ATHENS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL
1914-2008
A SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE SECTION ON
ATHENS’ FIRST BRICK SCHOOL BUILDING
ATHENS DAILY REVIEW
MARCH 2, 2008
2
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
Dr. Fred Hayes
Superintendent
Athens Independent School District
Fred Samuel Hayes is a 1983 graduate of
Bullard High School, Bullard, Texas. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from
the University of Texas in Tyler, and earned his
Doctoral degree in Educational Administration
from Baylor University.
He began his career in education with the
Jacksonville Independent School District where
he served as coach, teacher, and then as Principal of Jacksonville High School. He later had
distinguished Principal positions at Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School and then at Clear Creek High School.
The Athens Independent School District named Dr. Hayes as its new Superintendent in
September 2006, and he assumed the position in October 2006, and he has been busy since
that time preparing the AISD for change, refinement, and continued growth. His intent is to
make the AISD one of the best school districts in the state.
He and his family have become a part of the Athens community. He loves being an
educator and believes that education is the great hope for this nation and for the future of
our freedom.
Nelda Reynolds, Chair
Henderson County Historical
Commission
Nelda Reynolds, Chair of the Henderson County
Historical Commission, is a native of Henderson
County. She grew up in Payne Springs, married
her high school sweetheart, attended and received
a degree from Henderson County Junior College
(now TVCC), and then got her degrees from East
Texas State University.
She taught at Henderson County Junior College
for 18 years at its Palestine Campus where she had
opened the Business Department in 1973. She
retired from there in 1991. When she retired she
made a plan to give a year back to the communities
around her since she had not been able to be actively involved as a volunteer while teaching.
Her year of giving back has turned into well over 15 years.
She became a member of the Henderson County Historical Commission shortly after
her retirement, served as Vice Chair of the Commission for several years and became Chair
in 2003.
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
A Brief Look Back
ATHENS GRAMMAR SCHOOL: 1914 – 2008
Throughout most of the period from 1850 to the early 1900’s, education
in Athens and Henderson County was primarily offered by a large number of
private schools – largely conducted in large homes occupied by the superintendent or principal or head master. Some schools were housed in buildings
such as Masonic Lodges or in churches.
As the 1800’s came to a close, there was greater interest in providing a
system of public education. Athens was growing, and its growth was expected
to continue. A public school was organized and a two-story wooden structure
was built on the front of the property where the current AISD Administration
Building is located.
Two Schools
In about 1902, the Athens school system also purchased the former Bruce
Academy structure – also a two story, wooden building. Now Athens had
two schools, located in different parts of the town, and both served students
in all grades that were taught at that time – eleven. The students who resided
in north Athens attended classes in the building located on what is now Hawn
Street. Those who lived in the south part of town attended classes in the former Bruce Academy building located where Bruce Field is now located.
Athens did continue to grow and before long community discussions began to center on constructing a permanent school where all students would
attend from all parts of the city and certain rural areas around the city. The
building was to be brick and was to be substantial – able to serve the needs of
the town for years to come.
These discussions reached the stage of activity by 1911 when both current
school buildings were filled to capacity. Parents and other interested citizens
began to talk about calling a bond election to raise the necessary funds to
build a new school – and discussions centered on somewhere around $30
- $40,000.
Athens Public School - North
Athens’ First School Bond Election
A petition calling for a bond election was drawn up and circulated
throughout the town in November 1912. Sufficient certified signatures were
collected, and a bond election in the amount of $40,000.00 was called for by
the School Board on December 3, 1912. If the issue passed, it would provide
funds for the first permanent, brick school building for Athens. And it did
pass – overwhelmingly – by a vote of 192 to 11 in an election held in January
1913.
Bids were requested for the building’s construction; several bids were received, but the winning bid was submitted by W. O. England and C. H. Hawn
– Athens contractors. They were awarded a contract to build the new school
in the amount of $32,500.00.
One provision of the contract stated that if the contractors spent more
than $32,500, they had to pay the difference themselves. On the other hand,
if they were able to finish the construction for less than the budgeted amount,
Bruce Academy located in the eastern side of Athens. It was a private
academy for a short time around 1900 before becoming Athens Public
School - South
3
4
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
they could only bill the school district for the actual cost of construction.
Another contract for plumbing in the amount of $4,450.00 was awarded
to another firm.
Total construction cost: $36,950.00!
The New School
The plans for the building called for:
• A basement to accommodate a boiler room and storage.
• A ground level floor to have a total of 2 large rooms for other than classroom purposes and 6 classrooms plus restrooms.
• A main floor that would have 7 classrooms, a library, an office, and one
other room.
• A third floor that would have 6 classrooms, an auditorium, teachers’ room,
an office, and restrooms.
Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 laid the new building’s cornerstone in
1913, and many Athens’ citizens contributed items to be placed in a container
behind the cornerstone and to be opened by future generations in 50 or 100
years.
The completed building was occupied in January 1914 and officially was
named Athens High School/Athens Grammar School.
All 11 grades were taught in the building. However, rapid growth, annexation of some rural areas, and a growing reputation for good education
soon filled the school and presented overcrowded conditions.
To alleviate this, a 6 room wooden structure was built to house the 5th,
6th and 7th grades. It was located on this same property. It was built around
1917 – 1918.
East side view of Athens Grammar School building a few years after its construction. The Cornerstone can be seen on the north end of the building.
Separating High School and Grammar School
By 1921, all facilities, including the wooden structure, were filled and
overcrowded. Parents and concerned citizens began to discuss another bond
election for the purpose of building a new, completely separate High School.
The bond election was held and passed. Construction started in 1921 on a
piece of property now bordered by East College and South Carroll Streets.
The new Athens High School was occupied in 1922 and the former Athens High School/Athens Grammar School became Athens Grammar School
only. This was a momentous occasion for the school district and the community.
Cornerstone of Athens first brick school building laid by Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165
in 1913. This cornerstone has been placed in temporary custody of the Henderson County
Historical Commission for display until such time as the cornerstone wall memorial is
constructed.
New Superintendent
Another momentous occurrence also took place in 1922 – after several
school superintendents who stayed for short periods of time, the school board
hired S. R. LeMay as the new superintendent. Mr. LeMay brought higher
standards, greater professionalism, greater expectations, a greater variety of
subjects to be taught, and major accomplishments to the Athens School District, and he stayed for 24 years. According to reports, he was as well-loved
and respected when he left in 1946 as he was in his early years.
Superintendent LeMay joined forces with Mrs. A. W. Sides, the Athens
Grammar School Principal, to create a Grammar School that was dedicated
to providing a sound education – one that prepared students for the next step.
The school was also staffed by a group of teachers that were well-qualified
and highly dedicated – and many of them stayed with the school system for School Superintendent S. R. LeMay
decades.
Mrs. A. W. Sides
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
With the move of the High School to its new building, there was some
extra room in the Athens Grammar School. Plans were made to convert the
two larger rooms on the ground level into a school cafeteria or hot lunch room
as it was often called. Over the next few decades, little else was done to the
building except routine painting and maintenance to keep it in shape and to
protect it from deterioration.
WPA Builds Stone Fence/Stone Tree Barriers
In the late 1930’s, the Athens Independent School District worked with
the WPA – Works Progress Administration – of the federal government to
bring about some changes to the property on which the Grammar School sat.
The WPA built a stone fence around much of the property. The stone was
hauled in from outlying farms surrounding Athens – including the Hendry
Farm to the south of Athens. The WPA also used this same stone to erect
barriers around many of the trees on the school grounds. These barriers were
topped with concrete slabs for sitting, lying down, or playing. They were
often used as “bases” in a baseball game. Steps and sidewalks were also built
by the WPA.
The fence was removed in the 1950’s, and most of the tree barriers have
also been removed over the years.
The last of the Mohicans - The last remaining rock enclosure around
trees on the grounds of Athens Elementary School that were constructed
by Works Progress Administration crews around 1940.
After 24 Years – A New Superintendent
Superintendent LeMay resigned in 1946 to join the administrative staff of
Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He was replaced in that year by Superintendent J. R. Lowe who went on to serve as Superintendent for 28 years
until his retirement in 1968. During Mr. Lowe’s tenure, the Athens Grammar
School underwent minor renovations – primarily in the first floor area where
the cafeteria or lunch room was converted into two classrooms and a nurses
office and examination room.
The cafeteria itself was relocated to a wooden structure located to the
northwest of the Grammar School – a wooden structure that had been fashioned in a T-shape from the combination of two army surplus barracks secured from the federal government. One end of the T was used as classroom
space when needed, and it was also used for a band rehearsal hall and, on
occasion, for the administration of standardized tests.
New Athens Elementary School
In 1949 Grades 1 – 6 were housed in the Athens Grammar School, but
it was a crowded situation. Under the leadership of Superintendent Lowe,
the School Board began discussing the building of a new elementary school;
plans were made, a bond election called and passed and a contract awarded
in 1950; the new Athens Elementary School building completed and grades
1, 2, 3 & 6 moved in – in 1952. The 4th and 5th grades remained in the older
building.
In 1951 Mastin Stover became Principal of the Elementary school, which
included both buildings. A. R. Pollard soon joined him as Assistant Principal.
Also, in 1952 Mrs. A, W. Sides retired after a 45 year career with the
Athens Public Schools – a career that saw her function as a teacher, teacher
supervisor, assistant principal, and principal.
The Athens Elementary School constructed in 1952 to replace the old grammar
school building.
5
6
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
Athens High School Destroyed
Two years later a disaster struck the Athens school system with the burning and complete destruction of Athens High School – the building that had
been opened in 1922. For a period of nearly two years, Athens High and Junior High classes were scattered all over town – at the junior college, the high
school annex building, AHS Gymnasium, and the Athens Grammar School
building – which was used for 7th and 8th grade classes along with some
elementary classes.
Over the next 30 plus years, the Athens Independent School District continued to grow. New buildings became necessary and were built – including
a new Athens High School and Junior High, new elementary schools, and
others. During this time, the Athens Grammar School building continued to
be used for classroom instruction, special services, offices, resource centers,
and eventually for storage. The last regular classes were taught in the building in 1985.
For the past decade or so, the building has largely sat empty and unused
– boarded up, vandalized, and not maintained or protected very well from the
elements.
Our beloved high school was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1954 and with its destruction,
we not only lost a grand landmark building but also a proud trophy case full of remarkable
achievements in interscholastic activities.
Athens Grammar School To Be Demolished
Which brings us to today – a few weeks before the Athens Grammar
School is scheduled to be demolished – and ending a major presence in the
educational and community life of Athens that began in 1914?
Thousands of students have walked its hallways, sat in its classrooms,
slid down its banisters, and learned from hundreds of teachers, many principals, and superintendents.
The people of Athens have benefited in so many ways from its very existence. The near west end of Athens will never look the same – never be quite
the same!!!
Back in 1914 the editor of the Athens Review wrote, upon visiting the yet
unoccupied building: “The new High School/Grammar School is going to be
a very pretty building and a very substantial one. It will serve the community
for many years to come.”
He was right!!!
Remembering
ATHENS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
1947 - 1953
AHS CLASS OF 1959
50TH Reunion of the Athens High School Class of 1959 is being anticipated for
2009. To assist in planning, we need contact information for all Class Members,
and we need up-to-date status information for all Class of ’59 Members.
If you were a member of the AHS Class of 1959, e-mail your current contact information to:
Peggy Kinsey Halbert
Tom Selman
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Please send: e-mail address, mailing address, home phone
number, cell number, fax number
If you know the status of any other member of the AHS Class of 1959, e-mail
Peggy or Tom.
Please send information regarding deaths, place of residence, or any contact information noted above.
If you do not use e-mail, please phone Peggy Kinsey Halbert or Tom Selman with
the information:
Peggy: 903/675-2406
Tom: 972/788-2069 or 214/803-6335
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
Henderson County Historical Society
Post Office Box 943
Athens, Texas 75751
(903) 677-3611
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Society is to bring together persons who are interested in the history of Henderson County, to foster,
stimulate and share ideas, information, methods and practices of preserving the history of the county with special
emphasis on acquiring and maintaining a museum and other historic buildings.
Membership is open to anyone interested in subscribing to the purpose of the Society, whether living in Henderson County
or elsewhere. Dues are $10.00 per year.
The Museum currently features a special exhibition of Political Buttons and related
Political Memorabilia on loan from the collection of Dr. Thomas Selman.
The Henderson County Historical Museum
217 N. Prairieville Street
Athens, Texas 75751
(903) 677-3611
10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Among the items that can be purchased at the Museum are
• J. J. Faulk’s History of Henderson County
• Ron Hendry’s Athens’ Day In The Sun
• Estelle Corder’s cookbook Best Of The Bench
• Replica of Henderson County Courthouse
• Replica of old First Methodist Church
Sponsored and Maintained by the Henderson County Historical Society
7
8
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT AT THE OLD ATHENS GRAMMAR/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
(ALSO KNOWN AS WEST ATHENS ELEMENTARY)
Mrs. Maggie Ables
Mr. G.M. Adams
Miss Hueola Alphin
Mrs. Minnie Armstrong
Mrs. Bennye Baccarini
Mrs. Florence Ballard
Mrs. Tennie Mae Ballow
Mrs. Wilma Bennett
Mrs. Jackie Biggs
Mrs. E.B. (Norene) Bishop
Mrs. J.F. Bishop
Mrs. Marcia Blackmon
Miss Annie Boone
Miss Jennie Boone
Miss Mary Boone
Mrs. A.D. Boyd
Mrs. Kay Boyles
Mrs. Doris Brewer
Mrs. Thelma Brewer
Mrs. D.T. Broom
Mrs. Bobby Jean Bryce
Mrs. Evangeline Byrnes
Mrs. Jackie Caldwell
Mrs. Louise Calvin
Mrs. Nubel Cannon
Mrs. Lenna Carlisle
Mr. Jerry Carpenter
Mr. Randy Carter
Mrs. Shirley Carter
Mrs. Jo Christopher
Mr. John Clayton
Mrs. Frances Cline
Mrs. Bonita Coker
Mrs. Sharon Collins
Mrs. Ruth Cook
Mrs. Leah Ann Costlow
Mrs. A.B. Culbertson
Mrs. Margaret Cummings
Mrs. Brenda Davis
Mrs. Lola Davis
Mrs. June Dennis
Mrs. Darleen Jones Deupree
Mrs. Sharon Dews
Mrs. Mamie Downing
Mrs. Espanola Drumgoole
Melvin Dunn (Principal)
Mrs. Bettye Dunnington
Mrs. Esther Reynolds Edwards
Mrs. Annie B. Ellis
Mrs. Elizabeth Elmore
Marion Emmons
Mrs. Maude Estes
Mrs. George (Elizabeth) Evans
Mrs. Pat Evans
Mrs. Rachel Young Faulk
Mrs. Retha Farrington
Mrs. Kathleen Felps
Mrs. Kaye Fitzgerald
Mrs. Margaret Foman
Mrs. Berniece Francis
Mrs. Ruby Francis
Mr. Jim Freeman
Mrs. Jo Gamble
Mrs. Aubrey (Pauline) Gandy
Mr. B.H. Gibson (Principal)
Mr. George Glaspie (Principal)
Mrs. Gloria Glaspie
Mrs. Paralee Glass
Mrs. JoAnn Glover
Mr. William Green
Mrs. Lana Gunn
Miss Jennie Mae Hall
Mrs. Joyce Williams Hall
Mrs. Elizabeth Hallum
Mrs. T.C. Hamilton
Mrs. Mary Edith Hamrick
Mr. Andrew Hanson
Mrs. Ora (Ellie) Hart
Mrs. Joyce Hasley
Mrs. Charles (Ollie Jo) Hawn
Mrs. Laveda Herring
Mrs. Elizabeth Herrington
Mrs. Sybil Hicks
Mrs. J.L. Hiler
Mrs. Zeffie Hill
Miss Ethel Holly
Mrs. Marguerite Holley
Mrs. Betty Hollowell
Mrs. Corrine Hollowell
Mrs. Alice Holman
Mrs. Mary Horton
Mrs. Faye Hounsel
Mrs. Jo Christopher Hounsel
Mrs. Louis (Letha) Hounsel
Mrs. Dale James
Mr. Lonnie James
Mrs. Cecil Johnson
Mrs. Irene Johnson
Mrs. Patti Jones
Mrs. Alice Jordan
Mrs. Alva Gober Kinabrew
Mrs. Evelyn Kindred
Miss Kathy Killingsworth
Mrs. Dosha King
Mr. Billy Krenz
Mrs. Joe (Bernie Lee) Lamb
Mrs. Flarra Larkin
Mrs. Lee Ann Lenore
Mrs. Hazel Lewis
Mr. Kenneth Lewis (Principal)
Mrs. Bertha Loper
Mrs. Tarlton (Leland) Loughridge
Mrs. Jane Westfahl Lunceford
Mrs. Barbara Lundeen
Mrs. Ruth Martin
Mrs. Pauline Massengale
Mr. Lonnie Massey
Mrs. Ray Mattingly
Mrs. Pamela Mays
Mrs. LaWanda McCowan
Mrs. Maxine McDowell
Mrs. Florence McElhaney
Mrs. W.C. McGuffey
Mrs. B.L. McLaughlin
Mrs. William Miles
Mrs. Joyce Mills
Mrs. A.J. Miller
Miss Hattie Mitchell
Mrs. Betty Moeller
Mr. Joe Murray
Mr. J.E. (Sonny) Musick
Mrs. Patsy Musick
Mrs. Ruby Myers
Mr. J.T. Nelson (Principal)
Mrs. Odie Mae Norwood
Mrs. Joe (Faye) Owen
Mrs. LaVerne Owen
Mrs. T.B. Owen
Miss Harriet Pace
Mrs. Nellie Palmer
Mrs. Glenda Park
Mrs. Mildred Park
Mrs. Harriet Parker
Mr. George Peacock (Principal)
Mrs. Mildred Pennell
Mrs. Pauline Perkins
Mrs. Sue Peters
Mrs. Constance Phillips
Mrs. Frankie Pickens
Miss Emma John Pinkerton
Mr. Guy Pirtle
Mrs. Guy (Eileen) Pirtle
Mr. A.R. Pollard (Assistant Principal)
Mrs. Martha Prister
Mrs. Annette Pulley
Miss Patricia Elliott Pugh
Mrs. Kathleen Ray
Mrs. Ruby Reierson
Mrs. R.L. (Iola) Robertson
Mrs. Trina Robinson
Mrs. Alene Rose
Mrs. Vera Jo Rowell
Mrs. W.B. Rumbo (School Nurse)
Mrs. Dora Royal Russell
Mrs. Claude (Faye Colton) Scirratt
Mrs. Janelle Seabourne
Mr. Robert Scott
Mrs. Sara Alice Scott
Mrs. Carolyn Shackelford
Mr. Ben Shew
Mrs. Pauline Buford Shinn
Miss Beth Shirey
Mrs. Juanita Sholars
Mrs. A.W. (Macca) Sides (Teacher & Principal)
Mrs. Lois Simpson
Mrs. Joyce Simmons
Mrs. Teresa Sines
Mrs. Melinda Skelton
Mrs. Mattie Skinner
Miss Agnes Smith
Mrs. Alice Smith
Mrs. B.P. Smith
Mrs. Fran McGee Smith
Mr. Jessie Snowden
Mrs. Jacqueline Solomon
Mr. Bill Stamps
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Stamps
Mr. Eddie Staples
Mrs. Barbara Stegall
Mrs. Doris Stone
Miss Faye Stone
Mrs. Mack (Bertha) Stover
Mr. Mastin Stover (Principal)
Mrs. Jennifer Sullivan
Mrs. Lou Sutton
Mrs. Mildred Tankersley
Mrs. Diane Thomas
Mrs. W.R. Thomas
Mr. Danny Tinney (Principal)
Mr. Clay Tompkins
Mrs. J.C. (Elizabeth) Townley
Miss Terry Townley
Mrs. Annette Trammell
Mrs. Judy Trammell
Mrs. J.E. Tucker
Mrs. Lanetta Tucker
Mrs. Nancy Tucker
Miss Inez Turner
Mrs. R.D. (Jeanne) Tyner
Mr. Rex Underwood
Mrs. Janice Vonner
Mrs. Ann Davis Wade
Mrs. Thelma Walker
Mrs. Virginia Warhol
Miss Flora Weekly
Mrs. Darlene Westbrook (Principal)
Mrs. Annie Whitesides
Mrs. Nola Whitesides
Mrs. Christine Wilbanks
Mrs. Peggy Williams
Mrs. Cleo Wortham
Mrs. Lois Wright
Mrs. Mary Alice Wood
Mrs. Helena Yantis
Did We Forget Someone?
