Happy New Year

Wishing all of you a happy 2007, may it be the best year yet.

I have been battling a cold for several days but hope to devote more attention to the blog in the coming days.

Christmas 1953

Cathy, Paul and Betsy - Christmas 1953.

Christmas 1952

For those of you who don't have access to Cathy's site, I am posting this picture of Cathy and Betsy on Christmas Day in 1952. This was their first Christmas in Plantersville, I think.

Mrs. Johnson and Cathy

This picture of Mrs. Johnson and Cathy was taken during the holiday at the nursing home in Jackson where Mrs. Johnson resides.

Post Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas; as usual we ate too much and exchanged too many gifts. All of my granddaughter's immediate family were in Tupelo for the day. Her aunt and uncle from Marion, Arkansas, and her other grandmother and uncle from Kosciusko joined us at my mother-in-law's house.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas Memories

I know this is an extremely busy time of the year, but perhaps some of you might share your Christmas memories with us.

I can’t recall a special Christmas memory nor a gift that stands out. Many of my memories concern food. When you entered Mama”s house, the first thing a visitor saw was the large dining room table which almost always had a cake or pie on it, but during the holiday season it would be laden with sweet potato, chocolate, cocoanut and mince meat pies, all kinds of cakes and various types of fudge; I remember the carmel pecan (the secret recipe one), chocolate fudge, (my favorite), date logs and divinity. When someone brought Mama a gift, that person left with a cake or pie or candy, and Doris took sweets to the other “shut ins” in town.

On Christmas Day, there was, of course, lots and lots of food. Uncle Ernest and Uncle Morris and their families came from Memphis while Aunt Cile and her son drove up from Starkville. The kids ate in the front bedroom on card tables.

After lunch we shared gifts. I usually received money and clothes. There would also be candy and fruit.

On Christmas Eve, I remember the excitement at Mr. Roy’s store as folks loaded boxes with goodies for Christmas.


If others will share their memories, my own memories may become more vivid.

Christmas

This is a busy time for all of us. Hope you have finished or are finishing your shopping and about ready for Christmas. If you are traveling, be safe.

Perhaps during the holdiays some of you will have time to go through your old pictures and send them to be posted on the site.

Idlett Daniel West

Back in September I posted a picture of Idlett and her husband, Ronald. Many of you remember that Idlett taught for several years at Plantersville and roomed with my Aunt Grace.

I received a Christmas card from Idlett and Ronald this week. They both have been sick this past year and are hoping for a better 2007.

The Week Before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas, and I'm not ready yet. I know it will be a busy week for all of us. I will try to post during the next week if anyone has the time to send me anything. I might finish my shopping by New Year's Eve.

Carole's Essay

If you would like to read Carole's essay on the secret candy recipe, go to Clintonnews.com within the next week. Look under Life for the essay; secret candy is in the title.

Not So Secret Candy Recipe

Since it was published in today's paper, there's nothing secret about this recipe.

Morning Paper

This picture was in this morning's Clinton News; the bald headed guy is enough to put you off your morning coffee. About this time of year, the living room table at Mama's house would be laden with goodies, pies, cakes and candy. Doris made many different types; among which was a carmel one filled with pecans. One day when our daughter was about ten or so, she brought home some candy her best friend's mother had made. The mother told Carole she couldn't share the recipe since it was a secret family one. When I tasted it, I realized it was the candy Doris used to make. My Aunt Lucille found the recipe in her home economic textbook from high school, and at one time, Aunt Johnnie made it and sold it through an antique shop in Tupelo.

Carole's essay about the secret candy recipe was published in today's paper.

I'll publish the secret family recipe in another post.

George

Donations to Boys and Girls Club

Here's the address for anyone wishing to make a contribution to the future Plantersville Boys and Girls Club. It's tax deductible.

Mike Clayborne
CREATE
P. O. Box 1053
213 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38802

Please make sure it is designated as mentioned about so that we can get credit. We have one year to match the $20,000 donation or we don't get it. I would love to have it done before then, and even more.


Gloria Holland

Cathy's Birthday

Most of us recognize Miss Dixie at the head of the table celebrating Cathy Johnson's sixth birthday. On Miss Dixie's left are Jean Jutman, Betsy Johnson, Barbara Caldwell, and on her right Georgia McWhorter, Cathy, and Carole McFarling.

Jean Jutman's birthday is a day after Cathy's.

Grade News

The Kampus Whiz each month included Elementary Grade news. The attached page is from the November, 1944 issue. Although it is not attached, a page from the October, 1944 issue related that Raymon Stovall drove a school bus to take members of the Commercial Club to a field to pick some cotton. A total of 1910 pounds of cotton was picked.

Roger Moore

Note: My mother married Raymon in December of 1948, I think, and that year and the following year, he drove a school bus; he then accepted a job driving a truck for the Pure Oil Company in Tupelo, and Conner Coggins took over his route; I don't know if Conner had been driving a different route before or not.

Who else drove school bus for Plantersville school? Wasn't there a Mr. Willie and a Mr. West or were they the same man?

I think that Raymon drove the bus on senior trips. I seem to recall his talking about a trip to Nashville.

Honor Roll Continued

Honor Roll January 1945

From Kampus whiz January 1945

More Kampus Whiz

Attached are Pages 5 and 7 of the January, 1945 issue of Kampus Whiz, which pages list students and former students at that time in the service during World War II. Also attached is Page 11 of the January, l945 issue of Kampus Whiz, on which was the comment that Pfc Cecil Johnson, recently returned from the South Pacific, was on furlough visiting his parents. Among the other comments is one expressing sympathy to the parents of Joe Harris Towery.

