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.

Little Butch and Little George

Butch and George trying to rock in my grandmother's back yard. Weren't we cute?

Maxine Monts

This picture was in Aunt Johnnie's stuff. Some of the cutline is torn away, but I'm certain that it was announcing Maxine's engagement to Pete.

Forrest McFatridge Jr.

I found this picture in Aunt Johnnie's files. Wasn't his father at one time pastor of the Baptist Church? Aunt Johnnie during her illness gave me in chronological order all the pastors of the Baptist Church back to 1900 or so. I hate to confess that I have misplaced the list.

Carole Tackett

This is Carole's engagement picture; she is a city girl growing up in Tupelo. We were married on April 2, 1966, in my grandmother's living room with Brother Silas Johnson presiding and about thirty people attending.

Carole's mother and Jimmy Jeffreys' father were siblings.

Cecil Juggling

A young lady watches Cecil juggling tennis balls in a picture taken in 1975 courtesy of Amy Bostick.

Reminder

Some of the pictures, especially those from newspapers, are difficult to see; double clicking on the picture should provide a better view.

Parallel Bar

Can you identify these girls on the parallel bar at Cecil's park?

Harold Polk

Sympathy to Eugenia and the rest of Harold Polk's family. Graveside services for Harold Polk will be held at the Plantersville Cemetery at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 18. For a number of years, Harold had been living in Florida to be close to his family. Some years ago, when he visited in Plantersville, Harold stayed in the trailer parked next to Aunt Grace's house where my mother was residing. I was fortunate enough to visit with him on those occasions.

Class of 1956

Tommy was a member of the last class to graduate from Plantersville High School in 1956.

Seated from left: Shirley Coggin and Bonnie Jean Estes; standing from left: John Ellis, Tommy Monts, James Allred, Fred Westmoreland, and Thomas Westmoreland.

Shirley Coggin married Charles Collier, and they live in Starkville; the last I heard John Ellis was living in the Lee County area. Fred Westmoreland was killed in a tragic accident not long after graduating. And, of course, Tommy married Sandra and lives in Plantersville. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Thomas, Bonnie Jean and James?


Lynette Partlow Brown provides the following information:

Bonnie Jean Estes Hester lived in Tupelo and worked for CSA (Central Service Association) for thirty years and retired with failing health; she passed away this year.

Thomas Westmoreland resided in Huntsville, AL until his death several years ago.

James lives in Plantersville.

Tommy Monts 1956

Tommy's school picture from the 1956 annual.

Sandra Temple 1956

Sandra's school picture taken in 1956.

Tommy and Sandra

Sandra Temple Monts and Tommy Monts also renewed their wedding vows at the Plantrsville United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 15; they will have been married fifty years on October 27.


Coutesy of Gloria Temple Holland and Amy Bostick

Tennis in Plantersville

The picture of Inez McDonald reminded me of something Cecil used to talk about though I can't trust my memory. Didn't the McDonald's once have a tennis court and wouldn't that have been where Cecil learned to play tennis?

Tommy and Sandra Celebrate 50 Years

Tommy and Sandra Monts celebrated their 50th anniversary this past weekend. It seems just yesterday when I first noticed they were a couple as they were sitting together on the bus during basketball trips.

Congratulations to Tommy and Sandra.

Amy identifies Tommy and Sandra's children: "Lisa Monts Wadley, In the pink shirt Kelly Monts (youngest) and in the orange shirt Tom Monts, Jr."

Sandbox

Children enjoy Cecil's large sandbox. Can someone give a chronology of the development of Cecil's park? I remember the old house and playing baseball on the field behind the Parker's; actually I wasn't much of a baseball player but enjoyed riding the T-Model as Cecil dragged the infield and chasing balls. As I remember the field, it had a fence that ran from right field to center but not to left. Was there a reason for no field in left?

I recall the time when we watched Cecil tear down the old house and build the new one, and at some point he installed the clay court. I know that in 1965 he had a wall to practice tennis, and at some point about that time, he put up a slide.

In my memory for a long time, there was only the tennis court.

I have no memory of the sandbox or of the shuffleboard court, if that’s the proper term.

Curtis Monts Sr.

Curtis Monts Sr., in the center, holds the trophy to be presented to the winner of the C. W. Monts Sr. Father-Son Golf Tournament that he founded. Curtis Jr. is on the left and Paul Livingston, golf pro, in on right. This picture was taken in July of 1979.

Curtis Monts Sr. was the brother of Mae Sumner and Dora Monts.


Courtesy of Jimmy Jeffreys

Angel of Bataan

This picture of Plantersville native Inez McDonald with her parents was taken in Tupelo during a parade in her honor on March 6, 1945. One of the angels of Bataan, she is quoted as saying: "Memories of Bataan are just horrible nightmares--like something that really never happened."

Courtesy of Jimmy Jeffreys.

The Park

Wonderful shot that brings back many memories. Previously I posted the wrong picture. Shouldn't be posting to site late at night.

Croquet

Slam the ball through the wicket. I'm guessing that's Freddie Grant and Stan Williams. Am I correct? Don't recognize the others. These pictures submitted by Carol Mitchell are so vivid you want to grab your racket and head for the park.

Tennis Anyone?

I wonder how many games of tennis were played on that court.

Shuffleboard

Is that the name of this game? Can you identify any of the players or spectators other than Cecil?

Relaxing

Cecil in a rare state of repose.

Cecil with Ken and Pepper

Cecil with Ken Mitchell and Pepper, the closest Cecil came to having a dog, according to Carol.