Although we tried to make the list as
inclusive and complete as possible,
we may have unintentionally omitted
some names. We would like to know
if we did. Please email Tom Selman
at [email protected] and
let him know of the omission. Give
name and approximate years taught
if known. We’ll supplement this information to our electronic version
posted on the HCHC website.
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
Grammar School Teacher Profiles
Mrs. A. W. SIDES
(1951 photo)
Mrs. A. W. (Maaca) Sides is probably associated with the Athens Grammar School
more than any other single personality
– principal, teacher, or student. She began
as a teacher in the new Athens High School/
Athens Grammar School upon its opening
in 1914, and she continued working in the
school until her retirement in 1952. During
this time she worked with several superintendents, several principals, hundreds of
teachers, and thousands of students.
Mrs. Sides had actually started as a teacher with the Athens School System in 1910
after teaching for several years in other Henderson County schools. She started teaching before she married A. W. Sides as Miss
Maaca Patterson. She graduated from Sam
Houston State Teachers College at Huntsville in 1907, and she later attended a teachers college in Greeley, Colorado, and got her
B. S. degree from North Texas State College
in Denton in 1937.
Mrs. Sides was quickly recognized for
her personal strength and leadership qualities and was made a teacher supervisor, then
assistant principal, and finally, principal of
Athens Grammar School – positions normally occupied by men in that day and time. She
is credited, along with long time Superintendent S. R. LeMay , with improving the professionalism of the Athens Grammar School
faculty by choosing and employing teachers
with degrees, even advanced degrees, and
a high level of dedication to students and
education. She saw the value in tenure and
encouraged teachers to stay with the Athens
system for years.
Although Mrs. Sides was known for her
formal demeanor, stern discipline, reputa-
tion for enforcing the rules, and willingness
to punish those who strayed, she was also
known as a wonderful, caring teacher who
was always willing and able to help students,
parents, and other teachers. In spite of persistent rumors, she never had an electric paddle. More often than not, her instrument of
punishment was a symbolic wooden ruler.
Along with her husband, Mrs. Sides operated the famous Sides Store located across
from the school on Hawn Street. It was a
favorite stop for students for a couple of decades. Mrs. Sides was also known as a poet
and many of her poems were published over
the years.
Mrs. A. W. Sides retired from the Athens
Grammar School and the Athens Independent School District in May 1952. On the
occasion of her retirement, Superintendent
Ray Lowe said “Mrs. Sides is one of the finest teachers I have ever worked with, and we
certainly regret losing her from the Athens
school system. She will be missed for a long
time to come.”
York City with a Masters degree. In addition
to her love of teaching, Miss Annie loved
music and reading. She often provided musical entertainment for student functions as
well as for church and civic groups.
Miss Annie, along with her sisters, loved
to travel and then share her experiences with
students. She and Mss Jennie spent parts of
many summers with their sister Mary Boone
Quesnel in New York. She would return to
Athens and share their many experiences
with students – the first many heard about
such things as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and other famous and
historical sites.
Miss Annie died in Athens in 1994 at the
age of 85. She had been retired for a number
of years and had enjoyed a new home built
with and shared by her sisters. Previously
she had lived in the historic family home for
more than 58 years. Even in retirement, she
remained active and involved in her community, its civic organizations, and the First
Presbyterian Church. She always enjoyed
former students dropping by to visit or just
say hello. She was truly an inspiring teacher
and devoted most of her life to education.
(1929 photo)
Annie Bingham Boone, “Miss Annie” as
she was known for 44 years in the Athens
Public School System, was another one of
those wonderful teachers that students for
several generations came to admire, respect,
and love. She was a “fixture” at the Athens Grammar School, Athens Elementary
School, and South Athens Elementary for 44
of her 46 year teaching career. For most of
her career, she taught in the third grade.
She and her sisters, all teachers, were
daughters of a prominent pioneering family. She attended college at Trinity University, which was then located in Waxahachie,
earned her Bachelors degree from Southern
Methodist in Dallas, and graduated from Columbia University Teachers College in New
School system. She would often play the
piano at school functions including plays,
pageants, assemblies, and PTA meetings.
For most of her career, Miss Jennie taught
the 6th Grade – at Athens Grammar School,
Athens Elementary School, and in her last
years of teaching at South Athens Elementary. She had graduated from Athens High
School as the class valedictorian and went
on to earn a Bachelors degree from Southern
Methodist University and a Masters degree
from Columbia University Teachers College
in New York City.
PAULINE BUFORD SHINN
MISS JENNIE BOONE
MISS ANNIE BOONE
9
The very personification of a sweet, loving, caring, and gentle teacher was Miss
Jennie Boone – one of the “famous” Boone
sisters of Athens: Mary, Jennie, and Annie.
Miss Jennie, as she was affectionately called
by generations of Athens Grammar and Elementary School students, taught for a total
of 47 years – nearly every day spent with the
Athens School system. She was a daughter
of one of the true pioneer families of Athens
and Henderson County.
Miss Jennie died in 1996 at the age of
90; her life had been full of education, travel, and community involvement. She was a
lifelong active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens, and was active in
numerous civic clubs and organizations. But
most of all, she was a great teacher – one
who inspired, who challenged, and taught by
example as well as word. She loved music
and started the music program of the Athens
Pauline Buford was born and grew up
in the Bethel Community north of Athens
on Highway 19. She attended the Bethel
Schools until her junior year in high school.
At that time, she came to Athens. The next
year she went to live with a sister in Rockwall where she finished high school.
Miss Buford taught in the Bethel schools
for 4 years beginning in 1934. She left the
Bethel Schools to return to North Texas
State Teachers College to complete her degree. After obtaining her college education,
she came back to live in her parent’s house
and got a teaching job. To help pay for her
“keep” on the farm, she had to milk five
cows every morning before leaving for her
teaching job and then milk them again when
she returned in the evening.
She returned to teach in Athens in 1944.
She taught fourth grade her first year in Athens. She married Richard Shinn in 1945 and
became the Mrs. Shinn that was loved by so
many first grade students over the years. Mrs.
Shinn retired after teaching for 39 years.
Richard Shinn was a football star with
the 1928 Athens Hornets and also one of the
nine members of the 1929 Athens Hornets
National Basketball Champions.
In reflecting on her career, Mrs. Shinn
remembered one woman commenting on
her teaching first grade. The woman said “I
guess it would be easy for anyone to teach
first grade.” Mrs. Shinn remembers that it
was not easy because students didn’t come
to school until age six and most of them, in
the early years, didn’t know their letters, how
10
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
to properly hold a pencil or their colors. Kindergarten changed that later, but first grade
teachers had a huge responsibility to make
sure students received the basics necessary
to succeed throughout their school years.
One humorous story that Mrs. Shinn related came as the result of one boy celebrating his birthday. The class had gone to music
class where the class had sung Happy Birthday to the boy and mentioned his age. On
returning, one of the girls put her arm around
Mrs. Shinn’s shoulder and asked her how old
she was. Mrs. Shinn was in her late 40’s, but
she told the girl she was 67 - just for fun. The
young girl looked at her and said, “That was
just the right age for a school teacher.”
Another story Mrs. Shinn remembered
was of a small boy in another first grade
classroom. He was tiny for 6 years old.
When Mrs. Shinn had playground duty, the
boy would come and hold her hand. One day,
he kissed her hand and said, “I love you.”
She replied, “I’m glad you do because I love
you.” He had a training patch over one eye.
He looked up at her and said, “Mrs. Shinn,
you are my goodest friend.”
Mrs. Shinn noted the differences in education today. Today, the state tests drive what
is taught. In her day, teachers taught the students what they needed to know and showed
them lots of love along the way.
Pauline Buford Shinn still resides in Athens.
and many of the girls liked her fashion sense
and her hair. But, at the end of her first year
of teaching, “Miss Williams” got married
and ended the dreams of some of the little
boys. Miss Williams was now Mrs. Hall.
She then began teaching second grade.
In 1955, another teacher, Mrs. Evans, was
teaching sixth grade, but she wanted to
change grade levels. Mrs. Hall agreed to
switch grade levels with Mrs. Evans and she
began teaching sixth grade for the 1955-56
school term; she continued to teach sixth
grade in the old Grammar School building
until all classes were moved. She moved to
Bel Air Elementary at that time. At Bel Air,
Mrs. Hall taught English and Math to fourth,
fifth, and sixth grade students. She was always a popular teacher among students and
well liked and respected by them.
Teaching in the early years was much
different than it is today, according to Mrs.
Hall... The schools didn’t have the disobedience that is sometimes seen in the schools
today. Also, teachers were not as restricted
when deciding on a means of discipline.
The building had steam heat, and Mr. Brown
(the custodian) kept the building well heated. Windows were open and everyone was
exposed to the street and train noise as well
as the pollen of spring.
Mrs. Hall often had the band students
which meant she had her conference/planning period first thing in the morning. This
made for a very long afternoon.
The trains that rolled past each day were
an integral part of the school day. Just about
the time she thought she had made her point,
another train would come by. Mrs. Hall reflects that she had many wonderful years
teaching in the old grammar school building.
JANELLE SEABORNE
JOYCE WILLIAMS HALL
It was August, 1949 when Joyce Williams
was first employed as a teacher in the Athens
School District. Luckily, she had just turned
20 that August, or Superintendent J.R. Lowe
could not have hired her to teach. Miss Williams had attended East Texas State College
in Commerce.
Her tenure in Athens schools spanned
39 years. Her first teaching assignment in
1949 was as a fourth grade teacher. All the
young boys in Athens Grammar School were
thrilled about this young, attractive teacher,
was Leland Loughridge - “to get” meaning to get her as a teacher. Mrs. Loughridge
was a much loved 5th Grade teacher in the
Athens Grammar School for over three decades. Students considered her to be kind
and considerate but many students also liked
her became she kept the class busy with new
and innovative approaches to education. She
encouraged friendly competition within her
class, and she also encouraged friendly competition with other classes.
She also encouraged friendly cooperation
among the 5th grade classes – whether it was
in publishing a student newspaper, putting
on a play in the auditorium, participating in
the various special events and festivals, or
getting involved in community projects
Mrs. Loughridge began her teaching career, not as an elementary or grammar school
teacher, but as a high school journalism
teacher at Athens High School. Journalism
had been her major while pursuing her college degree. The Loughridge family moved
away from Athens during the years of World
War II when Mr. Loughridge accepted employment with the Hughes Tool Company in
Houston as part of the war effort. The family returned to Athens after the war, and Mrs.
Loughridge became a grade school teacher
in the Athens Grammar School; she soon became a 5th grade teacher and continued to
teach the 5th grade for the remainder of her
career. She also chose to remain in the Old
Grammar School building rather than move
her class into the new Athens Elementary
School when it was built.
Mr. and Mrs. Loughridge had two children, Michael and Linda, who attended Athens Grammar School and graduated from
Athens High School. Leland Loughridge
resides today in Arc City, Kansas, - near her
daughter Linda and her husband. She resides
in a healthcare center. She is now 96 years
of age, and she still remembers some things
about her teaching career, the Athens Grammar School building, and does, from time
to time, reminisce with her daughter about
those years.
I began student teaching in the building
under Jennie Mae Hall in 1961. I was hired
full time in Sept., 1962. I taught 34 years
and retired in 1996. Favorite memory: A
child brought a squirrel to school for show
and tell. The squirrel got loose. Wow, what
excitement trying to retrieve it.
.LELAND
LOUGHRIDGE
One of the Athens Grammar School
teachers that every student wanted “to get”
prior to the beginning of a new school year
J. R. LOWE
(retirement years photo)
J. R. (Ray) Lowe became Superintendent
of the Athens Independent School District in
1946 following the 22 year tenure of Dr. S.
R. Le May. He came to Athens following
his service in World War II with the United
States Navy. Prior to that he had worked
as a teacher and administrator in the public school systems of Rattan, Cooper, and
Greenville after earning his Bachelors degree from East Texas State Teachers College in 1933. Superintendent Lowe often
recalled that after completing college, he
found few employment opportunities. The
nation was in the midst of the Great Depression and little hiring was being done in any
field. He remembered coming home and
hoeing cotton to earn some money; he also
remembered getting so frustrated about the
lack of opportunity in his chosen occupation
that he literally threw his framed college diploma against the wall in complete and utter
disgust.
Superintendent Lowe easily took up the
reins left by Dr. Le May and soon made
the Superintendency his own. He was hard
working, friendly, and innovative. He was
faced with numerous major problems ranging from post war finances to court-ordered
integration to the transformation of a school
system in order to face the major economic, social, and political upheavals that the
school system would face over the next few
years. Superintendent Lowe was determined
to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision on
integration in a caring, compassionate, and
considerate manner, and he and his school
system succeeded. The Athens Independent
School District, under the leadership of Ray
Lowe was the first East Texas school system
to completely integrate and to do so without
conflict.
Ray Lowe was very involved in the Athens community including the Athens Rotary
Club, the Lions Club, the Junior Chamber of
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
Commerce as well as the Chamber of Commerce. He was widely recognized for his
accomplishments with the Athens Independent School District and was the recipient
of numerous honors and awards over the
years.
Superintendent Lowe resigned as Superintendent of the Athens Independent School
District in 1974 to devote time to his farm
and his family. He had, by this time, served
28 years as Superintendent of Schools – one
of the longest tenures for that position in the
State. Ray Lowe died on January 12, 2006;
he was 5 years short of his 100th birth date.
in Athens in March 1972 at the age of 62.
He accomplished a lot as a teacher and administrator, but he was proud of his role in
establishing a special education program in
the Athens School System.
11
A POPULAR STORE by Ms. A. W. Sides
Principal Mastin Stover’s
Rules of Student Conduct
courtesy of Fredia Daniel Burns
I ACCEPT MY RESPONSIBILITY
as a good citizen to get a good foundation
in READING
WRITING and SPELLING, and
ARITHMETIC;
AND TO BE
Reverent to God and patriotic to my country;
Respectful to my parents, my teachers, and all proper
Authority, and respectful to myself and the rights and
Property of others;
Responsible for my own property and assignments and
Helping to take care of public property, and
Responsible for speaking the truth and being honest
And fair in my actions;
And to Always Be
Careful, Courteous, Clean in body and mind.
The store across the street is a popular place.
To get there first the children race.
They get to the door and stop for breath
Then they look for the candy that they like best.
There are lolly-pops, gum drops, and many kinds more
In the big candy case just inside the door.
Then you go down the aisle to the drinks at the back
As you pass by the cookies all neat on a rack.
The drinks yellow, red, green, and purple, too.
And an ice-cream box all come into view.
Now what will you spend your nickel for
Drinks, cookies, ice-cream, or a candy bar?
MR. BROWN by Ms. A. W. Sides
We’ve left the old building and Mr. Brown, too.
He kept the old building and helped the teachers, too.
Whether at work or whether at play
We called on Mr. Brown every day.
Do this, do that for us right quick.
He was never too busy and never got sick.
He made a Mother Goose shoe to use in our play
For us he kept things ready and smoothed the way.
So now that we’ve moved across the yard
We hope things for Mr. Brown will not be so hard.
We would thank him and express appreciation true
For the many things he was always ready to do.
poems courtesy of Fredia Daniel Burns
MASTIN STOVER
Mastin Stover had a successful career as
a teacher, with the U. S. Army Air Corps,
and as a school administrator – all stretching
over a period of 43 years, including nearly
40 years in the field of education. Mr. Stover began his education career as Principal
of the Martins Mill High School in 1929.
He joined the Athens School System in
1930 as a teacher of chemistry and physics;
then he left his career and joined the United
States Army.
After his military service he returned to
the Athens Independent School District as
Principal of the Junior High, then Athens
High School Principal, District Curriculum
Director, and finally the position where he
stayed the longest – Principal of Athens
Elementary School – later West Athens Elementary.
Mr. Stover was highly regarded by student, teacher, and parent alike. He was personable, straight forward, honest, and very
friendly. He was an imposing figure to the
young school children because of his stature and his prominent white hair, but he was
also widely respected and loved.
Mastin Stover, who had come to Athens as a youngster, graduated from Athens
High School, married an Athens girl, Carolyn Craig, raised a family in the city, died
Which former students of Athens
first brick school building had the
most unusual and or distinguished
life experiences? This writer’s candidates are
• William Wayne Justice - His long
tenure as Federal District Judge and
the difficult legal matters he has addressed have brought him national
prominence
• Mary Katherine Underwood and
Jerry Jane Wynne were on the British Liner Athenia when it was torpedoed and sunk two days after the
start of World War II in September
1939. The Athenia was the first ship
sunk in the war.
• Franklin Wofford Denius - One of
the most decorated WWII war heroes. Some have said his medals for
heroic conduct were second in number only to Audie Murphy.
Athens’ Day In The Sun by Ron Hendry is
a 400 page historical account of the grand
times that occurred during the 1920s and
1930s in Athens and Henderson County.
It centers around an eight year basketball
sports dynasty of Athens High School and
captures the life and times in the process.
What a joy it was to go through every page of your book--Dr. Robert W. Strain, AHS class of 1942
A can’t put down quick page turner for anyone from Athens and Henderson County. This book is not just about basketball but also full of
hundreds of tibits of history concerning Athens and Henderson County
during the 1920’s and 1930’s and since. Many sidebars on the people
and characters from the area are discussed.
