A School Teacher's Memories ~ Ashdown, Arkansas

               

IRENE PAULEY'S SECOND GRADE CLASSES                      ASHDOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                                    ASHDOWN, ARKANSAS
                                                     
Students in Her 32-Years of 2nd Grade Classes at Ashdown(School Years 1944-45)

GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1944 - 1945

Norma Jean Adams (G) 
Thelma Ayers (G)
Ann Cook
Bobbie Cook
Annie Bell Cunningham
Dorothy Dunn (G)
Ramah Nell Gilbert (G)
Augustine Kersten
Patsy Leathers
Bertha Robbins (G)
Bea Root (G)
Lawanda Sewell 
Lenora Terry
Patsy Ruth Wills
Jo Ann Hemphill

1944 - 1945 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

Charles Adkison (G)
Charley Austin
Mannie Brown (G)
Richard Cobb (G)
Donald Combs (G)
Jon Dellinger (G) (died 10/5/1997)
Spencer Daniels (G)
Charles Ford (G)
Reggie Kennedy (G)
Jimmy McCollum (G)
J.W.McGehee
Archie Merrell (G)
Olen Mitchell (G) 
John Mobley
Thomas McDowell
Billy Dale Reed
Bobby Scott
Robert Smith
George Stone
Harold Warren (G)
James Wilson (G)
Troy Wilson
Billy Witherspoon
Kenneth Zachry (G)
Orville Louis ______
Grady ______

(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985"
(compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When I started teaching in January 1945, monthly teachers' meetings were held on the last Thursday afternoon, or evening, at the high school. The teachers at the wing schools were expected to attend.

At that time, Lucille Thrash was teaching all six grades at Hicks; Rose Caler and Theara Clark were at Fomby; the Wilton teachers were Sue McCray, Annie Jean Hedgecock, and Mrs. Arlie Johnson; Ben Lomond teachers were Mrs. Alice Zachery and Mrs. Louise Polk. (Ogden's High School students were being transported to Ashdown, also.)

The Ashdown Elementary faculty consisted of two first grade teachers: Lila Phillips and Christine Sanderson; one second grade teacher; one third grade teacher, Esther Collins; there was an over-flow room upstairs with twelve second graders and twelve third graders - Irene Russell was the teacher. Ruth Lambright was the fourth grade teacher; the fifth grade teacher was Mrs. J.L. Hiler; Mary Russell Herndon taught the sixth grade. Their rooms were also upstairs.

In 1945 I had forty-one students in my room (twelve had already been put in the overflow room). When I retired in May 1976, I had thirty pupils -- fifteen girls and fifteen boys. There were six second grade teachers by that time.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")


GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1945 - 1946

Nancy Barr (G)
Sue Buster (G)
Mary Gin Cobb (G)
Emma Jo Cowling
Linda Cunningham (G)
Dorothy Faulkner
Eva Lou Ford (G)
Kay Grounds (G)
Johnnie Ross Henderson (G)
* Carolyn Sue Jewell (G)
Nora Jones
* Clydine Johnson (G)
Eddie Ann Johnson
* Jan Johnson (G)
Peggy Leathers
Arlene Merrell
Mary Lou Owens
Shirley Pierce
* Jean Propps (G)
* Patsy Reed
Nora Lee Rickman
Norma Jean Ritter (G)
Leila Russell 
Jane Stewart
* Anna Jean Tallant (G) 

1945 - 1946 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

* Melton Bailey
* Tommy Bass
Roy Bishop
Toy Bishop (G) 
* Erwin Bowman
Ben Clayton
Ronald Cobb (died 4/9/1998)
* Billy Dorflinger
Volley Wade Ford
Thurman Frady (died 7/1991)
* Jackie Freer
Lloyd Gentry
Lesley Hampton
David Henderson
Joe Thomas Holt
Dickie King (G)
Joe Bob Matthews
Wayne McCollum (G)
Harold McDougal (G)
* Harlie Patterson
Jimmy Dale Reed 
Ralph Tiffin (G)
Floyd Tucker
John Walker
George Williams
Ernest ______

