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Copyright 2008-2015
DISCLAIMER... All images are the property of Carl Houston or a contributor to this blog and are intended only for your viewing pleasure. You do not have permission to copy and/or distribute images or stories. All images are watermarked or otherwise marked for ownership identity of this blog. No images are from the Simon "Buddy" Spight collection unless attributed as such.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-78356379880687765852015-09-01T11:24:00.000-05:002015-09-01T11:28:13.607-05:00Baldwyn High School Class of 1934<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou72ivITNis/VeW5njnUo4I/AAAAAAAASC0/WbU205MCyCQ/s1600/1934A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou72ivITNis/VeW5njnUo4I/AAAAAAAASC0/WbU205MCyCQ/s640/1934A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_k9o_hpnSFc/VeW5nibwOYI/AAAAAAAASCw/7lYAHDtd8IE/s1600/1934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_k9o_hpnSFc/VeW5nibwOYI/AAAAAAAASCw/7lYAHDtd8IE/s640/1934.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The above photos are copies of the BHS Class of 1934 and a composite photo with individual pictures on one page of the same class as freshmen about 1930-31 sent to Clarene Evans by Alvin Stults. Al is a brother to Clarene's friend Kay Stults who was killed in an automobile accident the summer between their junior and senior year at BHS. Al and Kay's mother, Blanche Abrams is one of the seniors seen in these photos. Al noted that his mother had hand written the names of all on the bottom of the photograph and they were hard to read but as best as he could make out the names, they were as follows.<br />
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Front Row: Shannon Christian, Frank Pinson, Marjorie Harris, JP Gentry, Blanche Abrams, James McCary, Lucille Davis, Huey Magers.<br />
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Second Row: John W. Burress, Gaston Falls, Annie Ruth McElroy, Archie Weatherford, Marie Williamson, Nancy Frost, Odell Rutherford (President), Eugenia Mauldin, Joseph Lester Agnew.<br />
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Back Row: Mrs. Glen Riley Sponsor, Stoddard Darwin, Quana McCarthy, Esteen Duncan, Marguerite Waters, C.Van Gresham Jr., Vernell Duncan, Maureen Little<br />
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The composite of the same class as freshmen is more legible.<br />
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Top row: Bernis Billingsley, Annie Ruth McElroy, Eugenia Mauldin, Cecil Cheek<br />
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Second Row: JP Gentry, James McCary, Naney Frost, Spurgeon Nanney,Vernell Duncan, Annie Claire Smith, Sponsor, Cecil Outlaw, Marguerite Waters, Quana McCarthy,<br />
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Third Row: Gaston Falls, Opal Lytal, Frances Boyce, Roger Strawbridge, Branche Abrams, Lucille Davis, Maurine Little, C. Van Gresham Jr., Allene Hodges,<br />
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Fourth Row: Ruby Lytal, Carter McCay, Marie Williamson, Bonnie Lee "Country" Graham, Odell Rutherford, James Preston McWhorter, Harold Marshall, John William Burress, Virgil Nanney,<br />
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Bottom Row: Hershey Surratt, Stoddard Darwin, Morris Norman, Huey Magers,<br />
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This photo was most likely made at the old downtown school on West Main that stood where the telephone company is now. It burned completely barely 10 years later.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-34612212760953705212015-05-22T11:13:00.003-05:002015-05-22T11:17:21.934-05:00Must have been a Birthday Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Got this photo from an old friend recently and she didn't recall any names of these children and neither do I - all but one. If you are from Baldwyn, MS you will agree with me that the boy on the extreme right is "Mert" Phillips. Know how that is so easy to ascertain???<br />
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The view is looking North at the Davis Lumber Yard and upper right is the Carnation Milk Facility.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-62379959624829302742015-04-09T18:19:00.002-05:002015-04-09T19:16:34.231-05:00Town Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Photo from September 1961. Baldwyn was incorporated in April of 1861. Correct me if am wrong on that date of incorporation.<br />
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From Phyllis G.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-14517450329245619702015-04-09T10:03:00.004-05:002015-04-09T10:05:32.056-05:00<img src="http://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/1093/media/e5f56986-9bd2-46a9-8a00-5eb78cfa9ead?client=MCCManager&maxSide=160" height="400" style="display: block; padding: 0px 5px;" width="277" /><br />
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BALDWYN – Simon “Buddy” Spight, 83, died Saturday, June 2, 2012, at the Baldwyn Nursing Facility. He was born Oct. 4, 1928, to Shap and Hester Caldwell Spight in Pontotoc. In 1936, his family moved to the town that became his true love, Baldwyn. Spight was a veteran of the United States Navy and served 1948 through 1952. He was a 1948 graduate of Baldwyn High School. He worked at Caldwell Hospital as a lab technician and later transferred to the Baldwyn Hospital. He also worked as Chief Investigator of Lee County for many years. Spight was a member of the Sportsman’s Quartet and was part of the first live program on WTWV television station in Tupelo. He was an honorary member of the 8th Airborne and the author of two books. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Baldwyn where he served in many capacities and was a member of the choir for most of his life.<br />
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Baldwyn with Bro. Stanley Huddleston officiating. Waters Funeral Home is in charge of the services.<br />
