THe B.H.S. Spotlight

-click to enlarge-

One of the most anticipated events of the week was the Thursday morning local publication and on the last inside page, the 'spotlight'.

Cars stopped in front of the post office and kids ran in to get the paper on those days. They were usually reading it on the run going back to the car for the trip to school.

As shown in the top photo, it had pertinent information on students that was noteworthy.

The most important thing it seems, however, was the "snooper" column on what was happening on the dating scene. Snooper, aka "sniper snooper" was never identified until the end of the school year and then had some couples approaching him or her asking for clarification on some of the reporting.

From the blog staff, a belated "job well done" to all of the staff and snoopers of the Spotlight.
_______________________________

From the Betty Massengill collection.

Photos and Clips from Readers

-click to enlarge-

Top: More high school beauties, these from Guntown, but also known well in Baldwyn.

Second from top: kids at the old downtown school before it burned. The sandy haired boy in the foreground we think is Bobby Grisham. Can you recognize any others? Maybe Hoyle Penna, second from left, rear??

Third: The old tabernacle and boy scout hut in 1942 or '43. The scout hut, as shown at this time, is a school cafeteria after the fire destroyed the school building. It was brought by rail from Camp Shelby and reassembled. The burned out remains of the school can be seen at the right. After the fire, the tabernacle was divided into sections and used for classrooms for a while.

A large playground remained there for many years (see-saws, swings, etc) until removal to make way for the new Caldwell Hospital completed in 1950.

Lower: Darrell "Dog" Mathis.
_____________________

Two middle photos by Claude Gentry.

Parlor Courting

Boys and their dates would have a lot of fun at get-togethers at one's home years ago. One excuse to invite kids over was that you might have at least one new "hot" record to play on the portable 45/78 machine. Shown enjoying an evening together (upper photo) is Billy Short, Jo Carolyn Anderson, Bobby Grisham, and Pat McGuire. Also shown (lower) is Jo and Pat discussing something. The time is probably about 1952. Jo remembers the Okolona trips to Wilson Park and writes:

"The pictures of the Okolona pool brought back memories of when Pat McGuire and I would go there. She always had friends who were willing chauffeurs for us. I remember riding home one night with windows down and our long hair blowing as we sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the top of our lungs. I always think of that night when I hear that song".

"Pat was the golden girl with the flaxen hair who could talk anyone into doing anything. She got me into a lot of trouble. When I was supposed to be preparing supper, she would "steal" me away from my chore. She was brave enough to wear shorts into town which was a kind of no-no in the early 50s. I was her cohort. My mother didn't think that was so cute. Going barefoot downtown was also a daring thrill. How we walked on the hot pavement, I don't know."

"These pictures were taken at my house just before I moved away."
__________________________________________________

Thanks for the photos and story, Jo.

1943 Bearcats Football Team

-click on photo to enlarge-

Pictured are the '43 'Cats with Coach Vandiver.

Front L-R: M. Williams, Billy Bludworth, T. Mauldin, C. Cox, J. Chisholm, K. Castleberry, B. McGee, J. Barber.

Back row L-R: R. Waters, D. Waters, D. Magers, T. Gower, Coach Vandiver, E. Conlee, T. Lindley, Jimmy Cunningham, D. Patch, and Tommy Ford, manager.

First names are only indicated by an initial, need some help with those, please. Thought of a couple, but not all.
_________________________________

Clipping sent by Betty Massengill and Cynthia Mink.

More Photo Memories of Okolona

Shown is a recently found penny postcard of Wilson Park at Okolona, MS. We spent many summer days of fun there.

The pool was always full of swimmers. The high diving board was not for the meek.

The ballroom (lower left) had a very loud sound system. I first heard Chuck Berry singing his new hit tune "Maybelline" there. The Wurlitzer jukebox was the largest I had ever seen.

You probably can recall some Wilson Park stories of your own.
______________________

More Clippings from the 50s

Top: Inside Houston's drug store, 1958. L-R: Hilda Massengill, Linda McCarthy, Doris Greene. (Photo and ID: Betty Massengill, Cynthia Mink)

I think that is Mrs. McCarthy working the soda fountain. The entire wall held a mural of "Elsie" the Borden cow, who was the ad person for Borden's dairy products. Cool, huh?

