PAGE 31 - Syracuse Classical School Re-Unions, 1873-1877

My great-grandfather, James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER, filled his late 1800s Souvenir Album with a miscellany of ribbons, invitations, stamps, cards, tickets, cut-outs from hotel letterheads, newspaper articles, and other items from his travels and affiliations.  

Page 31, contains momentoes of Annual Re-Unions of the Class of '73 at Syracuse Classical School. These are dated 1873, '74, '75, '76.  Note that as Grove TERWILLIGER was born in 1856, he would have been 17 in 1873. I wonder what particlar classes he took? No records seem to exist of such details, unfortunately.


The Syracuse Classical School appears to have been a preparatory school for college, although several articles seem to say people graduated to go on to higher degrees.

In 1900, the School moved to Yates Castle (part of Syracuse University) for 6 years.  Click on the link to see the incredible building, which is no longer there, being demolished for an expansion of the medical school.


To the right is the invitation for Jas Terwilliger, signed by J. Grove Terwilliger, Secretary.  Jas would be his father, James M. Terwilliger. Such a neat tidy signature, isn't it? Interestingly, the 1875 address for his father, at 139 Warren Street, is new to me.

Each invitation included a programme of speeches, music, oratory, and supper. An example may be seen here, for the reunion in 1876.  Each of the glued-down momentoes opens up with details of events planned for each re-union. Note spelling at this time - we now use 'reunion' as correct spelling.

If you have further information or have questions about the people listed in any of the programmes, I would be happy to share what I have, and to add details to this post. Contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. Thanks for visiting; I hope to finish inventorying each page of the Souvenir Album within 2 years!