THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
A delightful
slice of history came my way recently when I received as a wonderful
gift a copy of the May 1936 premier issue of “The Pioneer,” Senior Edition, a
publication of
The eight-page
paper is of inestimable value. I will be sharing some of its treasures
with you from time to time in this column.
Imagine a high
school with commencement exercises extending over four days, Thursday
through Sunday. With 23 in the graduating class, no holds
were barred in making the four-day events memorable for the graduates,
their proud parents and the community at large.
The exercises
opened on Thursday evening with the senior class presentation of a
comedy drama entitled “Prof. Pepp.” It was
lauded as “having a high rank in the old comedies” and was written by
Walter Ben Hare. Sixteen named characters had speaking and acting
parts, supplemented by “students, co-eds, etc.” which probably gave
opportunity for all 23 of the graduates to have a part in the play. The
major role of “Prof. Pepp” was played by
Hubert Souther, who stated as his ambition in his senior profile, not
teaching but becoming an aviator. That he was able to do a few years
later as he attained the rank of Major and a pilot in the U. S. Air
Force during World War II. Following World War II, he and his wife,
Elizabeth Ann Bates, located in
The Friday
evening of that long ago 1936 commencement weekend was a presentation
by the opposing Alpha Omega and Henry W. Grady Literary and Debating
Societies. It featured the annual declamation contest and the
championship debate.
“The Pioneer,” having been
published in advance of the event, did not give winning results, nor
did it announce the topic for debate. But in those days, the literary
and debating societies were extremely popular and an academic boost in
extra-curricular activities. Girls were members of the Alpha Omega
Society and boys were members of the Henry W. Grady Society.
The third
special event of the four days of activities was on Saturday evening,
“If the outlook
be dark, remember, the tide will turn. There is one thing we can all
do, and that is ‘keep on keeping on.’” How little did she realize in
1936, having come through the Great Depression and with World War II
looming ahead, the class needed a light for the dark, an optimistic
glint of hope. The salutatory address was given by second honor
graduate Bennie Lee Helton. Both girls gave prominence to faith in God
that had been a strong anchor in their lives. Bennie Lee used this
poetic quotation in her speech: “I know not where/God’s place for me
may be;/I only know I cannot drift/beyond
His love and care.” Before diplomas were delivered, the baccalaureate
address was given by the Rev. Henry Grady Jarrard,
“a product of Union County Schools,” who grew up in Suches and was a
graduate of
After receiving
their diplomas on Saturday night, the 23 seniors and their parents
returned to Union County High School on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. to
march again to the stately “Pomp and Circumstance,” and to listen to
the Rev. L. M. Twiggs, also a “product of Union County Schools” who was
pastor of First Methodist Episcopal Church South in Dalton, Ga. He was
educated at
Mrs. Dora
Hunter Allison (now Spiva) was sponsor of
the senior class and faculty advisor for the first issue of “The
Pioneer.” In her parting word to them, she sounded her typical advice,
some which many of us who had the privilege of her instruction heard in
her mathematics classes: “Remember always that the road to your goal is
the straight and narrow path ahead, and do not be led off the main road
by the tempting bypaths through the marshes of dishonesty which are
seemingly short cuts to your destination.”
Dr. James N.
Nicholson, called superintendent then, but under present terms
principal, had timely parting advice for the seniors: “Cultivate a
sense of personal worth. Develop in yourselves industry, temperance,
loyalty, courtesy, kindness, and reverence. Find
your job in the world; and whether it be
great or small, try to be and do your best at that job. Learn to do
creative thinking, and use the ability thus developed in constructive
living. Try to find something greater than yourself to live for; unless
you live for something bigger than yourself, you’ll live in vain. Fill
each day with a day’s distance run. Dare to be yourself. Learn the
lesson of self mastery. Believe in
yourself, in a friendly universe, and in the goodness of God.”
“We finish to begin” was the class motto. ,Those who graduated in May 1936 were Bonnie
Jones, Lennie Cagle, Sarah Rogers, Edith
Ballew, Juanita Standridge, Mary Rich,
Pauline Poteete, Myrtle Hunt, Thelma
Morgan, Bennie Lee Helton, Alwayne
Ledford, Mary Belle McGlamery, Willard
Chastain, Agnes Young, Sarah Kelley, Alline
Stevens, George Watts, Hayden Seabolt,
Garnet Morgan, Hubert Souther, Billy Caldwell, June Caldwell and Pat
Akins.
I’m sure that
in the list are many present readers knew as neighbors, friends,
parents, grandparents. What a find, this May 1936 issue of “The
Pioneer.”
c2005 by Ethelene Dyer Jones; published
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