The Altamont Alumni banquet held out for 96 years, but this year it came to a close because of declining attendance and so many now deceased. The last meeting was held May 11.
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“We had lots of fun and we made lots of memories,” says Francie Toney. “We shared old school pictures and reminisced.”
The Altamont School was built in 1915, a three-story brick building. The last class, which went through eighth grade, graduated in 1958. The building was torn down in 1960.
“Altamont School saw three-generations of families for many years,” says Francie. Her own father, Lynn Barker, graduated in 1930. “Once a small town loses their facility of education and activities, the community suffers a loss and deteriorates.”
It’s been 61 years since school was held at Altamont. Only four graduates of the Altamont school are still living: J.B and Mary Wilson; Lucile Calhoon Keifer; and Margaret Schoonover Meseberg. They were graduates of the Class of 1943.
Linda Hughs Jones and Jewell Pendleton, two of four Brown sisters — Deloris and Sandra were the other two — are credited for holding things together. Their mother, Anna May Lollar, graduated from Altamont High School in the thirties. Linda was the president of the Altamont Alumni and Jewell was secretary/treasurer.
“The older people enjoyed it,” says Linda. “But these days, everybody is just too busy.”
The first thing the attendees did, after the Pledge of Allegiance, was sing “School Days” just like the students did when they were children all those many years ago.
Francie Toney and Susie Walton, the Barker twins, presented the memorial. A candlelight memorial was given in honor of those who had passed that year. Sometimes the number of dead was greater than the number of living.
They would pray, eat dinner, and call the meeting to order. Years past, they had little plays. The last four years, they held a sing along with someone leading. Someone may have read quips and quotes from the old Altamont Times.
“We will miss our musical entertainment and the many nice prizes given at each banquet through the years,” says Francie.
It was all about remembering.
“George Handley and Earl Scott and Virgil Reid were the three main school bus drivers,” recalls Francie. She also remembers that each week through the fifties, the school had a Bible verse to memorize posted on the blackboard.
“My dad drove the bus for years, Edwin Brown,” adds Linda. “He didn’t want his little girl riding with anybody else. We were considered the Brown girls, with three redheads and me, a blonde.”
The young were remembered. The Altamont School was consolidated and students began attending at Gallatin in 1958. The students had a choice of going to Winston or Gallatin. Altamont continued to recognize their hometown students who graduate from Gallatin.
This year they closed with the same song they have closed with for 96 years: “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”