U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

By Evan Bevins
Marietta Times
Published April 21, 2012

Current and former students, teachers and administrators walked the halls of Washington Elementary School and gathered on the playground Friday to celebrate the building's centennial anniversary.

"I've never been back in Washington Street School since 1953," said Marietta resident George Hausser, 70, as he stood in the gym that was built a few years after he completed sixth grade at the school.

Despite the nearly 60-year gap between his visits to the school, Hausser was able to get his bearings with little trouble.

"I can still spot the rooms that I was in," he said walking through the first-floor hall. "I can even remember the names of all the teachers I had."

Also reminiscing as they walked through the halls Friday were Marian Kurner and Lou Moore, who retired from the school in 1990 as principal and third-grade teacher, respectively.

"I think it's amazing how they've used the space that they have," Kurner said.

Both were glad to see the school's signature wooden floors remained in place.

"The floor hasn't changed, thank goodness," Moore said. "I think that's the highlight of the building."

The school's nearly 350 students joined various guests on the Washington Community Park playground for a ceremony that included a proclamation by Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews and Marietta City Schools Superintendent Harry Fleming recalling some of the former principals at the school, himself among them.

A dove of peace weather vane atop the gazebo in the park was donated by U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, and his wife, LeeAnn, whose son attends the school.

Johnson said the weather vane, a replica of the one commissioned by George Washington for his Mount Vernon home, represents both peace and victory.

"I think the dove of peace is symbolic of what America stands for and what our president stood for," he said.

Johnson said they chose the item because of the connection with the nation's first president - for whom the county, the street on which the school is located and the school itself were named.

Third-grader Grayer Woods read about the dove of peace in full costume as Washington, complete with a wig. Later, local historian Scott Britton, clad in period dress, delivered a message as Washington to the current students, elaborating on his connection to the area from surveying it a few years before the Revolutionary War.

One wall of the school's gym was decorated with a timeline, featuring squares made by students representing each year the school has been open. Pictures and text on each highlighted events of local, state, national and international importance.

Fifth-graders were stationed throughout the building to share facts about the building's history as visitors walked through on tours. Many of the information they discussed involved things they only learned about recently.

For example, fifth-grader Noah Fish said the classrooms on one side of the second floor used to be a single large area used for concerts and other performances.

"That was one big room. I didn't know that," he said.