Center: Home economics class at BHS. L-R: Yvonne, Phyllis, Lunelle, Mrs. Magers, ?, Irene, Mrs. Downs? Front: Sue, Midge, and Olivia. Year unknown, probably 1955.

Lower: You may recall Mr. Grady Nanney worked at the power office. He was crippled, but very strong in his arms, and probably never lost an arm wrestling match (his favorite game).

Mr. Henderson was the owner of the Chevrolet dealership in Baldwyn.

Mr. Howard was still a teacher at that time.
____________________________________

BHS Homecoming Court, 1961

-click to enlarge-

Queen: Gail Grisham; Escort: Harold McMillan.

Senior Maid: Jackie Roberts; Escort: Jim Miller.

Junior Maid: Jane Goodson; Escort: Johnny Roberts.

Sophomore Maid: Judy Prather; Escort: Gary Harp.

Freshman Maid: Linda Dobbs; Escort: Larry McKay.
____________________________

Identical photos submitted by Jim Miller, Cynthia Mink and Betty Massengill. Thanks all.

OES and Masonic Lodge officers in the 50s and 60s

Shown are some of our family and friends that were elected and served as officers in their respected positions of the Baldwyn Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star.
___________________________

Photos from an old scrapbook donated by an anonymous supporter of the blog.

Another Lucky '42 Tornado Survivor Story

by "Jimmy" Cunningham

As we zero in on March 16th, I vividly recall the 1942 Baldwyn tornado.

I was in the tenth grade, and it was around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. As was customary for boys my age, I had gone to the pool room to play a few games. It turned very dark for the time of day. Mr. Jack Enis yelled from the front of the building, "boys, it's coming a tornado"! We immediately crawled under the nearest pool table. The sound was similar to the roar made by a train coming through.

In a short time, after the noise ceased, we exited the building and started looking for damage. Tom Gentry and I walked East toward the railroad and didn't see any damage until we went up the railroad toward the Gentry home. We, first spotted the "Bud" McCarthy house on North Second Street. It was severely damaged, so we went West from there, over toward Fifth Street & Thomastown. All of that area had a 1/4 mile wide swath through it from Southwest to Northeast. Most of the houses, trees, etc. were destroyed. There was one car in a tree near Highway 45.

We found a Mrs. McBrayer who had been killed and placed her in a pick-up truck and carried her to the Caldwell clinic to be pronounced dead. The hospital had run out of beds, and they asked us to take the truck to M. Gorden's furniture store and pick up some beds. After parking at the store, we were directed to the South side of the building to get some cots. Mr. Jett Ford, "Brownie" Coggins, Olin Stanley, and I went to find and load the cots.

The time was now around 4:45 P.M. We noticed the wind blowing pretty hard again, so we barricaded the double doors. "Brownie" & Olin went down to the basement. Mr. Ford placed his arms around a linoleum rug, and I was looking for some piece of furniture to get under, but I didn't make it. The wind peaked, the roof left the building, the double brick wall came over, and covered me completely, fairly deep. I couldn't move, but was still conscious. I considered myself very fortunate to still be alive and not seriously injured. In about 20 minutes, I heard some movement on the brick somewhere in the area, so I knew I had to get their attention, if possible. My dad knew I was going to get the cots, so he was one of the first to get over the crumbled wall. I didn't feel that I could yell loud enough, so I began to give my loudest whistle. The search crew heard me, and began to toss the bricks off. After a few minutes, they had me uncovered, and I was in good shape except for a small knot on my head. I still praise the Lord for saving my life.

There were seven people killed in Baldwyn, by the first storm, and two in Wheeler.

Robert McWhorter, according to the story told to me by his brother, was taken by the wind from a poultry house on Water St. to the old High School Building, about 3/4 mile. He came walking in about an hour after the tornado.

Another tornado came in almost the same path about 50 years later, but did not touch ground.
________________________________

Editor's note: Two tornadoes struck Baldwyn that day in '42, around an hour or less apart.

More Baldwyn Sports Figures

-click to enlarge-

Here are some old clippings of BHS outstanding sports figures. These were some of the best; wish we had the photos of all the many players who distinguished themselves in athletics in our era.
___________________________

Photos courtesy of Ellis Christian, Betty Massengill, and Cynthia Mink.