He is survived by a sister-in-law, Billie Sue Spight of Madison; a nephew, Mike Spight of Kansas City, Kan.; a niece, Susan Mansour of Clarksdale; and his special friends and caretakers, Billy Roberson, Walter Gentry and Tammy Bullock, all of Baldwyn.<br />
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, WR Spight and Tommy Spight.<br />
Pallbearers are Robert Herring, Jeff Roberson, Harold Murley, Wylee Nance, John Olen Cunningham, John Rollegen and Mitch Caver. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Houston Discount Drug Round Table Coffee Club and Bill Langston, Bobby Nichols and Jim Long Livingston.<br />
Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today at Waters Funeral Home. The body will lie in repose one hour prior to service time at the church.<br />
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Baldwyn Building Fund in memory of Simon Spight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-39458375222453654872015-04-09T08:51:00.002-05:002015-04-09T08:52:42.473-05:00Larry Johnson (1938 - 2014)<img src="http://ak-cache.legacy.net/legacy/images/Cobrands/ClarionLedger/Photos/JCL049618-1_20141015.jpg" height="640" width="449" /><br />
<span style="color: white;">Larry L. Johnson, 76, of Jackson, MS, a residential real estate developer, founder of The Landmark Companies, and oil and gas investor died on Tuesday at his residence after his recent onset of cancer. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Services will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at eleven o'clock at Parkway Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from four to six o'clock and Thursday at ten o'clock prior to the services at Parkway Funeral Home. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Johnson was born on March 3, 1938, in Baldwyn, MS to Alleene and E.L. "Swede" Johnson. Much of his youth was spent living in Baldwyn with brief stints in Nashville, TN and Philadelphia, PA. During his days as a Baldwyn Bearcat, he was a three-sport star; earning All-Conference honors in all three sports his senior year. From a young age, he displayed an independent, industrious business spirit which served as a basis for his future successes. His youthful business ventures included, but were not limited to, operating a Baldwyn dairy bar during summer vacations. Much of his business acumen was taught by his mother, Alleene, who ran the local florist shop as well as his maternal grandfather Hugh Epting, a long time Baldwyn merchant. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Upon graduation from high school, he attended the University of Mississippi where he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and then a Degree of Laws. While at Ole Miss, he made many lifelong friends. During this time, he learned and crafted the finer aspects of golf and playing cards, specifically poker and gin rummy. These crafts would educate him on the importance to attention, detail and "risk versus reward" concepts. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">After graduation, Larry moved to Jackson where he began his career in the booming oil and gas industry. There were many colorful individuals and exciting deals to be struck in this trade. The excitement of creating and selling the deal was always very enjoyable to Johnson. Many deals and lasting friendships were made at the Petroleum Club in those days. Even to this day, with the volatility of the oil industry over the years, he has remained an active investor and producer, playing a major role in the development of successful oil and gas ventures in Mississippi and Alabama. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">During this same time period, Larry partnered with Bill McGuffee, his father in law, to create Landmark Homes, often just building a few speculative homes each year. Probably not realizing it at that time, this joint venture would become the precursor to Johnson becoming one of the most successful residential (both single and multifamily housing) developers, constructors, and owners in the Southeast. Over the last twenty-five years, Mr. Johnson played a major role in the development of 3,000 single family lots, built over 750 homes, and the development and construction of 5,000 apartments. These projects are located in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. For all his success in these projects, by far, his greatest achievement was the ability to do so in partnership with his son, Michael Johnson. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Later in life, philanthropy became important to Mr. Johnson. He was the sole benefactor, supporting further education at Ole Miss for five Baldwyn High School graduates. Furthermore, he established and funded a charitable foundation that will live on supporting many worthwhile causes on his behalf. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Mr. Johnson married Rebecca "Becky" Wells in August of 2013. They found a kindred spirit in each other. The memories of their many trips and family events will live on forever. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Michael Johnson, and his wife, Lisa, of Jackson. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Hugh Johnson and his wife, Dixie, of Germantown, TN, along with their two children, his nephews, Allen and Quin. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to all the family and friends who have supported him over these past months. Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation of their support, especially that of Cindy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">He will be sorely missed. Life is an occasion - Larry Johnson rose up courageously and with gentlemanly honor to its opportunities and challenges. While he has departed this earth, his worldly impact on his many friends and family will never be forgotten. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?pid=172812883#sthash.7kVHHFle.dpuf</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-49182347169528849892015-04-09T08:29:00.000-05:002015-04-09T09:17:56.386-05:00Dr. Henry Outlaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The collective Delta State University community is mourning the loss of Dr. Henry Outlaw, chair emeritus of the Department of Physical Sciences and professor emeritus of chemistry, who passed away in the early morning hours today at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson, Miss. He was 77 years old.