Jack Keeble, AHS class of 1959
Available locally for $24.95 at the HCHS Museum in Athens and Wagonwheel Antique Mall in Murchison or order a signed copy by mail by
contacting Ron Hendry at 214-343-7448 or [email protected].
12
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
QUICK GLIMPSES OF TEACHERS WHO HAD A LONG CAREER ASSOCIATED WITH ATHENS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
By Tom Selman
Over the decades the Athens Independent School District has produced a large
number of teachers who have gone on to teach and make their mark upon thousands
of school students all over Texas and the United States and even in other nations of
the world. Some have even returned to spend some or all of their teaching careers in
Athens and Henderson County. These Athens produced teachers taught in elementary schools, junior highs and intermediate schools, high schools, and colleges/universities. Did you ever wonder why Athens produced so many teachers, and why
these teachers went on to wonderful teaching careers?
My guess is because of the influence of so many wonderful, dedicated teachers
who, by personal example and personal conduct, showed what great teachers were
and what they could accomplish in life as a teacher. Wouldn’t you want to be a
teacher if you had the profound influence and example of Mrs. Ora Hart, Mrs. Letha Hounsel, Miss Hueola Alphin, Mrs. Maude Estes? Or Mrs. Lois Simpson, Mrs.
Bertha Loper, Miss Jennie Mae Hall, Mrs. Mack Stover, Mrs. W. C. Scirratt, Mrs.
Bernie Lee Lamb, and Mrs. Vera Jo Rowell? And all the others who are profi led on
these pages or listed on these pages?
I could go on and on, and I feel badly that I don’t have the time or space to name
them all. I have been so impressed with the memories and recollections of Athens’
special teachers on the lives of their students – memories passed along in person, in
writing, through e-mails, or through the recollection of a particular time or event.
As a student of the Athens Independent School District for my entire elementary and
secondary career, I was always influenced by the teachers I had – and I can truthfully say that I never had a poor teacher; never had a teacher that I didn’t know cared
about me and all my fellow students. However, I was also greatly influenced by all
those teachers I never had because we always seemed to get to know them all and
they got to know us.
In this column I am going to give just a quick glimpse of a few teachers that
spent many of their years in the Athens Grammar School Building; after all, it is
probably because of them that we remember the Old School so warmly and fondly.
Again, I wish I could tell something about all of them – they all deserve it. We did
attempt to include everyone in the List of Teachers that you find on these pages.
They all deserve to be remembered, and I am certain they are – by dozens, hundreds,
or even thousands of students.
worked hard and expected them to work hard as well. Students loved her as well
and appreciated all that she did for them. Mrs. Loper died in July 1967 after a brief
illness.
MRS. MAUDE ESTES
A sweet, charming lady who loved teaching, who loved her daughters, Nell and
Mildred, and who always had a wonderful smile to greet everyone....this was Mrs.
Maude Estes. She was a native of Athens and loved the city and its people and
lived in Athens until she moved to Arlington in 1961. All but her last four years of
teaching were spent in Athens. She believed in making sure all her students gained
the necessary foundation to be successful in all the grades that followed. She was a
great believer in spelling and vocabulary and reading. She encouraged her students
to use the public library and to read, read, read....For many students, Mrs. Estes class
was the first time they were exposed to a lot of geography. She used a lot of maps
and encouraged students to draw maps, fill in outline maps, and to make maps out of
clay, salt and flour, and other such materials. She enjoyed a good time and had her
classes very involved in the annual pageants where students participated in square
dancing and wore colorful costumes made for the occasion by their mothers. Mrs.
Estes died in 1965 following several years of declining health.
MRS. LOUIS (LETHA) HOUNSEL
Mrs. Letha Hounsel was a long time teacher not only in Athens but in many of the rural
schools of Henderson County. She was one of
the founders, director, and early teachers in one
of Athens’ first pre-school programs. She taught
in the public schools for more than 35 years and
came out of retirement to direct the new private
preschool program for several years. Mrs. Letha
Hounsel was born in 1891 and died in 1962. She
was famous for her gentleness and her discipline.
She encouraged students to always tell the truth
and to use proper, clean words. She often said
“I’m going to have to wash your mouth out with
soap!” She taught many grades but her favorite
was first grade.
MRS. ROY (BERTHA) LOPER
Bertha Loper was born and raised in Henderson County and lived in the county
most of her life. The last 30 years or so in Athens. She had taught school in some
of the rural area around Athens prior to joining the Athens School System in the
1940’s as a teacher in Athens High School. In 1951 she made the move to the Athens
Grammar (Elementary) School and became a teacher in the 5th grade. During the
summer months before school started, the rumors really got started. You didn’t want
to get Mrs. Loper; at Athens High School she was known to be a really strict teacher
who often threw books or bottles of ink at students!! Upon reporting to school the
first day, those assigned to her class could easily believe those stories because here
was a tall, sturdy woman with a “big” hairdo. However, they soon found out that
she didn’t throw bottles of ink or dusty erasers; she didn’t scream or yell at students.
She did, however, expect that students would pay attention and become involved in
the learning process. She was very innovative in her teaching approach; she encouraged leadership development and she encouraged her students to learn by competing
with each other and students in other classes. She brought to the elementary grades
the idea of a student council, class officers, a student newspaper (along with Mrs.
Loughridge), and all types of competitions that encouraged learning and the development of other skills. She was, as they soon found out, a caring, loving teacher who
MRS. HARRIS (TENNIE MAE) BALLOW
Born, raised, and lived her entire life in Henderson County and primarily in
Athens. She taught classes intermittently over the years while raising a family, but
returned to full time teaching around 1952 when she accepted an assignment as a 6th
grade teacher in the newly completed Athens Elementary School. She was a very
popular teacher and loved by the students who came to appreciate her gentleness, her
affection, and her sense of humor. She had an infectious smile and always inquired
about how one’s family was doing health wise. She expected good attitudes, good
listening skills, and good discipline; in return she was patient and understanding and
helpful in every way possible. Tennie Mae Shelton Ballow died in Athens in September 2003 at the age of 91.
MRS.VERA JO ROWELL
Long time 5th grade teacher who taught in the public schools of Athens and
Henderson County for more than 25 years. She was born, raised, and lived her entire
life in Henderson County. She was loved and appreciated by her many students over
the years, and she encouraged them in their development – educationally, spiritu-
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
ally, and socially. Her 3rd floor classroom was always a sight to behold on special
holidays, and her classes were always spirited competitors with the other 5th grade
classes. Mrs. Rowell died in Athens in May 1989 at the age of 88.
13
letters. In the Grammar School Building, her room was on the ground level or first
floor – immediately across from the Cafeteria before it was moved to the barracks.
Miss Alphin was born on September 23, 1900, and died 13 days short of her 100th
birthday on September 10, 1999. She had a wonderful sense of humor and she
always made certain that every student got their share of Valentine cards, or Christmas cards, or whatever – when students would distribute to other students.
MRS. LOIS HENDERSON SIMPSON (1951 photo)
MRS. ORA (ELLIE) HART ( photo in 1925 and 1948)
Another famous, top notch first grade teacher was Mrs. Ora Hart. She taught for
more than 35 years in the Athens System – nearly all of it as a first grade teacher.
But she did more than teach. In 1925, she was was in charge of the East Texas Cotton Palace opening pageant which featured an opening day parade from the
grammar school to the fair grounds with all schools in the county participating. This
was followed on opening night with children from all county schools presenting a
five act play on the history of the county.
She was a tall woman – at least she appeared so to a first grader! She was like a
second Mother to her many students, and she took care of their needs – educational
and personal while under her care. She did everything she could to encourage a
student to try something until they succeeded – not giving up. She went out of her
way to make sure that no individual student was ever “picked on” or embarrassed
for any reason. She was a disciplinarian, but a loving and caring one. She began
her teaching career in Athens in the very early 1920’s and continued until her sudden death in 1955. Mrs. Hart loved flowers and trees and encouraged her students
to love nature as well.
MRS. JOE (BERNIE LEE) LAMB
An infectious smile, a caring attitude, and a sincere love of her students – that
was Mrs. Lamb, Athens Grammar/Athens Elementary School teacher for more than
30 years. She was generally a 4th grade teacher but did teach other grades over the
years. She had taught 13 years outside the Athens System for a total teaching career
that spanned 43 years. Mrs. Lamb died in Athens in February 1993 at the age of 81.
She was born and raised in Athens and got her college degrees from the University
of Houston and East Texas State.
MISS HUEOLA ALPHIN
Started her teaching career at age 16 and taught in the public schools of Texas
for over 50 years. Miss Alphin came to Athens as a second grade teacher in the mid1940’s and retired from the Athens system in the mid-1960’s. Miss Alphin loved
teaching, and her students loved her. She really enjoyed teaching writing skills, and
there are many former students today who owe their penmanship abilities to Miss
Alphin. She was one of the first teachers to use the writing tablets with the “invisible
line” to help students form letters properly and in the proper relationship to other
A member of a long time prominent family
of Athens and Henderson County – the Hendersons. A relative of the first Governor of Texas
and the man for whom Henderson County was
named – J. Pinckney Henderson. Mrs. Simpson
had a teaching career that spanned 35 years, and
31 of them were spent with the Athens School
System – first at the Athens Grammar School
and ending at South Athens Elementary. She
was a very attractive, petite woman with a wonderful sense of humor and a ready laugh that
could be heard down the 2nd Floor Hallway of
the Grammar School. She was an avid reader
and encouraged her students to read; she also
encouraged them to participate in various social
activities to improve their social and interaction
skills. Lois Simpson enjoyed teaching and her
students loved and appreciated her. She also
doted on her only child, Bobby. Mrs. Simpson died at the age of 65 in July 1976.
MRS. W. C. (FAYE) SCIRRATT
Mrs. W. C. Scirratt was born and raised in
Athens and lived in the city her entire life. She
had a long teaching career in the Athens Public
Schools as a grade school teacher – primarily
the 5th and 6th grade over the years. Her career
was well over 30 years in duration. She was one
of those teachers that students didn’t necessarily want “to get” each year, but once they were
in her class, they loved and appreciated her as a
person and as a teacher. Mrs. Scirratt once told
this writer that she had the misfortune of having
a last name with the word “rat” in it, and those
students then associated her with something unpleasant. However, she was an excellent teacher and a very dedicated one; her students found
themselves, year after year, well prepared to go onto the next step – Junior High.
Mrs. Scirratt died in July 1984 at the age of 84 after a lengthy illness.
MRS. MACK (BERTHA) STOVER
Bertha Stover was known for her smile, her pleasant attitude, and her hair style!
She was a teacher for a total of nearly 40 years – 35 spent in the Athens School
System. She was primarily known as a 5th grade teacher although she taught other
grades over the years. Mrs. Stover was born in Mississippi in 1899 but resided in
Athens most of her life. She had also taught for a period of time in Athens High
School. Mrs. Stover died in Malakoff in November 1983 at the age of 84.
14
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
THELMA INEZ BREWER
Thelma Brewer came from a family of teachers; her father and three of her brothers were
teachers – all in the Henderson County, Athens
area; she, too, became a teacher and remained
an active member of the profession for 45 years
– well over half of it in the Athens and Henderson
County area she loved so much and had been a
part of most of her life. She taught in LaPoynor,
Malakoff, Bethel, Orange, Athens, Pecos, and
Richardson. She spent 21 years in the Athens
Independent School District and many of those
years were spent teaching in the Athens Grammar School Building.
For most of her career, Mrs. Brewer taught in
the first, second, or third grades, and she enjoyed
and was proud of being known as a First Grade Teacher. Her last years as a teacher were spent in the Richardson School District where she developed and directed
“Plan A” – a diagnostic program to differentiate learning disabled students from
mentally disabled students so the schools could better tailor an appropriate curriculum. Although she had success wherever she taught, Mrs. Brewer’s favorite school
was Athens Grammar School/Athens Elementary School – after all it was home.
She taught with Principals Sides, Anderson, Dunn, Gibson, Stover, and Pollard.
Mrs. Brewer’s first 8 years were spent teaching in the Athens Grammar School;
she moved over to the new Athens Elementary School when it opened in 1952.
She often marveled at how many individual students had entered and walked the
hallways and stairs of the “Old Building” in its lifetime and how many good teachers she had worked with in that building. Mrs. Brewer was an innovative teacher
who encouraged her students to know what was going on about them; her family,
in 1952, even arranged to buy their first television set so that she would have it in
time to have her entire class over to her home to witness the inauguration of the new
President, Dwight Eisenhower. This was something new for students, and some
students remembered that occasion for years to come.
Thelma Brewer died at the age of 80 in 1995; she left a legacy of thousands of
students who benefited from her teaching, her personal guidance and devotion, and
her poetry.
I’d RATHER BE A FIRST GRADE TEACHER
By Thelma Brewer
COMMENTARY
Time and space preclude additional glimpses; perhaps another time will allow us to recognize other teachers – particularly those who began their career
with the Athens System in the late 1950’s and through the following decades.
They, too, have continued the record of dedication and excellence that was set
forth by those mentioned above and many dozens more.
Working on this project has clearly demonstrated to this writer that we need
to do a better job of preserving our educational history – with regard to teachers,
principals, superintendents, buildings, activities, and events. Ideally, the various
school systems in our county, including Athens, could identify someone to be
responsible for collecting, identifying, assembling and cataloging information
on all of those items mentioned and have it in a central repository for access and
use by those who need information. Current and former teachers can donate
to appropriate preservation sources information about them and their careers
– scrapbooks, yearbooks, photos, etc. Teachers and schools are among our most
valuable resources and deserve as much in the way of preservation as do buildings and sites.
Odds and Ends
According to local brick and
clay expert, Johnny Morrison, the
Grammar School brick exterior
was dry pressed solid core brick
and was made by Athens Brick
Company.
Ershie Lehr said that W. O. England, contractor for the Grammar
School, was a well known local
area contractor and had also built
the old and ornate Presbyterian
Church.
The Grammar School, Presbyterian Church and Cain Building
were believed to all be constructed
out of the same brick.
Our teachers for whom
we have found photos
Mr. Ben Shew
I’d rather be a first grade teacher
Than a queen upon a throne
For the joy we share in the classroom
Is greater than kings have known.
The love and devotion of my pupils
No eartly throne can compare
God’s breath of innocence and tenderness
Is still with them when placed in my care.
I’d rather be a first grade teacher
Than to have much silver and gold
For God trusts me each day with his treasures
To love, train, and mold.
Earth’s gold will perish with using
And silver doesn’t always bring fame
But I feel a satisfied happiness
With the word “Teacher” attached to my name.
Mrs. Florence McElhaney
Mrs. Guy Pirtle
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
15
Former Student Memories
Editor’s note: Over 60 responded to
our calls for memories and some editing
was done so that all could be printed.
First Grade Class of 1914
2008 photo of Alice Coker Ward
(Note: the following account was based on
an interview by Tom Selman)
Alice Coker Ward will turn a young
100 years of age on March 21. She is as enthusiastic about life, family, and friends as
she was when she entered the new Athens
Grammar School back in January 1914 as a
first grade student. She and her schoolmates
in the eleven grades were the very first to
attend classes in Athens’ first brick school
building.
She remembered that the dining room
was located on the first floor in the southeast corner of the building. Water fountains
were located in front of the dining room in
the hallway. Toilets were located on two
floors (1st and 3rd), but the stalls were not
permitted to have doors on them for any
measure of privacy. Alice Coker Ward said
this didn’t go over well with any of the students but particularly with the female students.
Students often ate lunch at the benches
located under the trees at the northeast corner of the school building – especially during nice weather. When it was cold or rainy,
there was little choice but to eat in the Dining Room. Students often traded food with
each other; some students would trade a dill
pickle for a fried pie or vice versa. Still others brought homemade biscuits and syrup
processed in their own syrup mill. Several
of the students lived in close proximity to
the school and would go home for lunch.
Among the teachers were Zeffie Hill (1st
grade), Sara Dorbandt Scott (3rd grade),
and Sara Miles (6th grade). She remembered attending classes in the new brick
building only through the third grade. The
school had become crowded so quickly, that
the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades were moved to
wooden buildings constructed in front of
the new building – along what is now Hawn
Street. She says the students “affectionately” referred to these wooden buildings
as the “Shacks.”
Once you reached the 7th grade or higher, you attended classes in the new brick
school building along with the first three
grades.
Alice Ward clearly remembers the Southern Pacific trains that traveled the tracks
that ran along the northern and part of the
western boundaries of the school property.
The trains made a lot of noise and often interrupted classes and teacher presentations,
but she remembers with fondness the trains
that came by loaded with American soldiers
on their way to or from the various military
bases in Texas and nearby states.
She stated that the people of Athens
would gather near the tracks on the school
ground and distribute mittens to the soldiers. She also remembers the celebration
of the signing of the Armistice Agreement
that ended World War I. It was a proud and
happy occasion for everyone, including the
school students.
Alice remembered that the school property had a tennis court, and sometimes the
court had a net. Plays and festivals (like the
Maypole) were popular student activities.
She recalled that W. O. Smith was the
Superintendent at the time she entered the
school, but he left at the end of the year and
was replaced by A. W. Eddins, whom she
described as a “huge man.” She also remembers Mrs. A. W. Sides as both a teacher and
a principal. She described Mrs. Sides as a
tiny woman, but a strong and smart one.
By the time Alice had completed her first
six grades, the new Athens High School had
been completed across town, so she attended that school and graduated from there.
Alice Coker Ward stated that she really
hated to see “that old building torn down.”
“I was at the ceremony, you know, and I
wished that I had been able to say a few
words.” When told that had the Ceremony
organizers known she was there, and that
she had been a member of the very earliest
class, she certainly would have been recognized and invited to speak.
First grade class of 1921
Earl’s family didn’t have a car so most
of the time he walked about 2-1/2 miles to
and from school down the deep sandy wagon ruts of Bunny Rabbit Road. Once his
younger sister, Thelma, started school, Earl
would at times be allowed to take a horse
to school with his sister riding behind the
saddle. The horse would be tethered on the
grounds all day while they attended school.
Young Earl’s first or second grade class
photo shows him with a soda pop stuck to
his shirt. Back then, the boys would pull the
cork from the bottle cap and place the cap
on the outside of the shirt and the cork on
the inside and press both together.
A story his mother told about young
Earl was that once after school when he
was probably in the first grade, they treated
the kids to ice cream. Young Earl was so
taken aback by his first taste of ice cream
that once he finished his scoop, he asked for
a second one. Upon getting it, young Earl
then ran all the way home with the scoop of
ice cream and gave it to his younger sister
Thelma.
Earl Hendry (1914-2005)
by Ron Hendry
First Grade Class of 1925
Mrs. Odie May Norwood was my first
grade teacher. Subsequent teachers for my
grades two through five were Mrs. Whitesides, Mrs. B. P. Smith, Miss Faye Colton,
and Miss Jennie Boone.
Mrs. B. P. Smith was a large woman
while her husband was quite small in comparison and he was principal at one time.
Once a friend and I slipped across the
street to get some sweets at Mr. Sides’ store.