Roger Moore

Miss Lawhon

Sherrilyn Helms was Miss Lawhon of 1963. Picture taken from a history of Lawhon compiled by Gail Rutland Geno.

Reminder

Remember that if you double click on the pictures, you should be able to read Roger's postings. If you have any trouble, e-mail me and I'll send you copies.


George

From the 1944 Kampus Whiz

I am also attaching a page from the November, 1944 issue of Kampus Whiz.  This page mentions that Tack Grant had been wounded near Borneo.  Tack was nose gunner on a bomber.  At the time he was wounded, he had not yet met Niecy.  I think he met her when he was in Foster General Hospital in Jackson, MS.

Roger Moore

George: Charlotte can you help us out on how your parents met.

From Charlotte:
Mama and her sister, Dorthy, were attending business school in Jackson. They traveled by bus from Jackson to visit their home in Houston. Daddy was still recuperating from his injuries at the hospital in Jackson. He and a buddy were traveling to Plantersville for a visit. They flipped a coin over who would sit with Mama or Dorthy, and he ended up with Mama.

Students of PHS in WWII

I am attaching a page from the January 1944, Kampus Whiz, the publication of the Commercial Club at PHS.  The page lists some of the students and former students who were serving in the service at that time during World War II.  I know that two of those listed were killed in action - Joe Harris Towery and "Red" Cathcart."   There may have been others.  Those listed advanced in rank before they got out of the service.

Roger Moore

Thanksgiving 1959 Johnson Family

Some of you may have seen this picture posted on Cathy's site. Pictured are Paul, age 9, Betsy, age 11, and Cathy, age 13, with their cousins on Thanksgiving Day 1959.

Today, November 30, is Cathy's birthday.

Happy Birthday Cathy.

Post Thanksgiving Redux

This week after Thanksgiving has been a busy one hence the lack of posting plus I am running low on material so now would be a great time for you to submit pictures and stories.

Water and Gas

I can not recall my grandmother's house before it had running water and gas (natural) heat. However, I can not picture a water tower in Plantersville. Where did the water and natural gas come from? I think there might have been a gas meter next to the chimney on the east side of the house. I don't know where the water meter was, and I can't remember ever seeing either meter read.


I know that TVA supplied the electricity, but who supplied the water and gas back before Plantersville was incorporated?

The Channel

You might remember the stream west of the railroad going from Plantersville to Verona. The stream was called "The Channel." You may recall that it had steep banks on each side. I have been informed that The Channel was man-made, dug around the turn of the century to drain a swamp area. This area was evidently what we called "the bottom" when I was living in Plantersville. If you go to this site, an article about the history of Lee County, refers near the bottom of the article that a large swamp area was drained. The article was published in 1907.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mslee/rowland.html

Roger Moore

Mitchell's Store

I read in the Plantersville Connection that you asked for confirmation that Harve Mitchell's store was once near Mr. Charlie Monts' store. Harve's store was next door to Arthur and Madge Bailey's house. The store was adjoining the woods across from the Mabry house that you used to walk through to get to your Aunt Grace's house. I got my social security number when I started to work for Harve at this location, working on his peddling truck that went up into the "tater hills" section, down to the Brewer community, and the Richmond area among others. I would box up eggs and put chickens in coops that we carried, as the farmers used eggs and chickens to barter.

Nearer to the turn of the century, the store was owned by Charles (Choc) Rogers, my grand-father's brother, and Tom Johnson, I believe, Cecil's father. Harve married Kittye Rogers, Uncle Choc's daughter. Uncle Choc's wife, Aunt Kittye, was the sister of Tom Johnson. When I was a youngster, Mr. Harve and Mr. Tom were running the store. It had originally been located next to the post office, which was across from the Lester Gunter house.


Roger Moore


Note from George: Does anyone remember what year Mr. Mitchell moved his store to the location next to the gin?

Jack Price on a Plantersville Prank

Back in the early 1940's there was this story being told that involved Ed Parker, Hulon Parker, Your Dad, E.C. Kelly and other's, don't remember their names...This Group would meet on weekends at the old R.R. Depot and play Poker...
 
Ed and Hulon thought up a prank that they would pull...They had gotten a pistol that shot blanks and they were going to act as if they got angry at each other and one would shoot the other....
 
They did this and as one of them fell over mortally wounded...THEN, E.C. Kelly Fainted !!! The Prank backfired on them !! They thought that E.C. had died !

Silas "Pip" Borden

Silas "Pip" borden is the son of Benji Borden, grandson of Cathy Johnson Garrett and great-grandson of Brother and Mrs. Silas Johnson.

From Sandra Monts

Before I forget it, it would be nice if those who remembered Cecil and wanted to contribute to the Boys and Girls project, might do so in memory of Cecil. A more worthwhile project I can't name.

The house east of Uncle Charlie's store was Arthur and Madge Bailey, father of Pete Bailey, husband of Maxine Monts, daughter of Charlie and Berta Monts. Pete and Mac had 3 three children. Dennis, in Tupelo, twins Pam in Amory, and Jan in Tupelo.

Next to their house, Harve Mitchell store, not sure of date or anything.

The store next to your "Miss Sarchie's" house was built as you stated; In back on the east side was George Perry's barber shop. Alene's beauty shop was inside, a small room on the east. My mother, Montez,(Tez) ran it while Alene was on maternity leave one time. We lived next to your Aunt Johnnie and Uncle Fielden. I have many fond memories of them. Also, when the Gillespies came to be head of the Plantersville School, they lived in one side of their house. The barber shop in Uncle Charlie's store was operated by a Mr. Scribner, whose family lived in one side of the Julia Kelly house next to us on Central St. across from Jiggs and Jewel's house. Jewel was Miss Julia's daughter, as were Hoyle, Woodrow, Noel, Bonner, Jessie, and Ruby Conlee, Monts.

