FFA Members Photo

Photo of mid 1950s FFA guys. Not sure of person on left, but others are L-R - Bobby Corbett, Bobby Nichols, Maxie Ramsey, and Frank Norman, Jr.

The FFA was a very good organization to belong to even if you weren't intending to be in farming as a vocation. I used my affiliation to learn to weld, some basic mechanical knowledge, and some other things I was able to use throughout the years.

As far as I know, from this group only Bobby Corbett actually had a career in farming. He is still owner of Corbett Farms in the Pratts area.
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Photo from the Betty Smith Massengill collection. Click to enlarge.

More Bearcats Football Clippings

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Some old clippings from the Baldwyn Weekly News we thought you might like to see. I restored them as best I could, getting the yellowed pages to black and white.

I would guess the dates at 1954-57.

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Submitted by Betty Smith Massengill.

The Doors of Opportunity

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The above photo of the west (front) school doors from an old annual is representative of a golden opportunity we had when we last went through them. I recall going through them many times; to recess and then back to the "grind", streaking to the bike stand to get to my paper route in the afternoon, and the hurried exit to Summer vacation each year.

I had no idea when I last walked through them that 52 years later, looking at this photo, I would stop and think what magnitude the knowledge and learning I had gotten from the classes inside that building would have upon my life.

Many of us had only a few short years left after graduation. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice in the military, others went on to have distinguished public careers or just be public service workers with good homes and families. Without the desire of the teachers at BHS influencing us, it would have been much more difficult after we finished school.

To all of those whose devotion to teaching us necessary skills in language, math, science and the arts, and to the coaches who helped with our athletic abilities, we salute you.

1958 BHS Class History

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This is a very condensed history of the '58 class. Hilarious as it may be, it has some very great memories, especially to those mentioned by name.

I am sure there was quite a bit more that could be written about those years. Please add any other things you can remember to the comments!
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Submitted by Cynthia Mink. I wish I knew who the author of this is in order to give he or she credit. This is an excerpt from the Baldwyn Weekly News, I assume.

Some Prominent Baldwynians of Long Ago

TOP: If you ever shopped at M. Gorden's department store, you will recall these friendly clerks who assisted you.

CENTER: Members of the Baldwyn Order of the Eastern Star. This probably is around the late 1950s or early 60s.

LOWER: Some of the local folks who have grown or started growing beards and wearing period clothing for one of the many centennials or reenactments in the Baldwyn area. Standing, L-R Jimmy Tapp, Haddon Palmer, Doug Boxx, Jim Weeks, Bernard Coggins.

Kneeling - Douglas Waters, Charles Weatherford. I think this is around 1964.
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Photo credits: center, Tom Shellnut. Others courtesy of Robert Palmer.

Click on images to enlarge.

BHS Class of '39

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Had a request to post this montage of the graduates of 1939, their associates and sponsors.

I apologize for cutting off some of the data at bottom; the article was larger than my scanner bed. I scanned it in 3 sections, but it absolutely would not stitch together, no matter how hard I tried.

Bet some of you have relatives in the photo, or can recall some of them.

Trivia: What was Armour Lee Gentry's nickname that he carried with him all his life?

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Courtesy of Betty Smith Massengill.

The "Shirt Factory" Ball Team

UPDATE: Names of players shown:

Front row - L to R: Sara Bell Prather Jordan, Hazel Murley, Margene Lewis, Jean Garret Ratliff, Louise Davis, Era Del Pettigrew; Back row, L to R: Anna Lee Davis Prather, Jean Prather Williams, Iva Sue Herring, Juanita Taylor, Pauline Duncan Murphy, Esther Foster Duncan, Frances (Speed) Adams, Maureen Hughes Young. (Thanks to Jo Ann Patton Wilroy)

This is a picture of the shirt factory basketball team--the shirt factory that was in town next to Al's Cafe. It was probably made in the early '50s.

I recognize most of the faces but I don't remember any names except #11 is a Murley. Helen? Surely some of them had attended school at Baldwyn so maybe they were big sisters of blog members.

