A Prather Family Record

 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.
  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.
  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.

FFA Members Of Baldwyn High School 1959

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.

FFA was a really good course. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned to weld in shop and that helped me through the years. 

Prospective Football Players

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.

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.

From Milton Copeland.

Old Home Hotel Fire Story 1970

Once Proud Train Depot Reduced to Rubble

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.

Article from the Baldwyn News, July 18 1990.

Morning Coffee Gang

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!

Caldwell Motor Company

   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.
   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.

City Officials Mid-20th Century

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.

From Claude Gentry photos.

The old Tunnel Under the Fields

Looking North...
   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.
   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.
   Just thought some of you might get a kick from seeing this!

Baldwyn High School Scenes

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.

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.

Damon Williams, Local Icon

   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
   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).
   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.
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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.

Show Me The Money!

Another photo of the crowds that waited patiently for the money drawing in the center of town many years ago. The merchants gave ticket stubs to customers for the amount of money they spent up until time to roll the barrel and pick some lucky winners out.

Mayor Bernard Coggins has a winning ticket about to be called out. In the truck also is Sam Johnson, the Western Auto dealer. Around Sam you can see Robert Jobe, Charles Weatherford, and Gary Norman. By the left door of the truck stands Nora Dean Mink. ALso on the left (rear) of the barrel is Buddy Miller. In the lower left of the photo is Betty Jean Franklin.

Can you locate anyone else you remember?
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Photo courtesy of Edwina Carpenter.