* After first 6 weeks these students were put in Eva Merrell's Overflow Room.
(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985"
(compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)


The first school lunchroom was ready for operation at the beginning of school in September 1945. Before that time, many of the children who lived near school went home for lunch. Others brought lunches -- would eat on the playground in pretty weather -- in the basement at other times. The new lunchroom was located in the basement of the building. There was room for the children and teachers to eat at the same time. In my second grade, we had what we called "The Clean Plate Club." When a child "cleaned" his or her plate, it was shown to me. Later, stars would be placed by their names on a chart in the room.

The 1945-46 elementary school faculty: Principal, E.S. Jennings; 1st grade, Christine Sanderson and Lucille Thrash; 2nd grade, Irene Pauley; 3rd grade, Esther Collins; 2nd and 3rd grade's overflow room, Eva Merrell; 4th grade, Mildred Ross; 5th grade, Ora Dildy; 6th grade, Artie Cooper.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")



GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1946 - 1947

Lois Ayers (G)
Margaret Ann Bass (G)
Carolyn Brock
Patsy Cain
Katie Lee Casey
Martha Neal Coulter (G)
Bobbie Ann Davis (G) 
Ila Fay Dunn (G)
Billie Sue Guthrie
Dorothy Holloway
Carolyn Price
Linda Marie Stone
Carol Tyler
Jerrie Wilson (G)
Louise ______

1946 - 1947 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

Mike Ashby
Kenneth Bass (G)
John Cannon
James Castleman
Jimmie Clements
Walter Ray Cowling (G)
Bobby Dodson
Bobby Gore
Leon Greathouse 
Jessie Hendon
Charles Hyatt
Tommy Jester (G)
Kenneth Livingstone
James Patterson (G) 
Charles Ray
James Ray
George Ross (G)
Roy Sewell 
Troy Sewell
Larry Sykes
Harold Taylor
Russell Taylor
Jimmy Walraven (G)
Roy Wilson
Donald ______

(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985"
(compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The 1946-1947 elementary school faculty: Principal, E.S. Jennings; 1st grade, Christine Sanderson and Lucille Thrash; 2nd grade, Irene Pauley; 3rd grade, Eva Merrell (replaced Esther Collins (who had moved to Little Rock); 2nd and 3rd overflow room, Rose Caler (previously taught at Fomby wing school); 4th grade, Laverne Finley, who replaced Mildred Ross (married Claude Jr. Franks); 5th grade, Ora Dildy; 6th grade, Artie Cooper; Piano teacher, Judith Ann Chappelle, who replaced Mr. Lee Siebert who had moved to Texarkana.

On April 24, 1947 -- three of my pupils, Bobbie Ann Davis, Jerrie Wilson, and Billie Sue Guthrie and I helped to celebrate Martha Neal Coulter's birthday by eating lunch at the home of Dr. and Mrs. J.W. Coulter. Mrs. Coulter came for us at noon -- had us back at school at 1:00 P.M. We all had a good time.

On Thursday at 7:30 P.M., May 8, 1947 -- Mrs. O.T. Graves' pupils presented a speech recital in the elementary school auditorium. Three of my pupils, Bobbie Ann Davis, Billie Sue Guthrie, and John Cannon took part in it. Former pupils were Ronald Cobb, Wayne McCollum, Reggie Kennedy, Jon Dellinger, Linda Kay Cunninghamn, Norma Jean Adams, Bea Root and Kay Grounds.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")



GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1947 - 1948

Annette Adkison (G)
Patsy Ruth Burns
Fannie Cain (G)
Sarah Jane Davis (G)
Patricia Dempsey
Dorothy Durham
Beulah Ford (died 5/2004)
Gelene Hardin (G)
Barbara Ann Houchen (G)
Mary Howard
Sue Jester (G)
Elaine Krueger
Marilyn Orton (G) 
Hazel Patterson
Patsy Ritter (G)
Connie Trammell (G)
Helen ______