I think it was called Prentiss Manufacturing before Blue Bell but I'm not sure of that. It was always just "the shirt factory" to me. Mother worked there at the time this picture was made. Al was my babysitter before and after school.

The shirt factory paid for a lot of kids' clothes and shoes and put food on the table back in those days.

Photo and text from Jo Carolyn Anderson Beebe

Click on photo to enlarge

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I recognize most all of the faces also, Jo, but only one that I can attempt to put a name to -Anna Lee ?? Davis #1 (top left), hope that is correct. I believe she married Googe Prather.

Baldwyn School Disasters

The original BHS building was built in 1929. It faced North Second street on the East then. A fire destroyed the school in 1939. It was rebuilt and turned to face West toward the highway and was also enlarged. Someone jokingly said that the only thing that was needed to make the necessary change of frontal direction was to move the flagpole to the front and the outhouses to the rear.

TOP: On a hot Summer day in 1942 the downtown elementary school was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin. The brick sides were left standing but later demolished. All elementary grades were eventually moved to the North Second Street buildings.

The tabernacle at the left of the school in the photo was used for the lower grades until suitable provisions were made. This building sat on the corner of Main and US 45 where the Caldwell Hospital was built 8 years later (1950).

It was built in 1904, replacing another destroyed by fire. It was destroyed by fire in 1928, rebuilt and used until this fire.

LOWER: The school that most of us attended was destroyed by a fire that was presumably set by an individual, a student. This photo shows the early stages of the fire. Several fire units were called in for assistance from as far away as Booneville.

Both structures were damaged by the April '42 tornado. Students from the Second Street school attended classes in local churches and other places until the current school year ended. That school building was hurriedly repaired for the 42-43 semester, and remained in use until the '91 fire.
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Top photo courtesy of Simon Spight. Lower from Betty Smith Massengill.

1952 Basketball Tournament Program

A program from the '52 basketball tournament. Looks like Baldwyn girls had a great year. Note the grades of some of the players vary from 7-12.
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Discovered and submitted by Jo Carolyn Anderson Beebe. Click to enlarge.

More Old Baldwyn Street Scenes

Top: A view of the East side of BHS, circa 1981. This low area was the "boiler room" where John kept a large fire going to send steam to the radiators in cold weather. "Pip", the other janitor, would sleep there during the day, hiding from Mr. Baker.

First thing that comes to mind to us guys is the concrete top over the boiler room that we would sit on... and often the temptation to "look around the chimney" would get to someone. If you recall, the outside entrance to the boy's restroom can be seen at the left of the top, and the girl's on the right. The huge windows in each bathroom (on each side of the chimney) were wide open and there was no privacy at all. I'm kidding ya'll about peeking (of course).

"Our Home Hotel" is shown in the second photo. I believe that was the trademark name. It was an amusing place to us kids. "Uncle George" Pearce, the porter, was always the most congenial host to nosy boys. He told us stories of long ago and would make our nickels disappear, but he would always find it behind our ears. His luggage cart can be seen in the photo. This photo was made in the late 30s to early 40s as best we can find out.

Third: Larry Johnson is standing behind his Dairy Bar in the mid 50s. Remember those pineapple sundaes and the "purple cow"?

Lower: A shot of Prather Auto Co. in the early 1960s. A 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 sits in the service entrance. The dealership was bought by Ralph Pennington and moved West to the highway in 1966. People in photo unknown.
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Photos courtesy of Betty Smith Massengill, David Heflin, and Larry Johnson.

1953 Seniors Photo IDs from a Blog Reader

This photo was originally posted and a complete ID was not included. Last week, Luther Ray McMillon sent the following e/mail and identified the 1953 BHS seniors:

Front row left to right, Jane Rowan, Billie Jean Murdock, Joan Whitaker, Norma Jean Walker, Joan Patton, Nannie Lee Epting, Agnes Mink, Mary Tom Gordon.

