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

-click to enlarge-

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.