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Outlaw was a 1961 graduate of Delta State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in chemistry and biology. He obtained a Master’s of Science and a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Mississippi Medical School.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Outlaw was a professor of chemistry at Delta State University from 1966-2002 and served as chair of the Department of Physical Sciences from 1970-2002. After retiring from his position as chair, he began working as a program associate at the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State. He also worked as a development officer at the Delta State University Alumni-Foundation Office. He was a member of the Delta State University National Alumni Association and a charter member of the Dedicated Statesmen Association comprised of retired employees of the university.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Among his countless contributions to the university, Outlaw worked tirelessly to recruit students to Delta State.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">He was a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Florida Medical School from 1965-66, and had been a visiting professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina Medical School, a Fellow-in-Residence in the School of Theology at the University of the South, and was a Templeton Fellow in Science and Religion at Oxford University.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">With the aid of grants from the Mississippi Humanities Council, he collected oral histories, artifacts and documents related to the Emmett Till murder and developed an travel exhibit that has won national attention. He also received the Chairs Award for Special Achievements in the Humanities.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Additionally, he was a member of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences and the American Chemical Society. In 1995, Outlaw was awarded the Outstanding Chemist Award in by the Mississippi Section of the American Chemical Society. He received the Delta State University Student Government Association Outstanding Teacher Award in 1998 and the Dr. Travis Richardson Outstanding Science Teacher Award in 2000. In 2006, he received the Chairs Award from the Mississippi Humanities Council.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">In November of 2014, the National Alumni Association created the Dr. Henry Outlaw Faculty/Staff Service Award as a way to recognize former Delta State faculty or staff members who have had a significant influence in the life of the university. Outlaw was the inaugural recipient.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Arrangements are being made for funeral services. Dr. Outlaw will be greatly missed by his Delta State University family.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-48714825841159341132015-04-08T21:51:00.000-05:002015-04-09T19:13:14.244-05:00Ritz Theater Projectors in 1965<br />
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Baldwyn's famous Ritz Theater was THE place especially on Saturdays... These are the two 1931 Simplex projectors with Peerless carbon-arc lamp units that put those fabulous old movies on the big silver screen for us to enjoy. Shown is operator Jim Wallis in 1965. <br />
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Photo courtesy of Jim Wallis.<br />
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The famous old Ritz theater where we spent a lot of our time as youngsters. All day westerns on Saturday were great! More practical movies were shown during the weekdays and always a cartoon. One fellow, Darrell Mathis, loved the "roadrunner" cartoons - you could hear him laughing loudly outside the theater sometimes as he thought the bird was about to be captured by Wiley Coyote.<br />
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This particular time "Carrie" is being shown. Sorta dates the photo.<br />
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Image courtesy of Tully G.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-8385963245151462102015-04-08T15:11:00.000-05:002015-04-08T15:11:20.730-05:00Images of Town from days Gone By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pb_78j_PvsY/VSWGkFfT4XI/AAAAAAAAQmY/1oBZKv3Nuqs/s1600/domino%2Bparlor%2Bcolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pb_78j_PvsY/VSWGkFfT4XI/AAAAAAAAQmY/1oBZKv3Nuqs/s1600/domino%2Bparlor%2Bcolor.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sidney M. Duncan operated this business for many years until his retirement several years ago. He passed away in 2012, I think. After he retired, it was a Barber and Beauty shop operated by Clarene Nanney and as a storage facility by some other businesses.<br />
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It was torn down but remains in our memories. The image of it was issued on a Christmas tree ornament sold by a non-profit Baldwyn organization in 2014.<br />
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Image courtesy of Tully G.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-69028964266251376542012-12-17T14:42:00.003-06:002012-12-17T14:45:22.563-06:00Early 1950s Christmas Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After attending the
very good 2012 Christmas parade in Baldwyn recently, I pulled out an old dusty
photo of another one around 1954 plus or minus a year or so. I can remember it
pretty well – I know I was there because I can be seen in the photo along with
Rachel Christian, my friend and neighbor at the time. We school children had
been primed and ready for this parade for quite some time. We were about to see
some real reindeer from the Far North! And, by all indications, they were indeed.
