THE 1947 GRADUATING CLASS OF CENTER HIGH SCHOOL
The class of 1947 began, for most, in the year of 1935 or 1936. Most of the graduates entered the first grade in the Center Independent School District located on Nacogdoches Street. Others came mainly from Texas, and it is not believed, if any, came from other states. In the early part of the 1930's the building housed both elementary and high schools. The school building was a two story "T" shaped building with a basement which contained a boiler room, and a few restrooms.. Classrooms for grades one through three were on the first floor in the rear. The remainder of the elementary grades, four through eight and high school were located in the front portion of the downstairs and upstairs of the building. The auditorium was on the second floor over the first three grades of the school. Due to overcrowding, some classrooms were located at the rear of the auditorium. A classroom was also located across the street and to the right side of the building. The odor from the books, blackboards, chaulk and polished floors let one know they were in a school building. Lockers were not available to students; however, clothes racks and shelves were installed in the hallways for the storage of coats and lunch sacks/pails/boxes. Students did not travel from room to room for classes, but were assigned a home room and one teacher. A teacher taught all subjects in that room and as one progressed through the grades, different teachers came to the rooms. The playground was located at the rear of the building and on each side. During recess, once in the AM, in the PM and at lunch time, one played either on the playground equipment or in a game of baseball, marbles, jump rope and such. On rainy days, assemblies were held in the auditorium, where there was usually a sing-a-long or just talking. Mostly the boys sat in the back of the auditorium, not doing much singing, while the girls sat at the front. There was no cafeteria, but one could indulge in a hamburger, soft drinks and candy from Mr. & Mrs. Napier's "Little Rock Inn" located just across the street from the school. It is believed that most of the students either brought their lunch, went home for lunch or ate at a cafe in the downtown area.
In the year 1939, a new high school was built on Kennedy Street. The red brick, two story high school was a project of the W. P. A. In 1942, the twelve year school program was introduced in Texas.
During either grade six, seven or eight school year, memory does not provide the exact year, a great number of the girls of the classes of 1947 and 1948 decided to skip school for the afternoon. They met at various houses while parents were away. Some even congregated at an abandoned house. You can imagine what the results were, not only from parents but from the school principal.
In the year 1939, a special occasion occurred at the Rio Theater--- the showing of "GONE WITH THE WIND". The movie was shown to students at a matinee, and one could leave school to attend. At another time, more of a historical nature, we were rewarded with the showing of the life of President Wilson. These were the only two times that a weekday matinee was shown. Only on Saturday and Sundays could one attend movies in the afternoon, at both the Rio and Crystal Theaters In these two theaters a youngster could travel from country to country, to far away galaxies with the Buck Rogers serials, fight the outlaws on a Saturday afternoon or become part of a musical on a Sunday afternoon. Saturday Midnight shows were the greatest---Frankenstein, Wolfman, Invisible Man, and they seem to all meet at one time or another in one picture. Also at the midnight show, one could be caught with an arm around or kissing that very special person. The original name of the Rio Theater was the Shelby. On the square were located several cafes, grocery stores and even a bowling alley at one time. The grocers were the Ross, Warr and Smith families. Cafes included Jess and Bob's, K.B., the bus station cafe, and the Pine Burr which was located just off the square next to the post office. The bowling alley was on the east side of the square next to the Crystal Theater. The Polley Hotel on the square was a meeting place for the various organizations. For Sunday lunch, a person had a choice between the hotel and Mrs. Ramsey's Boarding House on Shelbyville Street. During the war days a USO was established in a vacant building next to O.H. Polley Mercantile and John C. Rogers Drug Store.
An often told story of love and a train whistle that touches the heart and reminds us of a time when love and fidelity were synonymous. An epitaph on a stone is inscribed "Inez Mills, d. of A. H. Mills and Julia A Mills. Jan. 1, 1893, March 11, 1911. Beautiful, lovely, she was given a fair bud on earth to bloom in heaven." No praise written on a tombstone however can equal the eulogy of brokenhearted Tom Williams to his dead sweetheart whom he never forgot. It had no words, but no one who heard it ever forgot it. Tom was an engineer for the Gulf Coast and Santa Fe Railroad; and from the first his train whistle was distinctive, and people recognized it. During stopovers in the town he met, courted, and won the hand of Inez Mills. She would get into her buggy and meet him near the tracks on Shelbyville Street.. On a particular occasion, while she was waiting for the Tom to arrive; he in anticipation let out a whistle blast which spooked the horse and the buggy overturned; Inez was killed and was buried in Fairview cemetery. Tom never forgot his sweetheart, and until he retired he never let us forget her. From about five miles out he would let out a long, lonesome blasts on that special whistle until he reached and passed the cemetery. He never married, and only after he retired did he take his special whistle with him to Jasper where he lived until his death. A Houston newspaper said, "His Sweetheart's Epitaph was Written in the Wind."
Another event happened in the autumn of the year in Center and this was the time for the Shelby County Fair. The prices were 5 and 10 cents to ride and free for those just looking. Many persons came from all around to attend and rumors that hard liquor could be had, not to mention the dancing girls from Egypt.
On Monday, December 8, 1941, all students were assembled in the auditorium to hear a speech from President Roosevelt, in which the country was brought into the war with Japan. Shortly afterward, students were accounted for and recorded for what was to be "Ration Stamps."
