This issue of the Jewell County Record is generally full of the news of graduations, alumni events and Memorial Day ceremonies. This year it is not the case. In honor of graduates, commencements, alumni and Jewell’s Sesquicentennial here is an edition of “Jewell- We’ve Got a Story to Tell”!

A report was given in the June 10, 1887, edition of the Jewell County Republican of the “First Annual Commencement of the Jewell City Public Schools.” This, according to the “2011 Directory of Jewell County Alumni” by Karen Ross, was the first graduating class in Jewell County. Five young women were in that...