October 30 Edition

"Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me." --- Psalm 119:133

Birthdays this week include: Calvin Warner, Ken Simmons and Betty Warner - Oct. 26, Jamie Weeks - Oct. 27, Don Langford - Oct. 29, Alice Watkins - Oct. 31, Amy Pilkington - Nov. 1. Happy belated birthday to Ted Langford - Oct. 23.

Here we are coming in on November already and the weather is right on schedule.
New Edinburg Community Center is hosting a benefit dinner for Larry Briant November 7 from 5-7:30pm. BBQ pork plates will be sold for $10, and the famous Brothers 189 Band will play. All proceeds go to Larry and his wife Becky as Larry recently had to have a foot amputated due to diabetes.
West Saline Community Center is holding its annual Spook House in the school building on Saturday, October 31st from 7pm until midnight. Admission is a one time charge of $2. For the little kids who might not be quite ready for the unspeakable horrors therein, WSCC will have games and candy for them from 2pm to 4pm.
West Saline Community Center is holding its annual Spook House in the school building on Saturday, October 31st from 7pm until midnight. Admission is a one time charge of $2. For the little kids who might not be quite ready for the unspeakable horrors therein, WSCC will have games and candy for them from 2pm to 4pm.

New Edinburg Fire Department will host a Trunk-or-Treat at the fire station on Halloween from 4pm to 6pm with candy for the kids.

At age 92, Clyde Moseley was laid to rest at Shady Grove Cemetery last Thursday.

Last Sunday was the last Sunday for Bro. Billy Wilson and his wife Glenda at Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church, as the Wilsons will be moving to Bella Vista. Bro. Billy has preached there for ten years, but told me he felt it was time to move on. The New Edinburg area is losing one of its best ministers as is Macedonia, and we will all miss him. Thank you, Bro. Billy for everything you have done for our little town.

With our string of articles on the schools of the New Edinburg area, we close out with the main school itself and its long history. I will not copy from Schools of Cleveland County, but rather tell the story from my own research: the first school building in the town was built in 1860 on the site where the post office now sits. Ten years later, to accommodate the rising population, a new school was built directly across the road where Leslie Stewart's house now sits.

In 1904, again to handle the rising population, the Attwood family donated a 13 area pasture as a site for a new and better school building. A frame two story building was constructed with additions such as a cafeteria were added over the next decade. In 1930, it was decided to build a new, brick building on the spot; the frame building was torn down (its lumber was used to build an agri building... yeah, the agri building was THAT old). The brick school served until 1936 when it was destroyed by fire. Curiously, that school, Kingsland School, and Rison School all burned within a year or so of each other and all three were replaced with WPA projects built by government money. Draw your own conclusions there.  Some time in the 1930s, an old Presbyterian church building was acquired, moved to the school grounds, and converted into a Home Economics building which stood until after the school closed.

In 1947, the old gymnasium (which had a second story used by the Free Masons and the Odd Fellows as a lodge) burned, and a new one was constructed which still stands today. That gymnasium also had the first indoor restrooms on that campus.

In January 1957, the WPA school burned due to a wood heater left burning all night. At that time, there was a push to consolidate the school district with Kingsland, but wiser heads prevailed. The Superintendent at that time, Sam King,  journeyed to Little Rock and apparently had some pull with the State Board of Education because he returned with a check big enough to build a new brick structure... the one that stands today, and built according to his architectural plans.

It was a space age school for its time with modern architecture, tiled floors, indoor restrooms, a kitchen, and an air-conditioned cafeteria that doubled as an auditorium. It was also short one room on each wing, so the math classes floated on the high school side while the elementary side built two metal buildings on the play ground... one for the 6th grade and one for the elementary remedial reading room.

The new NES desegregated in 1967. Before that, black elementary students attended St. John's School next door, while the black high school students bused to Fordyce. It was controversial, to say the least, with many prominent white citizens taking it badly. I have been told by some older blacks in this area of fights and other harassment of the black students by some white students, but it should also be said that many white students went out of their way to make the black students feel welcome. It should be noted, and this a typical of desegregation in the South, that the only black teacher from St. John's to be hired by NEW was Mr. Brice Clay who served almost twenty years as the Elementary remedial reading teacher as well as the coach for many pick up games of softball and kickball on the playground.