The Gillespies were here only three or four years, then to Shannon. He taught high school English. I was a student of his in the 12th grade. He was wonderful. That was 55-56. The next year they went to Verona as Principal and Mrs. G. taught 4th grade. I believe they retired in '72 or '73. He was a wonderful person, Christian leader, doing so much for students, families, etc. He had cancer and died about '79 or so. I can look it up. Mrs. G. lived on for several more years. Mr. G's nephew, Eddie Cooley came to Verona out of college, and took Mr. G's place, staying until he retired four years ago. He, also, was wonderful, and all were very close friends of mine and my children.


Note from George: Pam Bailey married Danny Booth, didn't she, and their son, is his name Daniel, played football for Ole Miss a couple of years ago.

Also, I remember the Gillespies very well; after they moved away, they visited my grandmother often.

Mike Collier

While in Tupelo I spoke with Bobby Collier. As many of you know, Mike Collier has been receiving treatments for cancer since February. After one of those treatments a couple of weeks ago, Mike suffered a serious heart attack. He is recovering nicely from his attack and hopes to resume his treatments soon.

This year has been a tough one for Mike and his family. Mike and Kay and their two boys moved to Clinton about the same time that we did. Wes, Mike's youngest son, and Cam, my daughter, graduated from high school in the same class, and Barry, who is two years older lives close to Mike and Kay.

Both Wes and Barry played baseball at Hinds Community College, where I taught, and also for Mississippi College.

I didn't see a lot of Mike until he retired a couple of years ago, but after that we tried to meet for coffee as often as possible.

Post Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with families. Now is the time for hitting the treadmill, exercise bike and working off all the food we ate.

We left Clinton Thanksgiving morning and drove to Pontotoc. Brother Paul and Laney Sims were excellent hosts as usual, and everyone who was there last year was there again except for one. My sister-in-law picked up my mother from Riverbirch in Plantesrville, and my mother seemed to enjoy the day with us.

We spent Friday and yesterday in Tupelo at my mother-in-law's.

It's good to be home, and now as my granddaughter would say: "It's Christmas Time."

Names

These are the names and numbers for Judy Borden's map.

Judy Borden's Map

This is a map of the Plantersville school district in the 1940s. Again, the quality is not great. The houses have numbers. See next post to match numbers to names.

Plantersville Map

Cathy Johnson Garrett drew this map, unfortunately it turned out a little faint when I copied it, of her memory of Plantersville in the 50s. Judy Borden has a similar map in her book of Plantersville in the 40, I think. I will post it later for comparison purposes.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope that all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving.

We will spend Thanksgiving Day in Pontotoc with Paul and Laney Sims and the weekend in Tupelo.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Plantersville School

Some questions and comments about the history of Plantersville school that Roger sent. The history mentions the school being on Cemetery Hill in 1910; is that the location across from the current cemetery; I always thought that the school was once located there.

I've searched the picture trying to find one of my uncles or aunts. My grandparents may have either lived in the Tater Hills and my uncles and aunts attended Kelly's Chapel or they were in Tupelo. When my father was born in 1908, they lived on Park Street next to the railroad in Tupelo. My grandfather carried the mail until, according to Aunt Johnnie, his horse was killed by the train.

They moved into the old Repult house ca. 1914; Cecil told me the exact date as he remembered the first time he saw my Dad, but I have forgotten what he told me (always take notes).

Aunt Grace would have been about 12, Uncle Ernest 10, Uncle Morris 8, and Tempie Ruth who was also born in 1900 died about the time this picture was taken. Aunt Johnnie would have been about 3, Aunt Lucille would have been a baby if she were born when the picture was taken.

I hope some of you can find some of your relatives in the picture; remember if you double click the picture should become larger.

The Elbows

Judy Borden, in her book, refers to where the highway makes a ninety degree turn to the east and goes for about a half mile before making a ninety degree turn south as the elbows. Between the elbows is as close as Plantersville had to a Main Street. The house I lived in for much of my youth was located on this elbow.

My memory is fuzzy so hope you can assist me. In my memory there was a large tree where the highway turned east in front of the Price/Coggin house. I remember, or think I do, people knocking on our door in the middle of the night with blood on their faces asking to borrow the telephone. When was this tree removed?

Just west of the first elbow was the Repult house; I recall it as being large; when was it torn down? At the edge of Earl Kelly’s property was a house. At one point children about my age lived there and I think we played together. I seem to remember the grandmother falling off the porch one afternoon and dying. When was this house torn down?

In our pasture just east of the tree was evidence of a former building. I thought I was told that it had been a service station. Did the Repults have a station or store there?

Across from our house was the post office which had previously been a drug store. What year was the post office moved from near the railroad? East of the road that ran next to the post office and led to Aunt Johnnie’s house were trees among which cotton bales were sometimes placed; early in this blog I posted a picture of me and my cousins and Dot on one of these bales on Thanksgiving Day 1944. I think Roy Partlow bought and sold cotton; is that correct?

Until the mid 1940s, there was a pasture between us and the Joe Partlow place; Doc Smith built the building in 1946 or 7; Roy Partlow operated the store nearest us and at one time Leighton Gray operated the other one. Was Leighton related in some way to Doc Smith? I have a neighbor here in Clinton who is a cousin of Leighton’s but he doesn’t know a lot about him.

