1954 - Laughter and tears

There are coincidences in life that firmly link two events together.  In my childhood this book is one of those links.   It is the story of a peddler who walks from town to town selling hats.  He is not an ordinary peddler carrying his goods; he wears his caps one on top of another.  One day he falls asleep under a tree and when he wakes all the caps are gone.  It was a silly book just right for a six - nearly seven - year old.

If a book is the link; you might wonder what are the life events.

During the summer of 1954 my Grandmother passed away.  In all my memories of her she was in a hospital bed or wheel chair.  When I was a toddler she was hospitalized for weeks with an exceptionally high fever (either at Mercer or Emory  University hospital in Atlanta).  Afterwards she required constant assistance.  Because of her needs, my father managed to have stateside assignments that kept us nearby.  When he was transferred overseas, we returned to Manchester; so mother could help. 

 

This picture of Gaye and me taken at Ft Benning before we moved to Manchester. It was part of a Christmas card sent out in 1953.

When my dad received orders to serve the army in the Korean War, my mom was very pregnant.  His deployment was delayed until Barbara was born. Anticipating a return to Manchester, they built a sweet little house on Parkman Drive. 

Looking at this photo there appears to be no stress in life.  Yet... What a challenge to send your husband to war,  to be the mom of three little girls ... especially in the age of cloth diapers and clothes lines and cooking from scratch, to be a caring daughter of a very ill mother, and to be a busy church worker helping with Bible school in the summer and Sunday School all year.  If she was lucky I rode a bus to school, but I can not remember one.   So how did she manage to look so beautiful and composed?   Somehow she did everything well and kept the stress to herself.

That July Grandmama died.  While I did not attend the services, we went to the church together before the funeral.  On the ride home she spoke with me about death and separation.   I have reflected on that conversation.  Of course I do not remember the exact words she shared.  Just the tears in her eyes as the told me she was grateful that Grandmama didn't have to suffer anymore. She knew she was in heaven. 

Having her husband half a world away in war must have brought her  to worrisome thoughts. Concern for her father and feeling her husband's absence even more keenly, we moved to Granddaddy Harry's.  She could cook and keep the house and he could help with little ones.  She found a tenant to rent our home fully furnished.

Now back to the book.  Sort of.... 

Mother sang children's songs and told us stories and read children's books.  Golden Books were big favorites. They were inexpensive versions of  Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Engine that Could, Little Black Sambo (totally unacceptable today),  The Three Little Pigs, Peter Rabbit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,  Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, and so many more. 

I am unsure when or even how often we read "Caps for Sale".  The stories we read were repeated often.  At times mother read to us and other times it was Granddaddy Harry. 

At any rate there was a day in December when the weather began to change for the worse.  The Lake became frothy mess from hail.  Quickly Granddaddy scurried around the house gathering quilts to cover the car.  Hail could destroy the paint and the hood and roof at worse.  Realizing that the hail could also damage him, he put on a heavy coat and two hats on his head for some personal protection.

As little girls it never occurred to us that he might have been hurt (Granddaddy's are like dad's ... super strong and can not be hurt.) We were laughing at how funny he looked wearing two hats.  No one wears two hats ... except people in silly books.

We had hardly stopped laughing and looking out the big window at the lake when the phone rang.  I ran to answer it and it was for mother.  Mrs Dorsey was calling.  I probably thought it was for a play date with Linda, who was in my grade at school and lived next to our house.  I held the phone waiting to give the phone to Mother and continued to stand there waiting to see what she had to say.  I watched Mother's face change from a big smile to a stunned look.  Mrs Dorsey  told her our house had blown away in a tornado. 

 

 

This is a historical photo of the storm damage.  Our home is in the upper right corner.  All that remained was a rug that landed on someone's roof, a refrigerator that still worked in 1983, a toaster, a china base lamp and odds and ends. The tub was still in place.  Even tile came off the floor.  Daddy had a big overstuffed green leather chair that was shredded.  Big trees in the yard snapped in half. 

 

 

Writing about a book may not seem relevant when I am thinking about the tornado make not make sense to an adult point of view, but I was a child.  When I think of the tornado or any tornado, my mind zips to my Grandfather wearing two hats and then to the book. 

 

Now Gaye may find her mind races to when Daddy retuned home.... and the brierpatch story.  

Ft Benning

 

Because we lived on Lumpkin Road while I was in kindergarten and half of first grade, I have a limited set of memories. Staccato little moments in time.

