March 2002 August 2002
Well, the Oliver Springs High School Class of
'53 reunion is now history.. but what a reunion it was! Folks from the four corners of the
globe (or so it seemed) descended on our fair little town as though t'were a flock of
songbirds returning to familiar nestings after a long migration. 
Of course, in fairness, some of them didn't
migrate anywhere.... just stayed put since 1953. 
This coming together after several years was marked by many tears;
tears of joy and great effusion of poignant memories; a few bitter but mostly
sweet. 
(Our own Pat Roberts McDonald, class of '53, with our beloved O.S. Historical Society main man Sonny Harvey, class of '48)
There was sorrow for those who have fallen
along the journey, but glee for the renewing of old friendships. The class of 1953
was in many ways a special class. 
(1953 class President Nathan Stonecipher with everybody's favorite Cookie Murphy, editor of the "Legacy" newsletter..Cookie was but a child in 1953)
I know this at least in part because I know so many of the exceptional members of that class.
Our monthly meeting for June was a great one as well, partly because many of the Class of '53 stayed over until Monday just so they could let the Historical Society host and honor them.
By the
way...
What is it with these gorgeous ladies volunteering to pose with me? Is it (1) sympathy? (2) they think I have money ?..... (3) They see my dented head from my brain surgery and think I'm a Purple Heart recipient?.... (4) I'm so little they think I'm a famous horse jockey?...... (5) Their altruistic virtue makes them think there is hope for even the most hardened incorrigible?....
Whatever it might be, I'd best not change a thing... as a very wise man once said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it....
Here is our fearless leader chatting with Mrs. Helen Freels and Mrs. Betty Martzin.Mrs. Martzin went by the alias of Betty Hackworth back in 1953....
(Sonny Harvey, Helen Taylor Freels and Betty
Hackworth Martzin)
Where were you the last Saturday in May? If you
weren't at the Annual Memorial Day Festival in downtown Oliver Springs, you just missed
out, thats all...
The Historical Society worked very hard to have a credible presence at the festival, and looking back, I think we acquitted ourselves very well. Our booth and wishing well were right up close to the main stage of entertainment, giving us a very visible spot to raise the O.S. Historical Society colors, so to speak. Our new booth with tongue and groove cherry panels was finished in the nick of time. We had a wide array of goodies to offer the general public, and had a great day selling, educating, being educated, talking, listening, handing out free historical articles to the steady stream of history buffs that stopped by the booth. Below are some of the crew that came out to support the Society.
Above you can see our friends from Fort Southwest Point in Kingston showing the stern stuff of which they are made, having at it with the flintlocks. I am here to testify that those puppies roar with a vengeance! An old fellow once told me that in the days of homemade black powder of variable potency, a common means of tweaking the charge of powder was to keep adding powder until the shot would report with a "crack" not unlike a bullwhip, which he said was the muzzle velocity of the slug exceeding the speed of sound. Dunno if it's true or not, but it sounds good to me....
Oh, by the way... if you're not currently a member of The Oliver Springs Historical Society, you're missing the chance to be a part of one of the most dynamic groups of its kind anywhere. Click on the Historic hotel for info on joining...
Coming to Oliver Springs? Be sure and
stop by the Historic Depot. Inside you will find a splendid array of pictures, artifacts,
displays, etc., from our proud past. Bringing a group? Let us know and we might be able to
arrange for someone to guide you in your sightseeing. 
contact robbieu41@comcast.net
More to come....
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