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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, July 8, 2001, pg. 20 It’s that time of year for school reunions. Not only are various high school classes holding reunions this summer, but former students of the old rural country schools which once dotted the rural Albion area are holding reunions, too. Let your classmates know about our www.albionmich.com internet site where they can post messages, and also read over 150 "Historical Notebook" and related articles about Albion’s history. Pick up a leaflet at the Albion Chamber of Commerce to reproduce and send to your classmates. One reunion coming up will be the Billinghurst School reunion to be held on Saturday July 21 at noon at the pavilion in Victory Park. Anyone who attended Billinghurst is welcome to attend. Bring a dish to pass and your own tableware. The Billinghurst School was named for Daniel Billinghurst (1819-1896), upon whose farm the rural schoolhouse was built. Daniel was a pioneer of Sheridan Township and also served as the school board president for many years in that district. The school was located on the northwest corner of B Drive North and 25½ Mile Road west of Albion. Elementary grade classes were held here until the school closed in June, 1966 (In earlier years the school taught through the 8th grade). The district was thereby annexed into the Albion Public Schools. For a map showing the district boundaries see page 138 in my book A HISTORY OF THE ALBION PUBLIC SCHOOLS. There were a total of three schoolhouses that were erected at the site. The first, erected circa 1840, was replaced by a new schoolhouse in 1852. That stood until it was destroyed by fire in 1916. Local carpenter Perry Sharp erected the final schoolhouse in 1916, which stood before being demolished in the spring of 1987. This week in our Historical Notebook we present a photograph courtesy of Bernard Schmidt and Doretta Wilson. It shows a group of Billinghurst School students in 1927, some of which are still living in the Albion area today. Front two rows, left to right, down/up/down, etc: Orville Patton, Helen Waito, Donald Cook, Anna Waito, Keith Waito, Helen Patton, Lambert McClintic, John Bartel, Arnold Lewis, Bernard Schmidt, Thomas Emery, Glen Bliss, Richard Emery, Harold Bliss, Marie Cook, Cook boy, May Waito, Delose Patton. Back row, (L-R) teacher Katherine (Semon) Neitzke; Norma Emery, Mary Patton, Charles Lewis. 
Billinghurst Students of 1927 All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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