In 1976, due to new state policies, NES was forced to institute a Kindergarten program. Many of us still alive today never went to Kindergarten; rather the First Grade was a combination Kindergarten/First Grade. The school district moved the old St. John school on to the playground and renovated it to have a new Superintendent's office and a Kindergarten while moving the First and Second Grades there. This freed up considerable space in the main building.

Staff changed. Teachers came and went and new policies affected the school district in a bad way making it tough for the school board to keep the place open. The town's population was dwindling as families moved elsewhere to find decent jobs. The school's enrollment dropped considerably, and the last graduating class had eight graduates. That was in 1985 and the axe finally fell. NES could no longer meet state requirements. The district merged with Kingsland School district  that year.

The original plan, as I recall, was for both high schools to merge in Kingsland, while both elementaries would merge in New Edinburg. The outcry among Kingsland residents about having their children bused to New Edinburg prevented the second half of the plan from happening, and that's ironic since it was the Redland vote that prevented Kingsland Schools from suffering the same fate at New Edinburg the following year. New Edinburg Elementary met for two more years before it too folded into Kingsland.

A wise man once told me that when you lose your school, you lose your community, and I think that's true. After the shut down of the schools, New Edinburg as a community has limped along since then not only due to the loss of its most precious resource... the raising and molding of its children... but due to the lack of commerce as stores up and down the street finally disappeared. Any present or future attempts to revitalize this town will, in my opinion, succeed only if they look to the future and not try to hang on too tightly to the past. And you might want to think about a school, lest you find yourself spinning your wheels...

But let's do keep in mind the long litany of local people who taught at the school, not necessarily for the paycheck, but because they thought the children were worth it: Joann Hall, Kay Childress, Joe Daniel, Marvin King, Betty King, Bernice Parham, Odell Wolfe, Nolan Brown, Iva Hicks, Gene Franklin, Lorraine Taylor, Jonalyn Reep, Deb Jones, Anita Knowles, and a host of others with many names lost to history.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a wrap for me and this column. In the words of my generation: it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun.  Go Eagles.

October 23 Edition

"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." --- Psalm 51:12

Birthdays this week include: Delaina Splawn -  Oct. 18, Frankie Hall, Nell Reaves and Kay Garlington - Oct. 20, Barbie Jones - Oct. 24. Happy Anniversary to Ollie & Herbert Moring - Oct. 18, and Debbie & Randy Sanders - Oct. 19.

Emmaus Baptist Church is holding its Fall Festival this Saturday from 5-7pm with carnival games, food, and a photo booth. Everyone is invited.

New Edinburg Community Center is hosting a benefit dinner for Larry Briant November 7 from 5-7:30pm. BBQ pork plates will be sold for $10, and the famous Brothers 189 Band will play. All proceeds go to Larry and his wife Becky as Larry recently had to have a foot amputated due to diabetes. Family members tell me he's doing well.

Tyler Attwood of Ottawa Canada and his wife Erin announce the birth of their daughter Rose Ellon Attwood. Rose made her entrance last Friday afternoon. Let the sleepless nights begin...

Clyde Moseley passed away this past Monday at age 92.

A woodland fire on the Tolefree Road, one week after a house fire on that same road, took out about eight acres and required both the New Edinburg Fire Department and the local Forestry Service to subdue.
West Saline Community Center is holding its annual Spook House in the school building on Saturday, October 31st from 7pm until midnight. Admission is a one time charge of $2. For the little kids who might not be quite ready for the unspeakable horrors therein, WSCC will have games and candy for them from 2pm to 4pm.

Greenland Baptist Church's Food Pantry will be open next Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 11am till noon.

I won't do a "old school history from back when the dinosaurs" this week, but it will be back next week.

Please share local information, birthdays, anniversaries, and other events if you would like to see them in this column. If you, for some unfathomable reason, DON'T want to see it in this column, then just don't share and keep it to yourself because you're being selfish. Go Eagles.

October 10 Edition

"Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears." --- Samuel 7:22 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Wilma Rawls - Oct. 12, Regina Huddleston & Bill Perry - Oct. 15, Sandie Lynn - Oct. 16, Marshall Parker - Oct. 17, Delaina Ashcraft Splawn - Oct. 18.

For you out-of-towners, we caught some rain last Friday, just enough to settle the dust. We're still hurting for it here.

As of this writing, Clyde Moseley is in the Heart Hospital in Little Rock and in a bad way. Please keep him and Miss Bobbie in your thoughts and prayers.

