Monday, January 29, 2018
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Good ole boys
From my earliest recollection until my early teen years fireworks were sold in Georgia. I'm not sure when they were outlawed but I recall it happening. As long as they were legal my sister June and I played with them often but especially around July fourth and New Year's. I remember them being sold in McLarry's at "the curve" in Flemington. After they were outlawed in Ga. huge Fireworks stores sprang up just across the Savannah river in South Carolina. Consequently we have always had fireworks. Our older brother Homer and our Daddy taught us to have a healthy respect for potential danger is we failed to be careful with them. I don't remember us ever making any bad decisions with them.
We played with the lower powered firecrackers, sparklers, roman candles and occasionally the larger more powerful red firecrackers. There was also something called a whistler or chaser but we never dealt with those. In later years the was the "Cherry Bombs" which were about the size of a quarter and round with a large fuse about an inch and a half long. We never had any mishaps around our home but we always heard reports of people being burned or injured or accidental fires of structures or yards and woods.
I am not exactly sure what year the following story took place but I imagine it was around 1960 give or take a couple of years either way. At the time Hinesville was still a very small community where everybody knew everyone and there was very little crime. R.V. Bobby Sikes was sheriff so I know it was after he had succeeded his father Sheriff Paul Sikes who had died in 1959 I believe. I believe the Sheriff's department then consisted of Sheriff Sikes and Deputies David Carter, DeWitt Branch, Myles Groover and Adrian Long. Perhaps there were more but I don't recall.
The Hinesville Police department was even smaller. There was Mr Dave Mobley who served as Chief and his son Royce worked in the office as radio operator etc. Mr Vivian Hodges was the first patrolman I think. Later Jimmy Downs became a Patrolman. There were only two traffic lights and they were both located on Main St. One was on the north side of the Court St between the Courthouse and the Texaco station across from the Miller house' The other light was on the intersection of South St (Now MLK St) and Main. The Saunders company was across the street from the Courthouse and a street separated it from the McCall house Miller house. Going north on Main just past the Miller house was a vacant lot on the corner of Memorial Drive and Main. Across Memorial was the Methodist Church. Facing Memorial drive on the east side of Main was the police station. The police station was a simple small frame structure barley eight by eight. There was a doorway in the center of the front facing Memorial and a window on each side as well as in front. Hinesville was a sleepy little place with very little action after supper time. We always had at least one pool Hall and one or two cafes.
It was not uncommon as the night grew later to see the policeman seated in the station just about asleep. Well that is exactly what happened one night as three rascals were out cruising the streets. All three of these fellows have been lifelong friends and I too consider them to be lifelong friends. I hope none of them will take offence at my little story.
This story took place sometime around 1967 give or take a little while. I am retelling a tale that I've heard several times from two of the culprits and I may not get it exactly right but I'll tell it as I recall it.
We played with the lower powered firecrackers, sparklers, roman candles and occasionally the larger more powerful red firecrackers. There was also something called a whistler or chaser but we never dealt with those. In later years the was the "Cherry Bombs" which were about the size of a quarter and round with a large fuse about an inch and a half long. We never had any mishaps around our home but we always heard reports of people being burned or injured or accidental fires of structures or yards and woods.
I am not exactly sure what year the following story took place but I imagine it was around 1960 give or take a couple of years either way. At the time Hinesville was still a very small community where everybody knew everyone and there was very little crime. R.V. Bobby Sikes was sheriff so I know it was after he had succeeded his father Sheriff Paul Sikes who had died in 1959 I believe. I believe the Sheriff's department then consisted of Sheriff Sikes and Deputies David Carter, DeWitt Branch, Myles Groover and Adrian Long. Perhaps there were more but I don't recall.
The Hinesville Police department was even smaller. There was Mr Dave Mobley who served as Chief and his son Royce worked in the office as radio operator etc. Mr Vivian Hodges was the first patrolman I think. Later Jimmy Downs became a Patrolman. There were only two traffic lights and they were both located on Main St. One was on the north side of the Court St between the Courthouse and the Texaco station across from the Miller house' The other light was on the intersection of South St (Now MLK St) and Main. The Saunders company was across the street from the Courthouse and a street separated it from the McCall house Miller house. Going north on Main just past the Miller house was a vacant lot on the corner of Memorial Drive and Main. Across Memorial was the Methodist Church. Facing Memorial drive on the east side of Main was the police station. The police station was a simple small frame structure barley eight by eight. There was a doorway in the center of the front facing Memorial and a window on each side as well as in front. Hinesville was a sleepy little place with very little action after supper time. We always had at least one pool Hall and one or two cafes.
