BLANCHESTER — The Blanchester High School Class of 1978 40th Reunion Tour arrived in Blanchester on Friday evening, Sept. 21 to kick-off a weekend full of events.
The reunion tour actually started 53 years earlier in Blanchester with stops at the Methodist Church (some kindergarten classes were held there), Putman Elementary, Edenton School, Jefferson School, Main Street Middle, and then on to the junior and senior high school buildings, culminating with their graduation in June 1978 in an outdoor ceremony on Barbour Memorial Field, graduating 151 members.
This reunion tour stops began Friday evening before the football game, with members taking a tour of the new high school facility by high school principal Chris Smith.
Classmates then gathered at Barbour Memorial Field where they rooted on the Wildcats as they took on the Goshen Warriors.
We were welcomed to the field with a large banner that read “Welcome, BHS Class of 1978, Celebrating 40 years!” which was provided by School Superintendent Dean Lynch. Classmates joined in singing the school fight song while the high school band played. Many memories were shared, including of the undefeated football team of 1976.
Saturday morning saw the class of 1978 again gathering at the high school for a service project working on the landscape and lawn area around the front of the building. This project was to honor and remember the 12 classmates who have passed on since graduation.
The main event of the 40th anniversary reunion tour was held on Saturday evening at the Cape May community center as alumni, friends and significant others enjoyed a dinner by McCoy’s Catering and an evening of reminiscing of events that have happened in their lives since 1978.
After dinner, classmates shared funny stories and memories of their school years.
Six of our former teachers were in attendance and provided their perspectives on our time at BHS. We were also treated to an appearance by former County School Superintendent Carlton Binkley, who added a little insight on his memories of those teachers while he was at Blanchester schools.
Several class members also brought memorabilia including newspaper articles, pictures and yearbooks to share.
The reunion tour (at least the current tour schedule) wrapped up Sunday at Cowan Lake State Park for a picnic and one last weekend day of sharing time with our classmates before we returned to the activities of daily life.
Throughout the weekend, the common theme was that everyone had a great time and are already looking forward to the next reunion tour, and all agree that it needs to be sooner than 40 years. If you are from the class of ’78 and would like to stay in touch with our classmates, like our Facebook page “Blanchester High School Class of 1978 40 Year Reunion Tour”.