Playing Cards

Carol Mitchell sent me several pictures of Cecil and the park taken by her mother; that looks like Woody Sample on the right. Help me with the boy on the left and the young lady.

Note: Phillip Williams, Cecil, Carol Mitchell and Woody Sample are from left to right.

Plantersville ca. 1916

"Plantersville, an incorporated post-town in Lee county, on the St. Louis and San Francisco R. R., three miles southeast of Tupelo the county seat and nearest banking town. The town lies in an artesian basin and there are a number of wells here, affording a supply of soft, pure water, obtained at a depth of from 300 to 400 feet. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, 3 stores, a saw mill, a cotton gin, a church and a school. The population in 1900 was 187."

From 'Mississippi,' edited by Dunbar Rowland and published by the Southern Historical Association in 1916.

Posting

If you don't want to register in order to make comments, you may participate by sending pictures and stories to me via e-mail (gkelly1@jam.rr.com); it takes only seconds to post comments on the site and only a minute or so to post a picture. If you need to mail your stuff, please e-mail me for my mailing address. I will return anything you send to you as soon as I finish posting.

This Blog

Any Bostick informs me that she announced the blog address at the homecoming yesterday. As the word spreads, this blog is gradually becoming what I envisioned, a forum for Plantersville folks to share their memories and pictures. All pictures of Plantersville folks or locations are welcomed. I have had several people in pictures in my possession identified after posting them on this blog. I would, also, like you to share your memories and stories as well.

Carole has volunteered to help edit the site now that usage is increasing; after 30 years of proofing papers, I’ve given that up for Lent.

Credit for this blog goes to Cathy Johnson Garrett. It was her idea, and without her assistance and that of her son, Benji, I would never have been able to establish a blog. Benji and I are both Mac users and his suggestions were invaluable.

And lastly, thanks to all Plantersville folks past and present. Keep reading the blog and keep sending me stuff to post.

Plantersville Homecoming

Plantersville Homecoming was held yesterday (October 8) at the Methodist Church, and I assume also at the cemetery. I used to try to attend the cemetery homecoming each year; however, since the birth of my granddaughter, Sunday had become the day I get to play with her.

School Days Plantersville?

Amy Bostick believes this picture was taken in or near Plantersville. Please help us identify these students.

Jiggs and Jewel Monts with Erin Conlee

Amy writes that according to the information on the back this picture was taken in 1934 on Easter Sunday.

School Days Again

Do you recognize anyone?

"Ole Gang of Mine"

One of these ladies is Jewel Monts, I think; can you identify any of the others? It is labeled "Ole Gang of Mine."

From Amy: "Erin Conlee, Marquerite Harris, Inez McDonald, Jewel Kelly (she is on the ground on the right side) and Christine Rogers. My notes on this photo say it was taken around 1927. I am still working on the school pictures names."

Up, up and away

Future fly boys: Tommy Monts and Steve and Ben Kelly on the porch of the Monts house in Plantersville. If you look closely, you can see the railroad in the background.

Jiggs and Tommy Monts

Jiggs and Tommy Monts displaying their catch. Picture courtesy of Amy Bostick, who is the daughter of Sharon and Jimmy Jeffreys; for those who don't know, Sharon is a distant cousin of mine, and Jimmy is Carole's first cousin.

Plantersville School 1914

Wanda also sent this picture taken at the Planersville School in 1914. Cecil is the boy in white on the front row looking down. My dad was the same age as Cecil, and Aunt Lucille was two years older and Aunt Johnnie five years older. I do not see them in this picture.

My father was born on Park Street in Tupelo, and some time around 1914, my grandfather bought the house next to the Price/Coggin house from the Repults. They must have moved back to Plantersville after this picture was taken.

Some Plantersville folk ca. 1910

This picture courtesy of Wanda Williams was supposed to have been taken ca. 1910 in front of the Methodist Church in Plantersville. Does anyone know who any of these people are? A couple look familiar, one even resembles my dad, but he would have been two in 1910.

Where was the Methodist Church located in 1910?

Pictures

Double clicking on a picture should increase its size.

Cecil and Friends

This picture of Cecil and the children who played at his park and some of the parents was taken ca. 1972 and is posted courtesy of Wanda Partlow Williams.

Sitting on the right in the sunglasses - is that you Cathy, if so which son?

Second from the right sitting is Wanda Wiliams with which son?

And, of course, we all recognize Cecil, but as for the others - help!

George's comment: One thing that strikes me about this picture and some of the other shots of the park is the number of children; were all these children from Plantersville or did some come from other communities? When I was going to Cecil's, I don't remember more than six or eight being there. One of the reasons Cecil quit coaching baseball and built a tennis court was because he didn't have enough boys to field a baseball team.

Club Meeting

Cathy Johnson Garrett loaned me this picture of a club meeting. One was called Over Sixty; wasn't there another name?

My grandmother, Sarchie Kelly, is the one with the walker; Aunt Johnnie is in the middle sitting in front. Cathy's grandmother is the lady at the top. Cathy told me the names of a couple of more, but she will have to help me out. My memory isn't what it used to be, and never was.

From Jane Price James: "The lady on the front row in the white dress is Mrs. Earl Conlee, James and Mont's Conlee's mother."

Note:
From Neicy Grant via Charlotte: 1st row: Clara Borden, Miss Johnnie, Annie Conlee
2nd row: ??, Lil Whitehead, Sarchie Kelly, Nannie Pearl Adams
3rd row: ??, Dora Grant, Mrs. Brown, Parker, Gussie Grant
It is fuzzy after that except that Effie Johnson is standing in front of Cathy’s grandmother.

Dora Grant, Annie Pearl Adams, and Effie Johnson are sisters.