Since opening its doors to the community in 1935, Oak Grove Elementary School in southwest Cherokee County has educated thousands of children.

But the little brick schoolhouse started with only 100 students in grades 1st through 9th.

It quickly became a vital thread for the fabric of the community, however, as the neighborhood and families grew.

"Four generations of my family went to Oak Grove," said southwest Cherokee County resident and former student Linda Stanton. "My aunt was a teacher there, too."

It all started with a parcel of land donated by local resident Orlando Morgan in 1933.

The timber was donated by Georgia Power Company and the residents cut the trees down and took them to the sawmill.

Later, Jones Mercantile Company offered bricks for the school.

"It was a big deal," said Thelma Kimmons of the school's construction. "It meant everything to the community."

At 84, Ms. Kimmons is one of the oldest living former Oak Grove students.

Like many of her classmates, Ms. Kimmons still lives nearby and still feels a connection to the school.

On Sunday, past Oak Grove students, teachers, staff and neighbors will gather at the school on Woodstock Road for the third annual reunion.

Linda Futral, a former student and teacher, decided to plan the first reunion in 2009. It was initially supposed to be in her backyard, she said.

"When I found out we had more than 100 people coming, we moved it to the school lunch room. Then when we found out more than 200 were coming we had to move it to the gym," she said. "I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that showed up."

More than 400 guests traveled from places as close as Atlanta to as far away as Texas and Mexico last year to mingle with their old friends and reminisce.

Hubert Greer lives in west Cobb County and came to both reunions where he still has many friends.

"I remember playing basketball, pitching horse shoes and running track," said Greer, who attended the school during the 1950s.

Ms. Kimmons said she remembers while the school was being built walking over each day to check the progress.

Each classroom had one blackboard and a pot-bellied stove for heating. The boys would chop the wood and fetch water each day.

"We all had to sweep, bang erasures and keep it clean," said Ms. Kimmons who started Oak Grove in the third grade.

Bobbie Abernathy, 82, was one of the first students to complete all eight grades at the school.

"I remember every morning the principal's wife would play the piano and we would march into the auditorium to read the Bible and say the Pledge of Allegiance," she said.

The first teachers were Sam Mashburn, Woodrow Light, Jessie Chapman and Ouida Hubbard.

The first trustees were Dave McClure, Will Millwood, Jabus Reaid and Morgan.

"We had very good teachers," said Ms. Abernathy.

Ms. Futral added that while she was a student form 1958 to 1966, there was a mean teacher, however, who scared kids so badly, they would jump out the gym windows to run from him.

In 1952, Estelle Brookshire sold land to county school board to expand Oak Grove.

Soon after that a lunchroom, principal's office and gymnasium were added.

Today none of the school's original structure remains on campus of the school, which now houses about 800 children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

But the spirit of community and friendship still flourishes as the alumni and educators come together to pay tribute.

And even though they may not remember all the details of their school days, they come because they remember the people, said Ms. Futral.

"I think people come because of the closeness of the community," she said.