If the photo has been printed large enough, just look at those antlers! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chevrolet sedan
in front pulled the entire sleigh mechanism with the reindeer walking attached on
each side to a single attaching pole. They had loudly ringing large bells
everywhere and were really melodious. Santa rode standing in the sleigh and
threw candy and laughed, but someone noticed the passenger in the front of the
car had a microphone and was helping him by doing the chore of his greetings
and laughs over a PA system. Santa was really busy with candy and children
running to touch his hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This parade started
near Mort and Jack Jr.’s service station on the highway and proceeded to Main
and then to Front, then to Clayton Street, then west on Clayton to the Dairy
Bar lot on the highway. Some of you may not recall those particular points, but
today it would be the Dixie station starting
and end at the former Ford car dealer building. This was a weekday – I do not
remember if school was dismissed for the holidays or not, but the crowd was
staggering in number. In those days anything special was well attended,
especially on Saturdays.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look around the town and notice the stores of
the day; McElroy’s grocery on the west, then the GE store, Arnold Dry goods,
Western Auto, McGee’s grocery, and the Bank on the end. Also notice the absence
of the Tom’s Drug Store sign, which is still very much in prominence even
today. I think it had to be refurbished once and maybe that is the reason it’s
not in this photo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The following photowas taken by me of the parade on Clayton Street in front of the power and water compnaies. If you look close, you can find Ellis Christian holding up Dean Rutherford so he can see. This was probably the largest attraction I ever witnessed in Baldwyn for a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> MERRY CHRISTMAS!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDUA4pzRQOI/UM-DoRQPSVI/AAAAAAAAEz0/RxiyXec2yvI/s1600/balswyn+christmas+parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDUA4pzRQOI/UM-DoRQPSVI/AAAAAAAAEz0/RxiyXec2yvI/s1600/balswyn+christmas+parade.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-77601798210867632192012-10-19T21:24:00.001-05:002015-04-08T16:38:29.088-05:00Your Wate and Fate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-by_DBImaYfY/UIIIU2fFCbI/AAAAAAAAExQ/hoKL1nOunrk/s1600/scales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-by_DBImaYfY/UIIIU2fFCbI/AAAAAAAAExQ/hoKL1nOunrk/s640/scales.jpg" height="640" width="331" /></a></div>
<br />
That's what it read on the sides of the familiar old scales that stood in front of the Ritz theater on Main Street for many years. After inserting a coin, a penny I think, into the slot your weight and a prediction for your future was shown in a little window near the coin slot. Some of us were gullible enough to be very careful if a gloomy prediction happened to be given us. The scales are in the Baldwyn City Hall these days. They are not in working order anymore...<br />
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This was the Ritz theater in its' glorious days. The<br />
Building was a beautiful architectural structure on the outside front. The marquee and smell of freshly<br />
popped popcorn drew you there like a magnet. It<br />
was comfortable on the inside. Lots of times we would emerge from the show and find that a huge thunderstorm and inches of rain had occurred without us hearing it. The pointer shows where the scales sat for decades. Ritz theater image from Memories video by Claude Gentry.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my-zZyPLyQs/UIIId0XEq4I/AAAAAAAAExY/0eqoztBGfyQ/s1600/scaleatritz+theater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my-zZyPLyQs/UIIId0XEq4I/AAAAAAAAExY/0eqoztBGfyQ/s640/scaleatritz+theater.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-20933498162311007412012-10-12T22:56:00.002-05:002015-04-08T16:41:58.983-05:00First Christian Church Worshippers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OHCrmTWxBaM/UHjkQVYOE1I/AAAAAAAAEws/EsJAHtQo3Hc/s1600/first+christian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OHCrmTWxBaM/UHjkQVYOE1I/AAAAAAAAEws/EsJAHtQo3Hc/s1600/first+christian.jpg" /></a></div>
Need some assistance in naming as many of these Baldwyn First Christian Church attendees as possible. The only ones we have tentatively ID'd is Sidney Merle Duncan behind lady in black clothing and hat on right (holding baby) who may possibly be Mrs Stults. We think young boy standing on front row second from right may be John Melvin Duke (with striped shirt). If that is so, maybe his mother Evelyn Duke is directly behind Sidney Merle.<br />
Your help in the identification is greatly appreciated. We think this photo could be from 1948-50 and made at the old church on North Third Street, behind waters Funeral Home.<br />