Rare Afghan

-click to enlarge-

Shown is an afghan with scenes from the mid-20th century Baldwyn. Included is the old Caldwell Hospital, the domino parlor, a water tank, the old depot, Carrollville's Cox home, Brices' Crossroads, a Bearcat, and the old high school building. The colors are much brighter and vivid than shown in the photo.

This one was purchased several years ago during a project by the Baldwyn Woman's Club. They can get additional ones if enough requests are received for an order from the supplier.

We are not taking orders on the blog, only making people aware of the product and who to contact if you would like to obtain one. At present, no contact information has been given to us, but the Woman's Club will have an email address shortly for your inquiries. We will post it here on this article when it is received.

There are two of these available for purchase now at the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Baldwyn.

The "Lyric News"

-click to enlarge-

The Lyric News was partly the forerunner to the Baldwyn Weekly News, and today's Baldwyn News. Information we have states that Claude Gentry wanted to advertise movies that were showing at his theater, so this is the media he used. Along the way he picked up advertisers, and soon he was in the newspaper business also. Another newspaper in town was operated by a Mr. Newman and Mr. Coggins (someone wrote earlier; not confirmed) and was called the Home Journal, we believe.

The Lyric theater was at the southeast corner of Main and Front streets. At about the same time, the Ritz was owned by Mr. Coggins and was located near it's popular location west of Epting's.

"Screeno" was a form of, or was actually, Bingo. That was a very large amount of money for a jackpot prize in those days. WW2 hadn't started for the USA and the economy must have been pretty good.

Top photo is the actual Lyric theater in the early 40s.
___________________________

Thanks to John and Jo Carolyn (Anderson) Beebe for the newspaper photos.

Lyric theater photo by Claude Gentry.

Memos For the 60s Bunch

-click to enlarge-

Shown above is the '62 'Cats and noted is their greatest feat for that season. If you need an ID for anyone, let us know.

In the lower photo are the ladies of the FHA for 1964. Sponsor Mrs. Brown is at upper left, second row down.

___________________

Top photo courtesy of Jim Miller; lower: Betty Massengill and Cynthia Mink.

More Miscellaneous Photos and Clippings

-click to enlarge-

A request has been made to help identify the boy with Frieda in the top photo. Please let them know his name if you can.

In the second photo, which could be called "a study in light and shadows", we see the ornate soda fountain and also tables, chairs, and furnishings inside Tom's Drug Store. Facing the front from midway, the reflection at the right was from a slanted glass showcase. A coke bottle and the image of someone can be seen faintly. The photo would not completely restore.

The clipping of Bobby Greene shows just one of his accomplishments. A friendly, well-liked member of BHS, Bobby graduated with honors from school and college. Bobby, I understand you read the blog regularly and may have some photos that we would like to see. If you could, we would certainly like for you to share a few to post here. Thanks in advance.

Fourth, Buddy Miller and Frieda Rogers on the front middle step landing at BHS.

Last, our old and dear First Baptist Church on West Main Street. It was a very "cool" place in more ways than one; it was never locked in those days, and in the summertime we would beat the sultry heat of day by playing hide-and-seek in the cool, cavernous basement.

If you recall, the steps from outside to the basement were in the little white "doghouse" entryway at the end of the concrete walk in the left of the photo behind the information marquee sign. The sign can almost be read in an enlarged copy of the photo.
__________________________________________

Photos from Betty Massengill, Cynthia Mink, and Clarene Evans. Thanks, all.

1958 Grads

Excellent copy of the '58 graduating class poster.
______________________________

Thanks to Betty Massengill and Cynthia Mink.

Bearcat Blog - Celebrating One Year of Fun

The little mouse is preparing the accolades for his friend, the Baldwyn Bearcat...

This Blog started one year ago tomorrow (March 1). I have been very pleased with the stories, photos, comments, and above all, the emergence of many old friends here and on the e/mail group. The pictures many of you sent were greatly appreciated. They are the best reminder to us what happened back in those great golden days of our youth in and around the Baldwyn area.

Many of our first friends are not with us anymore. The inevitable will eventually wipe out any of these reminders of our early life and we will be replaced with another generation of grown-up kids. The memories they have of growing up in Baldwyn will also live on for some time.

Again, thank you all for your enthusiasm and assistance with the postings and photos. I am virtually out of material, but hope that what I have remaining will keep us going for as long as possible. Someone said "after all, just how much can you say or write about about a small town 50 years ago?" I would like to reply that there is much to be said, and the memories of scores of people will reveal many pages of memorable events and happenings.

