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Pix #1 - Students at Amsden two-room School in 1919: Front Row, left to right: Hazel Shaw, Marie Reeder, Bell Reeder, Florence Trumbo, Lucille Aumaugher, Iva Copsey, Myron Huff, Willard Radcliff, Second Row: Everett Clinker, Harold Fell, Lester Clinker, Reuben Reeder, Leland Sour, Ethel Thompson, Zenith Nederhouser, Doris Aumaguher. Top Row: Zera Craun, Alta Harding, Ida Mowery, Miss Alma Myers, teacher, Mone Copsey, Zenith Mowery, Harold Thompson, Elmer Shaw, Homer Wyant.

Pix #2 - The Lakota Junior High School building located in Amsden, serves the total Lakota School District, covering areas in Seneca, Wood and Sandusky counties.

At our family reunion today, my cousin from Amsden brought the Fostoria papers, dated July 5, July 12, and August 16. You see, I feel deep ties with that little town. My mother was born and raised there, and my grandfather's house was the big house on the hill across from the depot. He was George Aumaugher. My sisters and I spent a lot of time with our grandmother and grandfather.

The above opening of a long letter I received from Ray L. Remusat, residing at 542 Myers St., Toledo. That family reunion was Aug. 19 and on that same day he sat down and wrote the letter, which I am sure will interest many readers. Mr. Remusat is part of the Aumaugher and Stahl families. Members of the latter are still living in this area.

RECALLS SAWMILL & BLACKSMITH SHOP

I remember he (Mr. Aumaugher) took my cousin and I to the sawmill to watch them cut the logs. (The photo of the mills was in one of my articles). The mill, as I remember was at the end of and to the right on North St. We would also walk to the blacksmith's shop and watch him work. The Blacksmith was located across the street from the mill, or grain elevator, he said.

Grandfather also took care of the church. Sometimes he would let my cousin and I ring the bell on Sunday morning. Sometimes on Saturday we would ride the interurban (electric car) to Fremont to shop.

When I was one and a half years old, I got my finger cut off in the cream separator. Grandad had the cover off the gears to oil them, and I stuck my hand in the wrong place, as most kids do at that age. They sold milk, butter, and eggs to the people in town.

AS KIDS WENT TO MEET ALL TRAINS

While visiting there every time a train would come us kids would run down to the depot to watch it. My father was a conductor for the New York Central at that time. I am an engineer for Conrail now, but started out with the New York Central.

I don't remember any hotels in Amsden, but I do remember some school teachers renting rooms at the Aumaugher home. the school house picture on the July 5 article my mother, aunts and uncles all went to school there. Many of the names listed in the article ring a bell with me. Mother spoke a lot of the people around Amsden. there are very few Aumaughers around anymore. The names on the public school souvenir (in July 12 article) are very familiar A.J. Stahl is a relative and J.L. Feasel was my great-uncle.

GENEALOGY OF STAHL FAMILY IN AMERICA

I have a book of genealogy of the Stahl family in America. My great-grand- mother was a Stahl. My grandfather and granmother are buried at the Old Zion Lutheran Cemetery. It seems like two thirds of the people in that cemetery are relatives. Also a lot of relatives are in Fountain Cemetery. I have been told that at one time half of the population in Jackson Township were related.

Back in the late 30's and early 40's my cousin and I would ride our bicycles from Toledo to our uncle's farm, J.L. Feasel, on Co. Rd.#3, just outside Amsden, to join the threshing gang. We would spend a month or so going from farm to farm. A man named John Strowman, I believe, had the threshing rig.

I would like a copy of all of the articles...they struck a nerve.

Mr. Remusat apologized...if this letter bored you too much. Little did he realize that his letter interested me very much as I am sure it will the readers of this column.

Since receiving the earlier letter from Ray Remusat, another arrived along with several very fine, old photos which are bound to interest readers. They will be published either during the series of articles about Amsden or at a later date depending on available space.

