Area residents – the rural Butler County school system draws from the city of Trenton as well as St. Clair and Wayne Townships – arrived early with lawn chairs to cheer on this community’s annual tribute to local schools.
The Edgewood High School marching band, floats, youth sports teams and police and fire personnel, local government and community leaders marched from Trenton Community Park and moved westward along West State Street through the heart of the city to its finish at Kumler Field – the district’s sports stadium.
The 1969-1970 school year marked the first of the newly formed Edgewood Schools after the consolidation of the Trenton and Shiloh districts, which also included students from the former Jacksonburg School system and those from the Village of Seven Mile.
The district continued to experience growth throughout from 1970-1990 requiring more expansion, so a new middle school was constructed in 1992. Edgewood now has nearly 4,000 students in its five buildings.
“It’s a really important event,” said Edgewood High School alum Todd Kehr – class of 1983 – who came out to cheer on his son and his golf squad teammates in the parade.
Fellow Edgewood school parent Lerissa Austing agreed, saying “it’s an absolutely an amazing event for our children.”
“We are celebrating the 50th year of Edgewood so many generations are attending and being in the parade. Everyone is very excited,” said Austing, adding the annual parade “brings the community together.”
Pam Pratt, spokeswoman for Edgewood Schools, said every homecoming parade is important to the school community but this one was even more so.
“Edgewood is the centerpiece this district and we are so excited to have so many elements of all our communities here, being part of this,” said Pratt.
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