Fall festivities are here: Macedonia Church will have its Fall this Saturday. Games start at 2pm, a silent auction starts at 3pm and will continue through the events, a cookie walk starting at 3:30pm and dinner will be at 5pm. Trunk or Treat will be at 6pm with a movie from 6:30 to 8pm.

West Saline Community Center is holding its annual Spook House in the school building on Saturday, October 31st from 7pm until midnight. Admission is a one time charge of $2. For the little kids who might not be quite ready for the unspeakable horrors therein, WSCC will have games and candy for them from 2pm to 4pm.

We're starting to wind down our tour of past schools in the New Edinburg area. Schools of Cleveland County tells us about another relic of the past, Gravestown School: "Gravestown School was in operation before the Civil War. The school was constructed of logs and was placed on a mound on the north side of Mt. Elba Cut-off Road just before the Ode Grice home. It had windows, but they may have been glass or they may have been shutters. The building was heated by a fireplace. It was the first Methodist church in the Hebron community and was just pas the Graves tanyard north of the Mt. Elba Cut-off road. Bob Tucker, who had lost a leg in the Civil War and married Elmyra Hall, taught there shortly after the war. One time while Mr. Tucker was teaching at the school, the kids were playing “fox and hounds” at recess. When he rang his hand-bell at the end of recess, as he commonly did, some of the boys playing were far enough into the woods they did not hear him. Jack Knowles, who did hear, returned to the school.  Mr. Tucker, after he learned what happened, took off running after the boys. Despite his peg-leg, he ran so fast that he caught the boys. They returned to the school together, and Mr. Tucker gave those boys a good whipping."

Go Eagles.

October 5 Edition

" Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  --- James 5:16 KJV

Birthdays this week: Kathy Norris Spence - Oct. 5, Barbara Word Milburn - Oct. 7, Sue Gibson - Oct. 9, Wilma Rawls - Oct. 12.

I hope everyone enjoyed the cooler weather we experienced this past weekend.

New Edinburg Community Center is having a BBQ this Saturday, October 10 starting at 5pm. Pork plates will be sold at $10.00 a plate. There will be a Dutch Oven demonstration there starting at noon.

West Saline Community Center will have its annual Haunted House on Oct. 31 from 7pm until Midnight in the school buidling. They are looking for volunteers to help out. If interested, contact Nikki Warner.

Two more from the Geneological Society's book Schools of Cleveland County:The Martin School was located between the homes of Corbett Murrell and Harold Raymer now located on the Corbett Murrell Road. When the school was constructed the site was owned by the heirs of Dr. Rufus Martin.

Carter Special School was near Emmaus church on Highway 189 south, and John P. Norman was teacher there in the early 1900s. Mr. Norman had the equivalent of two years of college work due to special examinations, home study, and correspondence course from Arkansas State Teachers College and the University of Arkansas. In the fall on 1928 teachers at Carter Special were Frank Rowland as principal and Miss Mary Helen Catlett as primary teacher. At that time it had a budget of $322.14. The New Edinburg Band was invited to provide music for the closing exercises at Carter School in August 1929. Following the exercises, cake and ice cream were served by teachers Miss Louise Ellise and Miss Idella Childress. They remained there for the 1929 winter term. In 1930, Carter district had an enrollment of 65 students. The summer 1930 term was taught by A. M. Carter as principal and Mrs. Caroline Thompson as assistant. A. M. Carter was the teacher for the fall and winter term of 1930-31. It was later annexed by New Edinburg School.

Fall is here. Enjoy it. Go Eagles.

September 29 Edition

"Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness." --- Proverbs 30:20

Birthdays this week include: Debbie Sanders and Dakotah Moring (Sept. 29), Travis Hopper (Oct. 1), Teresa Lynn (Oct. 2).

Mrs. Norma McCoy reports back from a 5 day cruise through the Gulf of Mexico with her sister Martha Cook and her cousin Pam Peterson. They departed from New Orleans and visited Cozumel and Progreso in Mexico. All three had an excellent time. Poor Tully stayed behind with complications of a broken collar bone suffered a few weeks ago, but is reported to be doing fine.

ReNew Edinburg strikes again by cleaning the fence row next to the First Baptist Church of trees and brush that have accumulated there. The fence surrounds the lot that is currently held by Ronnie McManus and once held the Methodist parsonage.

Bow hunters are among us. They should be hunting hogs instead.

