Wheatland reunion set for Saturday

The annual Wheatland School reunion is Saturday. Anybody who ever attended the native-stone school on SR 469 in Quay County is welcome to attend.

Organizer Kathern Herber went to the Wheatland School, starting in 1944 in “pre-primer, what would be called kindergarten today, until she was in the 8th grade, in 1952.

“That’s when my folks moved to Texline, Texas,” Herber said.

Herber’s father, Joe Szaloy, was hired to haul stone for the native stone building with his mule team and wagon.

“There was the schoolhouse, the gym, a ‘hot lunch room,’ and a ‘teachrege;’ two apartments for teachers,” Herber said.

Classes stopped at the Wheatland School in 1954 according to Heber. After that kids went to Tucumcari, San Jon or Grady schools, whatever was closest to them.

“The Wheatland school colors were red and white. Our team was the Harvesters,” Herber said.

Even though Herber has lived in Texas for years, she keeps ties to New Mexico.

“We’re just a half-mile from the state line, ten miles from Clayton. I belong to the Union County Extension Club,” Herber said.

The reunion is to be held in Grady.

“We’re meeting in Grady, at the lodge hall across from the Grady Post Office at

10 a.m. Saturday,” Herber said.

“At least 12 people showed up last year. Four from Albuquerque, others from Clovis, San Jon, Portales, Amarillo,” Herber said.

Herber said those who come should bring a covered dish for lunch. The food will be served around noon.

“We probably will go until 5 p.m. at the latest. People who have driven far will want to leave. Many will stop at cemeteries on the way back to put flowers on graves of family,” Herber said.

Herber has been organizing the reunion for about 10 years. She had help from Ronny Mackechnie who owns the land where the school is located, according to Herber.

Herber is looking forward to Saturday’s event.

“We just get together, visit about old times, share pictures. I’m looking forward to seeing all of them and visiting with them,” Herber said.