First grade class or 1921 in
fifth grade class photo Names on back of photo as
written and without locations
for students are
John Lynn Watson, Arthur
Hawn, Abra Johnson, Rupert
Craig, Hester Kimbrough, Ona
Shelton, Jessie Mae Birchfield,
Frances Edwards, Evelyn
Hooper, Patti McCandless,
Jim Henry, Eva Dewberry,
Annie Lea Dougherty, Eliza
Jane Richardson, Clara Bruce
Perry, Mildred Stephens,
Groce Jorden, Alton Mundy,
Leonard Davis, Jess Pace, Lespa George, Charlcie Knight,
Emma Sue Blythe, Jane Ferrell. Note - One or more has
been cut off of right side of
photo. First four names are
thought to correspond to front
row. Leonard Davis is third
from left inside row of boys.
Lespa George is fourth from
left back row. Jane Ferrell is
seventh from left back row.
16
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
Upon coming back, Mrs. Sides stopped us
and asked in a stern voice where we had
been and then proceeded to give us a strong
talking to. Back then you weren’t allowed
to leave the school grounds unless your had
permission to go home for lunch.
After my father bought our first car, a
Model T, in 1926, on occasion mother would
drive us to school. However, she would usually let us walk the two plus miles home
down Bunny Rabbit road. In bad weather,
mother would take us to school in the horse
buggy as the roads would be so bad that our
car couldn’t get through.
During the school year “playtime” was at
recesses during the morning and afternoon
and also at noon after lunch. The boys and
girls played on opposite sides of the school
yard. On cold rainy days, the students played
in the basement.
Many students brought sack lunches
from home. Others bought lunches at the
school cafeteria operated by Mrs. Hamilton.
I usually brought my lunch and most often
it was a biscuit and sausage which was leftover from breakfast.
The building’s big windows ventilated
the classrooms and were painted green to
close out the sun’s rays. The desks were attached by wooden runners to form rows.
Each Monday morning began with an
assembly in the Auditorium on the second
floor to sing songs and hear announcements.
Back then there was no intercom system. If
Ms. Sides needed to make an announcement
during the week, she would go to each room
and make the announcement.
Mrs. Raymond Robbins was President of
the PTA for a long time.
Marie Hendry Kell
1932 Grammar School May Queen Coronation - From left to right - Jim Tom Meredith, Richard Webb, Laurise Prince, Phil Thomas, Bernice Young, Tom
B. (Buddie) Wofford, Billie Birt Trotte, Dorcas (Dot) Owen Dean, John Frank Gilmore, Betty Ross Moseley, Bobby Strain, Temple Pyle, Jacquelyn Holland
(The Queen), Ed Carroll (Ershie) Lehr, Franklin Denius, Jean Holland, Marquerite Barnes, John Albert Jones, Florene Wofford, Wiley Pennell, Mary Ellen
Cook, E. E. (Pete) Cornelius, Jr., Rosemary Denton, James B. (Jimmy) Cain, Jane Ballard. Photo was taken in back yard of Judge Sam Holland’s impressive
colonial style residence on East Tyler Street which has been preserved by Attorney Jeff Weinstein and currently serves as his law offices.
I started first grade in 1925. The grammar
school teachers I remember are Ms. Sides,
the Boone sisters, Ms. Odie Mae Norwood,
and Ms. Hart. I can still hear Ms. Sides out in
the hall saying “First grade rise, (then after a
short pause) pass.”
My father, Oscar Browning, had a dairy
farm about ½ mile east of town. He provided fresh bottled milk to many in the town
including businesses such as Paul’s Café
which was located on the west side of the
courthouse square. My brother, Joe, was 4
years older than me and everyday at lunchtime he and I would walk over to Paul’s Café
and have lunch.
Some teachers like Ms. Sides were very
stern. However, Ms. Jennie Boone had a
much softer approach. Whenever you would
do something out of line, she would softly
say “Ms. Jennie wouldn’t like for you to do
that.”
Muriel Browning Green
First Grade Class of 1931
The star performer in the grammar school
was Mrs. A.W. Sides, its principal. She spent
her entire 45-year career from 1907 to 1952
in that grammar school, initially as a teacher
and later as its principal. Her home today
remains on West College Street, just across
the street from and the closest house to, the
present administration building. The home
was shared with her husband, a grocer of
40 years with a store on the east side of the
Square. They were childless and enjoyed a
fine reputation in Athens through the years.
The other star in the Athens school system was S.R. LeMay, hired in 1922 as the
superintendent of the entire system. He began to hire teachers with college degrees,
increasing the number of subjects being
taught, which complied with state standards
and earned for the Athens school high marks,
permitting its graduates to enter colleges
easily. Shortly thereafter, he saw the need
for bussing students into Athens from the
many rural one-room school houses, which
produced enormous benefits for all parties.
I can well remember during 1938-1942, my
four years in high school, that half the student body was bussed in from rural areas.
Dr. LeMay, which he became later in the
Forties, supported Mrs. Sides fully, and they
became an effective team of accomplishment.
Athens was fortunate during those years and
its many graduates since then represent “the
proof in the pudding,” if you will.
Robert W. Strain
First Grade Class of 1938
Ms. Odie May Norwood’s first grade class of 1925 - back row L to R - Mae Elizabeth Payne, Mary Lou Adrien, ?, Florene Baker, Unis
Featherstone, Edwina Lewis, Jane Holland, ?, Callie Bess Speer, Flory Hallum, Muriel Browning - Middle row - Marie Hendry, Beatrice
Statlter, ?, Jozelle Speer, ?, ?, Sybil Dowell, ?, Preston Gott, Meyer Dewberry, ?, ?, ? - Front row - Billy Cox, ?, ?, ?, ?, Ben Roberts Kee,
?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Ernest Shelton
I attended Athens Grammar School
through the 6th grade. The school was called
the Grammar School because the term “elementary school” didn’t come into use until
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
around the end of World War II in the mid
1940’s. The teachers in the school, all ladies,
were usually addressed as “Miss” - they included Misses Odie Mae, Ora, Dora Mae,
and the famous Boone Sisters, Jennie and
Annie.
There was a sidewalk that ran from the
front door to the street. The boys’ playground was on the northside of the walk
and the girls’ was on the southside. I was a
“Tom Boy” and frequently sneaked over to
the boys’ side to shoot marbles with them. I
guess I was rather good at this sport because
by the end of the 5th grade I had a nice collection of marbles that I had won from the
boys.
But all this was very much against the
rules so when I got caught I was sent to the
Principal’s Office for punishment. The Principal was a tiny little lady named Mrs. Sides.
She wore her hair in a little “bun” and wore
old fashioned clothes. I thought she was
probably 90! She kept law and order with a
little 6” wooden ruler.
When one got caught carving their initials
in the wooden school desk tops or playing on
the wrong side of the sidewalk, Mrs. Sides
would wack you on the palm of your hand.
I thought it was worth every sting! I would
just look at the portrait of George Washington on her wall while she was whacking my
hand and think of my growing collection of
marbles.
In the third grade it was announced to
all that now we would be in the 4th grade.
The public schools of Texas, by law, were
increased to twelve grades. If you were already in school, you were promoted an extra
grade to keep you on the path to graduation.
There was a cafeteria in the basement run
by Mrs. England. We could walk home for
lunch if we wanted to, and I did a lot so I
could save my lunch money – partly because
I wanted to buy one of Mrs. England’s sour
pickles from a big jar – a half pickle for a
nickel! I have never had better pickles in the
66 years since.
There was also a small library in the
basement of the school; I was put in charge
of it at the end of the school day; that meant
getting the books back in order using the
Dewey Decimal System. I felt very important – I had a job to do!!
Mary Ann LaRue Perryman
First Grade Class of 1939
Mrs. Ellie Hart was my first grade teacher and she taught me the basics.
However, it was my third grade teacher,
Miss Dora Mae Royall (she later married
Kenneth Russell), who gave me direction in
life. She said we were facing North in her
classroom and that anytime we were facing
North, the Sun would always come up on
17
Mrs. Scirratt’s fifth grade class 1945 - Back, L to R - Nolan Myers, Richard Kendrick, Hamp Manning, Gwyn Brown, James
Baker, Jim Loveless, Mrs. Scirratt, Leon McGlaun, Roger McCulley, Roy Morgan, Bruce Dingler, Charles Harwell: Middle,
L to R - Jean McCain, Jeanneen Thornton, Evelyn McElhaney, Phyllis Lawson, Martha Lynn Laney, Delores Newbill, Allene
Mitchell, Bondell Johnson, Mary Ruth Loden, Melba Motes, Iris Mezell: Front, L to R - Horace Ayers, Stanley Hooper, Jesse
Donahoo, Lonnie Norman, Donald Harris, Billy Dan Knight, Barney Jack Hicks, Weldon McClure, C. M. Crawford
our right side and always set on our left side.
I have never forgotten this instruction.
In the second grade we had a rhythm
band composed of those who played Symbols, Tonnettes, and Castanet’s. Tonnettes
were a poor man’s clarinet, and Castanet’s
were a small container partially filled with
beans that the kids would shake.
Whenever an argument arose, the kids
would settle it behind Sides Store after
school. Word would get around and we
would rush over there after school to see the
fisticuffs.
The story got around that Ms. Sides had
an electric paddle. I never saw that but I can
verify that she had a wooden paddle that had
an electrifying effect.
About the fourth grade or about 1943, we
were all summoned to the auditorium and
each one of us was fingerprinted. This was
part of some national effort and may have
been war related.
Jimmy Mitchell
First Grade Class of 1941
My first grade teacher (1941-42) was
Mrs. Elizabeth Herrington. Everyone was
a little scared to go to school in such a big
building. We had already heard that Mrs.
Sides, principal, had an electric paddle and
had put nails on the banisters to keep the
kids from sliding down.
We learned to read by sight rather than
phonics and each room had Big Books on an
easel where we read about Dick, Jane, Baby
Sally, Spot and Puff. Arithmetic and Pen-
manship were very important. We learned
cursive writing in the first grade also. At recess we played Drop the Handkerchief, Red
Rover, Blind Man’s Bluff and Hop Scotch.
We loved our school programs, parties and
picnics. This was the year Pearl Harbor was
bombed. We all became very patriotic through
the next few years. Everyone learned to sing
all verses of The Star Spangled Banner and
say the Pledge of Allegiance. A favorite of
mine was learning the theme songs of the
armed forces, such as “Anchors Away,” I can
remember them today. We went to the auditorium weekly for programs and singing. We
all stood as we sang and had a special feeling of pride as we faced the American Flag
and paid tribute to our servicemen. We were
learning much more than academics.
At the end of first grade some of the students were double promoted to third grade. I
was one of them, therefore, I never attended
second grade and spent only five years in
grammar school.
Mrs. Joe Lamb was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Kenneth Russell, fourth; and Miss
Jennie Boone, fifth. We were departmentalized in the sixth grade and my teachers
were: Mrs. W.C. Scirratt, Mrs. J.L. Hiler,
Mildred Pennell, Miss Jennie Mae Hall, and
Miss Jennie Boone. We all took Spanish that
year.
We were very much aware of the war during these grammar school years, but I don’t
recall being afraid. We were so busy with
our “Victory” projects and being patriotic.
For example, every Friday we would buy
a ten cent defense stamp if we could. We
saved our money instead of buying candy at
Mr. Sides Grocery Store. The stamps were
saved in a book until we had $17.75, I think.
Then we could go to the post office and purchase a war bond.
Martha Lynn Laney’s 4th grade report card
We collected tin foil, cans, and paper
and brought the items to school. It seems
we had contests to see which room collected
the most. We were learning the meaning of
rationing and recycling. I remember vividly
that we did not see bubble gum, balloons or
18
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
bicycles until after the war. Our mothers’ did
not have nylon hose either. Families used ration stamps to purchase gasoline, sugar and
other necessities. Some of us had victory
gardens and wrote the servicemen letters.
We were learning very important lessons
that remain with us today.
I am thankful for my formative years
spent in Athens Grammar School and the
impact these experiences made in my life.
Martha Lynn Laney Shaver
I attended Athens Elementary School in
the first grade class of Mrs. Hart. I enjoyed
it very much . . . especially the terrarium.
We had a turtle. I also remember Mrs. Sides
waiting for my brother who was sliding
down the banister. In 1970, I began my days
as an aide in the Special Education Trainable
Class. My niece, Peggy O’Neal, escaped
onto the fire escape.
Annette Wilson Trammell
The building should not be torn down!
Keep it for history!!
Royce Glenn Donnell
First Grade Class of 1943
When I was in the second grade (194445), a large group of us boys meandered east
toward home each day after school, stopping
at various points along the way to enjoy the
landscape. On the corner of Pinkerton and
W. Corsicana Streets, the Christian church
was being torn down. All that was left was
the lower floor rooms, which were about
three feet below ground level, covered with
arsenals of broken pieces of plaster and mortar, ideal for “chunking.” One day a dozen or
so of us boys divided up into groups, picked
our room to use as our base of operation, and
threw chunks of plaster at the other groups.
After a few minutes of free-for-all warfare,
just as I moved my head up to take aim at anyone else who might be peeping out, a plaster
bullet hit me solidly on the forehead. I didn’t
feel any pain, but the blood started gushing.
The battle came to an abrupt halt, and my
brother and I headed for a little frame-building clinic about halfway back toward the
school, where I received three stitches and a
bandage that encircled my head.
I don’t know how Mrs. Sides, the principal, learned about our escapade or how she
got the name of every person involved, but
as soon as the roll had been checked the next
morning, we were all sent to her office. We
were spared Mrs. Sides legendary “electric
paddle,” but we spent the entire morning
sitting on the floor in the hall across from
her office writing over and over, “I will not
throw rocks after school.” Not very creative
on Mrs. Sides part, but it did the trick.
The scar disappeared years ago, but I still
carry a dent in my forehead where the piece
of plaster hit. The only names I remember of
those involved was my brother, Edgar, a first
grader then, and Damon Douglas, a classmate who lived down the street from us on
E. Corsicana. Who doesn’t know Damon?
All six years that I attended the old grammar school, we had a totally open campus.
During lunch time some students walked
to town during lunch, and some even ate in
the “lunchroom,” but a large contingency
crossed the street east of the school to buy
lunch at the store that belonged to Mr. Sides,
the principal’s husband. We would sit on the
ground between his store and the service station which faced W. Corsicana St. to eat.
One of the favorite meals was peanuts
poured into a bottle of RC Cola (12 ounces
for a nickel). The peanuts came in a cylindrical box and cost a nickel. Every once in
great while, someone would find a quarter,
or less often, even a dollar bill in their box of
peanuts. When this happened, word spread
quickly and everyone who had a nickel left
headed in to buy more peanuts. I don’t remember, however, ever hearing of two people finding money in their peanuts on the
same day.
One of my favorite games at Athens
Grammar School was what we called simply “marbles.” The technical term is “ringer”
because it was played in a ring drawn in the
sand. All one had to have to play marbles
was a few glass marbles, costing only ten
or fifteen cents; and they came with a drawstring bag to keep them in.
The rules could get pretty complicated,
but simply put, the object was to knock more
marbles out of the ring than anyone else
did. Everyone would put the same number
of marbles in the ring and each would hold
a marble, called a “shooter,” between his
thumb knuckle and his forefinger and would
“knuckle down” his fist to the ground and
flip the shooter to knock marbles out of the
ring. The person knocking the most marbles
out of the ring was the winner; and at the
end of the game, the marbles were returned
to the owners.
Except in the case of what was called
“keeps.” In “keeps” the players kept the
marbles they ended up with. A good marble
player could amass quite a collection of
marbles by playing keeps. We were forbidden to play keeps because it was considered
gambling, but there was no way to enforce
the rule.
I didn’t care to play keeps because I
didn’t want to take a chance on losing my
marbles, and I didn’t want to make someone
else feel bad if he lost his. The one time I
played keeps was when a boy named George
asked me to play keeps with him. I had seen
George play before, and I felt confident that
I could beat him. He had seen me play too,
which is probably why he decided to challenge me.
George was a quiet, well-mannered, kind
1949 May Queen Coronation - Queen Carla Morton with King Roland Lambert. Others in the photo are
unidentified. The Queen was voted on by the students and she selected her King.
boy. He was the true country boy type, wearing a long sleeve shirt every day of the year,
with the collar always buttoned. He was not
very athletically inclined, even in the game
of marbles.
I was at my best that day and won all of
George’s marbles. George probably didn’t
have the money to buy more marbles, but
he didn’t get angry or even ask that I return
his marbles. What he did had a much stronger impact on me. He cried. I couldn’t stand
that; I gave all his marbles back. The lesson
to me was this: to lose is to lose and to win
is to break even. I never played keeps again.
Melvis Benton
Queen Carla - 1949 photo
I attended Mrs. Hart’s first grade class on
the middle floor, first door on the left. Mrs.
Sides was the principal, and I had been told
by my older brother, Delwin, about Mrs.
Sides and her electric paddle. On the very
first day when we were dismissed for lunch
I agreed with several other first grade classmates that we go out and eat our lunches at
one of the picnic tables on the grounds -- the
one we selected was closest to the College
Street rock fence where we also wanted to
play. I also shared with them the story Delwin had told me about Mrs. Sides’ electric
paddle. No sooner had we got our food from
our paper sacks did Mrs. Sides appear and
informed us we were not allowed to eat on
the grounds, and we must return to the cafeteria. Needless to say, we were “scared”
speechless, each knowing we were in deep
trouble and would surely be punished with
the “electric paddle.” Needless to say, no
one ever saw an electric paddle!!
I was in Miss Hall’s fifth grade class when
I broke my right arm early in the school year.
Even though I was right-handed, I still was
expected to take my turn at the chalk board
for math battles using my left hand. I actually won a battle once when Miss Hall could
read my answer!
The most memorable event occurred
when I was in the sixth grade. I believe it
was in the spring of 1949 and I won the election for the Queen of the Grammar School.
My King was Roland Lambert, and we were
presented and crowned at a ceremony at the
High School Gym. It was a magical event
for me and I felt I was on cloud nine the entire time. What a high note and a wonderful
way to leave Grammar School.
Carla Morton Owen
What halcyon days those were! Mrs.
Lamb, Mrs. Norwood, Mrs. Shinn, Mrs.
Hall, and others. When we moved there in
1946 when my dad was Superintendentelect, a boy named Pillow (30 pounds heavier and a foot taller) was pounding my face,
pushing my face in the sand, over a slight of
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
some sort. My dad walked by, and saw my
plight as I looked pleadingly for help in his
direction. He glanced at me and said,”Hope
you get out of that scrape you got yourself
in, son’, and calmly walked in to Mr. Dunn’s
office, the guy with the purported electric
paddle. Good lesson in self reliance. Remember the spelling bees, arithmetic races
at the blackboard (and how Doretha McGee
beat us all), John Merchan’s uncanny marble
shooting, Carla Morton’s beautiful face, Pat
Beckham’s tough athleticism, crushes on
Peggy Sweeten, Bill Davis’s tossing candy
bars for us peons to scramble after, Mrs.
