Canaan Academy

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Canaan Academy
Location
Creston, Ohio, Wayne County, Ohio, United States
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Country United States


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Runions

Lewistown, Mont., August 22, 1916

  • Lewistown, Mont., August 22, 1916. Friends and Classmates of Canaan School; Greetings from Montana:

Our thoughts go back twenty-five years and more, when we, with others here present, and some who have gone to be with their Creator, gathered within these walls. Many of us thoughtless, no doubt of what life really had in store for us. All were striving to reach some ideal in life. Not all have attained to this. Opportunities lost never return. I am of the opinion that the majority of those who have gone out from these walls, had they known, would have seen to it that not one of these passed by. My school days began in the old frame building where the "town hall" now stands. While this building was being constructed the school was moved to the old Academy, standing at that time on the hill west of town.

When the present "town hall" was ________ the school was moved again, them to remain until the time came when the school needed more room. Many of us look back with pride to the first year of school in this building. "Canaan High" was "all right" and ranked among the best in social and literary achievements. Teachers and and schoolmates, more than 1200 mile separate us, and today our minds and thoughts will be with you as you meet and greet each other. We regret, for once, being so far distant, but we are proud to be citizens of the great "Treasure" state of Montana.

With best wishes for each and every one, we are, Your schoolmates, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Snell, 820 W. Montana Street. [1]

Otesgo Lake, Mich, Aug. 17, 1916. Mr. Frank Bowers, Creston, Ohio

  • Otesgo Lake, Mich, Aug. 17, 1916. Mr. Frank Bowers, Creston, Ohio,

Dear Sir:-- Your card addressed to Rev. Wm. L. Notestein came to my address at Alma, Mich., and was forwarded to me here.

I certainly would like to be present at the reunion of the Canaan Academy students. Very naturally I am great interested in the old Academy. My grandfather, Jonas Notestein, was superintendent of the school for some 20 years. Three brothers, a sister and myself got our academic education at the old Academy.

I have often thought of the success of the five boys who formed a class in geometry while Prof. Cummings had charge of the Acad. These give boys were: Charles Ackerman, Frank Notestein, Jef. Sanders, Clem. Shaw and Robert Wallace. All of these boys completed college courses with _________. Ackerman was president of the college for some years. Sanders was also president of a college. Shaw became quite a musician. R. B. Wallace became a very successful business man, and was a member of the state legislature of Colorado for a term of years. Wallace is the only one of the five, as far as I know, who is dead. He died a few years ago from the result of an operation for appendicitis. He was worth over a million dollars when he died.

I, Frank N. Notestein, have been vice-president of the School of Mines of Montana, Bellevue college of Nebraska, and Alma college of Michigan. I am at my summer cottage, Ostego Lake, Mich., which is up in the northern part of the southern pen.

Rev. W. J. Notestein, my youngest brother, is not at Alma. He is Prof. of Greek in Huron, South Dakota.

Old Canaan Academy has furnished the world with a lot of boys and girls who have made their mark in the world.

Again assuring you that I would like to be present at the reunion and regretting that I cannot be present, I am, Yours Respectfully, F. N. Notestein.

P.S. I hope you can read this. It is written outdoors in camp. You may read this if you care to do so at the union. F> N. N. <Creston Journal, Creston, Ohio. 1916 September 6, p. 12.</ref>

Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 28, 1916. Mr. Chas. Snell and Miss Florence Whonsetler, Secs

  • Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 28, 1916. Mr. Chas. Snell and Miss Florence Whonsetler, Secs.

Dear Friends-- I acknowledge invitation to attend the reunion of the old Academy district school and home coming at Canaan, Aug. 25 and 26. I regret exceedingly that I cannot be present. I would take very unusual pleasure in running over the scenes of my school days there, in renewing the sweet old associations of the 70's and in viewing at least the spot where stood the old Academy that turned out so many good men and women, and whose very last term I had the sad honor of teaching-- it being the first school I ever taught and was followed a few weeks later by another term in the District School building. Since then many honors have been given me as an educator in my Southern home.

I have a ballad, written in blank verse, on "The Old Academy," which I would offer to send you, if I could assure myself that would be of interest to my old chums.

I have been in this Southern country for 38 years, and could give many entertaining reminiscences, but I am afraid the lapse of so many years would make my old chums and schoolmates look a little "oldish" to me, while I would seem so spry and young to them.