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Photo courtesy of Jeanette Young Shackleford. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-2766141807881103782012-10-12T22:03:00.001-05:002015-04-08T16:43:30.492-05:00Another Baldwyn Aviation Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yce2m2g3OVo/UHjZoOPKUdI/AAAAAAAAEwU/24cBcLpWdkc/s1600/Bill+Parton+and+Walter+Greene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yce2m2g3OVo/UHjZoOPKUdI/AAAAAAAAEwU/24cBcLpWdkc/s640/Bill+Parton+and+Walter+Greene.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A photo I obtained from Vivian Parton Kesler recently shows her father, William "Bill" Parton and Walter Greene, a postal delivery worker, at the old grass airstrip just East of town off Clayton Street, known then as the Pratts Road.<br />
Bill was a local pioneer in sport flying along with many others: Mr. Duke Young and his son, Duke Archer "Arch" Young, Murray and Evelyn Duke, Mr. Claude Gentry, Carl Martin, Mr. McCary,Fred Parmenter, Barry Henderson, Gerald McKibben, Walter's son, Jim "Jimmy" Greene, I believe Ralph Pennington, and others whose names I have forgotten.<br />
It was a favorite Sunday afternoon pastime to go to the airstrip and watch the planes rolled out, checked over for flight readiness, prop started (manually pulling the propeller to start the engine) and taking off and landing. Cows and other livestock frequently got in the way of aircraft landing, so we boys would get on our bicycles and go kick and bump the cow with our bikes to clear the runway. We would get rewarded once in a while with a free short ride in the sky with one of the pilots.<br />
Claude Gentry wrote in his memoirs of trying to land one day after a fishing trip to Pickwick Lake (he would sneak off there on lots of Wednesday afternoons when the stores in town closed for a half-day) and a stubborn cow would not get out of the way so after a couple of unsucessful close buzz-bys close to her trying to scare her into moving. He finally decided he could go ahead and land and go around her after touching down, or apply the brakes in sufficient time to stop. It didn't work. He hit the cow and the propeller killed it, damaged the propeller blade,and he had to pay the owner for the cow. (From his book <b><i>Fourscore and More in Dixie</i></b>).<br />
The picture above showing Bill and Walter is a reminder of the phrase the post office uses - "neither rain, sleet, snow, or gloom of night, etc" - you know the rest - of how Bill carried the mail and Walter to outlying areas when the roads were so icy that a truck could not be used. The mail had to get through, so they flew to a spot where they were able to land and give the mail to the recipients that had been informed when and where to meet them.<br />
I really miss those days at the old airport. Several times some kids would get in touch with the electric fence wire and not be able to get loose until they were knocked loose. That was funny to those of us that had done it before and knew what not to touch!<br />
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Photo from Jimmy Greene Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-35383547773628529032012-10-12T21:58:00.001-05:002015-04-08T16:46:19.180-05:00Theaters in Baldwyn Long Ago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFlKQu5QWRA/UHjTxllvU5I/AAAAAAAAEv8/gsvszXzsnXg/s1600/lyric+42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFlKQu5QWRA/UHjTxllvU5I/AAAAAAAAEv8/gsvszXzsnXg/s640/lyric+42.jpg" height="507" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><b>As printed in the Baldwyn News, 11 September, 2012</b></i><br />
<i><b>By Carl Houston, Guest contributor</b></i><br />
<br />
I think most of the
Baldwynians my age and close can recall the movie theaters in town. It was a
pleasurable way to spend a couple of hours of alternate reality watching great
performances of musicals with the finely choreographed dance numbers, colorful
costuming, and great music. We boys and most men were mesmerized by the beauty
of the movie stars and the ladies really doted on the male “heart throbs” they
saw on the silver screen.
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Back in those olden days, long
before movie theaters, our little town
always had some means of public entertainment. There were at least two
stages
in town at different locations that had live entertainment, and were, in
their
time, a nice way to be entertained. During the early years in Baldwyn
many tent
shows came and did live performing and movies. They consisted of Indian,
but let me correct myself,
native-American actors, vaudeville actors, and others. One tent show
proprietor
that was usually welcomed warmly was “Daddy” Crouch, a German man who
made a
living with his one-machine movie. He had only silent films to be shown,
and
according to Mr. Claude Gentry’s memoirs he narrated vocally everything
that
happened in his films. He would be the voice of all of the actors, and
the way
he did it was well worth the price of admission alone. He always sat up
his
tent show just across the tracks on the left where the storage rental
center is
now between East Main and Clayton Streets. Bandstands, like the
elaborate one by the old Home Hotel around the first part of the 20th
century had live musical concerts that rivaled larger towns and cities.