AMSDEN SCHOOL NOW JUNIOR HIGH FOR WHOLE DISTRICT

A history of Amsden would not be complete without an update on the school, its facilities, philosophy, program and staff.

In 1922 the first centralized school was built in Amsden to accommodate pupils in grades one through 12. When the Lakota High School was built north of Amsden a few miles, the school in Amsden discontinued instruction of grades nine through 12.

A shift in teaching philosophy, current geography and pupil population has resulted in the school in Amsden now becoming Lakota Junior High School to serve grades seven and eight for the total Lakota School District. To fit that new arrangement, the school building in Amsden has been expanded and updates from its original structure.

Today all pupils in grades one though six are taught in three elementary schools located in bradner, Lakota West; Risinsun, Lakota Central; and Burgoon, Lakota East.

HANDBOOK OUTLINES PUPIL-SCHOOL RELATIONS

Looking through the Lakota Junior High School Student Handbook reveals what goes on inside the building shown with today's article. The handbook explains what is expected of students, and all of the advantages available through courses of study and extra-curricular activities.

It has been a long time since I was a student so the handbook was helpful. It seems to me that it is an excellent idea to set the stage properly for parents, teachers and pupil relations.

The opening paragraph in the book's forward stated "This handbook is presented to the students of the Lakota Local School District and their parents in an effort to provide for a body of understanding between home and school". That section ends with, "It is the goal of the Board, the Administration and all members of the staff to make the educational experience in Lakota Schools meaningful and rewarding.

The handbook covers every conceivable subject or situation involving students while they are being bused and during the periods in the school building, guiding and counseling, hazing, library, lunch programs, restrooms, medicine and sick room, student council, study hall rules, truancy, behavior, tobacco, narcotics and alcohol, and much more.

The student handbook provides strong evidence that Lakots Junior High School is well organized to provide quality education in an atmosphere suitable for learning conforming to the varied learning abilities of the students.

BOYS, GIRLS HAVE FULL SPORTS PROGRAMS

Jeffrey Szabo, principal of Lakots Junior High School, assisted me in accumulating data for this article.

Szabo explained that the school's 270 students, both boys and girls, have the opportunity to participate in a full program of sports including football, basketball, volleyball, track, cross country running and wrestling.

All seventh-graders get one half year of cooking and serving industrial arts and woodworking. Eighth-graders take their choice of one of those subjects for a full year.

Students also have a science club meeting once each month.

WEDGE FAMILY WERE AMSDENITES

Gene Wedge, 1241 Madison Rd., telephoned to chat about the Amsden series, which stirred a lot of memories for him when his parents lived in that village.

His father was Joe, whom I knew. But I never knew that they lived in Amsden. The family came to this area from southern Ohio. Charles Ash, father of Earl and Carmen, helped Joe Wedge get started in farming in the Amsden area.

Gene recalls that the family lived in a house directly across from the house where Ethel (Reese) Ash lives today. But the house is no longer there. It is all farm land now.

Wedge also recalls that Charles Ash sponsored a corn husking contest in one of his fields and his father Jow was the champion husker. The trophy for his skill is still in Gene's possession.

I should have known that the Wedges lived in Amsden before the series got so far along. Gene remembers much about his life there.

Many readers will recall Bonnie as a part of the Wedge family before marriage. She now resides in Augusta, Ga.

ABOUT EARL ASH'S GENEROSITY

I had known about Earl Ash's public spirit and generosity, but one reader of the Amsden series told me how it affected their family when she was a girl.

She said back then her father was having a difficult time with finances and keeping his family fed and clothed. "One winter", she said, "all of us kids needed shows, and my father didn't have money to buy them. Earl Ash heard about our predicament and bought shoes for all us kids.

Later when the father had money to repay Ash refused it sying he wanted to do the good deed and did not want to be repaid.

VETS HOME STORY ACCLAIMED "BEST"

Readers will recall the two-part article about the Ohio Veteran's Home in Sandusky in Potluck a few weeks ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stoneberger visited the home recently and were told by Col. John Weeks, the administrator, that it was the best article that had ever been written about the institutuion.