But God bless dear old Canaan, its people, and their schools with all their teachers. Most cordially yours, H. D. Fetzer. [2]

Mrs. Sarah (Penoyer) Miller of Seattle, Wash

"To my dear old friends and schoolmates: I thank you very much for the invitation. To say that I would be pleased to be with you is putting it mildly. But you know Seattle is a great distance from Canaan, and the contents from my well filled basket would perish on the way. I know you will have a delightful time in talking over the old associations and pleasant hours spent together, and my thoughts will be with you a great many times. I have made many good friends since leaving Canaan, but the old friends of my girlhood have the warmest place in my heart. What good times we did have in that dear old Academy, with our school, our Lyceum, and our singing school. For the latter we had to carry candles, and when the school was dismissed the gentlemen would line up in the aisle and as the ladies came along they would step up and ask to carry their candlesticks, and if it were not agreeable-- you remember the rest. How the girls would gather around the stove at recess and tease poor old John Zuver for his apples, and he always came well supplied. The schoolmates who are left and those who are permitted to be with you today, will remember the great event of our life was the school exhibition. We seldom had one, for they were not very profitable for the grey matter. This one stands out in my memory more dis_________ of the others. We begged Mr. Notestein for an exhibition at the close of the winter term. He finally consented with a great deal of reluctance. Then we went to work in earnest. Mary Chockrell was in manic in "Mary the Maid of the Inn," and she was a good one. Emily Hotchkiss "T'was the Night Before Christmas," and Martha Lask and I worked on that old "Skeesecker" family till we nearly turned grey. Wils Orr was the father, and I was the mother, and we had a family that would have made a good sized Children's Home. WE had a number of other good things that night but I do recall them. The boys got spruce from old Killbuck. It was wound on ropes and festooned on the walls and dotted with balls of white cotten, and we thought we had something grand. But enough of these reminiscences. There have been wonderful changes in our ranks, and there can be but few of us left. Mrs. Russell and I corresponded for years and since she passed away I hear nothing more of the old time friends. Clara (Hough) Jenner of this city was laid to rest last week. She was one of the sweetest natures I ever knew. Clement Shaw is in Portland, Oregon, but those of us who are not permitted to be there today will be numbered in the glorious reunion on the other side.

The gulf of two and fifty years, We stretch our welcoming hand across, The distance but a pebbles toss Between us and our youth appears

For in life's school we linger on, The remnant of a once full list, Conning our lessons undermissed, With faces to the setting sun

And some have gone the unknown way, And some await the call to rest, Who knoweth whether it is best For those who went or those who stay?

Hail and farewell! We go our way, Where shadows end, we trust in light, The star that usher sin the night I heralded also of the day. <Creston Journal, Creston, Ohio. 1916 September 6, p. 12.</ref>

Poems

Canaan Academy

No more is heard the musical bell Of dear old Canaan Academy, For many long years it rang to tell Of the need to enlightened community.

The Academy stood on hill so green, A signal light for miles around; And many were the students to be seen, Whose written names on its walls were found.

And gathered there in hall so fair, Were instructors, numerous and wise, Term after term their knowledge to share, With those who sought their wisdom to prize.

And the lessons learned, we trust were such As have had a tendency others to lead, Onward and upward, giving e'en much Of life's fairest and best while yet there is need.

But alas, as the years their flight sped on To this Hall of learning there came an end; Like Jericho, its walls fell down, And naught has been done its ruins to mend.

But while time shall last, its fame shall be sung, The good acquired shall ever flow on; And noted, and classified of times among, Are its many choices blessings one by one.

Oh, there's much might be written in order to tell Of the paly ground's enjoyable sport, Of the teachers and scholars who loved so well, To the medows and hills to resort.

To list to the rippling waters near by, And note the sweet songs of the birds, To gather the flowers from the hedge nearby, And delight in the help that nature affords.

Dear country so fair with Biblical name, Land with mil and honey e'er flowing, So great and glorious has been thy fame, And ne'er shall cease they wondrous showing.

Then as we meet today and recall Past hopes, fears and joys, we will Not forget our dear friends one and all, Those passed beyond and those with us still.

The memory of those brightsome days, With peace and joy shall fill each heart; If true and faithful in all life's ways, God's kindness from us shall ne'er depart. -- Mrs. M. E. Littell, Creston, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1916. [3]

Reference

  1. ↑ Creston Journal, Creston, Ohio. 1916 September 6, p. 12.
  2. ↑ Creston Journal, Creston, Ohio. 1916 September 6, p. 12.
  3. ↑ Creston Journal, Creston, Ohio. 1916 September 6, p. 12.

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