Former mayor Lloyd Heflin, Sr. played in an orchestra.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When movies got
sound around 1927, they then became the premiere way to be entertained.
Movies, news of the world happenings that could be viewed, and even some funny
cartoons that moved and talked were well received by the public, thanks to an
upstart cartoon artist named Walt Disney. His characters are still entertaining
us even to this day.</div>
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When money was
scarce to many families in the depression era, they could find a way to get to
enjoy a movie occasionally, providing a little break to the tough times they
were living in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am including a
photo to this story that I have had quite some time waiting for the opportunity
to find some more details about it. It is the old Lyric Theater that was at
Front and Main in the early1940s. It was where
the Azalea Court
is located now, and where the original Bank of Baldwyn was located until
destroyed by the fire of 1914. Mr. Gentry rented the building from Buster McElroy for about fifteen dollars a month.</div>
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I remember just a
little of this theater, being around five years old the few times I was carried
into it. When you entered through the front, you passed under the screen – the
projection booth was in the rear. Most often your shadow was cast onto the
screen as you scouted around for a seat and people would yell for you to hurry
and get seated and off the screen so they could see the action.</div>
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The Baldwyn Theater
was on West Main Street
and Mr. Gentry bought it from Mr. Audie Coggins in about the mid-40s and moved up there. He renamed
it the Ritz and we all remember its’ successful operation throughout the 50s
and 60s. Wow-the memories those Saturday western matinees made to young cowboys with their stick horses and at
least one .45 caliber toy cap pistol on their side! Once, a B-western hero
named “Sunset Carson” came to town and appeared in person with an aide-de-camp
who let him shoot cigarettes out of his mouth and helped him do other rope
tricks. I can recall it very well. Other Wild West “stars” of the day appeared
locally infrequently and once one drew the first ticket of the Saturday money
giveaway. The town was impressed.</div>
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Later, the Lyric was back in business in a building next to the Western Auto Store across the street from the Ritz. It
had a successful run only operating on Friday nights and all day on Saturday.
It was located in the building currently containing Quail Ridge Engineering.</div>
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Here is a photo (above) I
was lucky enough to find some time ago and was taken in approximately 1942 or
’43. I have read that there were many other stores in the building in later
years. I only recall one – a wheelchair- bound Mr. Thomas had a shop repairing
radios and televisions there for a while. I would go beg tech advice and old
parts such as condensers and capacitors from him to keep my ancient radios
working.<br />
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Photo courtesy Buddy Spight. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-10691934954059552162012-09-23T20:00:00.000-05:002012-09-24T21:01:49.100-05:00A Prather Family Record<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5wW0z3sWpg/UF-rqcbDCrI/AAAAAAAAEvk/6CMAptbNviA/s1600/Brooks+Prather+marriage+license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="541" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5wW0z3sWpg/UF-rqcbDCrI/AAAAAAAAEvk/6CMAptbNviA/s640/Brooks+Prather+marriage+license.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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While looking for some other Baldwyn historical information, I ran across this marriage license for Mr. Brooks Prather. We have often wondered if he had any family - maybe some of you already know he had his own family at one time. As shown here he was married to Martha St. John in Tennessee on the 12th day of June, 1906. I really like the language of documents like this in those times - "has this day prayed and obtained License". At least no one was ashamed to invoke deity on papers back then.<br />
He also had a daughter born around 1909. The 1920 census lists him as head of the household, Martha as wife, and daughter Kathryn. Brooks was then 43, Martha 33, and Kathryn 11. He is listed as a retail merchant in a general store. That store was possibly owned by him and could have been located over the old bank building that was on the SW corner of main and second street where the Palmer pool room was in the 50s.<br />
The 1930 census shows Brooks (53) and Kathryn (21) living in Forrest Prather's home but Martha's name is not listed and her outcome is unknown at this time. I cannot find Brooks nor Kathryn listed in the 1940 census - maybe they were living somewhere else or did not get on the enumerator's roll for some reason. Brooks was a smart man, but hated to get beat playing pool and would have a hissyfit if he had to pay a dime for losing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-8463084797340103742012-09-15T13:04:00.001-05:002015-04-08T16:49:51.644-05:00FFA Members Of Baldwyn High School 1959<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zC_M-5rIsHY/UFTB-1ddCVI/AAAAAAAAEvI/g-B1h_5Nqko/s1600/FFA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zC_M-5rIsHY/UFTB-1ddCVI/AAAAAAAAEvI/g-B1h_5Nqko/s1600/FFA1.jpg" /></a></div>