 

 I gathered acorns and lined them on the sidewalk; patiently I watched from the living room window to see if the squirrels would retrieve them later. 

 

 A Sears truck ran over my first bicycle.  They replaced it. 

 

 I was in a neighborhood play of Cinderella .. I was a wicked stepsister. Somewhere I have a picture of us "at the ball".  All wicked stepsisters should look so sweet. Our ball dresses were nightgowns.

 

My first "boy friend" was Frankie Santangelo.  I am pretty sure I remember him more for his name than anything else. 

 

While playing on the back steps, Gaye put her head through the metal railing.  This is easily accomplished as the head goes through, but the ears do not cooperate to back out.  The fire department had to bend the rail to get her out.

 

My parents bought our first television while we lived here.  The first program I remember is the Republican convention nominating General Eisenhower to run for President.  I remember watching Howdy Doody later.

 

Gaye liked to ride her tricycle as close to the edge of porch as she could get.  When she got too close, over she went.

 

Sitting on the back steps and telling some older children my mom was going to have a baby.  A baby boy.  I really wanted a big brother.  Barbara was not big and not a brother, but I loved her anyway.

 

I started kindergarten at four and first grade at five.  The cut off date was December 30th.  Because of that I was always the youngest student in my classes. From time to time I have wondered if that was a good decision.  Academically I could do the work, but with all the change that followed starting later might have been better.  Life has no do overs; so who knows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each home has a series of stories.  The people, the schools, the experiences all change while you live there.  Ft Benning was our home twice. My kindergarten / first grade  and middle school years were spent there. Separated by years when my Dad was deployed to Korea and four years as an advisor to the National Guard in South Carolina.

 

Barbara was born at Benning, but lived there for a few days or weeks.  Gaye was a toddler and elementary student.  Mother and Daddy were here just before my Dad was deployed to Korea and as he wrapped up his military career and prepared to retire. 

 

It is fascinating to consider how the same span of time provides a different experience for the people sharing the events.

 

When President Eisenhower was a major when he was stationed at Benning and lived at 206 Austin Loop. The picture above is of his residence.  Our home was just a few houses away from his.  His son also lived on Austin Loop and moved away just before we arrived or I might have known David, his grandson.  All the houses on the street were identical duplexes. 

 

I found this info on a historical website about Fort Benning.

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower lived at 206 Austin Loop from 1926 to 1927 when he was a major. As an additional duty, Eisenhower coached the Doughboy football team. Note the historical marker on Vibbert Avenue.

The Dutch Colonial style quarters on Austin Loop and Eames Avenue were built in 1923-24. Legend has it that the building plans were intended for a military installation in the North, and the roofs were steeply pitched to prevent snow from piling up. A mix-up resulted in the installations receiving blueprints intended for the other. A 1933 edition of the post newspaper referred to Austin Loop as the neighborhood where "they built the made-to-shed-snow houses."

These were the first permanent married officer housing for field grade officers. Like most of the post’s early construction, they reflect careful planning with consideration for aesthetics and community. The fronts of these houses, pictured here on the left, faced the central courtyard, and the backs would today be considered the front, facing the paved road.
 

There was one day when school was let out early.  All the people on post lined the streets.  President Eisenhower drove through the base and we stood and waved at him. It was the 50's and he was a hero!

The Commanding Generals home was just down the street at the end of the Loop. Gaye and I passed it when we walked or biked by on our way to school or to the movies. We often stopped to play on the Little Train near the base entrance. 
 

 

Occasionally mother played the bells at the base chapel. My father's retirement ceremony took place on the grounds in front of the chapel.  I should post a picture of us dressed in our Sunday best looking rather dorky.  We were impressed with all the military review at the ceremony.

 

 

Fort Benning was a wonderful time of discovery.  All the kids my age had travelled.  It seemed everyone I knew had lived in Germany or Italy or places I had never visited ... like Ohio.  The family in the other duplex had two standard Poodles named Zampa and Leo. They got their dogs while living in Italy.  Their son was Steve.  We got a good laugh at Gaye when on our first day on base Gaye went in their back door rather than ours. 

 

This was also the first time we had friends, who were not Protestants. Maureen and Darlene were Catholic. I went to Mass with them a few times.  Presbyterian ministers wore suits and ties; priests had a very different wardrobe. I never knew when to stand or kneel.

