Preservation Rosebud Open House Reception welcomes RHS alumni
The 44th annual Rosebud High School Golden Years reunion was held in Rosebud on Saturday, April 5, and members of Preservation Rosebud opened the museum for a reception to honor them. President Les Heugatter greeted the arriving guests, who didn't let a cold front and rain showers keep them away.
Over 30 visitors mingled with friends and Preservation Rosebud members Les Heugatter, Fran Heugatter, Becky Meacham, Khloe Lorenz, Joe Saunders, Sharon Saunders, James Prothro, Alfred Martinez, Iris Sharp, Greg Wallace, and Marla Wallace.
Special guests were Lifetime Member Richard Schigut and Charles Hensel, Class of '49, who was the wisest graduate present. He traveled from Duncanville to reunite with family and friends.
Other guests who signed in were: Raymunda Luna Franks, Seaborn Spradlin, Jocelyn Lynch, D. Lynch, James Lucas, Mike Pattillo, Nancy Lorenz, Gary Malcik, Eddy Swanzy, Royce Hudson, Ken Hensel, Jo-Carol Fabianke, Linda Hensel Agee, Donald and Carole Schmidt, Nan Hensel Bailey, John Hagen, Luis and Gloria Salinas-Garcia, Carol Stock, Nancy Harris Lockridge, and Mary Ann Thrasher Mitchell.
This open house tradition began in 2014 when Preservation Rosebud hosted the RHS Honor Class of 1964. Since then, this event has become part of the reunion agenda, offering friends a place of hospitality to gather before the events at St. Anne's Center begin.
It was Marla Zipperlen Wallace's vision to open the doors of the museum to returning alumni. Now for the third time, Preservation Rosebud plans to hold an open house for the 50+ classes of Rosebud-Lott High School when they meet in August. This includes classes of '71, '72, '73, '74, and '75.
Refreshments for the reception included Marla Wallace's signature buttermilk pound cake and Bunny Bait, triangle brownies, Lucky Pebbles Treats and coffee from The Bud Coffee House, formerly known as Artisan Alley. Becky Meacham brought babka, a cinnamon bread swirl, and orange juice. James Prothro and Alfred Martinez supplied cookies, cranberry juice and ice. Thanks to Matthew Wright for bringing the coffee set up from "The Bud."
Internationally known local artist Sharon Saunders added beauty to the reception by creating several lovely arrangements of antique roses from her garden in Travis for the tables covered with black and gold cloths. Sharon's flowers were an intricate blending of native bluebonnets, sweetheart roses, prairie verbena, evergreen honeysuckle, bastard cabbage, Texas star, old blush, shallot blossom, and asparagus fern.
Becky Meacham continued the rose theme with vases containing various greenery and single fragrant roses.
Iris Sharp is well known for her popular homemade jams made from fruit trees at her home in Rosebud. She generously donated a dozen jars as a fundraiser for Preservation Rosebud, including peach, plum, blackberry and pear. Each jar was beautifully decorated with a paper flower. If you've ever received a hand designed card from lris, you know what a treasure her cards are. Thank you, Iris. Anyone who has made jelly knows this is a true labor of love!
Upstairs a work demonstration with James Prothro and Alfred Martinez in the archives and workroom included caulking all seams in the original tin ceiling after all the damaged sections were replaced.
On the Thursday, April 3 workday, the museum was a hub of activity to prepare the building for visitors. Ken Hensel arranged for a Heart of Texas crew to repair the broken flag pole. Thanks to Carson and Helen Wallace who donated a new flag to Preservation Rosebud.
Ken Hensel was everywhere the morning of the workday. Seeing a request in "The Rosebud News" for a lightweight broom and dustpan for the museum, Nan Hensel Bailey commissioned her brother Ken to buy them. Ken did just that, and went above and beyond by adding a heavy duty dustpan to the donation. Thank you, Nan and Ken, for making the cleanup so much easier.
Ken didn't stop there. He eradicated the wasps hiding on the fire trucks, treated the ant beds, and removed wasp nests from the building. Les Heugatter did a great job washing the fire bay doors and cleaning windows. Becky Meacham dusted the display room and shined up the glass front door.
For years, the women of Preservation Rosebud have wanted the drop leaf table back in the entryway. James Prothro and Alfred Martinez made that wish come true, and relocated the train display into a glass case. Sharon Saunders Hoovered the entire building, using a special technique of overlapping that left the carpet spotless. Thanks to Joe Saunders, Greg Wallace, Marla Wallace, and Fran Heugatter for helping to prepare the museum.
A special volunteer to greet guests was Khloe Lorenz, Rosebud-Lott Class of 2030, now a seventh grader at Rosebud-Lott Middle School, where she is first chair flute and runs track. Khloe, our youngest member, is the granddaughter of Leslie and Nancy Lorenz.
Generous donations to Preservation Rosebud were made by Donald and Carole Schmidt, Nancy Harris Lockridge, and Gary Malcik. Nan Bailey renewed her membership and Seaborn Spradlin became our newest member. John Hagen donated a rare folder of war ration coupons to the museum.
Preservation Rosebud operates solely from grants, individual contributions, and volunteerism. Please join us and fifty life members in our commitment to preserving Rosebud's history.
Those wishing to make a donation may contact Treasurer Alfred Martinez at P. O. Box 792, Rosebud, TX 76570. Lifetime memberships are $200. Yearly memberships are $20. New members, donations, and volunteers are always welcome.
Thanks to everyone who made the reunion reception such a success. Please follow Preservation Rosebud on Facebook for all the latest events and updates.