Second row, left to right. Miles Donahue, Charles Gamble, Billie Fay Davidson, Dorothy Hill, Nettie Ruth Mink, Hermie Ruth Williams, Mae Belle Heavener, Mrs. Sales Martin (never knew her name), Stanley Miller.

Third row left to right, Darrell Mathis, Phil Gorden, Bobby Tom Outlaw, Roger Barnett, Max Schoggin, Glenn Griffen, Harry Cowan, Robert Cox.

Fourth row left to right, Luther Ray McMillon (me), Jack Sandlin, Oneal Mears, Jack Morris, Billy Cox, Jerry Williams.

Ray writes: Thanks for all your work on the blog. It brings back a lot of old memories. I left Baldwyn after graduating in 1953 and have never returned except for short visits since then. Not many relatives left there from the Mabry/McMillon family trees.

After leaving I first lived in Memphis and from there started a long journey. I lived in California 3 times, Alaska, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Hawaii and Florida where I now live 3 times. I also lived in Japan 3 times and in Korea. During the last year I lived in Hawaii, I went to Hong Kong 2 times, Singapore 2 times, Manila 3 times and Japan. I have also traveled to Thailand, Guam and other places in the Pacific. No, I was not in the military. But, I did work for the Federal Government involved with the acquisition of real estate for US Government use including the military. I also work with the Japanese and Korean Governments making agreements for use of military facilities in those countries.

I still remember Baldwyn and sometimes visit my cousin Helen Cook, wife of Murray Cook.

Have a good day and thanks for all your historical work.

Ray McMillon.
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Thank you, Ray and come to visit Baldwyn whenever you can.

Photo courtesy of Ellen Mink.

Street Scenes from Last Century Part 2

Top: Looking at the center of town from the Shellnut yard. The old Chevrolet dealership building is gone, and Dr. Ford has not yet built his clinic there. Also notice that the new post office building hasn't been built yet; neither has Popeye's (Gentry Jewelers) store underneath Gorden's. George and Scram's restaurant has not moved to the area at this time. If anyone can identify the kids in the photo, let us know.

Third down: Tom Shellnut standing in front of the Baldwyn Hardware. The Golden Rule store is behind him. It was operated by Forrest Grisham and wife. Further behind is Shellnut's clothing store, and Baldwyn Dry Goods on the corner.

Lower: Jess McKissack (hope that spelling is correct) aka "the Peanut Man" strolls in front of the old post office on east Main with his vending tray of peanuts and (?) other stuff. The stairs to the right led upstairs to Luna Stubbs' beauty shop and later the National Guard meeting place, among other businesses. To the left was the Baldwyn Cash Specialty store, operated by Elbert Outlaw.
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Top photo courtesy of Tom Shellnut. Second photo courtesy of Clarene Evans.
Click to enlarge.

More BHS Basketball Stars

I would have to guess the year on this one, so I'll try and rely on some of you to get it correct.
1954-55?

I remember all of these players and how good they were.
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Photo courtesy of Betty Smith Massengill.
Click to enlarge.

Street Scenes from Last Century Part 1

Top photo: The Victor Davis home on North Second street, just past the Baldwyn Garment factory (Blue Bell) on a snowy day. About 1947.

Center: The Caldwell bus station and gas station on old US 45 and West Main about 1981.

Lower: The Caldwell clinic and First Baptist church as seen from in front of the old tabernacle. The playground equipment was left there for many years after the downtown school burned. About 1946.
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Top and lower photos from Clarene Evans. Center photo from David Heflin.

Some more News Clippings

Top: Some of the 1950s Wheeler basketball team hotshots. Don't know if this is one of the years they went all the way. This would probably be 1956 (my guess).

One of the Saylors twins has passed away fairly recently. Saw Jerry Keeton at SeeSaw Heflin's funeral last year and he was fine. Have no idea how the others are doing.

Did you know that Wheeler only played basketball in that time era? No major teams for other sports were ever started that I know of.

Lower: Three of the local Baldwyn young ladies being honored for a well-deserved accomplishment in the church acivities.

Click on the images to enlarge.
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Clips courtesy of Betty Smith Massengill.

