By David Pan/Lynnwood Today editor

Saturday’s annual Alderwood Manor Heritage Association picnic brought together not only members of the organization but served as a reunion for students who attended Alderwood Manor Grade School.

The large group of classmates gathered on the steps of Heritage Park for a class photo before enjoying a picnic lunch and catching up on old times.

Ruth Downing Roberts attended Alderwood Manor Grade School from 1939-1947 and has fond memories of her time there.

“I remember we had a great time,” she said. “There was one class for each grade.”

Roberts and her classmates enjoyed playing softball, hopscotch and even a game of dodge ball. There were about 30 students in her class. Roberts remains in the area, having lived in Edmonds for almost 40 years.

Roberts’ sister, Grace Downing Hundtoft, also attended the school as did the two’s other sister and two brothers. Hundtoft (1946-54) recalled having class in a new portable unit in the second grade.

She remembers having to walk about half a mile to catch the bus to school.

Hundtoft kept in contact with two of her classmates throughout the years and still lives in Lynnwood.

JoAnn Rossi (1939-46) grew up on a farm that used to be located where the Lynnwood Park and Ride currently resides.

“A lot of classmates are here (today),” said Rossi, who also kept in touch with her schoolmates throughout the years. “It was a country school.”

Rossi remembers having to walk about a mile to school every day.

Rossi has been a member of the Alderwood Manor Heritage Association almost since the inception of the organization.

“I like to see my old friends,” Rossi said. “It’s amazing we’re all still alive. We’re all in our 80s.”

The Alderwood school was once located on the south side of what is 196th Street SW today, across from the current Lynnwood Convention Center. The school initially was called the W.A. Irwin School before becoming known as Alderwood Grade School.

It was the first graded school in the eastern section of the Edmonds School District. The school closed in 1962 with the proposed building of Interstate 5. The building housed the district’s administrative offices after some restructuring. In the 1990s the building was closed forever and razed.

For more information on the Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, see https://www.alderwood.org/ or call 425-775-4694.

Betty Lou Gaeng contributed to this story.