Lamb reading the post lunch story of Daniel Boone, attending the High School games
with stars like Red Forehand, Turner Gauntt,
Roland Hallmark, Charlie Hamill, Jerry Tidmore, Delwin Morton, and Sonny Mitchell.
George Lowe
This ole school brings back fond memories to me..the mention of the teacher, Mrs.
Lamb, makes me recall what a pretty lady
she was. One of my biggest memories was
when we were playing an outside game on
the school ground and I broke my leg. Billy
Bruce pumped me home on my bicycle and I
was on crutches for a few weeks after that.
Dan Chaney
First Grade Class of 1945
I have mixed feelings when I think about
the old elementary school building coming
down... When I received the message from
one of my classmates (class of 57) I wondered how it could still be standing. It was
over 60 years ago when the picture I have
of my first grade class under Mrs. Hounsel
was taken. Nancy Henry and Lesley Smith
are the kids I remember most often. I can’t
remember one bad time from those six years
at Athens Grammar School, but there a lot of
good memories with that old building.
It is sad to think that the old building
offers no more useful purpose. It brings to
mind one of our favorite songs we used to
sing in the school during music class: “When
The Work’s All Done This Fall.” The song
told a story of a cowboy working on the farm
and over the years he grew old and finally
realized after many seasons passed, that he
would eventually pass on too. The old building has lasted a lifetime. Perhaps it is time to
let it pass on.
There were those Christmas projects that
the teachers would help us make for our parents. I learned how to tie-die in the 3rd or 4th
grade. That’s how we made tablecloths and
napkins for our moms.
At recess plenty of fun to be had. There
was baseball, marbles, spinning tops, high
metal slides, swings and a lot of sand. You
could take a hard fall in that sand and come
up laughing. Our teachers were more like
having another mom.
Remember Wild Root Hair Oil? That’s
what mom used to paste my hair down. By
the end of the day and after playing on the
school grounds, I would have a head of sand
that wouldn’t shake out.
The Circle drive at the south entrance of
the building is where I would get out of the
car during a cold winter day or during bad
weather. Close to the south entrance and
on the lower level is where the cold drink
machine was located. For a nickel you could
buy an RC Cola or Orange drink. My favorite was a Delaware Punch.
The end of a school year usually meant
a treat at the movie. We were all bussed to
the theater for a solid hour or two of backto-back cartoons. We maybe even got to see
a Roy Rogers movie as well. No television
in those days.
The teachers would break up fights on the
school grounds, but I often wondered why it
was, that after a fight, you usually became
best buddies with the guy you just fought
with? Even in elementary Sonny Music was
a good boxer. I moved away from Athens
after the 7th grade. I always wondered if
Sonny became a professional boxer.
I wonder if the live oaks still stand in
front of the building. They made nice shade
on a hot school day. It would be nice to put
a marker out there with the names of the
kids and teachers that the building served so
well. There probably isn’t enough room for
a marker that large.
James (Jimmie) G. Miller
I could not begin to remember my years
at the Old Elementary School without a fond
remembrance of the Candy Store where we
went to drink Grapette Soda, get the peanut boxes where one could actually sometimes find money, and the always wonderful
Cracker Jack surprises. Other fond memories
come tumbling through such as roller skating at recess and our games of jacks, tops,
and swinging from the monkey bars.
One bad memory that has stayed with me
all these years is of Martha Owens swinging
from the monkey bars with a sucker that had
a wooden stick in her mouth, falling and jabbing the stick down her throat.
I do not recall any teachers that I disliked
although I have to say that Miss Odie Mae
Norwood was my very favorite for the first
grade. For all of us who spent all 12 years in
the Athens school system, we have a wealth
of memories, do we not?
Jan Nelson Mattson
Our father attended grade school there,
walking daily from Scott Street. His first
grade teacher was Mrs. Hart; his third grade
teacher was Miss Hattie Mitchell. Originally
Athens Grammar School, it changed to Athens Elementary School.
Miss Annie Boone taught third grade;
went to NY City every summer with Miss
Jennie Boone to see their married sister,
Mary, who lived in Scarsdale, near by. They
toured the Queen Mary ( not the new QM
II), saw Broadway shows, and Miss Annie
played “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” on
the piano so all her students could march
into the auditorium for assembly.
Lunch was available in the the Hot Lunch
Room, not “cafeteria.” Some kids paid 10 to
15 cents to eat there. Others brought lunch
in a brown paper bag from home. Some children walked home for lunch.
Betty Jo Hodge’s mother parked at the
curb, washed Betty Jo’s hands with a damp
wash cloth, and served lunch right there!
Vegetables like potatoes, onions, and others, were stored in a room on the first floor
right next to Mrs. Brewer’s second grade
class. Little Millard Lyle McBurney developed allergies to onions, tomatoes, and lima
beans, dust, chicken feathers, and cat dander—but not dogs—while in Mrs. Brewer’s
class next to the vegetable storage area.
Fire drills were scheduled as often as
once a month. Somebody took a metal rod
and banged it against a metal rod curved into
a circle. The noise went on repeatedly. We
had to drop everything and march toward the
playground to a spot far enough away to be
safe. Then somebody clanged the metal bar
twice, waited a little bit, and clanged it twice
again, signaling an “all clear” and that it was
safe to come back inside.
Lucky children could walk across the
street from the grammar school and take a
30 minute piano lesson from Mrs. Tindle.
Luckier children could walk up to Prairieville Street and take dancing lessons from
Miss Fannie Louise Carlton, in the afternoons after school was out.
The luckiest children took both.
Nobody worried about kidnappings. The
flag had 48 stars in it. The school hosted a
cake walk once a year.
Millard Lyle McBurney
First Grade Class of 1946
Learning Athens is about to remove the
old WPA Elementary School building saddens my heart. It was in the playground of
the school that I met my wife. It was in 1947
and we were both in the 2nd grade.
We both have fond memories of those
days. The only 1st grade teacher, Miss Hart,
and 2nd grade teacher, Miss Sides, and many
more. Both started teaching in the days that a
teacher could not be married.
Tommy and Jonna Cobb Morton
19
First Grade Class of 1947
My mother (Leland Loughridge) is 96
years old and still can remember some of the
things about her younger years.
Mother taught in the old school all her
teaching years and chose not to leave it when
the other building was built in front. She had
started teaching in Athens—in Athens High
– as a Journalism teacher (as her undergraduate degree was in journalism). Then she
had time apart when we moved to Houston
during the War.
When we returned to Athens, Mother
began to teach in elementary grades. That
is when I went to kindergarten in the house
on South Prairieville where my family had
lived before we moved to Houston. I often
walked to school from there.
Mother taught the fifth grade classes for
most of her career. Her love of children
and the written word inspired her to get her
Master’s degree in the teaching of Reading—which she accomplished by commuting to Commerce to East Texas University
(now A&M University) Mom was fairly active until a couple of years ago but now is
needing assistance for most activities.
I’m wishing that there would be some
way to save the old building as a museum
but assume it would be too costly to make
it usable.
Linda Loughridge Pepper
Many of the children who began first
grade with me in 1947 were in my graduation
class in 1959. It seems as if Helen Forrester,
David Finley, and Jimmy Graham always sat
close to me in class in every grade as most
teachers seated us alphabetically. My best
friend, Karen Faulk and I were usually separated into different classrooms altogether. I
can’t imagine why….
I can still visualize the beautiful wood
floors and the high ceilings of the interior
of the building. All the classrooms were
equipped with tall windows, chalkboards,
erasers, and one-armed desks.
20
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
liams was my teacher, and I always had to go
to the nurse’s room right after lunch - conveniently to skip Geography....which I hated at
the time (now I wish I hadn’t!).
In fifth grade I remember Mrs. Rowell
commenting that she had three Lynda’s in
her class - that’s when I remember that we
were all labeled with our middle names attached - Linda Ann (Loughridge), Lynda Jo
(Foster), and Lynda Lou (Seibt). Lynda Jo
and I carried ours through high school and
Linda Loughridge went by Linda.
In Miss Jennie Boone’s sixth grade class
I remember doing a paper on Romania...
don’t know why I selected that country - it
was so small.
Linda Lou Seibt Simons
Ms. Simpson’s fourth grade class of 1951 - Top L to R - Ms. Simpson, Nelda Lauderdale, Ronnie
Hendry, Lucy Dee Henderson, James Arnold, Nancy Derden, Clinton Till, Linda Loughridge, Second
L to R - Gary Douglas, Carolyn Sue Pagitt, Danny Hickman, Nanny Sue Hodge, Harvey Payne,
Gloria ?, Leon Lambright, Betty Head, ??, Third, L to R - Bill Kittles, Mary Elizabeth Bush, Ronnie
Burgamy, Othella Hampton, David Robinson, ??, Omer Benton, Helen Tillison, Bottom, L to R Judy Barlow, James Pack, Gaye Holcomb, Bobbie Sue Hill, LaJuan Tincher, Leila Sue Beckam, Jerry
Henderson, Suzanne Pruitt
The playground was mostly sand and
some gravel. I still have a scar on my knee
which contains some of that gravel—a visual reminder of a girls’ softball game at recess so long ago. The wooden swings which
hung from tall metal structures by heavy
chain links are also hard to forget. Anybody
get splinters besides me?
My teachers were all wonderful, as I
recall. In first grade, Mrs. Hallum was my
teacher; second, Mrs. McElhaney; third,
Mrs. Sides; fourth, Miss Williams; fifth,
Mrs. Rowell; and sixth, Miss Jennie Boone.
I have fond and special memories of each
and every one of them.
Mr. Mastin Stover was our principal. He
had a habit of asking students if we could
spell “incomprehensibility.” Did he think we
were not understandable or did he just want
to know if we could spell a multi-syllabic
word? I was never sure.
My third grade teacher, Mrs. Sides, and
her husband owned a little grocery right
across the street from school. It was always
the first stop for those of us who walked home
after school. The favorite items to purchase
in those days were tiny six packs of wax
Coca Cola-shaped bottles filled with sweet
red and green liquid and candy cigarettes.
Besides those items, my favorites were a
bottle of Grapette, and a peanut patty.
When my class was in sixth grade, we
moved into the brand new Athens Elementary School, a one-story light brick building
with a gym. This new building was directly
in front of the Old Athens Grammar School.
It was shinny and new, but lacked the char-
acter, charm and beauty of the old building
where we had begun our education.
By seventh grade we found ourselves
back at our Old Athens Grammar School!
One night in 1953 or 1954, I believe, Athens Jr. Sr. High School burned to the ground,
leaving us without classrooms. We had finally made it to the “big time” and now had
to return to our old school for some of our
classes. It was, however, familiar ground.
The Old Athens Grammar School building may disappear, but memories of old
times and lifelong friends will not. The echo
of many decades of children will live long in
our hearts and minds. Dear old building, you
served us all so well for so long.
Lynda Jo Foster Johnson
I remember having Mrs. Hart in first
grade. I think the principal was Mr. Dunn anyway he sat down with me and told me he
was my cousin!
In Miss Alphin’s second grade class - I
was going to leave during recess - we lived
on South Prairieville at the time, across from
Linda Loughridge, but when Billy Pool
asked me where I was going, I sat down
on the steps outside Miss Alphin’s room
and told Billy I was just going to cover my
books. Wouldn’t dare tell him I thought it
was time to go home!
And one day after Miss Annie Boone’s
third grade class, I fell on the door stop when
going out to catch the bus (we had moved
out on the Old Tyler Highway); I still have
the scar on my knee!
When I was in fourth grade, Miss Wil-
Six wonderful and very productive years
were spent in Athens Grammar School. The
influence of the great teachers there still affects me today. The friendships that were
formed are still alive and very important. But
I also remember some little things that were
also important and had a lasting impression
on me as well. For one thing, BULLIES!
You hear a lot about the bullying problems in today’s schools, but we had bullies
back in Athens Grammar School – not so
much at school but on the way to and from
school. There was a large group of us, boys
and girls, who walked to and from school together each day; we all lived within a block
or two of each other. There were three boys,
who also lived near by, but they weren’t really a part of the group walking together
– they constituted their own little group.
These three were classmates Marcus Taylor,
Jerry Cox, and David Evans.
And, they were all BULLIES! Marcus
Taylor was small, but he was probably one
of the toughest, scrappiest boys in grammar school. Every day in the first and second grades, he tried and often succeeded in
pushing other students into the open sewer
ditch that ran along the north boundary of
the school property and which our group had
to cross on our way home. Jerry and David
sometimes helped him or at least encouraged
him in his endeavors. No one ever “told” on
the three because it was after school, and, if
we did, we knew it would be even worse the
next day!
Of course, the three bullies matured
over the years and became friendlier. David later became a real football star in high
school but was killed in a tragic accident in
the 9th or 10th grade. Marcus was still with
us in high school, in the Class of 1960; I’m
not sure what happened to Jerry Cox!
Tom Selman
My elementary school years were wonderfully rewarding years of my life as an
Athenian.
The tall, strong, large brick building was
filled with many students, excellent teachers,
plus two excellent principals, Mr. Gibson and
Mr. Mastin Stover. Teachers like Mrs. Joyce
Williams Hall, Miss Jennie Mae Hall, Misses
Annie and Jennie Boone, Mrs. McElhaney,
Leland Loughridge, Tennie May Ballow,
Mrs. Lamb, Mrs. Scirratt, Mrs. Loper, Mrs.
Goble, Mrs. W. B. Rumbo, school nurse, and
Mr. A. R. Pollard, P.E. teacher, and others,
all have places in my heart. A teacher was
someone I respected the utmost. Our classes
were structured and fun as well.
Air conditioning was unheard of in those
days, so we did not even know we were
hot in class. In winter time, our wonderful
janitors, like Mr. E. H. Dyer, made sure our
classes were warm when the school day began. The janitors came in very early in the
morning to light the boilers that supplied the
radiators.
Our playground was so much fun.
Around all the large trees were stone and
concrete benches. Countless games were
played around those shady trees.
Playground equipment was scarce, but,
we made our own fun with baseball, softball, Red Rover, hop scotch, playing jacks,
etc. We were never bored.
The cafeteria served a good lunch with
milk in small glass bottles. There was no
such thing as a free lunch and breakfast was
never served at school.
Back then, we had an open campus at
noon. I remember my friends and I would
walk to the L & L Cafe on the south side
of the town square for lunch. We could buy
a hamburger basket (including French fries)
and a soft drink for $0.50 (no tax). We ordered our lunch, ate, and got back to school
on time always.
Our PTA (Parent-Teacher Association)
was very active at school. My mother, Rena
Nash, was PTA President and other officers
during my school days along with my late
little sisters, Candy Nash Speed Weatherly, and Martha Anne Nash. My dad, Dr.
Claude H. Nash, was a loyal supporter of
our school.
One of the money making projects of the
PTA was running the concession stand at the
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
Hornets’ Friday night games at Bruce Field.
All the lady workers gathered at our home
Friday afternoons to prepare the hot dogs to
be served at the games. Those ladies worked
long and hard for our school.
All kinds of programs were presented on
our stage in the auditorium on the top floor
of the building. We had Queen Coronations,
talent shows, magic shows, square dancing,
taught and called by Mother, (Rena Nash),
plus many other things.
Very fond memories will live on in my
mind and heart of the wonderful years I
spent at Athens Elementary.
Sharlotte Nash Holiman
a wakeup call for me to start paying attention in the classroom. Nowadays, some kids
learn the alphabet at three or four.
In about the third grade, I got roped into
some sort of a dance event. I seem to recall
it was square dancing. Mother made me a
red and white checkered shirt to wear in it.
Dancing has never been my thing but I went
along with the program and managed to get
through it.
Once in the fifth grade, I hit a softball a
long ways for a home run. It obviously made
a lasting impression on me and I thought at
the time it even impressed Mr. Pollard who
was watching us play.
Mastin Stover became our principal
about my fifth grade year. I remember his
full head of solid white hair with still youthful looks and getting the impression we had
a most distinguished looking principal.
Ron Hendry
I remember starting first grade in a
shocking new world full of strange people of
all types and I resented that it took me away
from my ongoing exploration of our wondrous and huge family farm with my trusty
hounddog.
My first grade teacher was Ms. Louis
Hounsel. I remember her as a kind hearted
grandmotherly type of teacher who only got
after me once when she lightly paddled me
on the legs for putting my feet on the desk
in front.
I remember the first time the first grade
boys were handed out a bat and ball. A small
wiry kid named Maxey grabbed the bat and
ball and told the rest of us to follow him to
the field. I could tell that kid was a natural
leader and he proved to be later on when we
played football in Junior High. His given
name was Glenn Smith.
In the first day of second grade, my teacher whose name escapes me, told us to grab a
pencil and sheet of paper. Then she said “I
want to find out what you learned in the first
grade.” Then she told us to write down the
alphabet without looking up at the alphabet
on the wall above the chalk board.
Immediately I went into a panic as I
couldn’t remember much of the alphabet beyond the first few letters. The paper I turned
in had some omissions and misplaced letters.
I do not remember if I cheated by looking at
the alphabet but do remember the incident as
We lived just around the corner on Frizzell Street, so I walked to school. I was in
Mrs. Ora Hart’s first grade class on the second floor on the SW corner where we learned
all about Dick, Jane, and Spot.
I’m sure that was the first time that most
of us slid down the big old banister, when
the coast was clear of course. That was also
the time when many of us carried enough
sand home in our hair to plant a turnip patch.
That came from building huge piles of sand
and bailing-out as we yelled “Bombs over
Tokyo” or other similar battle yells.
Second Grade found me in the basement floor on the N-W corner in Mrs. Florence McElhaney’s room. It had holes in the
floor that you could drop marbles through.
We had no idea what was down there at the
time, but I guess it must have been the boiler
room that sent us the steam to make the old
radiators click and hiss to keep us warm. The
big old windows opened up to keep us cool.
I don’t remember it ever being hot in that old
building, but we didn’t notice things like that
because we didn’t know about AC yet.
Bobby Simpson’s mother had the class
across the hall the best I remember. I must
have really liked Mrs. McElhaney because
when she moved up the next year to the third
grade I cried to stay in her room instead of
going to Mrs. Gober’s class, and she was kin
to me.
For the Fourth Grade we moved back up
to the second floor, midway on the east side
of the building in Miss Jennie Mae Hall’s
class. It was the closest we ever were to Mr.
Dunn’s office where he had the feared “electric” paddle. We could hear the licks all the
way to our room. Talk about a deterrent!
About this time we realized we were Hornets, and had competition between classes
and in class in such exciting things as verb
conjugation bees. Learning was such fun!!
All of the teachers we had were so dedicated
and loved us and what they were doing. We
were so lucky.
There were lots of good memories in that
old building. Most of us have probably stood
with our backs to the building, and looked
straight up while clouds would float by making it look like the building was falling on
you. The design of the building made it so
tempting to try to climb. The only problem
the finger/toe grips only went up so far before a wide band made it impossible to go
any higher. Then you had to work your way
back down. I don’t remember anybody ever
getting hurt trying.
Somewhere along the way Mary Lou
Knott broke an arm on the equipment that
you swung from walking with your hands. It
seemed SO high when we were so little.