 

Benning was integrated.  I had loved my "No No" before we moved on base.  I just assumed that was the way life should be.  I unaware we lived in a very white southern world. Little children just accept the world as it comes to them.

 

I should mention that "No NO" was Nora.  She was our black maid who kissed my hurt spots, cooked the world's best blackberry pie, and ironed my dresses.  She helped care for my Grandmother who was ill for many years. She acquired her name because that must have been what she said to me or my cousins as I/we explored the house.  Wanting to touch and climb and do all the little things that curiosity beckons little ones to experience.  If you saw the movie, "The Help", you might have seen my No NO.  I loved her the way little girls love the people who care for them.

 

Anyway Ft Benning was integrated. It was integrated when I was in kindergarten and grade school. When school started in seventh grade, I joined Girl Scouts.  A girl at school was in my troop lived nearby. I invited her to ride with me to scouts.  We could stop for a treat at my house on the way.  After I came home from scouts my mother told me she could not come back.  She was black and that was not acceptable.  I hadn't noticed; she was just a nice girl from my class.  My mother and her generation lived in a different world and unfortunately so did most of America.  This was before Martin Luther King and the civil rights fight began.  Many of the best and brightest in my school were minorities. I didn't understand why my parents did not know.

 

As a child it all seemed simple. Each Sunday I sang the song  "Jesus loves the children. All the children of the world. Red and Yellow, Black and White. They are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world."  It was confusing to hear adult conversation so different.   I was waiting for them to learn what I already knew.

 

I was not a bold child - nope not even a little.  I did not want to knock on doors selling Girl Scout cookies. I thought I knew the perfect place to sell cookies and I guess I did.  The base movie theater!   Hungry GI's were glad to spend a little to buy that familiar taste from home. We stood outside with our boxes and sold all that we had.

 

Seventh grade was a struggle.  The kids there were so far ahead in their studies.  It took all year to catch up.  I had never seen a sentence diagrammed. Argh!  Eighth grade was much better.  My homeroom teacher was Mrs Springer.  I loved her.  She had not been my homeroom teacher from the start.  One day at the beginning of the year she asked me to stay after school.  She told me I was moving from my other class to her home room.  Her class was the second hardest class (out of nine homerooms) and she told me I could do the work. It was exciting.

 

We read aloud "Evangeline: A Tale of Acadia" by Longfellow.  The story of a young woman who on her wedding day was separated from the world she knew and spent a lifetime to find her true love as he died in her arms.  We learned algebra and it was exciting.  The next year in Manchester - everything was a repeat of what I had learned at Benning.  Which is interesting because my college freshman English and math was a repeat of what I learned from Ms Pinkston in Manchester. But that is another story.

 

I entered a school contest writing about American History and won!  The only person more excited was mother.

 

Mother took me the base dental office for an exam.  My dentist in Greenwood had my confidence. However, this new office did not win me over.  I had a cavity and would need a filling and Novocaine. I insisted my dad come and hold my hand before this incompetent man could give me a shot.  How did I know he was incompetent?  He did not know what "monkey grease" was.  My dentist in Greenwood always put "monkey grease" on my gums before a shot of Novocaine.  This so-called dentist did not even know what it was.  My dad came and explained everything to the dentist and all was well. (PS.... I was eleven.)

 

There was a block of time when the Bennett girls went through every communicable disease possible - one at a time.  Red measles - first Jan, then Gaye, then Barb. Mumps - first Jan, then Gaye, then Barb. Then German measles all of us one at a time.  I don't think mother was able to leave to do anything.  Mother had her personal challenges also.  She had to have a tumor removed... this required a full hysterectomy.  She shared a room with a lady who had cancer and was dying.  She was touched that this lady was going home to teach her girls all she could before she became too weak. It weighed on her mind and she felt vunerable and grateful to recover.

 

Middle school/ Junior High kids think they are nearly grown.  They or at least I liked to explore.  Holly Lamb and I went exploring one day.  There was an undeveloped lot a few blocks away.  Undeveloped is an under statement.  It was overgrown with thick weeds and thorny bushes.  Who knows what kind of snakes and small animals called it home.  Having totally lost track of time, we made it well into the back of the lot. We didn't even notice we had missed lunch.  When I heard my dad calling my name.  When I responded and he saw I was OK, he was mad as .... well, he was mad!

