Ladies' Sunday School Class, 1950s

These are some of the ladies of the Baldwyn First Baptist Church. I know most all of the faces, but again, the names are not coming to mind. Of course, Miss Hallie Vandiver is on the front right and Mrs. Raymond Miller is to her right. I believe that is Mrs. Luna (Stubbs??) on the extreme right standing and Mrs. Crawford is 6th from the left, standing.

There were some good voices from some of these ladies that were members of the choir.

Any help with names will be appreciated!
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Photo courtesy of Jim Miller.

More Old Photos

Some old photos that were laying around that you might enjoy seeing...









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Thanks to Ellen Mink and Jim Greene

The Fair and Talented Disciplinarian

by Phil Cooper

Carl, Seeing the picture of Miss Hortense brought back a flood of memories for me. As I have mentioned before, I was among the first of the Baby Boomers to enter the Baldwyn school system in the early 50’s. I was one of seven students that failed second grade in 54/55. I stuttered terribly and could not or would not read aloud. At any rate, when school started back in the fall, Mrs. Bryson’s’ second grade class was way over crowded, so, Miss Hortense took the seven repeaters into her room. Being the principal, she did not normally have students, but the influx of students and shortage of class rooms forced the situation. The seven were Jimmy Joyner, Jimmy Rowan, Jimmy Hester, Jimmy Raper, Billy Gray, Betty Gray and me. Now that I think about it, Mrs. Bryson might have had something against Jimmys!

From our first days of school in Miss Hallie Vandiver’s class, we were all scared to death of the infamous paddle Miss Hortense kept in the top right hand drawer of her desk. And, I am sure that every one of us, including Betty, had had our rear ends warmed up by it at least once. If you recall, the disciplinary practice back then was to stick any misbehavers out in the hall and wait for Miss Hortense to spot the perpetrators and take care of correcting things. So, all during the day as she was instructing us, she would frequently walk over to the door, stick her head out and peer up and down the hall. We were witness to countless tail warmings, but she never had to spank any of her seven students. Being an eyewitness to how well she could utilize that big oak paddle and how liberally she applied it was all the deterrent needed to keep the seven of us toeing the mark.

Probably the most beneficial part of being in her class with so few classmates was the individualized instruction we received. Yes, she was an excellent administrator and notorious disciplinarian, but she was also a gifted teacher.

Substitute teachers were almost unheard of then, so, if one of the elementary teachers had to be out, she would just march us into that teacher’s class and teach that group and us in the same room. The benefit to us was that we got exposed to fourth, fifth, and sixth grade material early. All of us did well under her instruction and were promoted. By the start of school the next year the student population had grown even more, so, Miss Hortense decided to keep the seven of us along with a few others who hadn’t done well during their first attempt at third grade. I ended up having her for two remarkable years and I did not stutter when I left her class for the fourth grade. I don’t know whether she scared it out of me or I just out grew it, but I never hesitated to stand and read when she called on me!

One day during recess I snagged a hole in the seat of my pants. We were playing on an old wooden fence that bordered the playground and, when the bell rang, I jump from atop one of the post and a nail ripped a large ‘L” shaped hole. Betty Gray sat directly behind me and when Miss Hortense called on me and I stood up to answer her question, Betty started pointing at the hole in my pants and laughing. Miss Hortense motioned for me to come to her desk, she looked the situation over, pulled out a needle and thread, bent me over her lap and proceeded to sew up my pants while never missing a beat with her teaching. My classmates thought it was very funny and I took quite a ribbing about it. But, as I remember it, I was just glad to have my skinny little butt covered up!

Fortunately, I got the opportunity to talk with her a short time before she died. I was home on leave, heard that she wasn’t well and went to see her. You would have never known she was ill by the strength in her voice and how tightly she hugged me. We talked and laughed at length. I went there to try to be of some comfort to her and all she wanted to talk about was how proud she was of me!
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Thanks, Phil. Great story! I am sure there are many readers who agree precisely.

1957 Bearcat Basketball

This is the '57 team at the old gym.

You should know most or all of the team members.

Which Curtiss is that on the right? I can't keep them straight.

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Click on photo to enlarge.

Some VIPs we have Overlooked -

- and not thought much about until now.

