PHS Class of 1913 Held Reunion Last Saturday

Of the fourteen members of the 1913 Pepin high school graduating class, ten met at Pepin last Saturday to be reunited for the second time since graduation.  Their last reunion was held in 1939 and few of the members were able to attend.

They met at the school at 2:00 P.M. and enjoyed a tour of the building.  They derived great pleasure from visiting the original building which still stands and at the time of their graduation housed the complete grade and high school enrollment.  Today many changes have been made in the interior of that building but the exterior is the same.

Following the tour they drove to fountain City where they dined together at Wally's.  Miss Laura Pererson of Stockholm was in charge of the arrangements and decorated the tables with their class colors, green and white, accented with gold to designate the anniversary.  White floral arrangements centered the tables.  At each place setting was a 50-year place card and a little red schoolhouse nut cup.

After dining the group was entertained in the home of Leo LaFrance of Winona, a member of the class.  Mr. LaFrance entertained the group with piano selections; letters were read from a former teacher, Miss Dietrich, and Mr. Long, the commencement speaker who is now 91 years of age. After enjoying the program numbers, Mr. and Mrs. La France graciously served a lunch to their guests.

The eleven members who were able to attend were: Miss Laura Peterson, Stockholm; Mrs. Catherine Lewis, Newton, Mass.; Harold Stoltenberg, Duluth; Mina Stoltenberg Seifert and Arthur Seifert, now Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Seifert of St. Paul; Rev. Clyde Hicks, Alma Center; Leo LaFrance, Winona; Marlin Wheeler, Kellogg, and Dr. J.C. Schruth and Clarence Seifert, Pepin.  Also attending were Mrs. Stoltenberg, Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. LaFrance, Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Schruth and Mrs. Seifert.

Sidney Peterson of Madison was unable to be present.  Only three members of the class were deceased.  They are Godfrey Valine, Lulu Seifert Anderson and Henry G. Johnson.  (From the Pepin Herald, 6-6-63)

Members of the 1913 Pepin high school graduating class marked their 50th anniversary since graduation on June 1.  They are pictured above as they appeared on graduation day May 29, 1913.  Left to right, front: Clarence Seifert, Arthur Seifert, Laura Peterson, Leo LaFrance, Henry G. Johnson; second row; Lulu Seifert, Sidney Peterson, Marlin Wheeler, Miss Margaret Meisser (a teacher) and Clyde Hicks; top row; Joseph C. Schruth, Catherine Ruggles, Prof. J.C. Householder, Miss Jessie Dietrich (teachers), Godfrey Valine, Mina Stoltenberg and Harold Stoltenberg.  Pepin Herald, June 6, 1963