It was not uncommon as the night grew later to see the policeman seated in the station just about asleep. Well that is exactly what happened one night as three rascals were out cruising the streets. All three of these fellows have been lifelong friends and I too consider them to be lifelong friends. I hope none of them will take offence at my little story.
This story took place sometime around 1967 give or take a little while. I am retelling a tale that I've heard several times from two of the culprits and I may not get it exactly right but I'll tell it as I recall it.
Friday, November 17, 2017
It is OK to be Black/It is OK to be white
It is OK to be Black/It is OK to be white
by
timeontarget
Last comment by
timeontarget 15 hours, 29 minutes ago.
Take Me To Post Comment Form I'm not sure how many of our bloggers are white or how many are black. I know that we are not all the same
color.
It appears to me that we have had a number of blogs posted which are nothing more than efforts at race baiting. This is not good for our community nor is it good for our country.
When the United States of America became a country two hundred and forty plus years ago there were no black people at all in this country.
Funkentelecky commented on Thursday, Nov 16, 2017 at 20:00 PM
The first black slaves arrived at Jamestown Virginia in 1619. 157 years before the country was founded in 1776.
There were white people from Europe who had come over to forge a new life in a new land which had previously been the homeland of the red man or Indians. Some of the Indian nations were more civilized than others but basically they were all civilized. They had learned how to coexist on the same continent although there were occasionally conflicts that erupted into wars among various tribes. The Indians were robbed of their homeland, rounded up like livestock and relocated to barren lands westward toward the Pacific. Many died or were slaughtered by the white man who had arrived aboard sailing ships from Europe.
At first these newcomers lived under the rule of the English Crown. They struggled and prospered on the new land but were taxed by the crown and soon they revolted declaring war on the crown. Independence was won in July of 1776 I believe. Some forty plus years later England once again invaded the upstart new nation In the war of 1812, but again the Americans defeated the crown and the rest is history.
At some point black people from Africa were captured by other black people and herded to the western African shore and sold to White traders who in turn took them to other lands to be sold just like livestock.
The USA was not the only nation to allow slaves to be brought to their country.
Many Americans came here as indentured servants which had signed contracts to work for their freedom in various occupations, but mostly in agriculture I believe. Ultimately some black indentured servants were also brought to this new land and ultimately earned their freedom.
The very first black slaves brought to America were bought and brought here by other black people.
It was black people who instituted the ownership of other black people into America.
Ultimately these United States took varying different degrees of acceptance of slavery or not to accept it in their states.
I don't think the practice was very successful in northern states because of such harsh climate conditions. However the black folks survived very well in the south where there was less freezing and cold conditions.
This country was founded on the principal that free enterprise is the foundation of our survival. There is a line in the Jaycee Creed which reads:
"ECONOMIC JUSTICE CAN BEST BE WON BY FREE MEN THROUGH FREE ENTERPRISE".
As this young country grew and became prosperous it and it's people astounded the world With their victory in the war of 1812. Later came the American Civil War which was really caused by a struggle of States rights versus Federal Imperialism but many folks believe that the primary issue was slavery.
I did not live in those days and I don't really know what caused that war. History books tell us that many families were divided on the issue and there were cases of Father fighting son and brother fighting brother. Again I don't know for sure about these things.
After slavery was abolished the rule of segregation was imposed on the races. I grew up in a time of segregation and my next door neighbors in my childhood were black. I am white and I grew up in a majority black community in Liberty County.
In the late sixties integration was implemented and it took a long time for it to become accepted especially in the South.
However in 2008 a black man was elected to the highest office in the land and he could have ended racism for once and for all but instead he proclaimed that now the white man can ride on the back of the bus.
Today we have a great President who is attempting to right the course of some thirty plus years of the elite folks in the DC swamp who have made countless bad choices in their governing of us on the Federal level.
I hope all fellow bloggers on this Courier blog site will offer commentary regarding our racial divide because in my opinion it is greater today than it was in the fifties.
If we fail to unite both black and white and remain divided as we are we will ultimately fail to survive.
I am not the best student of history and if I have made errors in any issue of this blog please point it out and I will make the necessary corrections.