Then there was Charlie Monts’s store which I think at one time had a barber shop and a beauty shop. Across from the store was the Mabry place. In my memory the house was vacant but still had furniture inside; behind the house was Mabry Lake where Doris took us fishing and occasionally we would cut across the Mabry place on our way to school.

There were woods east of Monts’s store with a path that we took to walk to Aunt Grace’s house.

The highway then turned south and went just past the high school before becoming a gravel road.

Please correct and add to my memories.

Note:
Charlotte Diggs: "You referred to Leighton Gray and Doc Smith. They were brothers-in-law. Doc was married to Oda Gray Smith. Miss Oda is still alive and resides in a nursing home in New Albany. The Grays were from the New Albany area. Miss Oda should be approaching or past 100 now. There were several siblings in the Gray family and I will ask Mama about their names and where they might be at this time."

George: That fits as my neighbor, Brother Jimmy, is from New Albany or near there.


Besides the barber/beauty shop, which I don't remember, Dr. Cantrell had his practice on the east side.
Also, Harve Mitchel had a store east of the Monts' store. I know these two businesses were there when I was 5 and on up, don't know how long.

Sandra and Tommy

I may be wrongt about the barber and beauty shops; I thought that George Perry Partlow had a barber shop and that Butch's mother had her beauty shop there, but I might be wrong. I'm not sure they existed at the same time; one may have replaced the other.

In an earlier post, Jack Price mentioned Harve Mitchell's store. When was it moved? I don't remember a store other than Mr. Charlie's until the one was built next to our house.

George: My neighbor, Jimmy McCaleb, is a former missionary and is Leighton and Mrs. Oda's first cousin. He did not know Mrs. Oda was still living. I think he said that his mother and their mother were sisters. Although Brother Jimmy is around eighty years old, he still goes on mission trips abroad. He has a sister who lives near the hospital in Tupelo.

History of Plantersville School

HISTORY OF P.H.S,

(From the Kampus Whiz published in March of 1944 and courtesy of Roger Moore.)

According to all available information, Plantersville school began about 1860. The site of the original building is now the site of Mr. Booker Towery’s home. It was a small two-room affair constructed from logs and rough hewn planks. It served the purpose as both a schoolhouse and a Hardshell Baptist Church. It was furnished with benches and desks made from long planks against the walls.
The teacher received her salary through subscriptions. That is, at the beginning of a term,each pupil’s parents or guardians pledged to pay a certain amount, either in money or farm produce for the services rendered. The teacher usually boarded around with her students. One of the earliest teachers was Miss Mag Carson.
There were approximately forty pupils enrolled in this school and their ages ranged from five to twenty-one. The Blue Back Speller was the most important book. Others consisted of any books the pupils might own.
At the end of the school term, the teacher proclaimed an Examination and Exhibition Day. This was an all-day festival including oral examinations and a delicious picnic lunch. The Exhibition was held at night and students made speeches, recited poems, and performed amusing dialogues. School terms usually lasted about five months in the Winter session and two months in the summer term. Basketball ws unknown to these pupils, but they had many interesting recreational games.
After this school, a combination schoolhouse and Woodman’s Hall was built on Cemetery Hill in 1910. It was a two-story building containing three rooms. When it was first built, it was not a graded school. It was made a graded school about 1917, and taught from the first through the eighth grade.
The curriculum included arithmetic, reading, English, history, geography, spelling and writing.
In 1917, it was made a consolidated school. This building was used until it could not accommodate the enrollment which at its greatest was about one hundred.
Some of the teachers were: Jim Harris, Miss Maude Murff, Mrs. Shannon, MIss Nora Sly, Miss Vera Temple.
Our present grammar school was built in 1910. It contained an auditorium, three classrooms, and two smaller rooms used for various purposes. Grades ran from the first through the tenth.
The first principals were Mr. Lawhon and Mr. Riggins. Among the first teachers were Mrs. Dixie Deaton and Miss Katherine Rogers.
The school children were especially drilled in the 3 R’s, dramatics, music, and practical studies.
In 1929 our present high school building ws erected and the old grammar school remodeled. The high school contains six classrooms and a large auditorium. In recent years many valuable additions have been made. Among them our gymnasium, stage, indoor bathrooms, recreational equipment and beautification project.
The first graduating exercises were held in 1933. Since then eleven classes have been graduated.
Our school of today is greatly advanced over the first Plantersville school which many of our grandparents attended. We have more advantages and opportunities than they ever dared dream about. Let’s make the most of these opportunities as we fight the battle of education. Let’s take care of what we have and strive for what we need.

Plantersville School ca. 1906

Roger Moore send the following. His mother had written: "school group my first year in school" on the top of the picture and drawn an arrow to where she was on the second row.


The attached History of Plantersville School was published in the March, 1944 issue of Kampus Whiz, the monthly publication of the Commercial Club when I attended PHS. I'm also attaching a picture of the student body of the school my mother's first year in school. She was born in 1900. I don't know what year she started to school. She apparently has drawn an arrow pointing to herself on the second row (the seated row), ninth from the right. I can't identify any others, and I doubt there would be anyone around now that can.

Roger Moore

CREATE

I am back from my trip to Tupelo/Plantersville; I didn't have time to visit with anyone, but hope to see some folks next week as will be there from Thursday until Sunday.

There is additional information on the Boys and Girls Club post concerning how to make a donation if one is interested. CREATE has agreed to help out.

Pictures

The wonderful pictures posted today are courtesy of Amy Bostick borrowed from her Uncle Tommy's collection. Thanks to both Amy and Tommy.

Aren't We Cute?

Who are these beautiful young ladies?