Yet another entry from Schools of Cleveland County: St. Paul School was the name of the school for African Americans in New Edinburg and was located near the Farm to Market Road just east of New Edinburg. In the 1930s the building was much like a shotgun house with a front and back porch and two rooms between. Grades one through three were in one room while grades four to six were in the other room. In 1930 St. Paul had an enrollment of 115 pupils. Mrs. Leola Broughton Gandy recalled walking about a mile from her home in the Broughton settlement to New Edinburg. Mittie Dupree taught there in 1934-1936. In 1938 St. Paul had 138 students. During the 1938-1939 school year the school had an enrollment of 126 students and int eh 1940-1941 year it had 116 students. Cornice Marks Hampton taught there from 1944 to 1953. Black students in grades seven to twelve were bused first to Warren and then between 1952 and 1960 to Wallace Training School in Fordyce. The school was closed in 1967 when New Edinburg was totally integrated. The last teachers at St. Paul were Mr. Cross, principal, Mittie Dupree and Brice Clay (editor's note: Mr. Clay was the only faculty member to come over to the main school once St. Paul closed, and taught remedial reading to the elementary until New Edinburg School closed in 1985. As far as I know, he was the only African American teacher at New Edinburg—JCB). Other St. Paul teachers remembered were Clarence Johnson, Doris Jean Crain, Carolyn Wayne, Billie Rainey, Mattie Pearl Mitchell, Mable Tidwell, Kanice Marks, Mrs. Counselor and Mr. Wright, another principal. David Washington was the Smith-Hughes (agriculture) teacher at St. Paul. Marion Mitchell of near Kingsland made a school bus from a truck that he used to haul pupils to New Edinburg from Hamilton Bottoms and St. Francis schools.

To that I add that the building sat vacant for years. I remember the local Jaycees staging a Halloween carnival or two there in the early 70s. In 1976, the building was moved behind the school and completely renovated into a Superintendent's office, Kindergarten, and First and Second grades, thus freeing up needed space in the main building. It was burned in 2009 because it was falling in and was a danger to the community.

Go Eagles.

September 21 Edition

"3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." --- Romans 5:3-5

Birthdays this week: Tony Atkins (Sept. 20), Paula Splawn (Sept. 21), Roseanne Golden and Linda Warner (Sept. 22), L. T. Marks and Barbara Chance (Sept. 23), Otis Clary, Melvin Jackson and Judy Simmons (Sept. 26).

We Eagles are saddened at the death of Katherine Childress Langford (NEHS'54). "Kitten" passed away at St. John's Place Nursing Home last Friday night and was buried at New Edinburg Cemetery this Tuesday morning. Please keep her husband Ted and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Board members of the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District met for their September meeting at the in New Edinburg Community Center last week.  A good crowd of mayors, county judges and business leaders form throughout Southeast Arkansas were in attendance.

From Schools of Cleveland County, Arkansas: Hollis Special School, located near Orlando, was constructed on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hollis in the summer of 1915. It was a two-story frame building with the auditorium located upstatirs. It had student desks where the seat for one student had a lift-top desk attached for the pupil behind him/her. Before the two-story building was constructed, Rucker C. Carmical taught at Hollis Special in 1912. From 1924 to 1926 Mrs. Iva Hicks Moseley taught there. Silas L. Woodward was principal and Miss Kathleen Ricks was primary teacher in the fall of 1928 and it had a budget of $446.06. For the fall and winter term of 1929-1930 Troy Tipton was principal and Miss Clarice Board was the primary teacher. At that point the school had an enrollment of 116 pupils. Tipton remained as principal and Miss Bessie Mosley was the primary teacher in the fall and winter of 1930-1931. In 1936 to 1937 Mr. and Mrs. Ray Carter taught there. Other teachers remember there wer Mary Belle Carter and Lucy Neal. At one time the school was located on the upper floor of the Masonic Lodge at Orlando.

Go Eagles.

September 15 Edition

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Birthdays this week include Austin Grice (Sept. 13).

I hope each of you enjoyed this weekend's cooler weather as much as I did.

Jarrod Langford, home from JRMC after a terrible car wreck, has been re-admitted due to blood clots.

Greenland Church's Food Pantry will be open Tuesday September 22 from 11am until noon.

Two bald eagles were sighted here in town this weekend by Joel and Paul Miller. No, this is not a joke based on those boys' receding hairlines and where the went to school. I'm glad to know that our national and town bird is making a comeback.