 

He told me to get home now.  I had escaped scratches from the brambles before I saw him, but making it out I was not so lucky.  Later would not be better.  By the time I walked home I deeply regretted my lack of caution.  The only thing that saved me from a real spanking was mother seeing my bleeding legs. 

 

On another trip to the wild side, a group of us went to Rush Pool.  This was a large pool set up for enlisted men and families.  At this time the pool was empty. We climbed to the top of the spillway and slid down on the soles of our tennis shoes. However,  I tipped back and came down on my bum. The cement was like sandpaper.  When I got to the bottom, I was down to MY bottom.  The fabric on my shorts had rubbed off and I looked like a cowboy wearing chaps.  I had to walk across a four way highway leading into the base and then through neighborhoods trying to face away from traffic and people.    

 

 

The eyes say it all!

Bennett Heritage

James Thomas Bennett

Death Living

        

 

 

         Birth 17 Aug 1870 in Fariforest, Spartanburg, SC, USA

         Death 19 Mar 1948 in Fairforest, Spartanburg, SC, USA

Funeral services for James Thomas Bennett, 77, of Greer Route 1 will be held Sunday afternoon at 3pm at J F Floyd Mortuary. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Mr Bennett a retired Spartanburg County merchant

James Thomas was married twice.  First to Nannie Riddle, who died in 1910, and second to Tennie Pearson, who lived until 1976.

·        Mrs Nancy (Riddle) Bennett, wife of James Bennett died at her home near Fairforest. Tuesday afternoon after a short illness.The funeral was held yesterday morning at Fairforest church conducted by Rev Mr Aiken interment followed in the churchyard.  *

* I wonder if Rev Aiken is a brother/uncle/cousin of Carolyn Aiken.

 

 

A city directory in 19>>  shows he owned a grocery store and filling station on Whitney Road near the city limits.

 

 

·      Benjamin Wofford Bennett  

Birth June 18, 1846 in Spartanburg Co, Sc 

Death Living

Death Dec 2, 1914 in Fairforest, Sc

Eulogy:

On the letterhead of Fairforest Baptist Church:  J.P. Aiken*, Pastor Fairforest, SC ___ 1914

* curious to know if this pastor is related to Caroline Aiken Bennet, his wife.

(Copy of handwritten talk probably used at a memorial service– the text was composed sometime after Carolyn Aiken died which was two months after Benjamin Wofford Bennett died) transcribed by Jan Bennett Bates Illegible words = xxxxx Bold type added for genealogical information)

“ This lovable man was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, June 18, 1846. His father was Captain William Bennett, and his mother’s maiden name was Pattie Wofford, the daughter of Joseph Wofford. Like many others of our most substantial citizens, he grew up in a country neighborhood with few advantages, but it was a good stock from which he came. From his noble parents he inherited traits of sincerity, honesty and steady convictions of purpose. His noble father and venerable mother have long preceded him to the heavenly home.

Reared amid pious influences and bearing the name of an honored pioneer, it was not strange that in his early life he should be drawn to the consideration of religious things and so at an early age he professed faith in Christ and joined the Old Friendship Baptist Church, the church of his father, and his religious life was henceforth marked by strong convictions, earnestness and energy which have marked his life in other respects. His simple and beautiful Christian character and life were his chief adornments. He loved all Christians, especially those of his own faith and was ever ready to serve them in any way open unto him. His face invited your confidence and trust. In many quiet ways he helped and showed the needy and sorrowing.

As a boy he loved his home with an intense affection and it was always a pleasure for him to carry whatever of the burdens of his parents he could. When he became a man this filial spirit never departed from him.

During the closing years of the civil war he accompanied the seventeen year old boys of his country who went to the front to bare this xxxxx upon the battle line and shared with them the discomforts of the camp and march and stood with them in the throes of combat.