If you have any stories or photos you would like to see here please submit them and we'll be sure to post them.

Thanks and God bless,

Carl

"Come Over to Our House"

-click on images to enlarge-


BHS Senior play, 1957

We ran this photo as a blog header photo last year, but since the program associated with the play has surfaced, we decided to make it a permanent posting.

I didn't crop the program after scanning, preferring to show the patina and ragged edges as proof of authenticity.

Most of you can associate a name with a face, but if not we'll be happy to help you match them.
________________________________

Photo courtesy of Ellis Christian; program from Betty Massengill and Cynthia Mink.

"Exhausted Roosters" Club, 1992

Catchy acronyms are everywhere. I have heard and seen many over the years, mostly funny more than serious. One that comes to mind was a group on Amateur Radio that I used to talk to - they were known as the NOTHING - "Nitwits Over The Hill Inspirational Nut Group". Funny.

Baldwyn had its' share of colorful characters also, as seen in the photos. These were serious people in their heyday but when retired, took on a completely different, humorous nature.

Morning coffee groups are prevalent in all locations, and their group names are meant to be descriptive and colorful. So were the "Exhausted Roosters".

Some are now gone on to a new group, and a few are still around. Great group of guys...

Some of us remaining roosters are not entirely exhausted yet, but we are working on it. HMMMM....
_______________________________________

Thanks Betty M. and Cynthia M.

More old photos from Readers

-click on images to enlarge-

Photos from top to bottom:

Top: Tommy Bryant, we are pretty sure.

Second: Joe Cunningham and Doug White rasslin', a favorite pastime of young guys trying to show their budding strength .

Third: Jimmy and Gail.

Fourth: Yvonne and Cynthia with others at the front steps of BHS.

Lower: Betty Smith and ??? Could use some help with the guy's ID.
________________________________

Thanks Betty and Cynthia!

Early 50s Bearcat basketball Teams

-click to enlarge-

Can anyone verify the year of this team photo?

Submitted by Betty Massengill

Baldwyn National Guard Unit, 1957

ADDITIONAL PHOTO. (above)

Some readers have asked about individuals that are not in the earlier posted photo below, so here is an additional photo with others pictured. Notice Jim "Smooth" Agnew, Carlos White, SSG Miles Donahue, SSG Paul Hamblin, and several others that need to be identified.

Some have asked about the person in both photos who is holding the guidon. It is SSG Dudley Dyer. In the above photo, holding the flag extended is 1SGT J. C. Morris.

There is another cook behind Leroy Chism who I can't ID.
_________________________________________

-click to enlarge-

This unit, the 1-108th Armored Calvary Regiment, was moved to Baldwyn in the mid 1950s and was quartered in a new armory just west of the Blue Bell factory on US 45 north. Prior to that, it had meetings in the second floor room of the main street post office, and before that, a truck from Tupelo picked us up and transported us to Tupelo for Monday night training meetings.

Commanded at this time by 1LT Richard Arnold, front left, it was composed of many WW2 veterans.

I started my military career with this unit in 1956, and can recall many of the soldiers pictured here.

On the front rows I can recall Bobby Hamblin, Ivo Bernard, Pat Nelson, Dud Dyer, Carl Martin, Dennis Meek, J. C. Morris.

Others in the ranks are Dewey Chism, Virgil Buse, Charles Brigman, Carl Johnson, Henry Outlaw, John Olan Cunningham, James Elder Richey, Hulon Cox, Bobby Corbett??, Johnny Massengill, and several others of whom I can't recall the names.

The cooks (in whites) are Bernis Lewis, Leroy Chism, Doug Pruitt, (I cannot recall the cook behind Doug).

This photo is from annual training at Camp Shelby, MS in the summer of 1957.
____________________________________

Photos courtesy of Betty Massengill.

Local Soldiers and Belles of the Centennial Celebration

-click to enlarge-

Pictured are some Baldwyn folks getting ready for the local centennial celebration (as stated).

Note that Judy Bryant's name is misspelled. But we all know who she is!
___________________________

I'm confused. I suppose that this was the 1976 USA centennial, or which? The uniforms of the civil war era again might mean that this is the second (1964) BCR battle re-enactment? Help!