From the book Schools of Cleveland County, Arkansas: Macedonia School began after Tucker School closed and people began moving out of the Saline River bottoms. Macedonia School was built on Highway 189 on land belonging to Will and Lizzie Bryant. Haywood Harrelson was the primary builder. In 1903 the old Ederington home was used as a school building. Mr. Henry Lash taught there for a three month term and was paid $100. Miss Nina Hicks and Miss Amy Butler were the teachers in 1927. In 1928 Macedonia School District had as its teachers Miss Clyde Thurman as principal and Miss Georgia Richardson as primary teacher. During the fall and winter term of 1929-1930 Miss Dollie Carter was principal and Mrs. Lois Harrelson Ruth was primary teacher. In 1930 the school had 50 students. During the fall and winter term of 1930-1931 Miss Hazel Valentine was principal and Miss Fannie J. Word was the primary teacher. In 1938 Martha Owens was the primary teacher. Others known to have taught at Macedonia were Miss Iva Hicks, Miss Thornton, Miss Mary Sue Haskins, Miss Dorothy Owens, Miss Frances Martindale and Miss Katie Lou Williams.

The school was divided into two rooms with each room having a cloakroom where students could put their coats, and lunches were often placed on a cloakroom shelf until lunchtime. First through third grades were in one room while grades four through six were in the other. The stage, only a few feet high, was in the largest room and had a blackboard for the use of the students. The desks were constructed in such a ways that three pupils sat in each one and each desk had a lift up top under which books were stored. The rooms were heated by a large iron stove in the center of the building and students were expected to aid in obtaining wood to burn. It was reported that pupils who got their clothing or feet wet on the way to school would get to sit by the stove and dry out. One girl reported that she deliberately put her foot in a mud puddle to get it wet so she could sit by the stove because it looked like so much fun. The school well, which was hand dug and covered by a lid, was located east of the building. After the school was consolidated in 1939, the building was torn down and the lumber was used to build a cafeteria at New Edinburg School.

Go Eagles.

September 5 Edition

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Royce Hall and Jennifer Parker Adams - Sept. 6, Vester Thompson - Sept. 9, Gina Hemphill and Charlene King - Sept. 10, Nita Beth Hall - Sept. 12.

Happy anniversary to Marvin and Princess Jackson - Sept. 7.

Darn little going on around here this week.

Jarrod Langford continues to be in critical condition at JRMC following his near fatal car accident a couple of weeks ago. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he struggles back to health.

I entertain and educated you with a further entry from the Historical Society's book Schools of Cleveland County Arkansas: Hebron Special School was begun around 1921 or 1922 as a subscription school where parents had to pay one or two dollars a summer term for a student to attend. The public school started before the new Hebron School building was completed, so the pupils began the school year at Hebron Methodist Church. A curtain was hung between the two classes held there. One day Clyde Brazelton and Tommy Doss got into a fight, and as the fight continued, they tore down the curtain dividing the two classes. The teacher's desk from the Green Goose School was moved down to Hebron to be used. It had a lift top desk that allowed books to be stored below the desktop. Miss Anita Knowles recalled using the desk when she taught at Hebron. Students had tabletop desks with drawers to store their books. To construct the building, logs were cut from the area and hauled th Hamilton's sawmill near Cranes' Lake where the lumber was planed. The lumber was hauled back to build the school. Mr. Tate McGhee led a drive to raise enough money along with other donations to purchase desks and other materials needed to furnish the school. There were two rooms at first that were separated by a partition that could be removed when there was a program and the stage in the larger room was needed. Later a third room was built on the side. The partition between the rooms was made of wood and so heavy that is took several large boys to raises it. Each room had a cloak room. Students supplied their own books and used McGuffey's Reader, the Blue Back Speller and Ray's Arithmetic.

