On Saturday, June 13, approximately 80 people descended upon the tiny former village of Checkrow, eight miles east of Bushnell on the Murphy Blacktop.
The Checkrow Community Church served as the venue for the second ever reunion of the students that attended Checkrow’s red brick schoolhouse. The still-standing building served area farmers and rural residents by housing their school children from 1950-1964. The school was closed in the Spring of 1964 and students were bused into Bushnell. Prior to 1950 a wooden frame one room red building near the church housed the school.
Dr. Frank Beaty, a former Checkrow student, was present to discuss his memories of attending the school and also spoke at the church Sunday school service the following morning. Dr. Beaty, of Bloomington, Illinois, is an adjunct professor at Moody Bible Institute.
Former students traveled to rural Bushnell from such states as Alabama, Kentucky and Wisconsin. Alumni Carolyn (Ridle) Jacobus and Shirley Camp spoke of how Checkrow was more than just one of the last rural schools in west central Illinois. They explained that the school and community were a family, an extended group of parents who looked out for the safety and welfare of other’s children as well as their own. If there was a wedding to be held in the neighborhood, or a new baby born, the entire community held a shower to benefi t the family.
For old times sake the students recited the Pledge of Allegiance and reminisced about going to grade school in a simpler time.
Most of the students agreed that being at the school the day President John F. Kennedy was assasinated was a sad memory that stayed with them the rest of their lives. Carolyn (Ridle) Jacobus added that her teacher asked her to go to the front of the school building and lower the American flag to half mast.
Carol (Kennedy) Vlahovich spoke of how her mother, Lois Kennedy, served as both janitor and later cook for the school, which averaged around 40 students a year. She added that her mother did not drive, so rode the school bus to work with the Checkrow students. It worked !
The red brick school still stands proud today and is privately owned. Behind the school stands an enormous maple tree that was there when Checkrow was a vital part of the community. Many students recalled eating their sack lunches while sitting under that strong, resilient maple.
The next Checkrow School Reunion is slated to be held in 2029.
Dr. Frank Beaty speaks to former classmates of the Checkrow School.