The fifth grade was our last year in the
grand old building. I was on the top floor
that year in the N-W corner in Mrs. Tarlton Loughridge’s room. The worst trouble I
got into was during that year. They had dug
up big piles of soil on the north side of the
playground next to the underpass. It formed
perfect dirt clods. The train went real close
by the campus and had a regular clientel of
passengers. It was just too tempting!!! SO
several of us wound up writing I’ve forgotten how many times on the black board, “I
will not throw dirt clods at the hobos.”
Cleo Hickman and I sometimes played
“Annie Over” using the building as the
“challenge”. We only had one baseball and
never left it on the roof. And no we never
left it in a classroom either. We still had such
love for the old building that we would have
never thought about breaking a window.
I know the old building is old and it has
cracks, but hey, it had cracks on the north
end on the solid west side when I went there.
I bet there are probably ways that it could be
renovated much like you hear about the court
house renovations. Much of the town is hardly recognized from when we were kids. It is
about all that is left from our school days.
The big old post oak tree that was at the east
side of the campus blew down last year. In
the paper someone said that it was probably
50 years old. That old tree was huge in ’47.
Vernon Price
21
I remember first grade and Mrs. Hart in
1947, the brick barrriers around the trees in
the playground. What fun we had playing
around those trees and “bailing out” of the
swings--once losing a skirt in the process.
I remember seeing the boys sliding down
the bannisters when they thought a teacher
wasn’t looking. I recall going to Sides’ store
at recess for a bag of penny candy. I moved
away in the sixth grade, but have only fond
memories the school and Mrs. Gober, Mrs.
Stover, Mrs. Sides and Mrs. Scirratt.
Sue (Pagitt) Sparks
My three biggest memories from the Athens Grammar School years have to do with
recess, the lunchroom and an unexpected
return.
I remember an occasional organized
game such as softball which included coed
teams, but mostly I remember recess as just
wandering around. Usually, in groups of
two, three, maybe more, we were left to our
own devices. I remember playing with our
wooden tops and also with our own marbles.
This was apparently allowed by the authorities as long as we didn’t play a form of gambling known as “keepsies.” But mainly we
just hung around with each other, boys only.
I don’t think we ever knew what the mysterious girls were doing.
I guess there was some law that we had
to stay on school property, but there must
have been an exception for the little store
at the end of street. That store had all sorts
22
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
of candies for a penny a piece and different
flavors of soda pop for a nickel each. I also
recall buying different flavored packages of
powdered kool aid. The object was to turn
your mouth and tongue a bright color, even
red. Even now, I have fond memories of that
store.
Our lunch room was located in a couple
of wooden World War II type barracks which
had been connected together and situated
behind the school to the northwest. I only
remember one meal. One day as we went
through the line, the server dumped a large
amount of this stuff onto our plates. This
must have been cooked macaroni with some
sort of tomato sauce and maybe a little hamburger meat. We guys looked at each other
with the same thought-YUCK. We took it to
our seats and proceeded to ignore it. When
we left, we had to rake off our plates into a
garbage can. As I did so, I swear the can was
at least half full of that stuff and looked just
like it had when it was served to us. Throughout my life, I have periodically thought of
that uneaten meal.
After finishing sixth grade we moved
on to Junior High at the high school building. One night in the fall of 1954, someone
started a fire in the high school building and
it was totally destroyed. School officials
had to send the 7th and 8th grades back to
available classrooms at the grammar school.
Having to return to the grammar school
building did not make us happy. It was short
lived as the next year we were returned to
the 9th grade classrooms, and beginning the
10th grade, we were welcomed to the brand
new and beautiful high school. Our days at
the grammar school were finally over.
Jack G. Keeble
First Grade Class of 1948
Just about my oldest and most precious
memory of the old Grammar School is how
our mother would tie our lunch money in the
corner of a handkerchief so we wouldn’t lose
it out of our pocket. I still have a mental pic-
ture from somewhere around 1949-1950 of
walking across the school ground on the east
side of the Grammar School with my older
brother and sister, about where the covered
walkway used to be.
Would also mention that our Class (AHS
Class of 1960) was the second occupant of
the “New” Grammar School (the present
Administration Building), when we were in
the 6th grade 1953-1954. During that school
year, dimes were collected from us students
to help fund the building of the swimming
pool at Kiwanis Park (now filled in).
I also remember the stone benches surrounding all the trees in the playground.
Only one such bench survives, and it is missing the concrete cap. Two old wood Army
barracks buildings served as the lunchroom,
with the 6th Grade Band meeting in the east
end of that building (in a storeroom).
James R. Kittles
Ms. McElhaney’s third grade class of 1951- From top L to R - Mrs. McElhaney, Iris Jean Carter, Hubert Pruitt, Pamela Lamb, Harold Cook, Reggie Berry, Kay Garner, Peggy Joyce Keith, David Geiser,
Judy Cannon, Hallie Culpepper, Jerry Kay Griffith, Billy Harris, Janet Smith, Vernon Smith, Richard
Sprinkle, Fayrenne Smith, Milburn Chaney, Ruth Ann Ayers, Hugh Lucas, Linda Sue Wilbanks, Ronnie Cumbie, Mack Carnes, Katie Dale Killingsworth, Jerry Speaks, James Adair, Jimmy Kittles, Carol
Collier, Joe Ayres, Jerry Ann Shirey, Elizabeth Selman, Bill Everhart
I can remember Mrs. Brewer (mother of
Tommy Brewer of Class of ‘61) who taught
2nd grade, Miss Hall (a young teacher in 4th
grade who later married), Mrs. Joe Lamb (I
believe she taught 4th grade, Mrs. Reierson
(3rd grade), Mrs. McElhaney (3rd grade),
Mrs. Loper (5th grade), Mrs. Evans (mother
of Sue Evans of Class of ‘56), Mrs. Rowell (5th grade) whose sister, Mrs. Edwards,
taught high school English at one time, Mrs.
Pirtle (1st grade) her son was in the Class of
’59.----; and I have forgotten so many!
I don’t know of stories of interest, but
I was always rather reverent about the old
building as my mother had also gone to
school there. It was loud by today’s standards, and one could sometimes hear the
paddling of a misbehaving student.
And I remember the quickly arranged
programs in lieu of luncheon recess on the
top floor in the auditorium on rainy days.
And I remember Hugh Lucas throwing green plums or paper wads in 7th grade
English every time the teacher (Mrs. Riley)
would turn her back, bringing her to tears;
this was after the old high school burned and
the 7th grade went back to the old grammar
school.
Joe Ayres
Mrs. Letha Hounsel was my first grade
teacher. She was strict. Her rules included
“Do not break in line” and “Do not chew
gum.” If caught, you might get your mouth
washed out with soap.
I remember Mrs. Loughridge (5th grade)
teaching us to make a special “t” in cursive.
I began writing my name and other words
using the “t”. Later, I got in trouble with
other teachers because they said I was using
it inappropriately.
I remember spelling bees with Mrs.
Stegall. Recess was great fun. We jumped
rope, and I really liked the jumping which
we called “Hot Pepper.” At lunch, we would
walk to town to get a hamburger at Joe’s,
a hot dog and vanilla shake at Robinson’s
Drug Store, or a hot dog at Stirman’s Drug
Store.
Elizabeth Selman Phillips
I went to Athens Elementary School.
The year I started in the first grade was the
first year the new building, built in front of
the old one had classes. In the 4th grade we
then went to classes in the old building. I
had Miss Jennie Mae Hall in the 4th grade,
Mrs. Tarlton Loughridge in the 5th and Miss
Jennie Boone in the 6th. Just the other day I
was telling my husband about a special time
in Mrs. Loughridge class, around Christmas
time of 1957. In the old classrooms there
were chalk boards all around the room and
she used it that year for us to make a colored
chalk mural all around our class of Christmas scenes. Everything; from a Christmas
tree, manger scene complete with Joseph,
Mary, Baby Jesus, wise men and all the animals. We worked on it for weeks, drawing
and coloring the scenes. To a 5th grader it
was magnificent and left a lasting memory
from my childhood.
Janice Renne Hicks Thorn
My first memory of Athens Elementary
was September, 1952 when I was in the 5th
grade. We had moved to Athens that summer
and I did not know many people. I was assigned to Mrs. Stover’s class. Hers was on
the third floor, southeast corner. I was scared
to death of her! I made my first friend, Claire
McElhaney, in that class. She was to be
a good friend for a long time. I eventually
made more friends, but she was the best.
I would walk home for lunch because we
lived on Prairieville and my dad would drop
me back off after lunch because he worked
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
cluding High School.
I have lots of fond memories of the building. I remember all of my teachers, some
of the classes, and some about recess. The
memories are “spotty,” so I will just give a
glimpse of some of them.
I remember the old stone and wood fence
that was there in my earlier grades because
we used to sit on the stone structures during recess. I remember the “monkey” bars
where we spent quite a bit of time. I remember drawing a Christmas mural on the blackboard in Miss Jennie Mae Hall’s Fourth
Grade class, and how my twin, Nanette, and
I used to trade desks without teachers knowing what we were doing.
I also remember, in the 5th grade, when a
baby alligator came into Mrs. Loper’s room
from across the hall. She was not happy
about it, but we in the class were amused
and felt sorry for the young man who had
brought the alligator to the class.
Jan Larkin Carrico
First Grade Class of 1949
Ms. Sides 3rd grade class of 1951 - top L to R - Ms. Sides, Bobby Balfour, Nanette Larkin, Nancy
Underwood, Janice McLaughlin, Jayna Bell, Denis Day, Betty Lane, Sue Ellen Stalter, Bobby Tidball,
Jerry Porter, Julia Baggett, Gerald ??, Treeman Thompson, Dorothy Hickman, Larry Speake, Gracie
Barnes, Bobby Jack Little, Jan Larkin, Vivian Dotson, Ann Pierce, Mary Frank Ballow, John Dowdy,
Sunny Thornton, Anthony Baker, Linda Hickman, Ronnie Bell, Bobbie Sue Head, Ray Hester, Joe
Bob Bollinger, Margaret Bennett, Dale Holder, Marceline Heflin, Alan Tarrant, Marlene Heflin, David
Porter, DeLoris Tompkins
at Lone Star Gas right around the corner on
the Corsicana highway. I’m sure I missed a
lot of fun at lunch, but I did not like school
lunches.
My next real memory of Athens Elementary was in November of my seventh grade
year. That’s the year the high school burned.
We had worked so hard and so looked forward to going to the high school building,
even though we were confined to the basement. We were in HIGH SCHOOL! Then it
burned! The seventh graders were summarily sent back to elementary. We were put
in the basement! My home room was Mrs.
Stegall’s. Anyway, my major classroom was
in the southwest corner of the basement.
I remember that Mrs. Fluker’s class was
in the middle of the basement. It had the big
columns that hold up the other floors. Now
that I think about it, that’s pretty scary. Anyway, I had to sit by one and could not always
read the board as well as I should. So when
we had to copy the rules for signs in mathematics, I messed mine up. We were supposed
to memorize them to say in front of the class.
Well, I messed up on my memory work. I
could not be exempt from my math test!
Mrs. Fluker did give me another chance.
She told me that if I would come back to
the first class exam and say them in front of
that class (eek, not mine), she would exempt
me. I turned it over to my dad who rewrote
them—I hoped they were right. Must have
been as I was exempt.
Melinda Dean Johnson
My first memory of the building was a
story time my mother took me to in the library at age five. I had Mrs. Brewer in second grade, Miss Hall in the fourth grade,
and Mrs. Stover in the fifth grade. Third and
sixth grade was in the “new” building next
door. I was always getting into trouble for
running up and down the concrete stairs.
When the high school burned, I was in
seventh grade, and my class had school in
old Army barracks behind the building. We
had to go inside the old building to use the
restrooms. The cafeteria was in the Army
barracks, also. I am very sorry to hear the
building will be razed because it is a part of
Athens history and many good times.
Carolyn Ann Kemp Carter
First Grade Class of 1950
First of all, I would like to say that I hate
to see the building go. I think that it should
be preserved for posterity.
We think of it as an elementary school,
but we (my twin and I) went to that building
for five years in elementary school and two
years of Junior High after the Athens High
School building burned. Besides that, our
dad went to school in that building and, at
the time, it housed all grades of school in-
The old Athens Elementary School was
just “school” to my class. We didn’t think
about it being new or old. Of course, most
of our parents went to that school as well!
Grades 1-6 were in that building along with
the “new” building that was built right beside
it. When you got to the 6th grade, you got to
go to the “new” building! Of course, when
Athens High School burned, our school became grades 1-12, along with various other
places in town that housed students until the
new high school could be built. There were
lots of steps to climb to some classrooms,
and the nurse’s office was in the basement—
along with the music room, but we didn’t
care. We had lots of fun times there!
Carol (Miller) Hudson
23
I only spent two school years, (‘53/’54
under the tutelage of Ms. Jennie May Hall,
4th grade and ‘54/’55 under Mrs. Rowell’s
5th grade), in that old building. Also had
(singing) classes under Mrs. Woods there
during 2nd and 3rd grades.
I remember Mr. Brown, the janitor, who
kept the old boiler in the basement fired in
winter. He showed me the whole operation
under there one morning while it was very
cold outside. I remember Mr. Pollard getting
upset (or acting as if he did) at Mrs. Rowell for telling us his given name (Rudolf).
The old L shaped wood frame building that
served as the cafeteria before the new one
was built over close to the new single story
school building. I remember the long pole on
each floor used for opening the very top windows in every room and being sent to fetch it
from whatever room it was used in last.
I remember those swing out, metal
framed type windows well because a little
girl ran into an open one and cut her head so
badly while running around the corner of the
building they had to call an ambulance.
I also remember the “auditorium” on the
top floor where we viewed films, (shown by
kids from Mrs. Loper’s 5th grade class because she was the only teacher who wanted
to operate the old film projector) and where
we had assembly one or two grades at a time
because that’s all it would seat.
It’s kind of sad to see old landmarks from
your childhood torn down but time goes on.
Roland Crossley
We didn’t have kindergarten then. We
started first grade in the high school annex. Remember playing under the hedges?
I couldn’t see the board but could read Dick
and Jane so the teacher knew something was
wrong. She told my mother I needed glasses.
Then, I could see the board, the leaves on
the trees (formerly a big green blob), and the
squirrels playing in the trees.
At midterm of second grade we moved to
the “new” elementary school that is currently being used as the administration building.
I had Mrs. Gandy for lst grade and Miss Alphin for 2nd grade. Then, in the same building I had Mrs. Odie Mae Norwood for 3rd
grade. In 4th, we moved to the old grammar
school, and Marilyn McBurney and I were
in Maude Estes’ class together. Fifth grade
was in the old building with Mrs. Loper.
Then back to the “new” building for 6th
grade with Mrs. Scirratt. How do I remember this? I can remember being paddled in
first grade for talking and having my citizenship grade lowered for talking in 4th grade to
Marilyn. Mrs. Scirratt and Mrs. Stegall burst
my balloon when they told me at the end of
6th grade that I had to wear dresses in junior
high—no more blue jeans. That’s it—that is
what warped me!!
Sue Sansing
24
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Class of ‘62 only attended fourth and
fifth grades in the “old grammar school”, but
I loved that building and have many pleasant memories of times there. Remember
those hated weigh and measure days with
our nurse Mrs. Rumbo? We had music with
Mrs. Wood in the basement of the building.
My favorite memory is of us playing
jacks just inside the cement walls of the restroom entrances. I remember playing softball
in the sand and running around the tops of
the cement squares built around the trees, as
well as ripping the skirt off my dress when I
jumped out of the swings. We learned dances
to perform at the Pancake Suppers and had
a Colonial Day when I was in fifth grade. I
remember wonderful teachers like Mrs. Estes, Mrs. Sides, Mrs. Rowell, and, yes, Mrs.
Loper whom we all feared and didn’t want,
but found her to be just as dear as the others.
We made and shared wonderful friendships which exist today and have been such a
special part of our lives. I do understand the
need to tear down the old building, but I hate
to lose that landmark and what it represents
to so many of us from Athens.
Diane Hickman Cleveland
My cousin, Marilyn Gene McBurney,
and I always played “horsey” with the
sashes on her dress as the reins. Most of her
dresses had torn sashes when she got home.
We would build “houses” in the hedges during recess. Of course, the boys (Don Hood
- do you remember?) would tear up our play
houses.
Elaine McBurney Stringer
The building itself was so impressive to a
“grade-school” student in the 50’s--a towering orange brick structure designed to withstand any assault--even a horde of giggling
pre-teen kids--who assembled there every
September, and adjourned in May. I remember the noisy stairwells, the basement “music room”, where our teacher Mrs. Brooks,
accompanied our singing on an old upright
piano, and the large old-style teacher desks,
which are now considered “antiques”.
I don’t remember much about the academic lessons, but I do remember longing
for recess, and playing jacks on those concrete slabs; also lining up facing the building
during fire drills and going in from recess. I
remember the sound of the wind in the pine
trees that dotted the playground, and the
train whistles on the nearby tracks.
I remember my fifth grade teacher--Mrs.
Stover--as a stern but fair lady, who we
revered and feared. I remember the day a
fellow classmate--Frank Kelly--was getting “licks” for some infraction of the rules.
Punishment in those days was swift and punitive; the sentence was to be carried out in
the room by Mrs. Stover. She had Frank lean
over her desk, and when she connected with
the paddle, Frank and the desk sailed a few
feet across the room; we tried hard to keep
straight faces.
I remember that the classroom was on
the top floor, no air conditioning, and we
watched wasps float in & out of the open lever windows on hot days, providing a measure of excitement from the drone of social
studies.
My parents, Guy & Eileen Pirtle, taught
at West Athens for several years--Mother
taught fourth grade, and later special education. My dad taught special education, and
later became a vocational adjustment coordinator for the older students. Despite their
meager salaries, they loved teaching, and
I don’t ever remember them complaining
about their jobs. They loved their students,
and the feeling was mutual. Dad also loved
singing and playing the guitar and many may
not remember that he had a student chorus
that sang for several service clubs in town.
I have a picture of Mother with her students at Thanksgiving, with their pine-cone
turkeys and big smiles. My parents came
from a one-room schoolhouse background,
and it seems to me that there was more of
a connection among teachers, students, and
parents then than in present times (This was
pre-TAAS, TAKS, TEKS, etc.)
More than the building, I remember caring teachers, who gave me a great foundation
for success in life. I also remember fellow
classmates with whom I formed friendships
that have lasted throughout my life. As the
commercial says, “those things are priceless.”
Surita Pirtle Hatton
Thinking about the Athens Grammar
School, I remember:
1) Going to Music class in the basement;
the room was on the Southeast side of the
building. I can’t remember the teacher’s
name, but she was great! Not only did we
learn the music scale, sing songs, etc., but
we also learned verses right out of the Bible,
the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Star Spangled Banner. I think I was in the 2nd or 3rd
grade, located in the new elementary school,
and we would walk over to Music class, and
I really did enjoy it!
