Hunt Co., TX - Books For The Children Of Celeste ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Sarah Swindell USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** Books For The Children Of Celeste Celeste School Superintendent Clyde Heflin and S/Sgt. Viol Shumacher are surrounded by Celeste High School students ready to carry some 3,000 books into temporary quarters of the high school library. The books were collected by airmen at the Dallas Filter Center to help replace books lost last week when fire destroyed the high school library. The airmen appealed for the books after a visit to Celeste to recruit Ground Observer Corps volunteers. (undated, The Dallas Morning News) Celeste School Book Troubles Are Over Celeste--The Celeste schools' book troubles came to an end today. Approximately 3,000 books, contributed by residents of Dallas County, were delivered to the school shortly before noon. They were brought here by five Air Force station wagons. Delivery of the books followed an unusual appeal which went out from the Dallas Civil Defense and Disaster office on Wednesday of last week. In this appeal, the public was asked to donate books to be used by the Celeste students whose high school was destroyed by fire early in the morning of December 17, 1955. Lost in Blaze All books in the Celeste library were lost in the blaze that leveled the high school building, which was erected in 1913. Captain B. B. Smith, Dallas City and County Civil Defense director, pointed out in his appeal that the student had textbooks. "But they need books for outside reading and for recreation," he added. The public came through. Included among the 3,000 books delivered to the school were books of fiction, novels, and reference. One woman donated a complete set of "National Geographic" books, which dated back to 1927. Books also were contributed by Southern Methodist University. Originated Idea Staff Sergeants Viol Shumacher and Jay Hyde, who are in charge of Area Defense spotters in Hunt County, originated the idea of appealing to the public for book contributions, and the Dallas Civil Defense and Disaster office followed through. The books were delivered to Superintendent Clyde Heflin of the Celeste School by Sgts. Shumacher and Hyde, Staff Sergeant James F. Baldridge, Master Sergeant Carl Powell, and Sgt. Coy Hadaway. Celeste students had just concluded their mid-term exams, and most were on hand for the ceremony in connection with the delivery of the books. Celeste is one of the towns in the 87-county Ground Observer Corp for which Dallas serves as filter center. (Undated clipping) Books for Celeste School--Approximately 3,000 books, donated by residents of Dallas County in response to an appeal issued last week by the Dallas Civil Defense and Disaster office, were delivered to he Celeste school shortly before noon today. The books were loaded in five Air Force station wagon and were delivered by five sergeants, who are shown in the picture with students who helped unload the books. Superintendent Clyde Heflin of the Celeste schools, stands at the right. (Staff Photo by James Narramore, undated, Donna Childress Haynes collection) I recognized in the pictures, Jerry Warren with a load of books (was this the first and only time for Jerry to be caught like this), Jerry Max LaFavers, Oleta Scarborough, Pat Capehart, Sarah Warren, Mike Heflin, Wanda Lake, and maybe Allen Biggs. Fire Escape Escaped--This fire escape at the Celeste High School escaped destruction in the fire that leveled the building early Saturday, but it was scarred quite a bit. It looks odd towering into the sky from the ruins of the school building. (Staff Photo by Herman Scott, December 18, 1955, "The Greenville Banner," Donna Childress Haynes collection) Celeste Fire Burns School Celeste--Smoke curled Saturday from charred timbers, piles of blackened brick and twisted steel, on the site of the old Celeste High School building which was totally destroyed by fire early in the morning. The spectacular blaze, discovered about 3:30 AM, Saturday, raged unchecked for several hours, and for a while threatened to spread to other school buildings and homes in the neighborhood. However, firemen from Greenville and Leonard joined members of the volunteer department here and they confined the blaze to the one building. Some Arson Talk Within the past few weeks the school has been burglarized four times, and Saturday was talk of "arson" in connection with the destructive fire. "I have no reason to believe arson was involved," said Superintendent Clyde Heflin. He added that he did not know what started the blaze. Sheriff Tom Warren made the simple statement, "I personally think it was arson." He would not elaborate. Rush to Blaze Members of the Celeste ISD School Board, who joined Supt. Heflin in rushing to the blaze when they learned the building was burning down, agreed quickly that steps would be taken immediately to replace the school. Saturday night school board members went into a huddle to make plans for resuming class work after the Christmas holidays, and to discuss preliminary steps to take toward replacing the building. Board members indicated they would waste no time in planning temporary quarters for about one hundred twenty students who were attending classes in the destroyed building. They are seventh and eighth grade students, as well as all in the four high school grades. Supt. Heflin said Saturday that it would be difficult to estimate the total loss. "I believe it will run at least $60,000, however," he said. One board member said he understood the building and equipment were insured for about $39,000. Blaze Raced Fast The blaze raced and roared over the fourteen-room, two-story brick building so fast that firemen were unable to make the least headway in combating it, apparently originated in the southwest corner of the school. It had spread over most of the big structure by the time volunteer firemen and other residents of Celeste reached the scene. Supt. Heflin said that fortunately most of the school records were saved. Also moved from his office before the blaze swept over it were several filing cabinets, Mr. Heflin's desk, typewriters, an adding machine, a duplicator, and the public address system's master control. Mr. Heflin, roused from his sleep shortly after the fire was discovered, slipped on a pair of trousers, some house shoes and. . .before he raced. . .short distance. . ."It was so thick. . .get very far," he said. Mr. Heflin, A. H. Biggs, Stapleton, and Herman Compton kicked out a window to the superintendent's office and entered the room. They quickly removed all the records and equipment they could reach in the limited time left before smoke and fire forced them out. Textbook Lost Most of the schools' textbooks were destroyed by the fire. A few students reported to Supt. Heflin that they had carried books home. "Hang on to them; you'll need them," he said. The Celeste superintendent estimated that equipment in the building was more valuable than the structure itself. He agreed that Celeste has long been needing a new high school, "but we hate for something like this to happen. All of a sudden, we have a lap full of problems." Supt. Heflin said that when he arrived at the school, the fire was in the south end of the building and moving fast. "It was already racing up the wall and out the top." It was then that he got busy trying to make his way into this office. Charles Dupre, Celeste rural mail carrier, and a former teacher in the high school, made an effort to reach the home room of his wife, Mrs. Martha Dupre, a member of the faculty. "I wanted to save her typewriter, but didn't have a chance," Mr. Dupre said. Long before the building was completely enveloped in flames, residents of Celeste and it's area, some of them in their night clothes, gathered in groups to watch the school burn down. There was nothing they could do. Residents of the area immediately surrounding the burning building watched anxiously as embers from the fire swirled to their rooftops. A Leonard fire truck pulled up and the firemen kept close watch on the shower of embers. "For a little while I was afraid that all the houses were going to catch fire, " said Mrs. Jacque Bickham, whose home is near the school. Other citizens shared her apprehension and stood ready to go into action to combat any spread of the blaze. It had been planned to dismiss school next Wednesday for the Christmas holidays, but the dismissal date was moved up by the fire. "There will be no school until after Christmas," said Supt. Heflin. He added that within a few days, students would be advised when to report back , and . . .be told where their classes will be located. (December 18, 1955, The Greenville Banner, Donna Childress Haynes collection) Sad School Boys?--The three youngsters standing amid the still smoking debris of the Celeste High School, which burned to the ground Saturday, were shedding no tears, however, they did view the loss seriously. From left to right are Delmo Scarborough, Jimmy Patterson, and Jackie Bolton. They are seventh grade students. (Staff Photo by Herman Scott, December 18, 1955, "The Greenville Banner," Donna Childress Haynes collection)