“I’m very impressed. As we get older, we appreciate it more,” Reid said. “For the kids to be able to see that those schools really exist helps them realize where they come from.”

LaVola Lewis, a 1949 Lake Crystal graduate and 24-year retired high school cook, donated her class picture and a program from the schools 50th anniversary. Her husband, a 1951 grad, donated some sports team pictures.

“I was thrilled to give it to the school,” Lewis said. “It’s helping to bring the school district together — even with those banners — how wonderful it is to have the banners from all of the different schools in our school now.”

That type of reaction was the goal of Annette Rode as she designed and collected items for display. The assistant to the superintendent is still looking for more items, but said she’s content with how the project has turned out.

If her effort can help turn a page in the school district’s history, it will have been well worth it, she said.

“We’re not trying to disband the communities,” Rode said. “(We’re) trying to unify this district again. We want them to join us. We would love for those kids to come back.”