At the age of 21 in the year 1867 he married Caroline Aiken, the daughter of another sturdy pioneer, Thomas Aiken, and as a result of this union a large family of children sprang, namely, Lula Lee,  James Thomas, William Edward, Martha Lou Ellen, Pemberton Alexander, John Mulinax, Candace Virginia, Carrie Farrar , Benjamin Wofford Jr, and Alfred Golightly. The last named of these children died in infantcy, 1890 William Edward, died at the age of 40 in the year 1912 have never married. Lulu Lee married R.T. Riddle in the year 1889 and died in the year 1911 age 43 leaving three children. All the other children are living, married and have families of their own. He was a man remarkably fond of children and he took great delight in them and they in turn in him. It cost him no apparent effort to entertain them, and they always enjoyed his presence. The relation of a father to his children represents a sphere of influence peculiar to instill. No one had a keener appreciation of these delicate relations or made more unselfish efforts to fulfill the various obligations arising in connection with them, than the subject of this sketch. Little aid they know in this early years how much of his daily thought and life was spent for them, but they doubtless look back now and see much that causes their hearts to swell with gratitude. His children will never get away from the influence of his worthy life. They may well rejoice that such a light has been in their home and such an example constantly before their eyes. He was always fond of music and loved to sing the songs of Zion as but few ever aid. He was known far and near for his musical talents and recognized as a leader in the musical realms of Christian song. Christianity is a religion of song. Unbelief does not sing. The skeptical spirit is destructor of song. It is faith, hope and love that sings, doubt never does. He loved to sing as only a Christian can. As a neighbor and citizen he was loved and respected by all who knew him, and few men among us were better know or more highly regarded as more highly trusted than he. His departure from this life on Dec. 2, 1914, at the age of 68, made a profound impression upon all who had come to know him. When once he fell a victim to pneumonia with the complication of other physical troubles, little hope remained of his recovery. He struggle for life with his iron will and native force, but was throughout the struggle submissive to God’s will. He fell asleep in Jesus with the peace of God in his heart and a smile of joy on his face. His wife, his dear life companion born June 8^th , 1844 followed him to the heavenly home on Feb 20, 1915, just two months and 18 days after his departure, the victim of the same dread disease at the ripe age of 70. A mother in Israel loved by husband, children, relatives and friends, having embodied in her life the beautiful Christian graces, and in a special manner those of self sacrifice, patience and service; a woman full of faith and good works. She died as she lived at peace with God and all mankind; blessed henceforth. The children of this noble pair and all who loved them everywhere mourn them, but our sorrow is chastened by the recollection of what they were and what they always will be to our people. Their remains lie in the church yard of the Oak Grove Baptist Church, some five miles west of Spartanburg City. As the years pass on the family will find this grief assuaged by the kindly ministry of time, while this joy in the life and character of these departed loved ones will increase as they learn to appreciate more and more the battles they fought and the victories they won. Their works remain and will remain. The impress of their noble lives will be with us through the years, while the remembrances of them shall strengthen us for all toils and sufferings, and this victory will help us to overcome the world. Who will take their places? No one, they filled their places on earth worthily and well, and have gone to take their places in the ranks of the redeemed. Their work is done; Let us do ours the more faithfully because of our love and reverence for them. And soon for us shall life’s toil and xxxxx be ended, and on the father shore, by the banks of that river whose streams made glad the city of God, “we shall join with them and with all the faithful ones who have gone before in the grand hallelujah chorus of redemption; …. “

History of Spartanburg Co by J.B.O. Landrum, P 718   McBeth’s Light Artillery Buglar – Joseph W. Bennett Private – Benjamin W Bennett   Probably fought in the Second Battle of Manassas, Virginia

 

William Bennett was born ca 1808 in Spartanburg and he died there Aug 1887. He married Martha Wofford, dau of Joseph, Jr and Jane Huckabee Wofford, granddaughter of Captain Joseph and Martha Llewelyn Wofford. She was b 12 July 1811 and d 26 Sep 1883.

According to History of the Wofford Family by Mrs. Jane Wofford Wait, "Martha Wofford, the eldest daughter of Joe Jr. and Jane Huckabee Wofford, married William Bennett. She was better known by all as Aunt Patty Bennett. She was a genuine, good, Christian woman, abounding in good works. The very poor always found a good friend and keeper in Aunt Patty. Her husband, Uncle Billy, as everyone called him, was a whole-souled man, a consistent member of the Baptist Church, while his wife was a Methodist. Together, they lived a happy life, both hospitable to a degree beyond their means. He loved hunting and was an excellent marksman and an adept angler.

They were both beloved by their neighbors and friends, and many mourned their loss. Their influence for good is felt among their acquaintances even until today. They reared a large, creditable and interesting family.