In 1928 Miss Mattie McCoy was principal at Hebron and Miss Katie Varnell was primary teacher. At that time the school had a budget of $470.82. For the fall and winter term of 1929-1930 teachers were Mrs. Julia Biggers, principal, Miss Mary Rhodes, intermediate, and Miss Erma Rodgers, primary. In November 1929 it was reported in the Cleveland County Herald that the school had a White House relic, a piece of timber from the President's mansion that had been presented to the school by Mrs. Julia Biggers (note: it would be nice to know if this relic still exists today and where it might be - JCB). It had two large cloakrooms with a small library between them. One room had a porch where the water bucket was placed. The school had its own well, the remains of which are still discernible today (2010). In its early days the school had an enrollment of around 100 pupils. In 1930 it had a total of 80 students with 55 in the first six grades and 25 in grades 7 through 10. The teachers in the fall and winter terms of 1930-31 were Fred Nutt, principal, Miss Beatrice Hornady, intermediate teacher, and Mrs. Fred Nutt, primary teacher. Miss Mary Ella Lash, later Mrs. Barney Atkins, taught at Hebron in 1932. She taught the older pupils which ended with the 10^th grade. Miss Anita Knowles taught at Hebron from 1932 to 1934. The first year she taught, Fred Nutt was principal and Claude Johnson the next year. In 1939 Hebron School received $300 in county school funds. Among other teachers remembered there were Lela Mitchell Miller, Miss Bertha McCoy, Miss Bess Lowe, Miss Blanche Thompson, Troy Tipton, Miss Erma Rodgers, Erma Waddell, Misses Jewell and Mary Wallace, Randolph Ellis, Helen Campbell Elliss, Florence Raymer, Louise Herne, Carrie Hamil and Mrs. Haskins. The county school census in 1937 showed the Hebron had 88 students. The last year of Hebron School was 1941-42, and then the district was divided into two parts with the students north and west of the school going to Kingsland and those south and east of the school going to New Edinburg.

Go Eagles.

August 31 Edition

^"4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  --- Isaiah 46:4

Happy birthday this week to: Mark Schienle - August 30, Becky Morgan Cheney and Lynette McCallister - September 1, Don Pennington - September 2, Jennifer Parker - September 6.

NEVFD very quickly converted its new acquisition over to a tanker truck last week.

The benefit for LaVetrice Gill last Saturday drew a small crowd who had a good time. West Saline Community Center has been forced to post the school property with No Trespassing signs due to a small few who are abusing the property after hours.

The Trammell Family reunion will be at the New Edinburg Community Center this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Jarrod Langford is in serious condition but recovering from a severe car wreck a week ago this Monday. He's at JRMC and has had at least two surgeries.

Greenland Baptist Church Food Pantry will be open next Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 11am to noon.

More history from the Historical Society's Schools of Cleveland County Arkansas: Stonewall School was located on the south side of Highway 8, about two miles from Mt. Lebanon Church. Stonewall was constructed to serve also as a church and a club room. Lena Rutledge, who boarded with the Herman Word family, taught at Stonewall, and Bro. M. M. Whayne, a Baptist preacher and Civil War veteran from Kingsland, occasionally led serves at the school on Sunday. Thomas Hoy, Mr. Offutt, Hoy’s brother-in-law, Nat Moseley and Monroe Smith led in getting the building constructed. In the 1930 Cleveland County School Report, Stonewall School had 45 students and one teacher. Trell Haynie taught there in 1928, 1929 and 1930. At that time Stonewall had 26 students. She later taught at Kingsland after Stonewall consolidated with Kingsland.

Stonewall school had a pot-bellied stove to heat the one-room school. Clyde Moseley said Mabel Stone was his first teacher and Baby Ray was his first grade book from which reading was taught. Before the consolidation, Marks or David Attwood of New Edinburg ran a so-called school bus that he had built from New Edinburg to Kingsland for those who wanted to graduate from the 12^th grade. Attwood would stop at the intersection of today’s Hwy 8 and Hwy 97 and pick up the Stonewall students who also wanted to go to Kingsland. The bus had a capacity of about 20 students, and it cost $5 a month for students to ride the bus. After Stonewall School was consolidated with Kingsland, the school ran a small school bus to pick up the students.

Please feel free to share items of interest with this column by Monday morning for inclusion in that week's paper.  This column appears on the internet (whenever I get around to posting it) at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Agust 24 Edition

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Leslie Beverage - August 24, Shirlene Jackson - August 26, Marshall Wilson and Jackson Perry - August 29, Mark Shienle - August 30.

Remember the family of Ann Gilbert, as she passed away last week after years of illness.

Torrent rains bring a lot of rain over the past 5 or 6 days with different reports of 2 to 3 inches. It's much needed and we could use some more.

New Edinburg Fire Department purchased a used military tow truck for... get this... $218. This is a vehicle that the military originally purchased for $130,000. The plan is to move the water tank off the old tanker truck onto the bed of this one.

The Thompson Reunion last Saturday drew about 70 family members despite the weather. We had a good time, ate good food, and caught up with each other. Next year's reunion will again be at the New Edinburg Community Center.

