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September 30, 2004 |
 1924-1925 Back Row: Fred Johnson, Perry Ratchford, Edward Hodges, Lee Crawford, Glen Conway, Ross Reding, Bazzie Haynie Center Row: Eugenia Stewart, Buddy McNatt, Frances Lyles, Rosa Nelson, Mabel Whittington (teacher), Edity Meyers, Opal Smith, Mabel Evans, Lura Nelson, Emerson Bonar, Dora Haynie Front Row: Stella Smith, Eva Marie Smith, Opal Mohon, Ida Caddell, Lee Onie Lawson, Louise Madden, Norene Hooper |
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I was looking through the school pictures that Mary Alice Reding lent me to copy for my files, when I ran across an interesting story that Skeet Smotherman contributed to the reunion committee back some time before he passed away back in 1986. The story is one that he wrote for the newspaper some many years ago. As I was reading the story, I thought that I should call Gordon and Joy Smotherman to tell them that I have been missing them in church lately and wanting Gordon’s opinion as to whether he thought it would be advisable to share the story with The Town Charter. When I called Gordon, I reached his answering machine and asked him to call me back when he found the time. When I went to the post office, I found a most rewarding letter from Ross Reding. Mr. Reding has written me upon several occasions, and has commented about things that I have written about. It is always a pleasure to hear from this ninety-year-old reader and historian. He was a student in the Aubrey red brick two story building back in the 1920's. His letter is factual and rewarding in itself. He mentions some of the things that I shared with you, and I seem to find accuracy in the items I shared. His reply expands upon the items that I wrote about that have happened in out fair little growing community of good people. Mr. Ross Reding’s letter is in its entirety as follows: Dear Mr. Goin, Your column of September 22, in The Town Charter was very interesting and brought back memories of yesteryear! Mr. Oscar Robeson delivered our mail five miles south of Aubrey for several years around 1917-1919. That route south of Aubrey was RFD#2 at that time, and he made his run each day in a buggy, drawn by one horse on dirt roads all the way. Some of the less courteous people called him "Goozle" because of his protruding windpipe. He was courteous, cooperative and well thought of by those to whom he delivered mail. I remember Grover Henderson. When he was about 19 or 20 years old, he played First Base on the Aubrey town baseball team. I don’t know if they were related but I went to school with Conley Henderson in 1924 at the little Aubrey two-story brick school house which had been damaged by the 1918 storm. It had been repaired and was in pretty good shape for its age; however, it was condemned and torn down after the 1924-25 school year. School was delayed a few weeks in starting the next year (1925 September) for the completion of the new building. We traded at the Ratchford Dry Goods Store during 1918-1924, and possibly a year or so before and after those dates. I remember it was called the Ratchford Dry Goods and Millinery Store. They carried a nice selection of hats because the women and girls wore hats to church and other important functions. Perry Ratchford and I were school mates at Aubrey High School in 1924, 1925, and 1926. And I remember Mr. Henry Isom whom you mentioned in your article....As I remember it, the Isom Blacksmith Shop was located on the west side of Main Street, just a few yards northwest of Clyde Simpson’s Drug Store. Watching Mr. Isom shoe horses and sharpen cultivator sweeps was fascinating to me as a young boy. As I remember, Mr. Ratchford’s dry goods store was located on the east side of Main Street, at the south end, just across the street from the Smith and Lawson Hardware Store. There were two Smith girls, one black headed and one redhead. They were in my study-hall during the 1924-25 school year, but they moved away from Aubrey before the next school year began and I never heard from them again. Thanks for the memories Mr. Goin. I hope your health is improving. Sincerely, Ross Reding. I appreciate this letter very much and would invite all of the ninety-year-old readers as well as the younger ones to write me more often. After all, this is history in its best quality. The photo for this week is one that was printed by the School Reunion back in the year of 1865. It includes Mr. Reding and his classmates of 1924-25 school year. Don’t forget the Peanut Festival and parade. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. Drop by the booth in front of the hardware store. The Methodist church is having a sitting, singing and eating booth with fresh cooked meat and sausage. The music is provided by Pat Brockett and other musicians with stringed instruments. The music alone will be a treat and you can sing your favorite song and request others to sing for a small tip. All funds will benefit the Aubrey First United Methodist Church. |
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