These are the cooks and servers at the BHS cafeteria in 52-57.

L-R front row - Mrs. Thomas Miller, Angie Milton, Mrs. Wilson, L-R back row - Mrs. Alton Miller, Essie Magers, Mrs. Rob Roberts (Alma).

For many years Ms. Marcella Arnold and her sister cooked in the cafeteria. I do not remember the sister's name. They were evidently retired at this point in time.

The government-provided meats and cheeses were tastefully prepared by these cooks and were very good. The meals were only 20 cents ($1 a week) at the time. Often when everyone was served there would be seconds (the big guys would get it). There was always one milk for each meal, and sometimes two. No one was allowed to bring a cola to drink with the meal.

The lower grades were served first beginning at 11 AM or slightly before, and then upward through the top grades. The primer and first grade was in the same building and didn't have far to go, but we marched there in an orderly manner instead of running and pushing kids out of the way.

Imagine an orderly happening at a school these days....

One of the Best Seasons Ever

These players were part of one of the best seasons, if not the best, in 1956 or 1957. The games and results are listed. Good job, guys!

Okolona, Kossuth, Iuka, and Calhoun City certainly went home with their tails between their legs after those games.....

Bruce Putt looks as if he is ready to take on the Devil and whip him.

Click on photo to enlarge.

The Final Days of the Baldwyn Dairy Bar

Shown is a photo of the Dairy Bar that we liked so well in the 50s. It lasted, under various owners, until 1965 or '66 before being razed to make way for the Ford dealership, bought from the Prathers and moved to this location by Ralph Pennington.

A few later additions were awnings and patios with benches, and as the sign reads, they evidently made fresh donuts there.

Some of the owners were, as I have found out, Swede and Larry Johnson, Jimmy Outlaw, and at the time of this photo, Woodrow E. Barnett.

The folks enjoying a cool something are Huse Woods, possibly Larry Carpenter (?) to the right of him, and I believe Kay Poling in white, who may have owned the business later. The couple with the child are not known - help us with the names if you can.

Even in those times money was not easy to get, but we would spend some of our meager income for the delicious treats there. Wish those prices would still get you a quality treat these days!

Also note one of the fashion fads then - penny loafers and white socks!
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Photo from Bearcat annual yearbook. Courtesy of Clarene Evans.

The Changing Baldwyn "Skyline"

A couple of early 40s photos that show the Home Hotel at the corner of Water and Front Streets. Note that the M. L. Waters store was not there at the time. He was probably still in business in Guntown.

Also not built yet was the Baldwyn News building and the poultry processing plant.

The Dixie Candy Shop was located at the West end of the row of buildings that housed the Ritz Theater and the Tapp store (before it moved to the corner of Main and Third streets).

That little building was later moved on a skid system by a John Deere tractor East on Main and put in place by the Cox building and became Inez Nelson's beauty shop building. I believe there was a shoe repair shop in it briefly before it was moved, maybe Bob Finger??? Bob later moved into the building that was formerly Leroy Orr's cafe.

The 1926 Baldwyn Football Team

This photo and story is a little off-time-theme for the blog, but these rough and ready guys were a hot team. The players were our parents and grandparents, uncles, and cousins. The reason we chose to run this is to point out a couple of things we need an answer to. (1) Notice the misspelling of Baldwyn on the football and (2) were they were called "Bearcats" at that time? If not, when did that team name start?

Back row: L to R Earl McElroy, Jack Strange, Lloyd White, Milton Davis, Coach Fatty Langston, Forest Grisham, Taylor Smith, Frank Norman, Gene Davis

Front row: L to R Frank Estes, Talmadge Hendrix, Carl Houston, Sr., Judd Bishop, (???) Glover, Herman Magers, Mansel Lindley.

My dad was 18 at the time, so I suppose he was a senior.

OR (3) was this the high school team or were they playing for another entity? That is the old downtown school building, I believe, comparing the windows against the photo of that building burning which ran earlier on this blog (I have a better closeup of the building other than the one in that story).

How about that belt Judd Bishop is wearing!

Anyone know how long BHS has used the "Bearcat" designation?

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Photo and IDs courtesy of Cynthia Lindley Mink

I cleaned and cropped the original and made it into a nice black and white photo, but then chose to run it as it appears originally after age yellowing, showing the cluttered ground and graffiti on the building.