West Saline Community Center will hold a benefit for LaVetrice Gill who is battling cancer. This will be in the old school cafeteria this Saturday night from 7pm until midnight. While no food will be served, there will be a DJ and all donations for the cause will be greatly appreciated.

More school history courtesy of Schools of Cleveland County Arkansas: Boyd Special School was near Tipton, west of New Edinburg, and was also used as a church by the Methodists and Church of God. In 1928 Orie Stone was principal and Miss Mabel Stone was primary teacher. In October 1928 it had a budget of $198.24. In the Fall and Winter of 1929-1930 and 1930-1931 the teachers were Miss Ora Stone, principal, and Miss Mabel Stone, primary teacher. In 1930 it had an enrollment of 47 pupils. It later consolidated with New Edinburg School.

Vance School was begun near Tipton in the 1800s and was one of the early schools in the area. In 1899, Jewell Rice taught there. Professor T. J. Harrison was teaching at Vance School House near New Edinburg in November 1903. Later the school name was changed to Mt. Lebanon.

Thanks to the Historical Society for providing this information.

Thank you for the positive feedback about these excerpts in specific and this column in general. If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 19 Edition

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” --- Psalm 16:8 KJV

Happy birthday to: Carrigan Hopson - August 20, Jayson Briant - August 21, Keri Cargile - August 22, Danny Huddleston - August 23.

A Saturday night fish fry at Rick St. John's place drew a good crowd from the Banks Road residents.

Tully McCoy fell and broke his collar bone this past weekend, but is otherwise doing okay.

A brief shower raised hopes this past Saturday, but amounted to little.

ReNew Edinburg continues to roll, as you saw in last week's paper. They've now managed to get a sign marker on each end of town marking downtown as an Historic District. I'm proud to see these, and would be even more prouder had the Arkansas Highway Department managed to spell "district" correctly. Your tax dollars at work...

New Edinburg Fire Department acquired a trailer-mounted military portable generator for local emergencies.

The Thompson Reunion is this August 22 at the New Edinburg Community Center, and Reaves Cemetery Homecoming will be August 23 on site at the cemetery. Both are always excellent events.

Greenland Food Pantry on the Tolefree Road will be open next Tuesday morning at 9am. The Food Pantry serves low income and elderly local residents. Take note: starting in September, the hours will permanently shift to 11am to noon, but will still be on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

More from Schools of Cleveland County Arkansas: "Dyer School was a one room school that existed before 1901 and was located in what is now Henry Jones’ field. It was one of the earlier schools in the area. John Pat McClellan made the school his home in 1901. McClellan said the mud fireplace was so large that wood cut to lengths of eight feet could be used in it.

Warner School was a one-room school for African-American students located about two miles east of Highway 8. In 1937 the county school census listed Warner School with 51 students. In 1939 Warner School received $20 in county school funds. It was taught by Mrs. Mabel Tidwell from 1939 to 1942. During the school year of 1938-1939 Warner had an enrollment of 32 students and in the 1940-1941 school year its enrollment was 36. In 1946-1947 Mrs. Cornice Marks Hampton taught at Warner. The school had a blackboard and the desk has lift tops to store their books. Other teachers there were Mrs. Mattie Lee Clary and Mrs. Katie Wright. In May 1947 Warner School district was merged with the New Edinburg School district."

Thanks to the Historical Society for providing this information.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 15 Edition

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Ollie Moring - August 13, Judy Moring - August 14, Sammy Pipes - August 15,  Kimberly Brown and Judy Perry - August 16.

The annual Thompson Family Reunion will be this Saturday August 22 at the New Edinburg Community Center. The following day, Sunday, will be the Reaves Cemetery Homecoming on site at the cemetery.

Keep the family of Jane Coats in your thoughts and prayers as she passed away Saturday due to cancer.

More from the Cleveland County Historical Society's Book Schools of Cleveland County, Arkansas: Broughton School was located in the Broughton Settlement south of Highway 8 near Sweet Union Church of God in Christ. The school, according to Roy Broughton, was a great big house and church with two rooms. Among the teachers there were Katie Wright, Butler Danville, Mrs. Velma (Butler) Danville, Mrs. Roxie Tiplett, Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Demple. Ab and the Roy Broughton drove a “wagon bus” to bring pupils to school. The school was later consolidated with New Edinburg. (Note: Carlon Parks informed me that the school was established by his great-great grandfather Samuel Sullivan Broughton).