2) In the 4th or 5th grade – playing softball during recess with classmates like Cissy
Holloway and others at the far West end of
the play ground.
3) In the 4th or 5th grade – dusting erasers on a tree with classmates like Gail Taylor
and others.
4) The old steam radiators used for heating
every class room.
Jerry Sparks
I began school in a building on Faulk
Street. We moved to the old three story building in second grade. Later when the new
(east) building was completed, we moved
there. We carried our desks and things over
and set them up as directed by the teacher. I
remember the old school a lot. We ate in the
old army barracks. I remember S.E. Sansing,
Jr., Sue’s brother, coming to school for show
and tell day. He had returned from the Korean War. My teacher let me go with Sue to
escort her brother to our class.
The nurse’s office was on the bottom
floor. One boy was hit with a baseball or
bat on the playground and had blood on his
clothes. I went with him to the nurse. Mrs.
Rumbo made me leave. I was sure I could
have helped her if she would have let me
stay. I had the bug to be a nurse already
Marilyn McBurney Adams
I think every kid today should have a Mrs.
Rumbo in their life!
Another thing I remember is the candy
store across the street. For some reason, the
school let us go to this store during the day
(at noon, probably) to indulge our sweet
tooth. We also could go downtown to eat
lunch. Stirman’s Drug Store was a favorite--can you remember the hot dogs there?
I spent time, too, at Perry Brothers Five and
Ten Store or Duke and Ayres; they let us pick
out dishes, etc., for gifts, and put them on
lay-away. Can you see stores today trusting
an elementary kid to do that?
Kay Nelson Stearns
First Grade Class of 1951
I remember the cold marble staircases;
they felt so good to hot, tired feet from the
sandy playground. We played “May I?”, hop
scotch, kick ball, and tag. Our recesses were
pretty long, so we had a lot of time to run
and forget about the books inside. The restrooms were at the basement level, so we
could just run in when needed. As I remember, they weren’t the greatest to look at.
The classrooms were big with lots of
windows to let in the light and breezes on
hot days (we had no air conditioning). The
ceilings were high, so there was lots of wall
space for the teachers to fill up with displays and student work. I remember in Mrs.
Lamb’s fourth grade, we made friezes about
Scandinavia to go around most of the room
and over the windows.
Mary Lou McNutt’s grandparents from
New York sent us chocolate covered ants
and chocolate shoes like the wooden Dutch
ones. What a treat! Mrs. Lamb was a real
honey of a teacher--always kind to everyone
even if she did write on my report card that I
was talking too much in class!
In fifth grade we walked in, and there
was Denist Harrison already sitting in Mrs.
Stover’s classroom. She was a wonderful
teacher who loved science. She seemed old I
guess because she didn’t wear anything but
shirtwaist dresses. That year, we had a boy
named Kaye (Simmons) in our class. This
was the first and only time anyone else had
my name!
Miss Jennie Boone was my sixth grade
teacher, and was she ever great. I think all
of us loved Miss Jennie. This was the year
that we had to start reciting poetry in front of
the class. Miss Jennie made learning fun, but
she expected a lot from us, too.
Mrs. Rumbo, the school nurse, still holds
a special place in my heart. She was the very
image of what a nurse was back then: the
starched, WHITE uniform, the cap with its
blue R.N. ribbon, and that wonderful navy
blue cape that swirled around when the wind
blew. Always business-like, but still gentle.
The old school building I remember had
huge stairs, hall monitors, and the basement
was the most dreaded place where we had
to go see Mrs. Rumbo, the school nurse, if
we were sick. We also had music class in the
basement.
I had Miss Annie. Everyone knows Miss
Annie, that was all the name necessary. She
taught us to sing “Surrey with the Fringe on
Top,” and all of the songs from the Musicals
she visited with her sister Miss Jennie, each
summer in N Y. We did arithmetic races in
Mrs. Estes’ room.
Recess was fun. We chose our teams and
there were always a few choice players that
could knock the ball out of the field in baseball. It was very sandy on the playground.
We could go to the little store across the
street and buy Candy cigarettes, and Orange drinks. The campus was not closed so
we could walk down town for lunch and be
back to school in one hour, or we could eat
in the lunch room at school for twenty-five
cents a day. Thank goodness for the Girls
restrooms. They were pretty awful, but the
girls could run into the restrooms and be safe
from boys who were chasing them. What
could be worse, being kissed by a boy on
the playground! I am grateful we have these
memories of our teachers, bobby socks &
petty coats, and happy times with friends.
Sue Lane Vickery Voyles
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
I remember at lunch we would go out
for lunch and cross that busy highway. Pop
would give us a free soda on Wednesdays. I
can also remember having PE outdoors and
Sue Lane and I would hide from Mrs. Mills.
We both ended up with U’s on our report
cards or at least I did. I’m looking forward
to hearing from people who have a better
memory than I do.
Pat Vermillion Jones
The old three story grammar school
looms large in my memory as I recall when I
was a student there. My first experience with
the building was as a third grade student in
Miss Annie Boone’s class. My class had the
responsibility of the Valentine Program. I
remember the stage being very big and the
auditorium itself being huge. As I toured the
building a few weeks ago, the reality is the
stage is small and the auditorium didn’t have
that many seats.
Mrs. Maude Estes, my fourth grade
teacher, had her classroom on the second
floor just across from the center stairs. Spelling and math races on Friday are a favorite
memory. Stanley Howard and I raced furiously to win each week. Also, that year Mrs.
Watt Norman, Sr. (Watt, Jr. was in our class.)
came to our class and helped us make pottery ashtrays for our mothers as a gift for
Mother’s Day. We made the ashtrays in class
and then walked across the highway to the
Athens Pottery to watch them being placed
in the kiln.
For fifth grade, I moved upstairs to Mrs.
Tarlton Loughridge’s room. I thought the
room was very big; but, again, it wasn’t as I
learned on my reality visit a few weeks ago.
As fifth grade students, we had the opportunity to be student aides for Mr. Pollard,
the assistant principal whose office was on
the second floor. Two students were selected to sit outside his office and run errands.
We did our lessons while waiting to be dispatched on an errand. I felt lucky when Mrs.
Loughridge chose Sue Lane Vickery and me
to be the first students from her classroom to
be student aides.
Sixth grade meant a move to the basement floor and the class of Mrs. Joyce Hall.
Our room was in the northeast corner of
the building. We could see the playground
which was reserved for the lower grades.
On occasion, if we were good, Mrs. Hall
would take us over there some Friday afternoons for recess. I remember the lockers
in the hall outside the room. I was a packrat
even then. Mine was stuffed with old papers
and projects.
Sixth grade students were difficult even
back in 1956. To help get the class behavior
back on track, Mrs. Hall had us make classroom rules which were monitored each week
by the class. Tickets were given and court
was held on Friday. Having to appear before
the class, made us think before we acted and
helped us learn to take responsibility for our
actions.
The playground out back was always
great fun. Baseball, Red Rover, hop scotch,
and jump rope were very popular. For baseball, the big trees were the bases. We jumped
rope to many rhyming songs. Every year I
went to Spencer’s Hardware to buy a new
jump rope. For Valentine’s Day, we decorated brown bags to receive our Valentine
cards.
When I think of the building, I think of
Mr. Brown who was the custodian. He had
an area below the first floor where he kept
cleaning supplies. When it was time to clean
the blackboards, we went to get rags and the
oily cleaner for the boards. The stairs were
always a little rickety. We had music class
on the first floor. Mrs. Costlow is the music
teacher I remember. We sang lots of songs,
but my favorite was the Civil War song,
“Goober Peas.” I still like that song.
The Sides Store was always there for a
treat. I remember buying candy hearts, slow
pokes, wax bottles with a Kool-Aid like
drink, and the ever popular, candy cigarettes.
At lunch, we often “went to town” to get a
hamburger. Of course, no trip to town was
complete without a quick stop at Duke and
Ayres or Perry Brothers. You could always
get something for a nickel. The Farmers’
Market was also a place we visited sometime at lunch. We would buy stalks of sugar
cane and pomegranates.
I hate to see the building torn down, but
the important thing is we will always have
our memories.
I treasure the many friends I first met in
grammar school. Some of us still meet for
lunch in Athens once a month. I am thankful for the wonderful teachers I had. Each
of them had a positive impact on me. Each
gave me the opportunity to grow and become
a responsible person in addition to teaching
me the skills I needed to succeed academically.
25
ways won those contests.
Farm kids like me didn’t have to start
school until cotton picking season had ended. I would pick cotton as far west as Kerens
during cotton picking season.
On rainy days we would watch films of
Southwest Conference games narrated by
Currin Tips. We saw swivel hipped running exploits of L. G. Dupree, Jim Swink,
and Dicky Meagle among others. Later we
would get out on the playground and try to
emulate what they had done.
Louis Greene
Dorothy Selman Wasunyk
Teachers most remembered @ AES Annie Boone - we always sang a song every
morning - I remember most being introduced
to the music from “Oklahoma”; Jennie Hall
- helped me master my multiplication tables;
Bertha Stover and Mrs. Ballew are remembered for other things.
I remember: a fourth or fifth grade picture
taken by the Review of softball at recess - I
was at bat and Frances Ledbetter was catcher
with a cast on her right wrist; being pushed
down a flight of stairs; cutting my head on
a corner of one of the old casement style
windows; being rescued by Principal Mastin
Stover through the window of my mother’s
wrecked car on the last day of school. There
are so many more memories of that time in
my life too numerous to be included.
Linda Gee Meeks
The main thing I remember about the old
elementary school was that there was not
a single blade of grass on the playground.
Nothing but sand and rocks. Also, going to
the “Little Store” across the street from the
“New Building” to get candy.
Jon Wyrick
My first experience with the old grammar
school building was in 1948 when my sister,
Jean Ann, took me to school on Kid’s Day
when I was 4 years old. I was so nervous and
figidity that at the end of the day, the teacher
told my sister not to ever bring me back.
I remember the large steam radiators in
each class. They would get real hot and burn
you if you got too close.
We ate lunch at the outside cafeteria made
out of an old wooden army barrack building
situated at the northeast corner of the school.
Kids like me with sack lunches would go to
the far north end and eat lunch while kids
who had the money to buy lunch would eat
their lunch near the front or south end.
We would play marbles for keeps down
at the west end of the playground. Once Pop
Pollard caught me and several other kids and
took us up to his second floor office where
he gave each of us a couple of hard licks
with his wood paddle with holes in it.
We would also gather at the west end
playground and engage in wrestling contests
to see who was strongest. Jerry Herriage al-
It’s funny how small things stick with
you over the years; I can vividly recall “Pop”
(aka Coach Pollard) being the “quarterback”
at Athens Elementary and throwing the football to 25 plus sixth graders as we all went
out for passes during recess.
I remember the arithmetic races on the
blackboard as one teacher’s class would
challenge another teacher’s class for bragging rights.
Then there was the music class in the
basement classroom; and I remember climbing the stairs to get to the top floor to get to
our regular classroom.
I also vividly recall when some of the
“big kids” returned to our building when the
Athens High School building burned. But
most of all, I remember the carefree times
with friends, friends which have lasted a
lifetime.
Mike Cade
When I think back about my early school
days in the original elementary school building, I remember crowded stairways full of
classmates and the smell and swish of new
Blue Jeans at the beginning of the year. I had
both my 4th and 5th grade classes there with
Mrs. Estes and Mrs. Loper respectfully.
Boys at that time gave their girl friends
quarter-size silver disks with their name on
it. I remember many spelling bees within the
26
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
class. In Mrs. Loper’s 5th grade class my
best memory was of her session on “Taking
a Trip across the USA”. It was an imaginary
trip that included writing letters to AAA
and local Chambers of cities we wanted to
visit along with mapping and journaling our
adventure. Dusting erasers was an earned
privilege while recess gave time for softball
games.
After school I have vivid pictures of the
little store across the street with peanuts in
RC colas making a great spewing fountain
and the early rock and roll like Little Richard blaring.
Joe Sparks
First Grade Class of 1952
I began first grade in 1952 in what is now
the Athens ISD Administration Building.
First through third grades and then sixth
grade were spent in various rooms in that
long white brick building. I remember being
in the old three-story building for fourth and
fifth grades and music classes—and what
great memories I have from those years.
In the fourth grade, my teacher was Mrs.
Joe Lamb—the kindest woman who ever
walked the earth—at least that was the way
we felt about her back then. She never raised
her voice and always seemed to smile at us.
She arranged spell-downs and math contests
for us. When we made 100 on our spelling
tests, she’d reward us with a NICKEL! And
we got to go to the candy machine down in
the basement and buy a treat and eat it in
class (as I recall!)
I remember one spell-down when my
word was “blew”—but I couldn’t remember
that word—in stalling, I asked her to repeat
the word—and she did. Still I couldn’t think
of the correct spelling—so I asked her to use
it in a sentence. “The wind blew.” I finally
said “B L U E” and down I went! I was just
crushed—but somehow she took the hurt
away—of course, here I am some fifty years
later still remembering that I missed that
simple word!
In those years Mr. Stover was Principal
and “Pop” Pollard was the Assistant Principal. Mr. Stover made sure we all got to watch
the baseball World Series every year—and
“Pop” would tell us all kinds of things—for
instance, when we had those little glass
bottles of chocolate milk (the ones with the
cardboard stopper and paper covers), he’d
always ask, “Did you know that chocolate
milk comes from brown cows?” And being
city kids, we wouldn’t know he was pulling
our leg!
Pop Pollard also ran our math contests.
As I recall, because I was the fourth grade
math champ, one day he and I had a contest
at the chalkboard. Since he called out the
problem—he had the answer before I ever
got the problem written—I can’t remember
if I took that defeat gracefully or not!
My greatest fear as the year came to an
end was that I would get MRS. LOPER in
fifth grade! Her profile struck fear into all the
students who saw her on campus!! And, of
course, I ended up in her class—she scared
us to death the first day of school—but I believe she was one of the best teachers I ever
had. She challenged us with projects that
we wouldn’t have had if we’d been in other
classes. Every year she made her class create vacation plans, complete with budgets
and maps. We had to write to other states
and request maps (No Barnes and Noble
to run to back then!) We then used these
materials to plot out our trips—and we had
to keep a diary of what we saw and did on
this “pretend” trip! That was when I learned
the difference between a speedometer and
an odometer—not your regular fifth grade
vocabulary!
What was really cool about Mrs. Loper
was that she was in charge of the AudioVisual equipment—she ran the projector
for every group that came upstairs to see
films—and, as a rule, she brought her class
in with her. We’d sit in the back of the auditorium and watch whatever she showed
the other groups. And then when they left,
we’d get to see the film run backwards as
it was being rewound! What fun! It seems
like Mrs. Loper had some responsibilities in
the big Christmas and Easter programs that
were put on each year. For some reason, I
was cast as an angel in each of these programs. I guess I was just “typecast”!
It was during fifth grade—I think it was
April—that the sky turned GREEN and the
winds came. We were on the third floor of
that old building and it was as scary as all
get-out! I don’t know if a tornado touched
down in Athens, but the winds and rain
came and, as I recall, it hailed. I know lots
of tree limbs were twisted off and thrown to
the ground. It turns out that was the same
day the 1957 killer tornado hit in Dallas and
tore Oak Cliff and the Love Field neighborhood to pieces!
At the end of that school year, Mr. Ben
Shew gave a music aptitude test to all the
fifth graders and then held an information
meeting about being in the band. Since my
name was Kittles, it was a sure thing that I
was going to sign up and be in the band—my
four older brothers and sisters had all been
in the band—and since we had a clarinet at
home, that would be my instrument.
One of his favorite selling-points Mr.
Shew always gave the parents was: “If you
teach a kid to blow a horn, he will never
blow a safe!” And, as far as I know, none
of our Class of ’64 band students ever did
blow a safe!
For sixth grade, the band students were
all put in one section—with Mrs. Harris
Ballow—over in the one story building. On
Tuesdays and Thursdays, we would board
one of the old yellow school buses and be
taken to the band hall for band instruction—
this was the band hall in the old gym building—the one that had been a WWII airplane
hanger.
It was during the sixth grade that we did
a “This is Your Life” program about Mrs.
Ballow—I don’t remember if it was for her
birthday or what the occasion was—but I do
remember singing a solo version of “I Love
You Truly” a capella on the stage of the 3rd
floor auditorium—and I’d never heard that
song before—so I’m sure it sounded really
awful. Somehow we had little known facts
to tell about her. (They may have come from
Jerry Laney who was her nephew and in our
class.) For instance, she had gone shopping
in Tyler one Saturday and looked down after
she’d been in several stores and noticed she
had on two different colored shoes—one
brown and the other blue. As I recall—she
was amazed and embarrassed by our salute—but we thought Ralph Edwards would
have been proud of us!
At some point during my fifth or sixth
grades, we took a field trip from school to go
to The Texan movie theater downtown—to
see “The Ten Commandments.” I can’t remember if we had to pay a quarter each or
what—but I do remember us all going on
school buses. We also got to go to the high
school to see the Band Follies—one of the
best recruiting tools Mr. Shew had in attracting future band members!
Patsy Kittles Summey
I remember every Spring when the CocaCola truck would arrive on the playground
and pass out all kinds of good “stuff” (rulers, pencils, etc) including an ice cold Coke
in a bottle.
I remember square dance lessons during
our P. E. time. I remember Mrs. Rumbo’s
office (school nurse) being in the basement
and being somewhat afraid to go down there.
I remember growing beans in a cardboard
box and making fudge on the steam radiator
in about the 4th grade.
I remember that Pat Cook De Rosa and I
walked to the Duke and Ayers on the square
every day at lunch to buy modeling clay to
add more to the multi level house we built
on top of our shared “airplane desk in 5th
grade in Mrs. Stover’s room.
I remember fried bologna and “green
bread” lunches in the cafeteria – green bread
because they always served cooked greens
of some kind with the fried bologna and
put the slice of white bread on top of it. By
the time you got to sit down the bread had
soaked up all the juice from the greens and
made it green and soggy.
I remember that we still took naps in 2nd
grade.
Marcia E. Blackmon
What I remember most of all is Jerri Jane
Williams doing the “dirty bop” at the little
cafe/store across from the newer elementary
bldg. “Whew”,.....could she do the dirty
bop!
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
And then there was “Pop” Pollard guiding us in a game of football at recess.
And how about Ted Thornton and Coy
Ray Dingler, two real “bad guys” that had all
of us lesser guys shaking in our boots every
time they looked at us.
Just reminiscing!
Larry Tinney
In 1958 I was in the 6th grade and my
teacher was Miss Jennie Boone. We were
in the basement on the southeast corner. I
remember finding a Liberty Head dime on
the playground way down by the old tree in
the southwest corner of the playground. The
date on it was 1914. That was the year my
daddy was born. I still have the dime.
Judy Stone Kinsey
First grade class of 1953
First grade class of 1954
When I began my education in Athens,
Texas, West Athens Elementary was the only
elementary school in Athens. There were no
kindergarten classes. Your public education
began with first grade. The first, second and
third graders used the newer building. The
fourth, fifth, and sixth graders got to use the
“old” building because they were “older”
and more mature.