Cathy writes: From left, Donna Williams, Laura (or Sarah) Williams, Susan Williams, Marilyn Sample, and Jerrianne Monts

Snake?

Is that a snake these youngesters are holding? If so, there has to be a story behind this picture. Someone share it with us.

From Cathy: from left, Ken Mitchell, Paul Johnson, and ?

Paul Johnson writes that the other boy is Jerry Johnson.

Up a Tree

Who are these tree climbers?

Cathy: from top, Cathy Johnson, Linda Partlow, Jean Jutman.

Wading in the Creek

Anyone know where this photo was taken and who the waders are?

Blowing Bubbles and Making Faces

I think I recognize a Williams, but need you to identify the others.

Cathy: The two girls standing are Patty and Peggy Monts, not sure which is which. Sitting on the table is Susan Williams

Games

I was born too soon. In my time, we played baseball and later tennis; our bunch missed riding horses and playing games such as the one pictured here.

Boys Doubles

Venturing a guess, from the right: Fred Grant, Boyd Williams, Jim Borden; don't know the boy on the end.


Cathy: Davey Harris is on the left end. You got the others right.

Checkers Anyone?

A couple of players concentrate over the checkers board while others are kibitzing.

Playing checkers are Jim Borden and Betsy Johnson. Onlookers are Marilyn Sample and Cindy Partlow. The man's name escapes me.

Cathy asks: if the man observing is Jerry Hendrix?

Sandra and Tommy confirm that it is Jerry.

Swing Batter, Batter

A game in progress at the new field in front of the gym. I had memories of many hours spent in that gym. Several of us and Jerry Monts played basketball in the gym just a few days before his accident.

That is Cecil coaching third base, isn't it? When did they begin playing games there instead of at the field near the railroad? I remember attending games at this location when I was in college.

Cathy comments: That does look like Cecil's stance. My most vivid memory of baseball here is when Richard hit a grand-slam home run. It was quite a fluke, he usually struck out.

Baseball Team

I don't recognize any of the players or the coach; was this a Plantersville team?

Girls on Horses

I didn't know there were horse rides at the park. Not certain who these girls are. Who did the horses belong to?

Cathy: Linda Partlow on the left, Cindy Partlow on the right. The horses usually belonged to the Williams.

Men at Play

From right, Buddy Partlow, Tommy Monts, and Gene Monts, I think. Need help with the other gentlemen.

Cathy: sitting on the ground is Junior McWhorter, with the tie may be one of the Methodist ministers, J.T. Borden in front of him, Harold Towery, and you got the rest.

Sandra Monts writes: that the man in the tie is her uncle Johnny Parker, her mother's brother.

Cecil's Kids

I can't identify any of the children. Please help identify them.

Boy on a Horse

Picture sent courtesy of Amy Bostick by way of her Uncle Tommy Monts; the man is Joe Rogers; is that Bubba on the horse?


Cathy: That is Bubba Rogers with his daddy.

Oops: that's Rodney not Bubba on the horse.

Plantersville Trip

I will be in Plantersville/Tupelo the early part of this week. I will try to add posts on Thursday so check back then.

George

Note: Trip has been put on hold until weather settles down. Probably be in Tupelo Wednesday and Thursday.

Boys and Girls Club of Plantersville

Gloria, the mayor of Plantersville, sends the following information:



The mayor, board of aldermen and women and community leaders are working with the Boys and Girls Club to establish a first. Most of the clubs are in much larger towns and cities. I have been working with the staff at the BGC since May to lay the foundation of what could be the first such club in a rural area. Many of the children and youth in our town and outlying areas need the nurture and support that was automatic when we were growing up. I intend to do everything that I can to make this happen. Local ministers and community businesses and leaders are attempting to match a very generous donation of $20,000 pledged by Walter Fleishacker, owner of Northeast Metal Processors, as start up money. There is grant money available but it is not advised to depend completely on this. Would you please pass the word and consider a donation, either in memory of someone that meant a lot to you growing up, or in honor of someone as a Christmas gift? If you are interested, please pass this along to others that I may not reach. Please contact me on my cell phone (662-213-0077) or by e-mail: shollands@comcast.net. We don't actually have a specific bank account yet, so a check would need to be made out to Town of Plantersville and earmarked for the Boys and Girls Club. I look forward to hearing from a lot of people.

Thanks,

Gloria Holland
247 Old Planters Road
Plantersville, MS 38862
Telephone numbers:
home-662-844-2004
work-662-377-2865
Town Hall-662-844-2012
Cell-662-213-0077

CREATE will accept donations:


All donations should be sent to Mike Clayborne at Create (address and phone number listed below). If all donors would send me an acknowledgement of their gifts, I can keep an account of their donations. All donors will receive a letter of acknowledgement from CREATE as well. This will be the letter they will need for tax purposes. Please make sure that all donations are designated to Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi – Plantersville Clubhouse.

Thanks.

Mike Clayborne
CREATE
P.O. Box 1053
213 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
662.844.8989

Patrick Gunnin
Chief Professional Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi
P.O. Box 1098
213 West Main Street, Suite 240
Tupelo, MS 38802-1098
Work: 662.841.6504
FAX: 662.841.6425
www.bgcnms.org

Sandy McFarling

Congratulations to Sandy and her family on the arrival of a new grandson. Jackson Ray McFarling was born September 13.

Plantersville's Birthday

Judy Borden indicated that while the original charter can not be found, there is documentation that the act to incorporate the town of Plantersville was approved on February 24, 1890.

Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham RR

According to Judy Borden's book: "In 1887, the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad was built, as was customary in that day, on land donated by local residents. Rader Armstrong, Mary Bucy's great grandfather, and Thomas William Johnson, grandfather of Cecil Johnson and great grandfather of Carroll Mitchell, donated a half interest in forty acres of land to the rail company to get them to route the line through Plantersville. The line rn along the foot of the ridge bordering the Town and Tulip Creek bottom west of the town. A little depot was built at the bottom of the hill where the railroad crossed the dirt road to Verona."

Cathy Johnson Garrett's Web Site

Cathy writes:


Cathy Johnson Garrett has a blog http://pvillepost.blogspot.com
Fair warning: If you are easily offended by liberals, Democrats, or Episcopalians, DON’T GO THERE!
The rest of you will enjoy her candid observations and reflections. Oh! She frequently posts pictures of her grandchildren, and shares news of her family members.

Sammy Hall

Sympathy to the family of Sammy Hall of Plantersville. I noticed in the Journal's obituary that he has a sister named Bobbie; I assume this is the Bobbie Hall who was in my class in school.

Tommy and Sandra Proud Great-Grandparents

Sandra Temple Monts writes:

"This morning, our granddaughter, Tiffany, Tom's daughter, gave birth to a 7 pound precious little girl. Her name will be Kendra Grace. All are well. God has truly blessed us. Our first great-grandchild, Elijah, will be 4 on Nov. 22."

First Stores in Plantersville

According to Judy Borden's book:

"Although the village is considered one of the oldest in Lee County, it was 1870 before Con Issac established the first store in the community on a site about 100 yards east of the present juncture of Highway 6 and Richmond Road. In 1872, a post office was opened in Issac's store and the Postal Department selected the name of Plantersville.

Will Pounnd opened a store across the road from Issac about the time the Post Office was established. Later, Albert Mabry purchased Will Pounds's store."

Second Page of Robert Henderson Rogers's Letter

The second page of Robert Henderson Rogers's letter courtesy of Roger Moore.

Robert Henderson Rogers

Roger Moore writes:


I notice that you asked for the name of any relatives from Plantersville that served in the Civil War. My mother's grandfather, Robert (Bob) Henderson Rogers, served. My mother used to tell of sitting on his lap when she was a little girl, and he would show her his cap that had a bullet hole through it that was obtained at Shiloh. The attached file is a letter written by him to the Secretary of Interior asking for information about his grandfather, James Rogers, who served in the Revolutionary War. Although R. H. Rogers lived about three miles south of the present Plantersville, his address on the letter is shown as Verona. That confirms your comment about Plantersville not yet being founded at the time he wrote the letter. James Rogers died in Monroe County, near Aberdeen ca. 1843.

Mr. Borden

Even though I was young when Mr. Borden died, I have vivid memories of him. Doris took me fishing many times at Borden's Lake, and we frequenlty visited the Bordens. Doris's sister, Mamie Lou, lived on the Borden's place and worked for them.

Borden Men

Three generations of Borden men in a picture taken ca. 1948.

1954 Play at Plantersville School

From left: James Sartain, Laurie Bishop, Davey Harris, Connie Fields, Woody Sample, Cathy Johnson, Jamie Rogers, Brenda Diggs, Phillip Williams, Georgia McWhorter, Ruth Ponders, Bobbie Gooch, behind Connie.

Courtesy of Cathy Johnson Garrett

Get Well Buddy

Buddy Peters has had some health problems recently. Hope he's feeling better.

Thomas Williams

Sympathy to the Thomas Williams family; Gloria Holland send the following:

Tom Williams, a lifelong Plantersvillian, passed away this morning. He was the son of ZB and Celia Williams. Tom was one of the funniest and nicest men that I ever knew. He is survived by his wife, Janie, and his two daughters, Laura Hankins and Sarah Williams and their families. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Holland-Harris Funeral Directors. The number at the funeral home is 662-840-5000.

Plantersville and the Civil War

Plantersville did not exist during the war,not being established until 1890. According to Judy Borden's book, T. W. Johnson, the grandfather of Cecil and the great grandfather of Carroll Mitchell, and Samuel Stewart Young, the father of Irene Young Partlow and Stewart Young, fought in the war.

I have confirmed that my great grandfather, George Alexander Morris, enlisted in Marion County, Alabama; he was from Smithville, but after the war, he married his second wife and moved to Richmond. Michael Marion Kelly, my grandfather, is supposed to have been in the army, but have had less luck finding information on him. He lived across from what is now the Tombigbee State Park.

If you had family members in the Civil War from the Plantersville area, please let me know.

Unity Presbyterian Church

Raymon Stovall's house was one hill over to the west from the church, and at certain times in the dead of winter you could see the church from his house. Raymon and most of his family were members and are buried in the cemetery there.
David Allan Webb, grandson of Kitty Morgan, has done lots of work on the church's cemetery. His site is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~unitycem/unity.html

I've lost contact with David, but the last time we corresponded, he was working on a Ph.D. in the Classics at The University of Missouri.

Raymon spelled his name without the d, much to the chagrin of my spell check.

Cathy on the Carnivals

Seems we had entertainment, too. Wasn't that one of the occasions when Johnnie did her Minnie Pearl act? There was a musical group with Suzy Parker on piano, Ed Parker playing his fiddle, Hulon played the washboard and had a  bass instrument fashioned from a washtub, broom handle and wire/string. Seems somebody played a harmonica, too, or was it a comb with wax paper? Daddy put a barbershop quartet together with him, Harry York, Clayton Borden, and Arthur Bailey. And there was a women’s group that sang with Judy Borden, Flossie Monts, Helen Partlow, Montez Temple, Derie McFarling, Maxine Bailey, Niecy Grant, maybe others.
 