1947 - 1948 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

Eddie Ayers (G)
Teddie Ayers (G)
James Aylor (G)
Boyd ______
Dale Booth
Willard Booth
Harold Brown (G)
Jackie Clary
Kenneth Coleman (G)
Lawrence Deaton
Billy ______
Bennie Gore
Jerry Harris
Lester Lee Hill (G)
Edward ______
Raymond Krueger
David ______
Charles Rickman
Jimmy ______
Tommy Waddell (G)
Gary Wilson (G)
James Wilson
Joel ______

(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to 1958 edition of The Panther Eyes yearbook and also from book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985" (compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At 7:45 P.M., Thursday, May 6, 1948, a "Tiny Tot Wedding" was presented at the elementary school auditorium by pupils of Mrs. O.T. Graves. The cast: Bride -- Sue Jester; Groom -- Jerry Atchley (son of the pastor of the First Methodist Church); Maid of Honor -- Alice Ann Henderson; Bridesmaids -- Jane Bentley, Daisy Dean Cook, Martha Kay Pauley and Dianne Simmons; Flower Girls -- Sue Davis and Suzanne Owens; Best Man -- Eric Bishop; Ushers -- Allen Garrett, Gale Gill, Brodie Patterson, Larry Propps, and Harlen Sexton; Minister -- Jim Pauley; Father of the Bride -- Johnny Bone.

After the wedding, there were readings by the following: Charles Henry Phillips, Jimmy and Wayne McCollum, Ronald Cobb, Joe Jewell, Thomas McDowell, W.L. (Sonny) Davis, Ed Stevens, Johnnie Ross Henderson, Dorothy Ash, Bea Root, Carolyn Sue Jewell, Billie Sue Guthrie and Bobbie Ann Davis. Tap dancers were Mary Murphy Coulter and Ellen Rea Tye.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")



GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1948 - 1949

Jane Bentley (G)
Myra Cain (G)
Daisy Dean Cook (G)
Catherine Ann Grounds (G)
Alice Ann Henderson (G)
Ann Hinton (G)
Norma Jean Hoover (G)
Errol Jean Simmons (G)
Janet Sue Stansbury 
Wynell Walraven (G)
Stella ______

1948 - 1949 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

James Ash
Jerry Atchley
Claud Barr
Eric Bishop
Johnny Bone (G)
Billy Brown
Wendell Bryant
Jimmie Cowart
Lavon Dodson
Billy Dumas (G)
Gale Gill (G)
Wilford Grooms
Leslie Johnson
Robert Ellis Keener (G)
Phillip Locke
Brodie Patterson (G)
Robert Raley
Nolen Reed
Curtis Russell (died 9/1993)
Jimmy Sutton (G)
Billy Wilson
Billy W_____

(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to the 1959 edition of The Panther Eyes yearbook and also from book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985" (compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I had 10 girls and 22 boys. There was no school library at that time. I carried books from home. Some of the children brought books. I always read to them just after lunchtime -- sometimes I would "catch myself dozing!" The children probably did, also.

Usually in the spring, some afternoon, we would walk to the public library which was located upstairs in the community building. Some of the mothers would go also for we had to cross several streets. Mrs. Burlingame was the librarian when we first started going. After a few years, she retired. Then Myrt Thrash and her mother, Mrs. Grace Hoover, took the job.