Many memories still flood my mind as
I think of those elementary school days.
Memories such as
– learning to read,
– health checks (which meant that our
picture would show in the cars of a train in
the classroom if our fingernails, hair, ears,
and teeth were clean or well groomed).
– Math races
– Square dancing in P.E.
– Movies on the top floor of the old
building.
– Trips to the basement to see the nurse
or go to music.
– Finally getting to go off campus to eat
lunch.
Each teacher and their special contribution to the molding of not only our education, but also our character.
All compete to be “the favorite” memory
I have of West Athens Elementary. While
these recollections are very important to me,
the one that has allowed me the most gratification is the fact that I was also a teacher
at West Athens Elementary years later, of
course. It was my privilege to teach in the
room of one of my favorite teachers—my
sixth grade teacher, Miss Jennie Boone.
I could still see where we sat, how we did
things, and even Miss Jennie conducting
one of our math races. Some afternoons as
I reflected on the events of the day I would
recall how she would handle situations and
only hope that I could make as positive an
impact on my students as she made on me.
I’m one of “those Kittles girls”. I graduated from AHS in 1966.
I remember eating lunch in the old
wooden lunchroom which was an old Army
barrack. I remember the milk came in little
glass bottles with those little bottlecaps.
There was also a huge slide (huge to me
then) on the playground. I remember coming down it one day and bumping heads with
someone when I hit the end.
I also remember being thankful that I
didn’t get Mrs. Wofford for 5th grade! I
think I had Mrs. Stover.
Kaye Albright Fitzgerald
I hate to see the old school building go.
My daddy, Fred Stone went to school in the
old elementary school building. My mother, Doris Stone taught school there. I also
went to school there. In 1956 I was in the
4th grade and my teacher was Mrs. Lamb. In
1957 I had Mrs. Lockridge in the 5th grade.
Her classroom was on the third floor on the
northwest corner.
Stella Kittles Sikes
board, the race would begin. The first person
with the correct answer was awarded a point.
This process continued until all team members had their turn at the board.
In my mind’s eye, the blackboard was
huge; it seemed to span the entire width of
the wall. Of course, everything seemed huge
to a fourth grader.
I can also remember the wall of windows
in her classroom. These windows provided
a clear view of the enormous mature oak
trees in the playground area. I also recall that
these windows were the source of great distraction to several of my young classmates
who would get caught daydreaming during
class work time. I guess that’s the reason our
newer schools do not have windows.
One of my least favorite memories
evolved around the gym. I remember the
huge rope that hung from the tall ceiling.
Occasionally we were required to ascend the
rope to the top, or at least go as far up as your
strength would allow. I don’t imagine many
schools have this requirement today due to
stringent safety and insurance concerns, but
I don’t think many of us suffered serious
“trauma” from the experience.
Robbie Rakestraw
First grade class of 1957
My third grade teacher was Mrs. Reierson
and my sixth grade teacher was Mrs. Ballow.
I remember learning cursive and spelling
bees. I also remember the Easter program in
the auditorium when we sang “Old Rugged
Cross” and “In the Garden”, church hymns
students can’t sing today.
Kathy Calhoun Wood
First Grade Class of 1962
In 1967-1969, I attended West Athens
Elementary. I was in the 5th and 6th grades.
My teachers were Mrs. Tiner, Mrs. Sholars,
Mrs. Loughridge and Mr. Staples. We had
a library in the old building and Mrs. Ollie
Hawn was our music teacher. We were not
allowed to go into the 3rd or basement floors.
I still remember many of the old songs that
Mrs. Hawn taught us.
Bunny Shumate Freeman
And Those We Couldn’t Place
I went to school here in the 1950’s. I remember some of the Christmas plays we
had in the top story of the building. I also
27
remember hiding gold in the tree roots on the
campus. If I had the gold, I wouldn’t have to
work today.
B.C. “Bob” Willingham
One day Dewayne Johnson and I were
put in a line in the hall. I didn’t know that
line was for paddling from Mr. Galspie, our
P.E. Coach. I turned to ask Dewayne what’s
going on, and he said it’s the talking that
got us in that long line. I started crying right
then. Dewayne turned and looked me in the
eye and said, “Nancy, if you will tighten up
right before he hits you it will not hurt.” Boy
was he wrong. When I walked out, he was
laughing at me. So I guess he knew beforehand of the sting.
Nancy Waggener Marion
I remember going to class to learn my
ABC’s, but every time a train would go
down the tracks, I would have to stand to my
feet to watch the train come into Athens or
leave Athens.
I also remember when I was In Mrs. Annette Pulley’s class. We had a stage play on
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. No! I
wasn’t Prince Charming. I was “Dopey!”
Mrs. Pulley was my favorite teacher then
and even today we still have contact with
one another.
Lynn Malone
In Remembering
ATHENS GRAMMAR
SCHOOL
OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATES
Sheri J. Robson, O. D.
Complete Vision Care
First Grade Class of 1967
Mrs. Lamb’s 4th grade class always
comes to mind when I think about West
Athens Elementary School. As I recall, we
were located on the north side of the 3rd
floor. Each week Mrs. Lamb would divide
the class into equal teams and we would
have “math races” at the blackboard. Each
team would send one person to the board and
Mrs. Lamb would call out a problem. After
each member had the problem written on the
Office Hours By Appointment
903/675-2697
222 South Palestine Street
P. O. Drawer 149
Athens, Texas 75751
IT WILL BE MISSED!
28
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
Compliments Of
ATHENS HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1968
Carol Albright Bailey
Larry Anding
Don Andrews
Steve Arthus
Joyce Barnes Griggs
Melvin Bass
Regina Berry
Bill Bethel
Ralph Billings
Joyce Blair Dockery
Darnell Blair Walker
Teresa Bowen
Wanda Bowman Lee
Lynda Bowman Pierce
Bill Brewer
Kin Browning
Verba Buell Downing
Teresa Burton Day
Bill Cain
Prissy Caldwell Maxfield
Connie Callarman McGregor
Randy Carmichael
Jim Cathey
W. O. Chancellor
Sarah Jane Clark Brown
Mike Coker
Gary Craig
Jimmy Craize
Carl Crayton
Ann Cundieff Russell
Mike Cure
Linda Daniel Godwin
Randy Daniel
Mary Davis Cleckey
Peggy Dean Smith
Nancy DeShazo Highum
Joe Dewberry
Lynda Douglas Rube
Karen Dunn Huffman
Zandra Eggleston Tidmore
Billy Ezernack
Annie Featherson Davis
Sue Fitzgerald Wylie
Charlotte Flippo Judd
Bill Flowers
Sue Fore Green
Steve Foster
Linda Gamble
Mike Gillert
Joey Glider
Lanny Godwin
Clay Goodman
Kathy Goodwin DuBois
Dortha Graham
Larry Graham
Johnny Green
Shirley Griggs
Pam Guilhas Haltom
Wayne Halbert
Bobby Hampton
Donna Hanson Dean
Ronnie Hardy
Betty Harris Beullin
Clint Hart
Rittie Hart
Evelyn Hasley
Lanell Hays
Bonnie Hendricks Gordon
Charles Edward Hendry
Rita Hickman Christopher
Charles Hill
Janelle Hobbs Bowland
James Hocutt
Mike Holland
Sarah Hoybook Conway
Cheryl Huffman Best
Dewain Ipock
Connie Jackson
Larry Jackson
Meg Jackson Hampton
Kathleen Jackson Thun
Debbie Johnson Godwin
Carol Johnson Ridenour
Johnny Jones
Kevin Joyce
Elaine Knight Shelton
Danny Lambright
J. W. Lambright
Tamara Lambright Warren
Randy Langley
Karen Lawson Fulford
Pat Lawson Spradlin
Gail Lecius
Bobbie Lewis Lavanaway
David Loden
Ethel Lynch Chancellor
Wayne Magness
Carolyn Massey Blanton
Tommy Maxfield
Gail McAnally Bowers
Don McCool
Andy McNutt
Dorothy Miers Duiphin
Charlene Miller Bledsoe
Dana Mitchell
Vicki Montgomery Conner
De De Moore
Beverly Morrison
Janet Murray
Phyllis Musselwhite Haley
David Oliveria
Keith O’Neal
Susan O’Shaughnessy Ballard
Terry Pace Spence
Gary Pagitt
Billy Paris
Sheila Paroline Everett
Sandra Partin Webb
Annie Powell Robison
Jackie Price Colwell
Carolyn Ray Wallace
Darlene Renfro Westbrook
Pat Richardson Brown
Lila Richardson Shumate
Connie Ring Lide
Ron Rogers
Ira Royall Shaw
Judy Rutledge
Connie Ryon Allen
Lynn Sanders
Randy Scott
Shasta Shafer Dunklin
Stephen Shaver
Lula May Sherman
Billy Don Sherman
Kathleen Shives Gilliand
Diane Shreve Singer
Mary Sims
Judy Skiles Stewart
Alvin Skinner
Sarah Sparks
Buddy Stalnaker
Joel Stegall
Linda Stout Hanks
Brenda Tackett Westbrook
Ramona Tanner Burch
Charman Taylor
Mary Jo Taylor
Patsy Taylor Holman
David Thomas
Terry Thomison
Charles Tidmore
Kay Trammell Baker
Lynn Trammell
Jerry Trammell
Raynell Tramel Johnson
James Truesdale
Rob Tyner
Wendy Walker Moskop
Roseanna Wallace McGill
Troy Lee Wallace
Bernice Ward Harris
Gary Warren
Joe Warren
Diane Watson Caughron
Ann West
Lance West
Joe Ben Westbrook
Sue Lynn Whatley Trent
Clifford Wherley
Frank White
Jackie Whiteside
Billy Williams
Steve Williams
William Williams
Joe Williford
Donnie Willingham
Harold Wood
Mary Wood
Cathie Youngblood Williams
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
Henderson County Historical
Commission
29
FRIENDS OF THE
HENDERSON COUNTY
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
201 East Larkin Street
Athens, Texas 75751
903/675-6199
Serving the Henderson County Historical Commission by Providing
Financial Support and Volunteers
for Its Various Programs and Projects Dedicated to
Preserving the History of Henderson County in All Its Forms
201 East Larkin Street
Athens, Texas 75751
903/675-6199
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http:www.rootsweb.com/~txhchc
Our Mission
In accordance with the State Historical Commission is to protect and
preserve Henderson County’s historic
and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment and economic benefit of present and future generations.
Chairman: Nelda Reynolds
Vice Chairman: Fran Bethea
Individual Memberships: $25.00 ● Family Memberships: $50.00 ●
Business Memberships: $100.00 ● Lifetime Membership: $500.00
Among the projects that the Commission and Friends have recently completed and are engaged in an ongoing capacity are
• historical marker and dedication for the Henderson County Courthouse
• historical markers and preservation of our county’s pioneer cemeteries
• historical markers and preservation for our counties historically significant schools and churches
Among the several new projects in development by the Henderson County Historical Commission and Friends of the Commission are
• Oral History Project - Begun in 2007 and headed by Tom • Heritage Festival - Our Heritage Festival was conceived
Selman. Efforts are underway to secure grant funding for the
equipment needed for this ambitious project. A training seminar is being planned for later this year to provide guidelines
for those who would volunteer to interview our esteemed
citizens who have first hand or other knowledge of historical
occurrences pertaining to this county or the life and times of
its citizens. Anyone desiring to assist on this most worthy project should contact the Commission and leave your name and
phone number to the attention of Tom Selman.
by Commission Member, Judy Jacobson, and approved by the
Commission. The first festival was held at the Arburetum last
fall. This year the Festival is being planned for the Courthouse
Square under the project guidance of Judy Jacobson. The date
of the Festival will be announced soon.
• Historical Survey - Conduct an inventory of the entire county and all of its communities to arrive at an accurate listing of
historic residences, commercial buildings, churches, and historic sites. This project will involve hundreds of volunteers and,
hopefully high school classes will be assisting.
30
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
HENDERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Membership/Officers
Nelda Reynolds, Chair
Sarah Jane Brown, Vice Chair
Betty Hollowell, Secretary
Karen Smith, Treasurer
Maxie Barton, Parliamentarian
Members
Maxie Barton
Randy Daniel
Ann Hickman
Kathryn Harville
Wanda Marshall
Larry West
Mary Ann Perryman
David Hendry
Judy Jacobson
Peggy Smith
John Miller
Crystal Barrett
Estelle Corder
Dick Bramblitt
Eva Stallings
Janet Cook
Gail Haynes
Wayne Smith
Carolyn Hamilton
Fran Bethea
Tom Selman
Ron Hendry
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Editors of this Special Edition on the Athens Grammar School, along
with the Henderson County Historical Commission, wish to acknowledge the
assistance of a number of individuals.
Miss Kathy Killingsworth, former Athens teacher and student who made
her records and those of her late Mother, LaRue Killingsworth, long time assistant to Athens Superintendent J. R. Lowe, available for research and fact
checking.
A large number of individuals who shared photos they had taken or photos they had located among their keepsakes and records as well as other valuable information.....including Mary Frank Ballow Gaston, Lynn Laney Shaver, Regina Fluker, Sarah Jane Brown, Jan Larkin Carrico, Sue Lane Vickery
Voyles, Annette Faulk, Fran Jones, Linda Loughridge Pepper, and so many
more.
We gratefully acknowledge the help, assistance, and cooperation of Dr.
Fred Hayes and his staff of the Athens Independent School District - especially Randy Jones and Annette Faulk.
We also wish to extend our appreciation to Nelda Reynolds, chair of the
Henderson County Historical Commission, for her enthusiastic support and
encouragement as well as the research assistance provided by Fran Bethea.
There are many others whose assistance, advice, and encouragement were
invaluable, and we acknowledgment that with grateful “Thanks!”
EDITORIAL COMMENT
This Special Commemorative Edition was intended to help underscore the
importance of the Athens Grammar School building in the lives of hundreds
of thousands of Athenians – former students, teachers, family and friends,
citizens and residents alike. It was the first brick school building erected in
Athens, and it was intended to be a substantial structure that would serve the
needs of the community for a long time – and it did!
It is sad and disheartening to know that the building was, for a number of
years, ignored with regard to care and maintenance and allowed to deteriorate
beyond the point of restoration and preservation. However, it appears that the
Athens Grammar School does and will continue to live on in the memories
of its students and teachers as well as members of the community for years
to come. It was a special place in which lives were shaped, friendships and
alliances formed, education and social skills attained, responsibility instilled,
and character developed. You can never really lose those things – so the
building lives on in that respect.
Let us pledge now to work together to further preserve the memory of
this building and all the events and activities associated with it by gathering information – documentation, photographs, newspaper clippings, objects,
mementos, etc.- and depositing these things in a place of safekeeping and
access like the Henderson County Historical Commission offices or the Henderson County Historical Museum. Let us pledge to take the time to record
our memories in a soon-to-be launched Oral History Project for Henderson
County – memories of not only this school but of our families, friends, events,
and activities.
Let us keep Athens and Henderson County alive for future generations to
know about and be proud of ......... like all of us are!
SPECIAL EDITION STAFF
General Editor
Co-Editor/Researcher
Co-Editor/Layout/Design
Advertising
Tom Selman
Dorothy Selman Wasunyk
Ron Hendry
Sarah Jane Brown
DISCLAIMER
This project was a major undertaking for a small group of individuals
who were faced with time restraints and deadlines. Records, both official
and unofficial, were often unavailable, inaccessible, or access was limited
or the record did not exist at all – making research, fact verification, and
thoroughness difficult and sometimes impossible. As a result, some individuals may be inadvertently omitted from our list of former teachers and
principals, or from former student memories, or not identified in photos.
We were grateful for the tremendous response to our request for Former
Student Memories and Recollections. Individuals were generous with
their thoughts, recollections, and anecdotes; however, we were faced
with space limitations and this made editing necessary. We apologize if
something you really wanted to say hit the “cutting room floor.”
Special Notice
Additional copies of this Special Commemorative Edition can
be obtained from the offices of the Henderson County Historical
Commission or Henderson County Historical Museum. See ads
elsewhere in this edition for contact information. An electronic
version of this Special Commemorative Edition will be posted on
the Henderson County Historical Commission’s web site at
http:www.rootsweb.com. It will be periodically supplemented with
additions, notices of errors, and comments provided by readers.
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Athens Daily Review
31
View of grammar school building from northeast. This was
also the view from Corsicana Street.
View of the grammar school building from South or College Street.
Three exterior photos above
show the still solid structure of
the 95 year old building. The external cafeteria (created from an
old WWII wooden army barracks),
was located on the northwest corner grounds shown in photo to left.
Note the interesting relief in
the external brick wall below, the
rounded bannisters in photo at right
and the solid wooden doors leading
into the halls in the corner photo.
Our school auditoriam on the top floor where we gathered for meetings
and programs. Some saw films of the Southwest Conference here while
some were fingerprinted in a national fingerprinting program in 1943.
As we walked through the halls for a last look,
an oft overheard comment was “Mrs. So and So
was my teacher in this classroom!”
32
Athens Daily Review Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saying goodbye at the February 2, 2008 Grammar
School Building Commemorative Ceremony
Athens Grammar School
An old gridiron warrior, Pat Beckham,
salutes a grand old building
Mary Lou Adrian Christopher shares
a few memories - 1925 first grade
“As I drove to Athens on a Saturday morning, knowing I was going
to attend the ceremony planned before the destruction of our old grade
school, I was both a little bitter and a little resentful that more had not
been done at the appropriate time to preserve our old school. I was even
hoping to have a chance to speak up and tell everyone how I felt.
When I arrived at the building with my mother in tow, I saw familiar faces of classmates, and I was immediately involved with friendly
hellos and a feeling of belonging. As we toured the old building, we
laughed and giggled, and once again went through the hallways just like
in days gone by. We rushed from one room to another saying ‘ I was in
this room in fifth grade. Mrs. Rowell was my teacher. I had Miss Jennie
Mae Hall and my room was right here! Let’s go up to the third floor and
see the auditorium. Wow, I always thought this room was so big!’ and
on and on.
We took pictures, we told stories, and as I stood shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, or hand in hand with my long time friends that I met in
that building and grew to love and trust, I realized that our school was
not the building, but the friendships and memories we made when we
were there. Our school is forever preserved in our hearts and minds and
restoration happens every time we see each other.
I feel so very blessed that I grew up in Athens and knew the gifts of
love and friendship that I enjoyed there. Not only did our old schools,
grammar and high, fill our days with fun and laughter and a lifetime
of memories, but the whole town did. What a wonderful place to have
grown up and to love even now. I will miss seeing that old building as I
drive into town, but I can say goodbye now with a cheerful and grateful
heart, because I will carry the real school in my heart forever.”
Diane Hickman Cleveland
Group of five of Richardson clan standing at left - Suella Clark,
Deanne Richardson, Fran Smith, Bonnie Smith, Larry Richardson
Taking a photo for posterity.
Fran Richardson McGee Smith - former student and former teacher - gets ready to enter Athens Grammar School
for the last time.