I was in charge of the haunted house one year. We made eyeballs out of peeled grapes, guts out of spaghetti, hair from a coonskin cap, and we used chicken bones laid out to look like a human hand. All the sound effects were done by kids hiding in the dark. We had a squeaky hinge, scratching on a wire screen, sandpaper rubbing, moaning, screaming, heavy walking, a screeching cat, a howling wolf. I was one of the guides through the house and we had to tell a story about how the house came to be haunted. The younger kids were really scared, the adults would go through it and act scared. What a hoot!

Girl Pirate

Should a girl pirate ring your doorbell, give her lot and lots of candy or she’ll make you walk the plank.

Cathy Johnson Garrett's Halloween Story

I was reminded of all the fun Daddy used to have scaring the trick-or-treaters who came to his door. He dressed up in his old army jacket with a cushion underneath on his back. He stooped over and drug one leg behind him, and with an old hat pulled down low and a stocking over his face, he did look pretty gruesome. He would wait for the kids to get their candy, then step out of the darkness as they were going back to their mother's car. With a macabre laugh that sounded like The Shadow and in his deepest, most devilish-sounding voice he said:

Fee, fee, fi, fi, fo, fo, fum
I smell the blood of little children
Be they live or be they dead
I'll grind their bones and make my bread.

The screams and squeals as children took off running never failed to delight him. Every once in a while we would hear a mother's shaky voice call out, "Brother Johnson, is that you?"

June Harris on Halloween

What I remember is that we used to have Halloween celebrations at the school. There would be cakewalks, apple bobbing, "fishing" for prizes, and all that. One year, some group was selling chances on a Halloween cake from a bakery--a treat to those of us who were accustomed to home made--now, of course, the opposite is true; home made is best. The chances on the cake were 10 cents each, and my uncle George talked me into spending my lunch money for a chance. One raffle ticket. And , as luck would have it, I actually won. As I recall, I came home from school looking forward to a slice of my cake, to find that my family had scarfed it all up before I got there. Dang.

But I remember that what we did on Halloween was go to the high school building and have a great good time. That was either pre-trick-or-treating, or that was some Yankee tradition we'd not adopted yet...

Happy Halloween

June mentions in her post whether trick or treating was a Yankee thing; I never went nor knew anyone in Plantersville who did, though, Carole, did trick or treat in Tupelo and my friend, Jerry Carr also from Tupelo, said that they used to wear masks and combine shooting firecrackers with stopping for treats.

My uncles and my stepfather told stories of Halloween night which included tricks with no treats. Tipping over outhouses and dismantling buggies and reassembling them in the hay loft come to mind.

I remember, as others note, the carnival at the school and hay rides; I’m not sure whether the hay rides were part of the carnival or separate; it was on a hay ride that I first held hands with a girl, I won’t embarrass her by naming her.

As I grew older, we used to go serenading on Halloween Night which consisted of throwing cherry bombs at houses. We would purchase our cherry bombs on Halloween afternoon from Boyce McFarland, and every time he warned us not to serenade a certain house as the occupant had been shell shocked in the war; of course, that was the first place we headed until the night he fired a shotgun. In the air or at us? I don't know, since I ran as soon as I saw him coming outside with the gun.

There’s a story about dragging a sack full of cotton from the woods east of Borden’s Lake across the highway in front of oncoming traffic. Was that a Halloween prank?

Plantersville Cash Store

In the cookbook that Carole writes about which was published in 1962, Plantersville Cash Store is one of the sponsors. Wasn't there a sign on Mr. Mitchell's store at one time reading: Plantersville Cash and Carry?

A Book for Cooks

Plantersville was a relatively new site for me in 1965 when I began dating George Kelly. I had heard of it and had a few brief visits because of classmates at Tupelo High School, Barbara Jo Rogers, Linda Stovall and Sherry Sumner. One particular time I remember going to Plantersville was for the marriage of Barbara Jo and Charlie Mask at Plantersville Baptist Church.
It wasn’t until several years later that George and I met and began dating. I enjoyed meeting all his family and others throughout Plantersville. I didn’t need any encouragement in enjoying Doris Traylor’s inspired, delicious cooking and her vivacious, lovable personality. After George and I married in 1966, it was time I learned to create a few inspired dishes myself. Imagine a delicious gravy that did not require a spoon or ladle, just a knife because it was sliceable. Shipwreck casserole, lima beans and frankfurters . . .the things that I tried. George, being the polite Plantersville boy that he was and still is, was kind and appreciative. At least he kept his mouth pretty much shut while I learned, although he did mention it was the first time he had had solid gravy. (And to his credit, he is a liberated man who can and does cook quite well himself.)
In those early days, my mother-in-law, Vera Stovall, began sharing her cookbook collection with me. Maybe she thought her son needed help before he starved to death. One of the cookbooks she shared is still a treasure in our home. It is such a treasure that the last time we looked for it, it could not be found. “A Book for Cooks” was put up and away with such care that for a few hours, for all practical purposes, it was lost. With its spiral binding now de-spiraling, the blue and gold book was compiled and edited by the Wesleyan Service Guild and the Plantersville Methodist Church in 1962. It was published at a place dear to my heart, “The Itawamba County Times” in Fulton, where IJC journalism students were Hardin-influenced as we worked on the college newspaper, “The Chieftain.”
On page 34 of the cookbook, Mrs. Mamie Lou Ruff, Doris’ sister, another vivacious person herself, shared her Fried Sweet Potatoes recipe, which we often used, still do. Over the years, I started thinking that the words “rolling boil” were in that recipe, but on checking my references, it turned out that the rolling boil instruction was on page 32, Mamie Lou’s “Crispy Cabbage.” Looking through the book, I see familiar names, including Mrs. Mae Sumner, Mrs. Pete Temple, Mrs. Lee Coggin Jr., Mrs. J. T. Borden, Mrs. J. S. Johnson, Mrs. Wallace Gooch, Mrs. Raymond Sample, Mrs. Roy Partlow, and Mrs. W. T. Grant. Miss Sue Burt of Tupelo was surely the fifth grade teacher at Milam Junior High School, and I wonder if Miss Mildred Ruth of Houlka was my algebra teacher.
Powdered Sugar Cookies from Mrs. J. B. Parker; Creole Pork Chops from Mrs. B. C. Cantrell; English Pea Casserole from Mrs. Mae Sumner (wasn’t she also called Effie Mae?)--represent a few of the favorites that got my ‘cooking career’ started. Of the many cookbooks we have collected and utilized over the years, the Plantersville Methodist recipes are still among the most used in the Kelly household.