The children learned how to check out books -- hoping that their parents would take them to the library. The librarians knew when to expect us and served refreshments. Myrt or I would read a story or two to the children. They always "loved" the trip to the library! The next day, "thank-you" notes would be written by the children.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")



GIRLS ~~~~~~~~~ 1949 - 1950

Ruby Ayers (G)
Mary Ellen Brock
Brenda Cannon
Charlotte Cowling (G)
Patricia Dawson
Patty Fawcett (G)
Betty Gail Gentry (G)
Shirley Hill (G)
Peggy Pearl Patterson (G)
Nancy C. Reynolds
Juanita Richman
Kay Sexton
Shirley Stinson
Sue Taylor
Mary Ann ______
Joan ______

1949 - 1950 ~~~~~~~~~~ BOYS

Ferrel Adkison (G)
Marion Ayers (G)
Edd Barr (G) 
Dale Beck
Leo Beck (G)
John Robert Castleman (G)
Dan Chilcoat
Marvin Cooper
James Edward Dowling
Harold Dunn (G)
Donald Ford
Jerry Gabbard
Carl Hill
Don Richard Johnston (G)
Bernard Ray Keener (G)
Jimmie Kingery
Richard Coker Thomas
John Ray Welch (G)
Rufus Witherspoon
Billy ______

(G) Graduated from Ashdown High School according to book "Ashdown Graduates 1906-1985"
(compiled by Mrs. C.I. Bowles and Mrs. Ross Henderson, Jr.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ashdown Elementary School Faculty: Principal E.S. Jennings; 1st grade, Christine Sanderson, Lucille Thrash and Mable Sessions (her room was in the basement); 2nd grade, Irene Pauley; 3rd grade, Eva Merrell; 2nd and 3rd grade overflow room, Rose Caler; 4th grade, Mrs. Leo Beck; 5th grade, Valda Jordan; 6th grade, Artie Cooper; Secretary, Susie Spigner. Mr. Moak started making group pictures.

On November 10th, during American Education Week, "The Cavalcade of America" was presented at the Ashdown Elementary School Auditorium during the 7:30 P.M. PTA meeting -- the president, Mrs. J.W. Coulter, presided.

The program consisted of several parts depicting the early days in America through the time of the civil war ... The Indians; the landing of Columbus; the pilgrims; the buying of Manhattan from the Indians; Paul Revere's Ride. (Mable Sessions, 1st grade teacher, constructed the horse ... James Patterson was Paul Revere); the civil war; Abraham Lincoln. Lots of children took part in the program and many of the parents helped by making costumes and in many other ways.

(From Irene Pauley's book "Teaching Memories of Irene Pauley")


published in the Little River County Arkansas Genealogy Society Journal

Ashdown Arkansas Phone Book 1929

 

Ashdown Panther Football Team 1947-1948

 

Little River News Excerpts 1905, 1915, & 1923

The "Little River News" was established in 1898. The "Foreman Sun" was another newspaper in Little River County, and it consolidated with the "Little River News" on January 1, 1975.

Excerpts From the "Little River News"

Friday, September 29, 1905

Local News:

Homer Turner visited his parents at Nashville Sunday.
C.N. Thill left Tuesday for a business trip to St. Louis.
Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Sullivan visited Texarkana Sunday.
W.W. Bishop made a business trip to Texarkana on Monday.
Judge L.A. Byrne of Texarkana was in the city Wednesday.
Mrs. J.T. Cowling visited her parents in DeQueen last Friday.
W.F. Bridewell made a business trip to Idabel Wednesday.
A girl was born to Dr. and Mrs. McCombs of Millwood, last week.
Hon. Otis T. Wingo of Dequeen was in town Tuesday night.
Deputy Sheriff J.S. Bush made a trip to Texarkana on Tuesday.
C.S. Cobb left Wednesday for a business trip to points in the territory.
Mrs. N.C. Jones is visiting her son C.E. Jones at Winthrop this week.
Mrs. Nannie White returned home Sunday after spending the summer in New York and other points.

