Grange Elementary Celebrates 50th Birthday

Grange Elementary School marked its 50th year of teaching Dundalk children reading, writing and arithmetic by gathering alumni, faculty and current students to celebrate in the school's gym Sunday.

The standing room only crowd was treated to a showcase of posters, one from each decade since the school was founded in 1961, featuring pictures of students, faculty and the building.

“Grange is one of our premier schools,” said Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston. “I am very proud of them and congratulate them on their 50 years of success.”

The school also displayed videos of current fifth graders opening a time capsule from 50 years ago – and filling a new capsule. Videos of Grange included what the school property was like as farmland, and every yearbook since the school was founded.

During the celebration Ken Dunaway, principal at Shady Spring Elementary School and a member of the Grange class of 1966, spoke to crowd, reminiscing about his time at Grange.

“What a great place for a boy to grow up,” said Dunaway. "We had a field behind us, and behind that we had a creek, mud and cattails.”

He went on to remember his teachers and administration from his days at Grange, giving detailed descriptions of the people he interacted with on a daily basis 50 years ago.

Members of the Maryland House of Delegates John A. Olszewski Jr. and Joseph J "Sonny" Minnick awarded the school with a citation commentating its long service to the community.

There was also a performanc by selected members of the General John Stricker Middle School steel drum band, including only those band members who graduated from Grange Elementary.