Carole T. Kelly

Plantersville Town Officials 1920-24

According to Judy Borden's book taken from the Mississippi Blue Book, these were the town officials from 1920-24:
Mayor: W. F. Mabry; aldermen: Mark Monts, C. G. Rogers, W. F. Gunter and J. J. Rogers; marshall: J. M. Jones; treasurer: T. W. Johnson.

When did Plantersville unincorporate? As I was growing up, the town did not have officials.

Fishing Trip

These gentlemen, according to the information on the back, caught 19 king mackerals, 2 bonitas and 1 dolphin on a fishing trip to Stuart, Florida.

At the end on the left is John Green Kelly of Plantersville, and third from left looking down is Dr. Ernest G. Kelly, who was from Plantersville and served on the staff of Baptist Hospital in Memphis for many years. The other two gentlemen are from Memphis, I think.

Niecy Grant's Birthday Party

Niecy Grant and her family celebrating her birthday on October 14.

Courtesy of Charlotte Diggs

Note:

That is Freddie directly behind his Mom, isn't it?

History of Plantersville

Success is counted sweetest by those who some time succeed. I have two copies of Judy Borden's Plantersville Centennial Publication published in 1990 but had misplaced both of them. Yesterday I found one of the copies and a few hours later, while searching for something else, found the other.

The following taken from Judy's book:

"The land for the town of Plantersville was obtained from an Indian, WHACK SHAH in the treaty of May 24, 1834. The allotment was not appraised until January 24, 1838. It was patented to WAH-KA-CHAH on October 9, 1840 and then sent to the Indian Bureau."

"The following people owned parts of this land at these dates: David Kerr McEwin of Pontotoc County, August 14, 1844; Robert Gordon, June 15, 1843; W. H. Pound, December 12, 1871; H. A. Spooner, Nov. 30, 1872; R. B. McGaughy; Oct. 12, 1876; N. M. May, Mar. 28, 1885; Harrison Parker Co., John Parker and Thomas Day from New Orleans; J. M. Towery, and now (1963) by his sons, G. H. Towery and his heirs, G. B. Towery, Tom Towery, Rt. 1, Plantersville."

Halloween in Plantersville

If you have any stories about Halloween in Plantersville, please share them. I have a couple of memories that I will post on Tuesday.

Brother Paul Sims

Paul Sims from Pontotoc was interim pastor at Plantersville First Baptist before Brother Danny came to Plantersville. Many of you know that Brother Paul is married to Laney Lemons, who is Carole's first cousin. For the past 15 years or so our families have celebrated Thanksgiving at Paul and Laney's house in Pontotoc (I don't think I have ever called him Paul in my life; to his friends and family he is Tip.}

Aunt Johnnie spent a couple of Thanksgivings with us in Pontotoc entertaining us with her stories and piano playing.

Since Brother Paul's was interim at Plantersville, the Sims and the Kellys and Margaret, my sister-in-law, have been attending the Christmas Eve service at the church.

Going to the Drug Store

After my mother’s illness in 1997, I drove to Tupelo every few weeks to run errands for her which included frequent trips to the pharmacy. There were two young ladies working there most of the time, Melanie and Laurie. Both were so friendly and efficient that I wrote the management of the store complimenting them. Laurie went out of her way to help me, and on several occasions when I couldn’t make the trip, I would call and Laurie would make certain my mother received her medicine.

Laurie was married and living in New Albany, I think, and at one point during this period was expecting her first child. One day I went in and the birth announcement was on the desk listing the grandparents as Terry and Larue Peters.

I found a picture of Terry and Larue and Laurie and her sisters, Katey and Molly, in the 1994 Plantersville First Baptist Church directory; however, pictures in directories, I have discovered, do not copy well.

At one time the Peters family lived near us, and my grandmother, who loved and respected many, I think respected Mrs. Peters as much as anyone she knew. Mrs. Peters would be proud of her granddaughter, Laurie.

During the time I visited this pharmacy, I had other Plantersville connections. On several occasions when Melanie was not working, the pharmacist who helped me was Chip Fowler, the son of Joe and Mary Kathryn Park Fowler and on one other occasion the pharmacist was Robert Hall, who is the son of Raymon Stovall’s niece, Jo Nell Hall. Both these young men were very helpful as well.

In fact, going to the pharmacy in Tupelo became a very pleasant experience until check writing time.

Brother Silas Johnson

We have no pictures of Brother Johnson the night he performed our wedding on April 2, 1966; this picture was taken about a month later at my stepfather's house some time before Raymon died in June of 1966.