O-R Raider's Website                                    Alumni Website                                    Oldham's Website

History of Ramona School

The history of the Ramona School goes back to the original one room building located on the site now occupied by the United Methodist Church. A two room school was built around the year 1898 on the lot south of the Catholic Rectory. A few years later, a few more rooms and two hallways were added. The school consisted of 8 grades. As enrollment grew, 2 years of high school were added and the primary grades were moved across the street to the Christian Church. As the school district grew, horse-drawn busses were added.

Students of Old Ramona School

The 4 year high school was started in 1918. As athletics became more popular, most trips were made by train, especially to Lake Preston and Bryant. The distance from home made it necessary to stay over night. 

1941 District Basketball Champs
Back Row: Joe DeCurtins, Fred Thurow, Cyril Manthey, Merle Switzer, Mark Sullivan
Front Row: Coach Florin DeRungs, Robert Schnell, Ray Wolf, Donald Meester, Herb Kirstein, Eldon Sederstrom

In 1918 the High School moved into the modern Woodmans Hall. The Woodmans hall was destroyed by fire in 1923, so they moved into the Odd Fellows Hall to finish the year. The land for the present school was purchased in 1919 from Matt Rensch for $795. The original brick building cost $50,000 to build.

Old Ramona School

The students moved in to the current building in 1923, since then the building has undergone 2 extensive interior remodels.  The 1st senior class graduated in 1921 with 10 students. The largest class in the history of Ramona School was in 1964, with a graduating class of 30 students. On August 9, 1965 the school bond election was held for $100,000 to build 3 more class rooms, a dining room and new auditorium. The building was build at a cost of approximately $135,000.

In 1938, the basketball team was named "Rockets" by the student body. The outlook of the 80's showed declining enrollment for both Ramona and Oldham Schools. In 1983 Ramona and past rival, Oldham, began the first of three years in a cooperative football agreement. By mutual agreement the students decided to call themselves the Oldham-Ramona "Panthers" and combined the schools colors of red and purple to come up with maroon and white.

1985-86 Oldham Ramona Panthers
Back: Coach Cathee Pearson, Theresa Pekarek, Nancy Bird, Dawn Schneider, Meegan Tolley,
Jeannie Cassutt, Missy Tolly, Dodi Stewart, Asst Coach Elizabeth Tolley
Front: Rhonda Splide, Robin Fosland, Shawn Brinkman, Karol Palli, Rhonda Hojer, Ann Hildebrandt

Since the football co-op was so successful, the girl's basketball team decided to co-op with Oldham in 1984. The co-op arrangements with Oldham was discontinued at the end of the 1985 season because of the indefinite future of Oldham's High School. Ramona and Rutland then co-oped in 1986-1990, and chose colors of silver and black and "Raiders" as the mascot. In 1991, Oldham and Ramona combined schools and sports, adding girls volleyball, and became the red and silver "Rebels". The school in Oldham was used for the elementary school and grades 7th-12th went to Ramona. The football team then became the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland "Raiders". In 2003, the Oldham school was deemed unsafe and all grades were moved into the Ramona School Building.

*pictures and info taken from Ramona Centennial History book 1886-1986*