It appears to me that we have had a number of blogs posted which are nothing more than efforts at race baiting. This is not good for our community nor is it good for our country.
When the United States of America became a country two hundred and forty plus years ago there were no black people at all in this country.
Funkentelecky commented on Thursday, Nov 16, 2017 at 20:00 PM
The first black slaves arrived at Jamestown Virginia in 1619. 157 years before the country was founded in 1776.
There were white people from Europe who had come over to forge a new life in a new land which had previously been the homeland of the red man or Indians. Some of the Indian nations were more civilized than others but basically they were all civilized. They had learned how to coexist on the same continent although there were occasionally conflicts that erupted into wars among various tribes. The Indians were robbed of their homeland, rounded up like livestock and relocated to barren lands westward toward the Pacific. Many died or were slaughtered by the white man who had arrived aboard sailing ships from Europe.
At first these newcomers lived under the rule of the English Crown. They struggled and prospered on the new land but were taxed by the crown and soon they revolted declaring war on the crown. Independence was won in July of 1776 I believe. Some forty plus years later England once again invaded the upstart new nation In the war of 1812, but again the Americans defeated the crown and the rest is history.
At some point black people from Africa were captured by other black people and herded to the western African shore and sold to White traders who in turn took them to other lands to be sold just like livestock.
The USA was not the only nation to allow slaves to be brought to their country.
Many Americans came here as indentured servants which had signed contracts to work for their freedom in various occupations, but mostly in agriculture I believe. Ultimately some black indentured servants were also brought to this new land and ultimately earned their freedom.
The very first black slaves brought to America were bought and brought here by other black people.
It was black people who instituted the ownership of other black people into America.
Ultimately these United States took varying different degrees of acceptance of slavery or not to accept it in their states.
I don't think the practice was very successful in northern states because of such harsh climate conditions. However the black folks survived very well in the south where there was less freezing and cold conditions.
This country was founded on the principal that free enterprise is the foundation of our survival. There is a line in the Jaycee Creed which reads:
"ECONOMIC JUSTICE CAN BEST BE WON BY FREE MEN THROUGH FREE ENTERPRISE".
As this young country grew and became prosperous it and it's people astounded the world With their victory in the war of 1812. Later came the American Civil War which was really caused by a struggle of States rights versus Federal Imperialism but many folks believe that the primary issue was slavery.
I did not live in those days and I don't really know what caused that war. History books tell us that many families were divided on the issue and there were cases of Father fighting son and brother fighting brother. Again I don't know for sure about these things.
After slavery was abolished the rule of segregation was imposed on the races. I grew up in a time of segregation and my next door neighbors in my childhood were black. I am white and I grew up in a majority black community in Liberty County.
In the late sixties integration was implemented and it took a long time for it to become accepted especially in the South.
However in 2008 a black man was elected to the highest office in the land and he could have ended racism for once and for all but instead he proclaimed that now the white man can ride on the back of the bus.
Today we have a great President who is attempting to right the course of some thirty plus years of the elite folks in the DC swamp who have made countless bad choices in their governing of us on the Federal level.
I hope all fellow bloggers on this Courier blog site will offer commentary regarding our racial divide because in my opinion it is greater today than it was in the fifties.
If we fail to unite both black and white and remain divided as we are we will ultimately fail to survive.
I am not the best student of history and if I have made errors in any issue of this blog please point it out and I will make the necessary corrections.
Pat Watkins, web editor
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Bradwell Institute My memories
I've been told that the first graduation held in this building was the BI class of 1925.
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Although it took me thirteen years to get my diploma I only attended school for twelve years. After my eleventh year I stayed out for one year. The BI class of 61 started school in school year 49/50. I graduated in May of 1962 and the graduation ceremony was in the (then fairly new) Gymnasium/stage on Washington Ave. Washington Ave became Memorial drive later when the original Memorial drive was relocated to align with Washington Ave. at the traffic circle where the two streets met Main St.
That nice early summer evening I walked out of the building with my Diploma only about a hundred feet from where I had entered a different red brick building in September of 1949. I cried coming out just as I had cried going in. Coming out of the gym and passing thru the lobby I had to force myself to walk past the very stern one Faye Darsey. I desperately wanted to pause and give her a hug and kiss but I was choking back tears and I could only go outside and walk off alone so as to regain my composure. I found myself walking around the corner of the gym after glancing toward the old white building which stood next door just west of the gym.
