Former St. Joseph’s Otonabee School reunion Sept. 15

Assumption school has been closed since 1987

A reunion for the former St. Joseph’s Otonabee School is happening in September.

The elementary school, on Old Keene Rd. and Assumption Rd., was open from 1912 to 1987. It’s now a Pentecostal church.

Although the reunion is months away, organizers wanted to get the word out so former students, staff and teachers could save the date.

Maureen Crowley, who graduated from St. Joseph’s Otonabee in 1973, is one of the organizers. Her late father Claire Crowley went there, too.

She doesn’t think the school has ever had a reunion and said she and others thought it was time.

“I think it’ll be fun to catch up with people and see what’s happening in their lives,” Crowley said.

The drop-in event takes place Sept. 15 at Assumption Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It starts off with mass at Our Lady of Assumption Church at 10 a.m., followed by a pick-up baseball game, tour of the old school, and a barbecue by Knights of Columbus. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The event is open to former students, staff, faculty and anyone else with an affiliation to the school.

St. Joseph’s Otonabee started off as a one-room school house and was later divided into four rooms.

Back then, it was called S.S. No. 8 Otonabee St. Joseph’s. It originally went from Grade 1 to 8, although Crowley suspects kindergarten was added later.

With many former students still in the area, Crowley is expecting a big turnout.

She’s hoping people will bring old photos and other memorabilia from their time at St. Joseph’s Otonabee to share.

“If anybody knows where the school bell is, let us know. It’s missing,” she said with a laugh.

Crowley also recommends bringing a lawn chair to sit outside the hall in the afternoon.

A Facebook page has been set up so people can connect before the event. It’s St. Joseph’s Otonabee School Reunion 2018.

NOTE: To contact Maureen Crowley about the reunion, call 705-939-6135 or email squirrel@nexicom.net