BELMONT — It’s been 55 years since they were learning their ABC’s and 123’s with guidance from beloved first grade teacher Janie Bartlett, but members of the Union Local Class of 1980 reunited with her last week to visit their former school before work to demolish it gets underway.

Before she became “Mrs. Bartlett” to generations of 6-year-olds, she was Janie Gordon, born Sept. 8, 1931. She attended and graduated from Belmont School when it still educated children in first through 12th grades.

As an adult, she returned to the sturdy brick building that was built in two sections beginning in 1915. After stints as a teacher in Columbus and then Barnesville, she came back to Belmont and took up residence in the northeast corner classroom of the second floor, educating first-graders there for at least three decades.

Bartlett said she retired in 1997 — one year before the building was closed and students transferred to the new, consolidated Union Local Elementary School. According to her daughter, Mary Ann Lucas, her final class of first-graders graduated in 2008.

Doll Mead Applegarth was a member of the class that was the first to complete kindergarten in the building with teacher Bonnie Koci.

They became first-graders in 1968. Applegarth still lives in the community and said she came up with the idea to bring Bartlett back to the school while she was going through some old belongings, including old class photos.

“I knew the school was coming down soon, and I happened to see Janie on her porch as I was driving by. I stopped and told her I had found our class picture and I asked, ‘Would you please come and take a picture with me in front of the school?’

Bartlett, now 92 years old, replied,“Doll, I would love to.”

Applegarth said as she was driving home, she was struck by another idea.

“I thought, ‘Wow, wouldn’t be neat get as many people from that picture as I could to come and surprise her?'”

That was just a couple of weeks ago, and with demolition work set to begin Monday, July 15, Applegarth had to work quickly. With the help of classmates Ginger Powell Kemp, Karla Kemp Perkins and Loretta Kemp Dunfee, she was able to contact several members of the class and arrange for them to be there.

On the morning of Monday, July 8, the old friends got together a little before Bartlett was scheduled to meet Applegarth. They gathered in the gymnasium adjacent to the old school building and waited for their cue. Applegarth picked Bartlett up at her home and brought her to the school, and neighbor Jackie Hall was enlisted to take their photos.

After a few minutes, the signal was sent, and all of the class members who were able to attend made their way to the front of the school to surprise the longtime educator.

“This is wonderful!” Bartlett exclaimed as she realized what was happening.

One by one, her former students approached and greeted her with hugs, smiles and laughter.

“Unreal, unreal, unreal,” Bartlett said.

Despite the half century that had passed since the former tikes had attended her class, Bartlett seemed to recognize and remember each one of them. She chatted and reminisced about them as individuals and about fond memories of other teachers and staff, including the last principal of the school, the late Grace Compston, who also happened to share Bartlett’s birthday. She recalled that she was joined in retirement in 1997 by former teachers Sandy Monohan and the late Bernice Bartles.

Other Class of 1980 members who attended included: Maxine Davis Jurovcik, Dawn Hepburn Barr, Jeff Bizzarri, Martha Bartles Scott, Lucy Green Skipper (who flew in from Florida), Crystal Butler Nagy, Donald “Mole” Martin, Mike Nicholes, Terry Cunard and Bob Milhoan. In addition, Bonnie Nagy Colbert joined the group from Mississippi via FaceTime.

Skipper said although she moved away while still in grade school, she and Dunfee have remained close over the years, so she visits frequently. When she heard about the plan, she added, “she just had to come.”

“I think it turned out wonderful,” Applegarth said. “Everybody said … what a great idea it was. And nobody spilled the beans. She was blown away!”

Applegarth said Bartlett told her, “This is the best surprise of my entire life.” She also noted that Lucas texted her later that her mother was still talking about the experience.

After taking photos together, the group returned to the gym where they enjoyed refreshments such as a meat and cheese tray, cookies and punch. Applegarth said many of them stayed for a couple of hours, reminiscing and catching up with one another. She said it was suggested that the group make it an annual activity, and she hopes that they will.

“The majority of us live right here, but due to work and life we don’t see each other and talk to each other,” she pointed out. “It’s been 55 years since we were in first grade.”

Applegarth noted that three members of that first grade class have died in adulthood. She also said some who moved away in third or fourth grade had been impossible to find. Overall, though, she was thrilled with the result.

“I think it turned out really well considering how fast it did come together,” she noted.

Efforts to raze the 109-year-old former school building have been in the works since 2016 when the late Stan Sobel (himself a retired Union Local science teacher) became mayor of the village. The village had purchased the building from the district for $1 and had used it as a municipal building and rented space to a Christian school before a leaking roof caused extensive damage. The need for asbestos abatement and the high cost associated with demolition delayed the project, since the community of about 400 people could not afford to fund the project.

Earlier this year, Belmont Village Council and Mayor Ron Woods worked with Belomar Regional Council to secure the necessary funding to have the crumbling structure removed. Council in May voted to accept one of three bids received for demolition of the structure. Natalie Hamilton from Belomar, who helped find funding for the project in the form of a federal Brownfield Relief Grant, said Belomar recommended accepting the low bid submitted by Raze International at $257,040.

Based on the bid, Village Solicitor Ricky Burkhead estimated that the village’s 25% match for the project will be around $75,000 since a $10,940 contract with Boggs Environmental to provide hazardous material removal support on the demolition had been approved late last year and other administrative fees would be part of the final cost as well.

Burkhead confirmed that he has enough village funds “set back” for that match.

During a regular council meeting held July 2, Burkhead announced that preparations for demolition would begin July 15. Initial steps will primarily consist of site preparation work, including installation of barricades and other safety measures. Officials expect work to begin on the Third Street side of the structure and to progress east toward the gym.

The gym will remain open for rentals, and adjustments to parking areas will be made.