School’s Out

Posted February 18, 2011 in History and Genealogy

Well, school is not actually out, yet. The date is early spring, mid 1950’s and we are standing in the middle of South Westnedge Avenue with the other bus drivers, looking towards the south. Off to our left is the Portage Township High School (today’s Portage Central High School) and off to our right are the athletic fields. This great image of 50’s life in Portage was loaned to the Heritage Room by a gentleman whose mother was a former Portage Bus Driver!

As of today, the high school and athletic fields remain unchanged, although that will change this summer (2011) when the old high school is demolished to make way for the new one which is currently under construction behind the old building. South Westnedge has been widened to three lanes at this point and now sports curbs and sidewalks preventing parking of any kind. Buses no longer pick up students in the front of the school but along the south side of the building between the high school and the middle school. The old farm house, visible in the distance, was demolished to make way for the entrance to the Portage Central Elementary School.