More Trivia Items

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The program from 1960 BHS graduation with the list of seniors.

The lower license plate receipt is posted for a contrast to today's complicated auto registering. I understand Mississippi is very expensive depending on the age of the vehicle. Here in Hardin County, Tennessee we can register any age vehicle for 60 - 75 dollars a year.

I wonder what the 25% damage charge was for?
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Submitted by Milton Copeland.

The Saturday "Lottery"

-click to enlarge and see if you recognize anyone-

The above pictured crowd in the center of Baldwyn should be familiar to many of you. The "drawing" as it was called, was the highly anticipated event of the week during the '40s and '50s.

The town was buzzing with people on Saturdays, most all of them with numbered tickets received from town merchants after a purchase. Store clerks gave a ticket after a certain amount of money was spent with them, probably one for a few cents or maybe a dollar. So, a $2 pair of shoes you bought would earn you 2 chances at the prize money.

Ticket stubs were rounded up from the the participating merchants prior to drawing time. I remember Wallis Nelson and Milton Nanney were two of the boys who collected the ticket stubs and brought them to deposit in the mixing barrel at city hall. The barrel was a large round chicken wire cage on a platform with a turning handle to mix 'em up good.

A large roar from the crowd usually meant that Bernard Coggins, Garley McVey, James Preston McWhorter, Slim Weldon or possibly some others were loading the stub barrel into a pickup truck to "bring up the hill". It was now only minutes from some folks winning $5, $10, and sometimes when sales were good, a huge $50 prize. I think that an unclaimed prize from the week before was carried over and the "pot" sweetened for this week's winner.

I have no idea when this practice started, nor what year it ended. They gave money away on Saturdays all of the time I can remember in the 1950s, until the time I left Baldwyn and moved away.

I vividly remember these drawings and the squeal of delight from the winners.

P. S. I never got to squeal.
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Photo courtesy of Simon Spight. Made from the second floor over Tom's Drug Store.

Ode to a Spreadin’ Nader

By Dr. Henry Outlaw
(BHS class of '57)

I wrote this poem in memory of a bootlegger on Twitchell Hill that was bitten on the nose by a Puff Adder - sometimes called a hog nosed snake. Locally we called them Spreadin 'Naders. It may be the only ode written about a snake.

I'll never forget one Sunday night after church we went down to Twitchell Hill for a beer. When J.B. (Adams) came out to wait on us I noticed his nose was all swollen and red. When we asked what happened he said, "I went down to that little cave where I keep the beer and when I reached up in there to get some a g*d d**n Spreadin' Nader bit me on the nose!"

Inspiration for poems come from many different places.

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Ode to a Spreadin’ Nader

Living among brown leaves
Copper colored code
Cold blooded skin and scale
Possessing neither fang nor pit nor valor.

But upon being disturbed in its loamy path
The Spreadin’Nader becomes a viper,
A biblical serpent with flattened head in Cobra stance,

Swaying slightly as if marking time To some ancient reed or harp.
And suddenly, without warning, Strikes in horrid frenzy, blindly,
Spraying some mythical ether,

Puffing, sibilant, striking Terror in man and beast.
As if knowing its eternal destiny Is to be trodden under foot
for some Sin of its ancestor in the Garden.
Loved only by its maker.
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This poem was first read at the Black Diamond Lounge in Telluride, Colorado in the Winter of 1987. Written in memory of J.B. Adams, an infamous bootlegger on Twitchell Hill near Baldwyn, MS.

1959 BHS Teens - Part 2

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Top: Doug White and Martha Jo Barber at the front of the old BHS gym.

Center: Harold Deen Grissom, Peggy Jones, Doug White, and Judy Bryant.

Lower: Harold Williams, Bonnie Ray Whitehead, and Mary Ann ??? - need some help with her name, please.
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Photos: Carolyn Wheeler Ghys.

1963 Senior Trip

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Part of the '63 seniors on a trip. Others went to different places, but this was the main group.

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Courtesy of Clarene Evans