Alumni of the former Western School are invited to a reunion and lunch on Friday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Bareville Fire Hall, 211 E. Main St., Leola. A buffet lunch will be served at noon. There will be a presentation on the Western School history, and alumni will be invited to tell stories and share photos.

Western School was one of about a dozen one- or two-room elementary schools in Earl Township providing education to children during most of the 1900s. Western closed its doors after the 1971-72 school year after buses began taking rural students to larger, consolidated schools.

Western was located on the north side of Route 23 on the west side of New Holland where there is now an empty lot next to the Sauder Chevrolet car lot. After the school closed, the building was used for a picture framing shop, a law office and other businesses until it was eventually torn down.

Alumni are welcome to bring their spouses. There is a fee, which includes lunch. Reservations are requested by contacting Raymond Martin at martinrs@aol.com or at 703-556-0123.