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Community plans for major bash

Posted By BRANDON WALKER, THE DAILY PRESS

It's coming.

A party so big they only hold it every five years: The Schumacher Homecoming bash.

Held May 15-17, the homecoming will feature a reception at the McIntyre Arena on May 15, an open house at Schumacher Public School on May 16, a tour of the Shania Twain Centre and Gold Mine, a tour of Camp Bickell and more.

It started back in 1968 when the Schumacher Public School Board decided to close Schumacher High School and bus students to what was then known as South Porcupine High School, now called Roland Michener Secondary School.

A committee was started to host a reunion for the closing of Schumacher High, with hundreds of former students, teachers and principals attending.

"We set up a scholarship fund for 15 years," said Lou Battochio, chairman of the

committee, "to go to the top high school graduate who was born and raised in Schumacher."

By 1979 there wasn't much funding left, so the committee decided to hold another bash, renaming it the Schumacher Homecoming. The committee invited anyone who ever lived, worked or played sports in Schumacher.

It is held every five years at The Mac and in several locations in and around the city.

This is the eighth homecoming. In the past, between 600 and 700 people attended each one.

The committee has been able to increase the scholarship to include the top male and female high school graduates who were born and raised in Schumacher to help pay for college or university.

For Battochio the best part is meeting former school chums.

"There's a lot of camaraderie," he said.

In 1999, Frederick Schumacher's great-great granddaughter, Lesley Blanchard, attended the homecoming and several visitors brought Christmas gifts they'd received from her grandfather when they were children.

Blanchard might attend this year as well, Battochio said.

Saturday, May 15, will feature a ****tail hour starting at 5:30 p. m. at The Mac followed by a dinner and dance. The next day, there's a reception at The Mac at 1 p. m. with entertainment at 2 p. m.

It's $90 per person for registration, which must be done before April 15, but Battochio stressed the earlier, the better.

Forms are available at the Schumacher post office and the Grandview Hotel. Forms should be mailed with a cheque made payable to Schumacher Homecoming, to Box 188 Schumacher, Ont., P0N 1G0.

For more information go to http://schumacher-town.ca.

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