"The Old White Building" had been the original Bradwell Institute school when it was relocated to Washington Avenue probably in the early thirties. It had the design of a typical school building. It consisted of two wings located in parallel and adjoined across the front which gave it a u shape. The middle portion was a wonderful auditorium the likes of which has never been recreated in Liberty County. You entered the auditorium from the west wing hallway and you entered backstage from the east wing hallway. That auditorium was in my opinion one of and possible the very best piece of architecture in Liberty Co. It was a very poor decision to take it down. There was a row of seats in the middle of perhaps ten or twelve and a row on either side of about five or six. The isles on either side descended down a floor-way built at a gradual downward slop so that the stage was the same level as the hallways. The front seats were almost two feet lower than the floor of the building. there were three steps up onto each end of the stage which stood probably twenty some inches above the floor in the immediate front of the stage. The front view, which faced down the end of Bradwell St. going toward Court St., was one wide white concrete wall with decorative entrances opening onto small alcoves or porchs with windows all across the front. The metal roof was adjoined to each wing in a hip like style. Atop the center of the building was a bell shaped metal roof over an octagonal shaped structure about eight feet wide and deep and it served to ventilate the attic with louvers on all sides. Tall window sashes adorned all of the exterior walls.
That early summer night in May of 1962 as I eased into the shadow beneath the Live oak, which stood near the sidewalk in front of the median between the "White Building" and the Gymnasium/Auditorium, had been the drive where the two strips of concrete had been put in place for the school buses to park in the afternoons when I was in the first grade. Earlier in my very young years a short distance west on Washington Ave. there had been a stile crossing the field-fence which had surrounded the "White Building" until 1953 when the No Fence law had been enacted in Georgia. Until then Georgia had been a free range state in which livestock such as cattle and hogs
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Although it took me thirteen years to get my diploma I only attended school for twelve years. After my eleventh year I stayed out for one year. The BI class of 61 started school in school year 49/50. I graduated in May of 1962 and the graduation ceremony was in the (then fairly new) Gymnasium/stage on Washington Ave. Washington Ave became Memorial drive later when the original Memorial drive was relocated to align with Washington Ave. at the traffic circle where the two streets met Main St.
That nice early summer evening I walked out of the building with my Diploma only about a hundred feet from where I had entered a different red brick building in September of 1949. I cried coming out just as I had cried going in. Coming out of the gym and passing thru the lobby I had to force myself to walk past the very stern one Faye Darsey. I desperately wanted to pause and give her a hug and kiss but I was choking back tears and I could only go outside and walk off alone so as to regain my composure. I found myself walking around the corner of the gym after glancing toward the old white building which stood next door just west of the gym.
"The Old White Building" had been the original Bradwell Institute school when it was relocated to Washington Avenue probably in the early thirties. It had the design of a typical school building. It consisted of two wings located in parallel and adjoined across the front which gave it a u shape. The middle portion was a wonderful auditorium the likes of which has never been recreated in Liberty County. You entered the auditorium from the west wing hallway and you entered backstage from the east wing hallway. That auditorium was in my opinion one of and possible the very best piece of architecture in Liberty Co. It was a very poor decision to take it down. There was a row of seats in the middle of perhaps ten or twelve and a row on either side of about five or six. The isles on either side descended down a floor-way built at a gradual downward slop so that the stage was the same level as the hallways. The front seats were almost two feet lower than the floor of the building. there were three steps up onto each end of the stage which stood probably twenty some inches above the floor in the immediate front of the stage. The front view, which faced down the end of Bradwell St. going toward Court St., was one wide white concrete wall with decorative entrances opening onto small alcoves or porchs with windows all across the front. The metal roof was adjoined to each wing in a hip like style. Atop the center of the building was a bell shaped metal roof over an octagonal shaped structure about eight feet wide and deep and it served to ventilate the attic with louvers on all sides. Tall window sashes adorned all of the exterior walls.
That early summer night in May of 1962 as I eased into the shadow beneath the Live oak, which stood near the sidewalk in front of the median between the "White Building" and the Gymnasium/Auditorium, had been the drive where the two strips of concrete had been put in place for the school buses to park in the afternoons when I was in the first grade. Earlier in my very young years a short distance west on Washington Ave. there had been a stile crossing the field-fence which had surrounded the "White Building" until 1953 when the No Fence law had been enacted in Georgia. Until then Georgia had been a free range state in which livestock such as cattle and hogs
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