 The famous Roebuck Band was so called in honor of Captain Roebuck, who had fought so valiantly at Kings Mt. and elsewhere in the Revolution. The leader of this band deserves more than a passing notice. His name was William Bennett, but he was better known as Buck Bennett. His ancestry was good old Revolutionary stock. He was as well or better known at this time than any man in the southern section of Spartanburg County. Full of good old frolicky fun, he loved music, taught singing schools for many miles around, was a leader in the Friendship Baptist Church, an expert with gun and rod, he killed the first partridge on the wing that I ever saw fall. He and Aunt Patty were as hospitable a couple as 1 have ever seen. They both lived to a ripe old age. This Roebuck Band was composed of several members,  Joseph W. Bennett (his son) among them. The music they used was Rig Ship, Winnsboro Quickstep, Faster's Quickstep, Washington Quickstep, LaFayette's Quickstep, and Home, Sweet Home Quickstep.

 

They wore a uniform patterned somewhat after the old Continental style, and surely looked imposing as they marched from point to point on the muster ground with the military step, blowing their instruments and beating their drums with such earnestness of purpose. The National Marina Band of the most noted musicians of any age never held or entertained an audience with sweeter music better than they did at these annual gatherings."

James Bennett Jr 1787 - 1866

, Spartanburg Co, SC

James Bennett was a son of James and Sarah Bennett. He was born 10 March 1787 in Spartanburg, S.C.

He was married three times,

1st to Precious (maybe Wofford, dau of John)

2nd to Delilah (probably West)

and 3rd to Malissa who is named as his wife in his estate record.

  James died ca 1866 in Spartanburg.

 

His children were:

1. William Bennett b 1808.

2. Mary Bennett b 1818 m John E. Casey

3. Sarah Bennett b 1830 m Mansel G. Moore and lived in Gordon Co., GA

   i. Elmira J. Moore b 1860 m her cousin, Benjamin Wofford 11

      Jan 1885 in Gordon Co., GA a son of Isaac and Jane Wofford.

      They had a son, Grover Cleveland Wofford, b 8 Nov 1887.

  ii. Amanda Moore b 1867 married William T. Wofford 3 June 1886 in Gordon  Co., GA; son of John W. Wofford and Nancy Inlow; grandson of Isaaac and Jane Wofford.

4. Berryman Bennett b 1834 in Spartanburg Co., SC. He died in the he died in the Civil War.

5. West Bennett b 1840 in Spartanburg Co., SC. He died in the Civl War.

 

James Bennett , Sr  ____ - 1825

James Bennett orphan ...1767 , Bute County, NC  Minutes of Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1767-1779

On motion James Bennett orphan of Richard Bennett came into Court and made choice of Soloman Langston his Guardian with Francis Capps and Richard Bennett entered into and Executed a bond for that purpose.

 (Soloman Langston  - was James brother-in-law and Richard Bennett is his older brother.)  

 

Richard Bennett

 

Born Ca 1715 Isle Of Wight Co, Va

Died 1764 Bute Co, NC (Will)

(M) Ann (MNU) Ca 1740-1
Children: NOT in Order
1. Christian (M) Absolum Langston, (s/o John Langston/Mary "Ann" Mangum)**
2. Sarah (M) Solomon Langston, (s/o John Langston/Mary "Ann" Mangum)
3. Martha
4. Ann
5. Amey (M) John Capps (Warren Co, NC Records)
6. Richard, Jr (M) Dtr of John Smart
(Granville Deed of 1761-John Smart to S-I-L Richard Bennett,,Jr)
7. Mark (M) Jemima Smart
8. William
9. Moses
10. James (Was Und 21 yrs when father died 1764- too young to be s/o man born Ca 1700-sgs

The Pool

....

When we were growing up in Manchester, Granddaddy Harry built a pool. It didn't qualify as a "Cement Pond". Fresh water came down from the lake, ie, Parkman Pond.

 Little fish could go swimming by and tickle your legs. Occasionally folks experienced real drama, when a snake was spotted and everyone rushed to get out of the pool. The picture doesn't show a large sliding board over to the left. What appears to be a little "island" was connected to shore by a boardwalk. There were concessions available.

I missed one event that we enjoyed talking about. A baptism took place at the pool. My step cousin, Bobby, wanted a better view and squeezed through the crowd to move to the front. In pushing through a lady fell into the pool.

My sister posted this photo on the blog "Growing up in Manchester, GA in the 60's. The comments are worth reading. . Just wondered if any of you ever went swimming or fishing out at Parkman's Pond, my granddaddy's old place. This is the pic of the "pool" (with lake water) behind Andrea, Peggy and Cindy Thompson's house. ....

