When the school bell rang in August at Central School in Riverside and kindergartener Grace Virginia Jisa entered the building, she marked the sixth generation of the Cross/Sherman families to attend the school. Coincidently the first family member to attend the school was also named Grace.
The history of the Sherman and Cross families have been an important part in the history of Riverside.
Ezra Sherman, one of Riverside’s founders came to Riverside in 1868, and built his home on Scottswood Road. His daughter, Grace (Grace Jisa’s great, great, great grandmother), attended the Riverside schools in the late 1860s and early 1870s.
She married Clarence Cross, the son of another village founder, Alfred Cross. The next member of the family to attend the Riverside school, sometime around the late 1880s and early 1870s, was Alfred Cross (Grace’s great, great grandfather). Alfred was the son of Grace and Clarence Cross.
Around 1917 and into the 1920s another generation entered the hallowed halls when Virginia, Alfred and Grace’s daughter, started school. The tradition continued when Virginia Cross West’s daughter, Judy West Jisa started school in the 1950s and in 1981, when Judy’s son, Daniel West Jisa (Grace’s dad), started at Central School.
Young Grace may not be aware of the history she brings with her to her new classroom. Right now she is more interested in her new box of crayons, making new friends and learning all there is to learn in kindergarten. Someday she will also learn about the first Grace, who was known as a take-charge woman, ahead of her time.
Among other things, she donated the clock that adorns the Riverside Township Hall. The clock did not work for many years until Judy West Jisa had it refurbished a few years ago.
She will learn about the first Riverside schools, where students attended classes and how the first Central School, built in 1884, was destroyed by fire in 1896 and how increased enrollment necessitated the building of more schools to accommodate more children.
Grace will find her ancestors’ names, the Crosses, as part of the history of the Riverside Presbyterian Church. She will learn about her middle name “Virginia” after her great grandmother and all the members of the Sherman, Cross, West and Jisa family members who attended the Riverside school system before her.
Now as Grace Virginia Jisa begins her years of learning at the Riverside school system, she will also add her name to a part of Riverside’s long history.