Vine Street School

Vine Street School, 44 North Vine Street, Westerville (OH), opened in 1896.  In the late 1940s, we were living just up the street at 114 North Vine Street.  I went to kindergarten (see class photo, below; that's me in the middle of the second row in the light shirt) and first, second, and some of third grade at Vine Street School.

Mrs. Mylander’s; kindergarten class, 1949–1950.

One morning while in third grade, our entire school marched off to the brand new Whittier Elementary School which I attended for the remainder of that year and for grades four and five.

After finishing fifth grade, our class returned to Vine Street School, now remodeled and renamed Emerson Middle School, for grades six through eight.  We were joined by a whole new bunch of kids who had gone to the other elementary school in town, Longfellow School.

Emerson Junior High School Graduating Class 1958

Following graduation from eight grade, we all went to the 'old' Westerville High School on South State Street for our freshman and sophomore years after which we once again were treated to a new structure, moving to the "new" high school on South Otterbein Avenue, now known as Westerville South High, for our junior and senior years.  Whew!  What a journey!

Postscript: Vine Street School, a registered historic landmark, is now known as Emerson Magnet School whose official title indicates its mission: "Emerson World Languages and Cultures Elementary Magnet School."  The old high school on South State Street is now another elementary magnet school known officially as Hanby Arts Magnet School.