The new Joplin High is enormous and quite impressive, but for the Class of ’63, JHS will always be a buff-brick school at the very corner of 20^th and Indiana, a beautiful mini-forest of shade trees gracing the north end of A-Hall and B-Hall. We sometimes sat under those trees when it was too hot to stay inside (no air conditioning then), and we watched them reflect the changing seasons from year to year. We graduated in our own auditorium—the place where we had attended dozens of assemblies, staged plays, and performed in concerts.

Our school was blown away one Sunday afternoon, and we were amazed by how deeply we felt its loss. How many of us have a brick we retrieved from the rubble? Mine is in a bookcase in my office. Our JHS isn’t really gone, though. It resides in our memories, looking just as it did when we walked the halls, congregated in the Student Lounge, ate the cafeteria chili, studied in the library, and reported to the office from time to time, willingly or not. It still belongs to us.

In the history of JHS, though, we aren’t the only alumni whose school changed locations to occupy a new building. The moves weren’t dramatic or traumatic, but since 1890, JHS has been all over town, literally, beginning in a three-story school at 4^th and Jackson. That brick building is long gone, the site now the location of the Red Cross office. Seven years later, JHS moved to 4^th and Byers. In 1918, the Eagles flew to another new nest at 8^th and Wall, where they remained until the fall of 1958 when our JHS opened its doors. We arrived as sophomores two years later, and the rest, as they say … well, we all remember the rest! And we won’t be forgetting it—or one another—any time soon.

Our 60th reunion was another success and everyone had a great time.  We saw faces that we hadn't seen since graduation so that was an added bonus.  We all went home with great memories that will forever be with us. 

We hope that you will utilize this site to post to fellow classmates as well as keeping us informed of your well being and that of your family.  If you have any questions, you can always email me at rlsetser98@gmail.com or phone me at 417-439-6936.  Much love and happiness to all of you.

Linda Kelley Setser