NOTICE: You must do something with your cow. Cut her horns off or tie her head down at once or she will go to the woods and never return. This is the last notice, take fair warning now. Your neighbor NOTICE: I am in receipt of the above notice and if the writer will let me know which one of my cows she has reference to, I will put her up. Mrs. Ball

The following young people were hunting Wednesday night and succeeded in catching two o'possums: Misses May and Daisy Varley, Velma Hicks and Marion Post, and Messrs. Milligan, Gus Orton, Chas. Boarman, Chas. Bowles, Ed Stuart and Ben Nolan.

Friday, October 6, 1905

Little River County is to have a new 12,000 dollar courthouse. Citizens put up two thousand to add to 10,000 received for building.

The Ashdown Public School opened last Monday for a term of eight months of free school, with Prof. W.F. Burns of Arkadelphia as principal. Miss Nichols, of Virginia, is in charge of the intermediate grades, and Miss Sallie Collins, of this city, is in charge of the primary grades. The enrollment Monday was 110 pupils, but the number was increased by the end of the week.

Friday, November 17, 1905

Mrs. Dollarhide, wife of Judge J.S. Dollarhide deceased, died at her home at Rocky Comfort Monday at the age of 74 years. She was one of the oldest settlers of the county and her many friends will be grieved to learn of her death.
I.T. Winfrey, who is teaching school at Yellow Creek, near Saratoga, came over Friday and remained until Monday with home folks.
D.R. Fawcett has moved his store and family from Folmina to Ashdown and is now open and ready for business.
Bob Price, Ed Stuart, and Jeff Lott are hunting squirrels today.
Mike Allen, Henry Gist and Orus Leslie went hunting on Brushy Lake Tuesday evening. 

September 14, 1915

Front Street Ashdown is now eight feet higher than originally.. The big sewer ditcher, which has been working on Front Street this week, has unearthed a large number of old culverts and bridge timber eight feet below the present surface of the street. Old residents say that this was formerly the street level and was at one time the site of a ravine. It was gradually built up, leaving the old crossties over, which the pioneers drove far below the surface. It is also stated that at that time the street west ran under the Kansas City Southern tracks, which were on a trestle. 

Wilton Local News:

September 4, 1915

Mrs. E.C. Cooper and two little daughters, Thelma and Elizabeth, are spending a month at Hatfield to get the benefit of the mountain air and fine water at that place.
Pipkin has been spending his vacation with his mother, Mrs. Marshall Pipkin. He returned to Gurdon Tuesday.
Luther Clark, Grady Von, Lonnie Pugh, Homer Chambers and Willard Lay, who have been working in the oil field of Louisiana, are spending the week with relatives and friends.
Miss Lon T. Jones, of Ashdown was in town Monday visiting her father *** Mosely, who has been quite ill.
Winfield Mills leaves the first of next week to attend Hendrix college.

Foreman Local News

October 23, 1915

W.A. Bowden received a broken leg Saturday when a tree fell upon him. Mr. Bowden and another man were cutting down the tree.
The School Improvement Association is arranging to purchase a moving picture machine and will put on shows at the school auditorium every Friday night when the machine arrives.

Ashdown Local News

November 20, 1915

J.H. Embrey was at Foreman Monday.
Will Orton of Fulton was here Monday.
Dr. W.W. York was at Texarkana Monday.
W.W. Rayburn was at Lockesburg last week.
J.W. Everett of Horatio was in the city Monday.
Sam Dollarhide was here from Foreman Monday.
Gus McKean of Hope was here Monday morning.
Mrs. H.H. Hill is visiting relatives at Siloam Springs this week.
Judge and Mrs. Lon T. Jones were in Texarkana Saturday.
Mrs. Cora Millwee left Monday morning for a visit at Murfreesboro.
Hamilton Conger and Frank Blan spent Saturday and Sunday at Arkadelphia.
Ron Bryant is at Winthrop this week erecting a steel bridge over a creek near that place.
An old well in the middle of Front Street caved in Sunday night. Old settlers say the old well was filled up 14 years ago.