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This photo was included in a yearbook but am not sure the year. I am estimating the year of origin. There are so many '59 seniors in the photo I guessed at the date.<br />
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FFA was a really good course. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned to weld in shop and that helped me through the years. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-21791907092216047712012-09-09T17:52:00.002-05:002015-04-08T16:53:19.048-05:00Prospective Football Players<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf7rGiaPOEE/UE0ckxAtxTI/AAAAAAAAEuw/Mvz8YXgNtXE/s1600/PD0008+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf7rGiaPOEE/UE0ckxAtxTI/AAAAAAAAEuw/Mvz8YXgNtXE/s1600/PD0008+%282%29.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
An undated photo of local Baldwyn boys who might be interested in joining the Bearcat football team at that time. Coach Vandiver is at left rear, and Bro. Gene Crawford in center at rear.<br />
<br />
This photo was made in the basement of the old Baptist church on Main Street. Most on the young men are recognizable but if you get stuck for a name, send a comment, please.<br />
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From Milton Copeland. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-46636815574442314522012-09-01T21:47:00.001-05:002012-09-01T21:48:44.873-05:00Old Home Hotel Fire Story 1970<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esZu7L4BloI/UELIqUbq3hI/AAAAAAAAEuU/YYChoq9lSJk/s1600/hotel+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esZu7L4BloI/UELIqUbq3hI/AAAAAAAAEuU/YYChoq9lSJk/s1600/hotel+fire.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-11998645653087120822012-08-21T18:48:00.001-05:002015-04-08T21:40:00.327-05:00Once Proud Train Depot Reduced to Rubble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NvHUOcoSmE/UDQcry75h9I/AAAAAAAAEtw/CiFBQxds9D0/s1600/depot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NvHUOcoSmE/UDQcry75h9I/AAAAAAAAEtw/CiFBQxds9D0/s640/depot1.jpg" height="412" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IGQOkKW1Ks/UDQc64an7_I/AAAAAAAAEt4/JqKBUdZmPK0/s1600/depot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IGQOkKW1Ks/UDQc64an7_I/AAAAAAAAEt4/JqKBUdZmPK0/s640/depot3.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am one of the many that regret that this had to be the disposition of the old depot. So many of us spent so many days hanging out there listening to the telegraph and watching the final waning days of passenger train service - people from far away getting off and on the passenger cars to leave going on to other parts of the world. We really didn't know then just how big the world was. We really longed to get on the train and go somewhere ourselves.<br />
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Article from the Baldwyn News, July 18 1990.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-87026986799409267272012-08-17T22:06:00.000-05:002012-08-17T22:06:32.208-05:00Morning Coffee Gang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0PcoZyejbk/UC8EyLv_ZKI/AAAAAAAAEtY/MQWNQ8DhpCU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0PcoZyejbk/UC8EyLv_ZKI/AAAAAAAAEtY/MQWNQ8DhpCU/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The regular morning coffee group at the Git-N-Go south of town were joined recently by some of the old Baldwyn gang. L-R John Olan Cunningham, Robert Thomas, Jim Baxter, Joe Murray Davis, Billy Hamblin, Carl Houston, and David Heflin. Not shown is Henry Outlaw, who took the photo. Joe had some very old photos and objects d' art to pass around. For an hour and a half or more, many old football games were replayed, the goats were again put in the school library, and bootleggers once again got a visit late at night. It was very good time we had, guys. Thanks for the memories!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-16453974998155163582012-08-14T18:51:00.000-05:002012-08-15T21:00:44.861-05:00Caldwell Motor Company<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPeSaAcGD3g/UCrYvK83eTI/AAAAAAAAEtA/lgpa13o_Sv8/s1600/ben+Caldwell+motors+on+s+2nd+at+water+street+looking+west+(Dr+Ford+office+later).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPeSaAcGD3g/UCrYvK83eTI/AAAAAAAAEtA/lgpa13o_Sv8/s640/ben+Caldwell+motors+on+s+2nd+at+water+street+looking+west+(Dr+Ford+office+later).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If any of you were treated by Dr. Mitchell Ford, you will remember he built a new office at the corner of South Second Street at Water Street which is still there and being used a medical facility even today. This building was on that same spot. This photo I would guess to be made in early 1910s. I don't see the E. A. Shellnut home across the street to the left which was built by Dr. R. B. Caldwell around 1915-16. Dr. Caldwell moved to a new home in 1927 and Ben Caldwell bought the house. He later sold it to Mr. Shellnut.<br />