Mosley School, another one room school house, was located in sight of Almos Marks store on the Farm t Market Road, just southeast of New Edinburg. The school was named after Marion Mosley whose home was nearby. The large room was made of roughly sawed lumber. In 1905 it was taught by Miss Ollie Boyd. Later, it was taught by Miss Helen Campbell. Students from that school later went to the New Edinburg School.

Thanks to the Historical Society for providing this information.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 7 Edition

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

Birthdays this week include: Faye Jones (August 1), Jacob Brown (August 6), Kim Griffin, Justin Lash, and Jimmy Pennington (August 7), Termekia Smith and Becca Cowan (August 8).  Happy belated birthday to Reggie Wofford (July 31).

This month's issue of SEALife has a nice little article about ReNew Edinburg and the Farmer's Market we've enjoyed these past few weeks with several photos and an interview with Roger McClellan. Pick up a free copy at the store or at the surrounding libraries if you're interested.

By my calculations, the Thompson Reunion is this August 22 at the New Edinburg Community Center, and Reaves Cemetery Homecoming will be August 23 on site at the cemetery. Both are always excellent events.

More from the Cleveland County Historical Society's Book Schools of Cleveland County, Arkansas which traces the development and closing of all known schools in this county: "Hall School was constructed near Mt. Elba Church through the efforts and on the land of J. A. (Jack) Hall around 1900. Although he was blind, Hall traced out several areas of the school with his hands and said “well done” to the laborers. As a result of Hall’s remark, the school was call the Weldon School at times. Bess Low taught there when it was consolidated. Bob Tucker, a Civil War soldiers who lost his leg, also taught that the Hall School. When Mt. Elba Missionary Baptist Church was organized in October 1917, it first met in the school house. Hall School was consolidated with the Marks and Good Hope School to form the Hebron School District.

Good Hope, or Green Goose School, was known as the Piney Grove School before it was moved about a mile west. Then it was located on a hill just east of the home of Louise Mitchell on Highway 189 south. Pupils used slates and wrote on them with slate pencils. Their books, which they had to purchase on their own, included the Blue Back Speller, the McGuffey Reader, and Ray’s Arithmetic. The building had one room and was heated by a wood stove. Anna Rodgers Grice, among other students recalled going into the near-by woods and gathering dead limbs, pine knots and scraps of old logs or pieces of wood to burn. Students were seated on benches. Anna Rodgers Grice recalled spelling bees and ciphering (math) matches with other area schools. Among those taught there were Lela Mitchell Miller, Maud Hall Mitchell, Vaughn Knight McGhee and Clara Marks. It was later consolidated in Hebron School in 1922."

Thanks to the Historical Society for providing this information.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

July 27 Edition

^"14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

Birthdays this week include: Connie Dyer Lawson and Joey Posey (July 26), Adam Young (July 31). Happy anniversary to Mickey and Billy Bryant (July 27).

And the heat continues... on the other hand, we could all be in a desert 6000 miles from home in 120F heat dressed full battle-rattle with a 70lb ruck sack on our backs, being shot at and worried about bombs in the road, so maybe we're better off than we realize.

Two four-wheelers owned by Mike and Doris Kee were stolen from their yard on Hwy. 97. If you know anything about it, please contact them or the Sheriff's Office. There's a $500 reward involved.

The Cleveland County Historical Society has a nice little booklet titled "Schools of Cleveland County, Arkansas." It's a good read, and here's an excerpt concerning one of our earliest schools, the Marks School. "Marks School was one of the earliest schools in the county and was established prior to 1842 because in that year it was a polling place in the Bradley County election. It was located in the Hebron community between Kingsland and New Edinburg and across the road from the Hastings Marks home. It was used as a recruiting place during the Civil War. The building was located in what is now Buddy Hall’s pasture and located about three-fourths a mile from the Marks Cemetery. It continued in operation into the 1900s. Professor B. Y. Searcy was teaching at the Marks School House after J. B. Searcy had to quit due to ill health in July 1906. In 1922, it was consolidated with the Good Hope and Hall Schools to form the Hebron School District."

I'll print a few more of these over the next few weeks, as they give an interesting insight into life around here prior to the consolidation craze that hit in the 1930s.

Feel free to share items of interest with this column.  To get it in for a particular week, I need to see it before that Monday.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.