We really feared it was going to be destroyed,'' Lois Breeden Ayers said.
As part of their 70th reunion June 28, the classmates toured the center. For some, such as Lillian Snider, who organized the reunion, it was the first time they had been to the building since high school.
``It's different,'' Snider said. ``It sure brings back a lot of memories.''
Snider's daughters attended the tour with her. They said they grew up hearing their mother reminisce about Jefferson.
``She has the fondest memories of her high school days. She remembers all her teachers by name,'' said Snider's daughter, Betty Acker.
The classmates have met in the past for their 50th, 55th, 60th, and 65th reunions. They also meet every other month for lunch at the Roanoker Restaurant.
Ruth Williams Bingham traveled from Florida for the reunion. She said what she remembers most about the school was its spirit, especially during football games.
``The enthusiasm during the ball games was very high,'' Bingham said. ``Everybody was real loyal to the school. We were proud of the new school.''
Bingham also recalled driving herself and eight other students 15 miles to school every day from her home in Villamont.
Vera Groseclose Counts also recalled traveling to school.
``We didn't have any school buses, we had jitneys,'' Counts said. Jitneys were a form of taxi service in which a small bus or car carried passengers on a regular route for a low fare, originally five cents. ``We didn't have all the things that they have today.''
All of the women agreed the school's auditorium was the most preserved part of the school.
``The auditorium really looks familiar,'' Counts said. ``This is wonderful going through here.''
``I remember studying in there,'' Dorothy Lowe Russ said. ``I think it's wonderful. It's supplying a need, too.''
The women said the class of '25 produced many prominent people.
``I think this was a very important class. We had so many outstanding men,'' Key said, referring to Roanoke banker Edward Ould. The class also included legal activist Arnold Schlossberg and John D. Martin.
``Anybody that was anybody belonged to the class of 1925,''she said.
The center has a memorial room, which holds school yearbooks, uniforms, trophies and pictures. Snider said the tour and reunion gave her a bittersweet emotion about Jefferson.
``It's kind of sad things have changed, but it's for the best, I know.''
by CNB