The class of 1933 at Alpha School grew increasingly excited with its swiftly approaching graduation, and as was the case in most of Madera County’s country schools, the small student body was closely knit. There were only a dozen 8th graders in the school, and they were almost like a family. Most of them had been classmates since the 1st grade.
Now, in the spring of 1933, they were about to say goodbye to that little school on Avenue 12 and Road 25, but before they received their diplomas, they had one more lesson to learn. Life was fragile; one of their classmates would not be with them at their 8th grade graduation.
The mood inside the car was probably light on that Sunday morning, March 26, 1933. Louise Mordecai, oldest daughter of George and Louise Mordecai, had just picked up Jane Schmitz who joined the other children in the car for the ride to Sunday school.
One can imagine the playful chatter among the children as Louise’s nieces, 13-year-old Caroline, 8-year-old Barbara, and 4-year-old Brookie and her nephew Jack Anderson greeted the Schmitz girl. The weather was nice and the spirits were high. In a few minutes they would be at Trinity Episcopal Church in Madera...