POINTS EAST: Reminiscing of my elementary school years

1. In 1963, Blair Branch's 8th graders were "consolidated" into a new school at Letcher.

1.1. By 1966, every student at Blair Branch had been reassigned to the new school.

1.1.1. The building burned a couple or three years after the school closed.

2. By the time he was in 8th grade, the school "fight song" had become an old memory.

3. When he started first grade, there were 11 kids in my class and 11 in the 8th grade.

3.1. When he finished 8th grade in the spring of1963, there were 8 students in the class.

3.1.1. His class would be the last one for 8th graders.

4. They had an open air gymnasium that was not occupied by the school house.

4.1. "Restrooms" were situated between a "coal house" that sat behind and off to right side of the school.

4.1.1. We had an octagon shaped merry-go-round made of 2-inch galvanized water pipe that sat atop a steel axel/spindle in front of the building.

4.1.1.1. A basketball court sat directly behind the school building.

4.1.1.1.1. A lower court was used for dodge ball, red rover, hop-scotch, numerous marbles games, tag, etc.