Six Grade And Part Of The Seventh Grade.
Picture And Information by Hilma.
A jrd Stat.
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Top Row-Left to Right: Naomi Maple, Lena Mae Johnson, Onolee Hines, Archie Vernon, Louise Maddox, and Eva Mae Tilford;
Second Row-From Top: Armon McCombs, William Oscar (Pap) Hendricks, Margaret Russell Blades, Olline Embry, Leonard Shrader, Fred Grant, Cora Mae Bannon, and Dorothy E. Park; 3rd Row From Top: James Ezell, Thelma Mae Thomas, Ruby Maple, Hugh Heltsley, James Woodburn (Lige) Maddox, Mildred Crunk, Henrietta Hogan, and Charlene Hicks; Bottom Row: Owen Rowe, Carl Patterson Wilson, Dorotha Taylor, Ellen Wilson, and Catherine Turley. Absent: Dorothy Raines, Hazel Harrel, Alberta Rowe, Edna Steff, Alvie Devine, Arthur (Boots) Coy, Joe Dodge, and Oral Taylor. The students attended school for eight months; 38 students were in one classroom. (From Corbett Farris Collection) Please Scroll Down For More! Nice looking, young bunch of students. Of the twenty-five or so students that are pictured above, I knew or have heard of most. The majority of this group went on to graduate from high school in the 1938 High School class. This would have been the Rockport High School that was located on US Highway 62. Some graduated a year earlier and a few, a year later. I am not in the know of the histories of all, but knew a few of them well enough to just about name all of their children, place of employment, Where they lived, etc. One was a true military hero and gave his life for his country. Others made a career of the military and served until they retired. Some were teachers and others worked locally in factories like the big General Electric Manufacturing Plant in Owensboro. Some became housewives and raised nice families. I even see a coal miner or two as well as some coal miners' wives. One was a barber. I see one that was an electrician and one married a railroader. Like I say: Nice looking bunch and they went on to become outstanding citizens of their country and of the Rockport area. Well, I just started pounding on this old keyboard and the words kept flowing. I have not done any research on this type material and do not want to go that route. That is work! Most of the written word is just some thoughts and ideas that surface from down deep in the old brain. Memories of the good times in Rockport is where the information resides and some of those memories will surface if I start thinking about the time frame of the mid twentieth century. If I need a date or a time frame, I will go to Shirley Smith's book about Rockport and Echols, titled "History Of Rockport And Echols". Again, if you are at this point, I want to say thanks to you for looking and thanks for reading. Please Scroll Down To The Next Section. See you.... jrd |
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These Six and Seventh Grade Students were going to the High School that was located on Bluff Street! In the first part of the twentieth century, in Rockport, the residents were concerned about the education of their children. Guess that as long as there were families, there would be a concern for education. Thus, in the middle of the nineteenth century, some education was being done, and most of it was either taught by family members or self-taught. In 1892 a special election was held to vote on a tax for the purpose of establishing a "Graded Free School". The vote for a tax must have passed, as a two story framed house was purchased for the school system. The ground floor was to be used as a school building and the second floor was to be used as a Masonic Hall. A little over a year later, in August of 1893, formal school started in this two story framed house. In all walks of life, there are "Peaks and Valleys" or "Ups and Downs" and now, Rockport was certainly in a "Peak Mode". It would be short lived. In 1906, some thirteen years later and just before the start of another school year, the two story house burned. Rockport was without a formal school building. Education continued with teachers holding classes in various buildings within the town. Some sessions were held in one of the saloons. It was time for the citizens to again rise and to make Rockport a better place to live. Rockport would not be denied. In 1908, a lot at the East end of Bluff Street was purchased for the purpose of establishing another school in Rockport. The new plan was for a two story school building, to be built, to replace the school building that burned in 1906. Later on that year, a Two-Year High School was started and would continue for seventeen years, when in 1925 a Four-Year High School was established. in 1926, the first High School Class graduated. Proud times in Rockport. This grand old two story school building had seen many improvements and was considered to be as good of a school building as any in the county. New hardwood floors had been added to the gymnasium. Asphalt sidewalks and other improvements had also been made. Times were great and would continue for another seven years. In January of 1933, the school building on Bluff Street burned and the small town of Rockport was, again without a formal school building. Like people, when a town is "Down", there is only one correct thing to do and that it to get back to work. The town did and less than two years, a new school building would be built. In February of 1935, Rockport had a new high school and all of the students were, once again, able to go to a school where they could all be together. End of story for the school on Bluff Street. The new High School on Highway 62 was built by a government organization called "Works Progress Administration" and the citizens of Rockport were very proud. Ah, that is another story. The above two paragraphs are just some thoughts and ideas that these old tired hands punched out. Bits and pieces of the material and most of the dates came from Shirley Smith's book about Rockport and Echols. It is rumored that Shirley's book will appear in a second printing. The book title, "History of Rockport and Echols" was first printed in 1988. Thanks Shirley. See you...... jrd :-) |