This was the local Chevrolet dealership and garage and Second street was US highway 45 at that time. I also notice that the street appears to not be paved. The downtown streets were concreted starting in about 1926 or '28, I have read. C. G. Henderson later bought the dealership and eventually moved it to South Fourth Street (U.S. 45 at that time). This building burned and I can't remember if Henderson moved prior to the fire or not.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-77371469966721860822012-08-10T09:16:00.001-05:002015-04-08T17:32:36.712-05:00City Officials Mid-20th Century<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcCHJkIgMn4/UCUWvzYIrrI/AAAAAAAAEso/Ch6uVAuHEWM/s1600/coggins,+McWhorter,OO+Cunningham,+FredParmenter,SlimWeldon,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcCHJkIgMn4/UCUWvzYIrrI/AAAAAAAAEso/Ch6uVAuHEWM/s640/coggins,+McWhorter,OO+Cunningham,+FredParmenter,SlimWeldon,.jpg" height="640" width="446" /></a></div>
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Front, L-R: J. P. McWhorter who was city clerk, then-Mayor Bernard Coggins, Paul England. Rear, L-R: Mr. Duke Young, Mr. "Red" Cunningham, J. S. Weldon, Jet Ford, Fred Parmenter. They are in front of the old city hall on north Second Street.<br />
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From Claude Gentry photos. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-52717784912958118552012-08-02T21:47:00.000-05:002012-08-02T21:52:27.942-05:00The old Tunnel Under the Fields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SGxzbwFSQ6Q/UBs5JmDw3OI/AAAAAAAAEsE/4Sdz5h62fRk/s1600/100_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SGxzbwFSQ6Q/UBs5JmDw3OI/AAAAAAAAEsE/4Sdz5h62fRk/s400/100_1321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looking North... <br />
This is the south entrance to the drainage tunnel under the old football and baseball field that we used to go through as a rite of passage. Scary the first time through, dark and damp, bent over so far we walked like a gorilla. The entrance has had some modifications over the years, but still brings back lots of memories. Some people would tell Mr. Baker when guys were in the tunnel, and he would try to intercept them.<br />
I carry a camera at all times, and went to look this up today after thinking about it over the weekend. I wonder if some kids later than 1956 ever went through? The other end is on private property and I can't easily get a photo of it, but am still trying.<br />
Just thought some of you might get a kick from seeing this!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-27174371456665926932012-07-27T18:40:00.000-05:002015-04-08T21:40:59.394-05:00Baldwyn High School Scenes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLw5cD9jPlU/UBMkswao_PI/AAAAAAAAErk/FnGUDzrgI6o/s1600/PD0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLw5cD9jPlU/UBMkswao_PI/AAAAAAAAErk/FnGUDzrgI6o/s640/PD0016.jpg" height="291" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kids loved volleyball. Usually there was a net for boys on one side of the building and another for the girls elsewhere. Mr. B. didn't like mixed playing, but it eventually happened little by little. West side of school shown.</div>
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A look at the east side facing Second Street: Remember how hot the rooms were after recess sports? I see the windows are open here. This is the school we knew in the 40s, 50s and 60s. It burned in 1991.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZQ1yA_CNwU/UBMk2yRs1QI/AAAAAAAAErs/f6i8IRVJRC8/s1600/PD0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZQ1yA_CNwU/UBMk2yRs1QI/AAAAAAAAErs/f6i8IRVJRC8/s640/PD0022.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812534277296231586.post-57357323192333409702012-07-20T13:09:00.000-05:002012-07-20T17:06:43.169-05:00Damon Williams, Local Icon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_5ghxP9qyI/UAmdddYAO_I/AAAAAAAAErA/Vrx327LvPOQ/s1600/damon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_5ghxP9qyI/UAmdddYAO_I/AAAAAAAAErA/Vrx327LvPOQ/s320/damon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Damon Williams was a local well-liked figure in Baldwyn in the 40s and 50s. A kind and gentle man, he always hung around uptown, mostly near Jones and Co. Dry Goods store. He would wait for traveling salesmen to visit the stores and would get a nickel or dime tip from them by carrying their sample cases in and out of the stores<br />
He had two nicknames that we remember - "Hot" and "Hosie". The latter, according to him, was from the "prophet Hosea" in the Bible. He was a cigarette smoker and conceived a way to get free cigarettes. He could hold a single cigarette in one hand at waist level, hit it somehow with his other hand, sending it flying in the air and catch it in his mouth just right for lighting. Then you had to light it for him as he carried no match or lighter (he may have had some matches).<br />
He knew many gospel songs and hymns I am told and would sing in the porch swing at his home on Cemetery Street near the ice plant across from the old cotton loading platform.<br />
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This is probably the only known photo of him and is the property of John Olan Cunningham. Sorry it couldn't be restored any better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3