Nancy NeSmith Williamson   When Peggy & I were in grammar school, I'd go spend the night at her house & we'd always go swimming in the "pool" :)    March 14, 2012 ...

William Milton   Your grandaddy did world record longest prayers in church. I know. I was there.  March 14 at 6:25pm ....

William Milton  Love Peggy and Andrea.   March 14 at 6:30pm ·....

Edward Milton   No story of Parkman's Pond should be without the mention of that great Fisherman: Fulton Bulloch. Once, when he had his picture taken by the Star Mercury, with a stringer of Fish from that Pond, he stuck them in a freezer, and would bring them out again quite some time later and have Ralph Rice take another picture. Ralph finally began to recognize the fish, if not the smell.  March 15 at 6:44am ....

Lillian Bulloch   Joe Thompson's wife was related to my daddy, he also did a lot of work for preacher Harry... March 15 at 9:47am ·....

Lillian Bulloch   Fulton was related to dad too, he was a real cutup, dad made all the little whirly gigs he had in his yard... March 15 at 9:50am ....

Mitzi White  My grandmother' Gladys Rollins Rivers' grew up there... (Her grandmother's mother was Elizabeth Parkman Barnes). Gladys' future husband, John B. Rivers, Sr. worked for the railroad and courted Gladys by riding a handcar out to the property.....I don't have the exact date at hand but was probably around 1915..... The pond was built to support a grist mill... March 15 at 4:05pm ·....

Robert Stribling   Fulton used to tell me about being shot down in the war. He landed in a whore house, and you can imagine what he said after that.........funny, funny guy!!!!  March 15 at 7:14pm ·....

Lillian Bulloch   yep, Fulton could tell some really tall tales, lol. March 15 at 9:08pm ....

Tommy Eubanks   Remember rolling bread balls and fishing off the docks when I was little. We had a row boat and also loved to fish for bass with my dad or uncle David   March 16 at 10:38am via mobile ....

Gaye Bennett Pappas   I remember being a little toe-head, walking behind granddaddy to one of the stocking lakes lots of times in the summer. He would roll and press a whole loaf of bread into a ball the whole time we walked and then it was wild to see the fish actually jump and swarm for the bread. March 16 at 3:42pm

Mr. Henry G. Harry Augusta, GA –

Entered into rest Friday, June 1, 2012, Mr. Henry Grady Harry, 85, husband of Mrs. Sue Randall Harry. Family members in addition to his wife include sons: Michael Grady Harry and wife Karen of St. Simons Island, GA, Stephen Joseph Harry of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Gregory David Harry of Madison, GA; sister: Julia H. Bennett of Spartanburg, SC; and 9 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents: the late Rev. and Mrs. W.G. Harry of Warm Springs, GA; and sister: Margaret Thompson of Warm Springs, GA. Mr. Harry was a native of Gastonia, NC. He served in the US Navy during WWII. He was a 1953 graduate of the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the Gridiron Society. He retired as the regional manager for Equifax Inc. in 1989. He was past president of Associated Credit Bureaus of NC., past president of the Augusta Retail Credit Association and active sponsor of the Augusta Women’s Credit Association. He was a member and Deacon of Covenant Presbyterian Church and a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. He was appointed by Governor Perdue to the FDR Warm Springs Memorial Advisory Committee.

One of his favorite stories to tell was that as the mayor of Warm Springs, GA, his father would have Henry greet President Roosevelt with daffodils at the train on his frequent visits to Warm Springs; on one occasion Henry couldn’t be there, President Roosevelt asked “where’s Henry”.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Rev. Robert M. Watkins officiating. Burial will follow in Westover Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and cousins. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Downtown Kiwanis Club. . .

Families can be seperated by time and distance, but the connection outlasts any other. Uncle Henry's funeral was today. I have not lived near the Harry clan in a long time. Gaye has been blessed to live in neighboring North Augusta. But among my favorite memories are having him carry me on his shoulders through the train station in Atlanta to pick up my dad on his return from Okinawa. Gaye was an infant and Barbara had not even been born. (I know that means I am ancient.)

Through the years we shared holiday dinners at my Grandfather's home. He was tall, handsome, gentle and kind. He was my mother's "baby brother" and she loved him so much.

Andy.