One Sunday afterwards, word had gotten around that the beginning of the following week shoes were to be rationed and persons desiring to purchase same should do so immediately. Stores, mainly Polley Mercantile, Weaver's and Parmer were opened on this Sunday night to accommodate persons buying shoes before the rationing applied. Afterward a person needed to have stamps to purchase food, gasoline, clothing, etc. As the war progressed through the early 1940's one could collect iron and metals and take them to a weigh station to be paid for by the pound. Leisure time during the summer months was given to working for the war effort; picking cotton was one, a person could pick all day in the hot sun and in most cases this would amount to less than a pound. Being paid at 10 cents per pound was not on a person's priority. On the Center square a fence was placed to which one might bring aluminum or metals for the war. One particular summer day, a bond drive was held on the Center Square. Celebrities came through the town and sold bonds from the band stand. In this group of persons were Gale Storm, Johnny Mack Brown and Ann Jeffreys. This was quite a thrill for all to see these persons that we had become acquainted with on the movie screen in the local theaters. If one was lucky enough you could collect signatures of these famous persons. Another important event occurred due to the war. The establishment of a German Prisoner of War camp on the grounds where the Shelby County fair was held. The German Soldiers built the tennis court and swimming pool which was just outside of the fair grounds. They were also sent to work in the cotton gins and other places around the town. When the high school girls had the chance they would flirt and tease the prisoners while they worked on projects near the school. It is said that after the war, some of the Germans, who were prisoners, came back to the town that treated them fairly.
In the fall of 1943, the graduating class of 1947 began its major journey--the entry into HIGH SCHOOL. At this time one hundred five freshmen enrolled in English I. Here dating, dancing and just having fun really began. Clubs were formed; some students participated and others did not--teenagers were teenagers. Center High School was a two story structure, classrooms were on the first and second floors of the building. To the rear was an attached auditorium. As you entered the building, the principal's office was to the right and just around the corner on the left were the offices of the superintendent and secretary. These were two offices one did not want to have much to do with. For the first time, lockers and homerooms were assigned. Classes lasted about 45 minutes and students went from room to room. The library was located in the center of the second floor along with a classroom designated as a "Study Hall." Each day a student had a period assigned as a "Study Period." In this room many notes were passed between students seeking dates, gossip and merely carrying on friendships. To the rear of the auditorium, across the driveway was a cafeteria. There was no gymnasium, but the football field was at the left rear side of the cafeteria. A small parking lot was in front of the football field. In those days, very few, if any, were fortunate enough to bring a car to school. On Kennedy Street and next to the lane by the school was Mr. & Mrs. Child's grocery store. During lunch students would purchase soft drinks, candy or just hang out inside or in front of the store. It was notorious as home of the "BULL DURHAM CLUB."
On any school day, you could find students walking along Tenaha Street or in a path through the Methodist church cemetery and vacant lot back of the Methodist church to school.
For students in the outlying area, busses were provided. Many were trucks with benches and covered with tarpaulin. After school, gatherings were held at John C. Rogers Drug Store or Will Rogers Drug for an afternoon soda or relaxation. Some gathered at friends homes, while others just drove around or parked on the square. Speaking of the square--on any given night, persons could be found parked in groups, just being high schoolish. Other times were enjoyed going to "Big Ditch," the Neuville Cave, playing tennis, swimming, skating or just hanging out. Special places to visit during the summer months were Bland Lake, Red Hill Lake or Crystal lake.
During the fall of each year was a time of pride for the school. Football Season!!!! Those that were not athletically inclined became a member of the High School Band or just rooted the team on as the pep squad.
Other school activities included the Latin Class, the Spanish Class, Home Making Class, Future Farmers of America. Junior Rotarians, the Choral Club, student newspaper-The Roundup, once a year the formation of the Roughrider Annual Staff and of course the BAND. The band was under the supervision of Miss Jim Ann Taylor. Somewhat stern but also fun, she is one of the most remembered of all the teachers. The band classes were held in the school auditorium. Also many band concerts were held in the same auditorium. They were held mainly on special holidays and events.
Once in February 1946, the band was invited to march in the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo Parade-- boy, what a thrill "going to the big city" and marching behind a group of horses! Tickets were provided to attend the rodeo where Gene Autry was the main attraction. Many memories are of trips made to out-of-town football games. These were always on Friday nights and there are many stories which can be told of these trips, but not here. One special event occurred in our Senior year called Senior Day and on this day we had the privilege to have a day at Tyler State Park, Tyler, Texas. Another special teacher, was Mrs. Beatrice Liem, who tried so hard to have us enjoy the literature and the classic writings of Shakespeare and other great authors.
The class was not without some unpleasant memories. On November 26, 1945, Bobby O'Rear, a sophomore, died after a lingering illness. On January 2, 1946, Martha Ruth Whittington, a freshman, died as a result of a accident. On June 10, 1946, Vance Kennon drowned in a pond near his home. We can only speculate as to what these classmates would have contributed as an adult in this world.
As graduation year came upon us, we were without some of our friends. They had either moved or elected to attend summer schools and were graduated at mid term or in an earlier year. Mary Ann Franklin, Mary Margaret Harris, Jane Ruth Ingram and Lois Ann Parker were classmates to complete their high school prior to 1947.
A picture of the 1947 graduating class records 66 graduates. On May 26, 1947, graduating ceremonies were held at the Center High School auditorium. This is the last time members of the class assembled for any occasion. As each departed they took roads that led them to find their way through the world in which we now live. In the mid 1950's the Elementary School became rundown, and overcrowded. A new one was built, and the students moved into it in September 1963. On December 18, 1963, the second story and auditorium of the Center High School building that the class of 1947 attended burned, later to be rebuilt as a one story building.
As the 50th anniversary of the class of 1947 neared, notices were mailed to all who could be found to submit a brief statement about themselves and attend a reunion. From the responses, a booklet was assembled by Robert Barnett and Zettie Marie Spells Barnett. From that booklet this web site, with information about classmates, was made possible.