August 25, 1923

RED BLUFF NEWS

Mr and Mrs. Jim Buster of Ogden spent Saturday night and Sunday with the former's brother, Jess Buster and family of this place.
J.C. Stafford was in Ashdown Monday.
Mrs. P.M. Wood visited with relatives in AShdown Sunday.
Leslie Judd is very ill at this writing.
Jack Gorman is spending a few days in Ashdown with his friend, Wallace Dickenson.
Misses Amy Lee Gilbert and Marjorie Combs and John Crippens attended singing at Hopewell Sunday.
Mrs. R.P. Pasley and little daughter, Ivy Bell, are visiting relatives in Howe, Oklahoma.
A.N. Gilbert was looking after business in Ashdown Friday.
John Buster was a visitor in McNab Sunday.
Jess Buster is very low at this writing.

WINTHROP NEWS

Miss Juanita Huggins went to Texarkana Thursday.
Mrs. J.T. Gish and children are visiting relatives in DeQueen this week.
Miss Zenobia Webb entertained the younger set Saturday evening.
Oscar Lewis made a business trip to Texarkana Saturday.
G.B. Moncrief of Alleene was here Sunday.

 

Flat Creek School

Submitted by Kenneth R. Seal

Flat Creek School, 1st to 6th grades, District 15 or 17, was located, between Alleene and Foreman, in Sec. 8 of T 12S, R 31W, east of Highway 108 near Flat Creek at the curve on the east side of LR165 (old Hwy 108).

The first classes were held in 1904, taught by Jesse Freeman. My Mother, Martha Miller Seal, was one of the first students attending classes in this small one room building. Some of the other students were her older brothers, Henry and Florence and a cousin William Frazier Wright.

I went to school there in 1934-1936 along with my brother Franklin, sister Betty Joy, cousins Lowell Frazier and Bobby Wright, and friends Vernon and Don Lock. There were others, but I don't remember their names. Teachers were Nellie Lumpkin, Myrtle Bowman & Grace Lock.

Martha Miller Seal was borned September 17, 1899 near Flat Creek in Little River County, Arkansas. Died August 20, 1991 in Houston, Texas. Excerpts from her autobiography that pertain to Flat Creek school are as follows:

"One morning we had three men visitors. Of course Mother and Dad knew that the men's business was to organize a school and church. After several hours of talking and planning, if was decided when and where it would be started. The glad day came at last. The building was funished----one room for school and church. I can barely remember our first services I was very young. However I remember very distinctly feeling God's presence. I was so happy!" "In 1904 the fifth child was born, a big fine boy named Riley. By this time Mother and Dad realized it was time to get Henry and Florence in school. There was no school house anywhere near. Soon afterwards some men came and made plans for the school I mentioned earlier. It was a one room structure made with lumber and was near our home. The benches were made from split logs with pegs for legs. The flat side was smoothed with a foot adz so our clothes wouldn't be snagged by the splinters. I was five years old when I started to school. A cousin, Jesse Freeman was my first teacher. He taught me how to write my ABC's, count, and even read in the first reader. He was a dear, good man. We didn't have nice desks as schools have today. We carried our lunches in a little syrup bucket. We didn't know what a sandwich was, but our lunches were always good."

No doubt two of the visitors Mother referred to were her Grandfather Richard Frazier Wright, and Uncle, Robert James "Bob" Wright. The school was built on land owned by the Wrights.

Copyright 2021

Kenneth Seal/Rayedene Graves

Additional Information~ from Tom Wyley Cleghorn

"I went to school there in 1934 when I was 5 years old. Nellie Lumpkins was the teacher. The kids I remember are:
Jr and Bobby Wright James, Eb and Louise Gorman Buster and Emma Laura Ripley;  Margie Golden Bobby and Randolph Bivens Lesley and Berniece Cleghorn Louise Homes(she drowned in Little River at Anderson's Ferry) Some Knightens

1927 Red Bluff, Arkansas School Class