The headline on Mary Fenlason's obituary in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said it all: "Mary Ann Fenlason dug into Edina history." When I first started as director of the Edina Historical Society, Mary handled the membership database and mailings for our organization. She and fellow charter member Donna Skagerberg kept the files up to date -- often because they personally knew many of our then 200 or so members. "They're in Florida for the winter" or "she moved to a condo" Mary would say, updating the address without needing a notice from members. Both she and Donna would write personal notes on membership renewal notices.

From our inception in 1969, Mary and her husband Jim were involved, both having served as president for several terms. Even after her health kept her from coming in weekly, Mary helped -- she was always someone I could call for as a "primary source" of Edina history. But beyond her work, Mary was simply a fun person to be around. We will miss her.

Mary designated the Edina Historical Society and her church, Normandale Lutheran, for memorials. For a full obituary, see Minneapolis Star Tribune March 31, 2009 issue.

Photo: Mary Westerberg Fenlason on her first day of school circa 1937.

On March 27, 1859, residents of what would become northern Edina formed Independent School District No. 17 and decided to build a school at Code's Corner, the important intersection of Highway 100 and Valley View Road. They decided not to commence classes until each family had donated three-fourths of a cord of wood.

With that decision, Edina public schools began 150 years ago. We're working on an exhibit to spotlight those 15 decades of school life, with a focus on the elementary school grades. (Edina did not even have a high school until 1949.)

We want to show the changes in how children got to school (from covered wagon school bus to Packard limousine to the familiar yellow bus of today), what they ate for lunch, what subjects they studied and other aspects of everyday school life.

If you have saved photos, school work, lunch boxes, school clothes and other items from your childhood, please contact me to arrange a loan or a donation.

I also hope to create a timeline using photos taken on the first day of school. While many things have changed, parents throughout the ages have taken snapshots at the bus stop or at the end of the driveway to mark that first special day. Please contribute your photos. Photo: Morningside kindergarteners Nancy Gregg, Sally Jackson and Susan McQueen wait for the bus on the first day of school Sept. 5, 1934.