A Trip Down Memory Lane
Monroe County nonagenarian had never missed a class reunion until the COVID-19 pandemic
LEWISVILLE, Ohio — Edward Ackerman never missed a high school class reunion. Even today at age 97, the Monroe County resident had planned to attend his 80th alumni event for his alma mater — the former Lewisville High School.
The reunion was scheduled for May 16 but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lewisville High School disappeared decades ago when consolidation became the norm. However, Ackerman remembers his school days like they were yesterday.
“In Monroe County, each little district had their own high school,” he explained. “When I was in high school, we had three teachers. They taught math, science and English. That’s all we needed.”
Ackerman graduated from Lewisville High in 1940. His class had 18 students, but it’s not known how many of them are still alive.
He attended each high school alumni banquet thereafter, including the reunions that represented all the past and present high schools in Monroe County. Raised by his grandparents, Ackerman recalls that his grandfather had purchased a 1932 “deluxe model Chevrolet,” paying less than $1,000 for the car.
“It was the first car I ever drove. He paid $930 and no sales tax. I drove it to my high school graduation. The car has stayed in the Ackerman family ever since.”
In fact, Ackerman continued to drive that same car to each class reunion. One of his children had planned to drive him in the car to this year’s reunion, until the event was canceled.
Daughter Pat Dowler of Parkersburg, said her father proudly displays a photograph of himself and Beula when they attended the 50th alumni banquet. They are shown standing in front of the old Chevy.
“If he had gone this year, he would probably be the only one left from his class,” Dowler said.
Ackerman said the old Chevy ended up in an administrator’s sale but the family quickly got it back. Since then, a Columbus car agency offered to buy the car for $10,000. The family declined the offer.
“Everything on that car is original except the tires and battery,” Ackerman boasted.
After high school, Ackerman met his wife Beula on a blind date. She was from Calais, also in Monroe County.
“We set up housekeeping in a small house back in the woods. Then I bought my grandparents’ old home place,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman started out farming, then moved on to public works. He joined the Carpenters Labor Union and worked with his hands from 1958 until he retired in 1982.
“I did carpenter work. I made swings, gliders and picnic tables. Everyone wanted swings. I would say since I retired in 1982 until 2004, I made at least 800 of them.”
Ackerman said he had his own pattern and tools for his carpentry projects.
“It kept me busy. I’ve not been in the shop for five years. Now I’m just trying to enjoy what I worked all those years.”
COMMENTS