Grant and Emily Riegle purchased the home next to the Limerick school when their daughter Gladys was 2 years old. Her mother Emily Long Riegle took the job as janitor of the school after doing it for 30 years and at age of 70 retired and Gladys took over the job.  She also collected the taxes which paid the teacher and did repairs.  What was so handy was living right next door to the school.

There was a huge stove which used coal, the coal storage area was made later in the kitchen when it was turned into a hall for meetings.  The stove and refrigerator that was used in the kitchen came from Glady's house.

Mrs. Shisler was the teacher for many years and when I went to school there.  Before her it was Ruth Stricklin.

Every morning was started with Pledge of America and Singing.  Art was worked on while different classes were presented with math, reading and ect.  The school was always decorated for the season and holidays.

We had ball games and it was mentioned about playing duck duck goose when snow covered the ground.  Also, there was Annie Annie over the roof (the coal storage area) with the use of a ball).  When the school was centralized we had a gym teacher, art teacher and a music teacher that came to the school.  Mrs Shisler was always into celebrating like Easter, Valentine's day and ect. During the year the ones that lived far away packed lunches and the ones close went home for lunch.  When I went there we all ate Thanksgiving meal together.  The Granke's raised turkeys and she cooked one.  All families brought something and it was kept hot next door.  I remember the Teacher bringing in a radio and listing to the world series and keeping score on the black board.  Every Christmas was a celebration with putting on a program and with us doing a play.  Costumes where made with creap paper.  Saved by the mothers I know Gladys made a lot of the them and also Mrs. Granke.  The parents came and there was cookies and punch with exchange gifts also.  Oh yes I can remember the small garden snake in the teachers desk drawer.  When the school closed in 1957 the community voted to keep it open to the public with the hope that it would always stay as a historic place.  There was 2 home bureau groups one meet on day and the group was an evening group.  It was used by 4-H, scouts, showers, birthday parties and for Union meetings ( the company across street when they moved in).  Also, every Halloween it was the place to gather.  The play ground was busy on Sat. and Sun with kids gathering.  There was one day a week that the the morning Home bureau would meet followed by the Union meeting and Boy scouts meeting in the evening.  Glady went to school there and always mentioned that when done with 8th grade and time to go to the high school they met at the Limerick and the man drove a horse drawn wagon to take them.  I believe I was in the 2nd grade when the school centralized and was lucky to finish all 6 grades at Limerick.  I consider myself very lucky to have gone to a one room school house and for sure we where a close neighbor hood.  Older classmates helped the lower classes which made for a close relationship. Lorain July 24, 2012