The games we played in school

Games Played by Boys in Baldwyn Elementary School
Circa 1946-1950

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WHY Couldn’t I Beat Joe Murray?

By Dave Heflin

During the school sessions we had two Recesses lasting fifteen minutes each and a wonderful one hour noon-lunch break. If we jumped rope with the girls, nothing else was going on. However, there seemed to be fads that were short lived such as marbles, yo-yos, tops, paper or balsa wood planes, and etc. in elementary grades.

First, marbles were played under bushes or on level ground with about two foot circles drawn. One set of rules was for a “loser” marble shot into the circle and then in turn, we shot at that marble. If “it” was knocked out and the “shooter” remained, we continue knocking out other’s marbles and keeping them---our “shooter’ had to remain if it failed to knock one out. As I recall we had to stay in our original location around the circle. Remember “dubs one mine” or the rule on using a “steely” as a “shooter” ? I can’t remember why it was claimed, but Joe Murray abused these rules plus several others to eventually capture your best marble, the “shooter.” By the way, we were warned to NOT keep others’ marbles via “tattle tales.”

Tops. Same size ring in the hard-packed dirt was etched, but out in the open in order to use full standing coordination. Basic game was to choose a “starter” and he tried to spin his top successfully into the ring and back out. If it stopped in the circle, the guys to your left had the opportunity to knock it out keeping your top; usually, more than two tops were stuck there. When your time came again, you could do some damage. I remember a pretty red top getting split in half by “you know who.”

Yo-yos. Cheap up to fancy brands were somewhat competitive, but you got to keep it if you lost the challenge. All types of tricks such as “walk- the- dog, round-the-world, swing set,” and others were popular.

Other schoolyard fads included pitching pennies (mainly, losing pennies), sword fights, pea (usually spit balls) shooters (always hidden from the teachers), “King of the Mound,” dodge ball, washers, chase tag, and a big hit, pull riders off of “horses.”

In secret places out of sight from Mr. Baker or teachers, we had some forbidden games played with pocketknives and slingshots. For “stretch,” each had a knife facing each other attempting to force a side-to-side stretch with only a shoe length target stickup until you missed; then, your opponent had the same chance. The game was over when one could not stretch any more. Sling shots games were limited to breaking Coke bottles, “going out for a pass” (Ouch!), and gathering around touching the shooter and scattering wildly when the rock was shot straight (?) up.

Girls, I challenge you to finally reveal your recess games. So-o-o much pleasure came from the common bonds of “boy stuff” and our frequent ecstasy of being included. Winning was not assured, but we waited a few days for a possible chance to find our niche, even if it were a simple toy purchased at Epting’s or the Golden Rule store.

I REPEAT, “Why couldn’t I beat Joe Murray?”

BHS Graduates 1963

-click to enlarge-

The composite of the graduating class of 1963.

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Courtesy of Clarene Evans

Need a gift, call Popeye, any time, day or night!

Back in the 50's, I dare say there was not one single young lady in Baldwyn who had not stopped by Popeye's Jewelry Store at one time or another and tried on that special diamond ring she dreamed would someday be permanently placed on the third finger of her left hand. Gentry's was "THE" place to shop for diamonds, gold, crystal, china and silver and of course the 'perfect gift'. Popeye helped many a young lad out by selling him that perfect ring on credit and thus creating a customer base that would last throughout both their lifetimes.

Having worked there for Popeye some 17 years off and on afforded me a wealth of stories told by none other than the great storyteller himself. My all time favorite however, is one about a young man who called him at 2:00am one Christmas morning and begged him to meet him at the store. He asked Popeye to just come open up and and sell him something, anything or he'd suffer the fate of a dumb stupid husband who'd forgotten to buy his wife a Christmas present. Popeye, of course came to the rescue wearing his pajamas and an overcoat. It seems the young man had finally gotten his excited children into bed around 1:00 am and had set the alarm for 2:00 to do his "Santa thing" when he overheard one of his little boys ask the other, "I wonder what Daddy got Mama for Christmas."

I don't remember what it was that Popeye told me the man ended up buying but I bet you it was very nice.
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Photos from BHS Bearcat Annual and From J. M. Duke