Retired Lincoln School teachers prolong their friendships with annual first day of school lunch

Sitting in the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Lake City, Mary Voith wasn’t sure if all of the retired teachers planning to attend the annual lunch reunion had arrived, so she did what any good teacher would do: She pulled out a spreadsheet and took attendance.
Each year, for more years than any of the teachers can say, former Lincoln School teachers have met for lunch on the first day of school.
It’s a reunion that gives them a chance to reminisce about the good times, from working with students and the camaraderie they had when they worked together.
Eileen McCuen was the teacher in attendance who has been retired the longest. McCuen, who is 91, started teaching at a country in 1945, right after she graduated from high school. When country schools closed, she first taught kindergarten and first grade in Auburn, then eventually came to Lake City, where she taught lower grades at Central School and later at Lincoln School. She retired in 1989. McCuen said she has fond memories from her days at country school.
“I had kindergarten through eighth grade,” she said. “They were always very friendly and nice. I really like the kids and I liked to see them grow up.”
Read more in the Aug. 29 edition.