TYLER HIGH SCHOOL DAYS - 1918-1923 - Smith County, TX Contributed by Dr. Alma Moore Freeland Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** Memories of School Days in Tyler and Some Smith County Schools 1898-1951 By Alma Moore Freeland (1904-1991) A copy of this book is in the Tyler Public Library. Permission has been given by Jerry Moore, nephew, to publish articles from this book in the Smith County TXGenWeb Archives. TYLER HIGH SCHOOL DAYS 1918-1923 In the fall of 1918, 1 entered High School eighth grade. Being the only one at that time, it was called the Tyler High School, and was located in the Hubbard Building, named in honor of former Texas Governor Richard B. Hubbard. The building, situated on West Front Street between South Bois D' Arc and South College Avenues, was demolished after a new high school was built in south Tyler. Attending classes in the high school building was not a new experience for me; my Bonner classmates and I had done part of our seventh grade work there in the spring of 1918. New classmates from Marsh, Gary, and Douglas joined us to form the freshman class of 1918; the Negro students went to Emmett Scott High School in north Tyler since this was several years before the schools were integrated. We were living at the Funderburg place just across the street from the site of the home we built in 1922. It was about one mile from High School and as a rule I rode in the Model-T with Papa on his way to Douglas. The afternoon walk home, though burdensome in extremely hot or cold weather, gave me the opportunity to study Latin verbs, review test questions, and memorize poetry. Study time at home was limited due to many chores--no electricity, running water, or indoor conveniences such as plumbing. Each task required much more time than it would take today. After supper, the big oak table was cleared for our study area. The routine seldom varied: Mamma sat at one end--Papa at the other; both busy--Mamma often sewing; Papa maybe "thinking up" a new patent. Mae and I sitting on one side, studying as usual; our brothers on the other side probably teasing and pinching each other. All of this taking place in the glow of an oil lamp in the center of the table. Bedtime came rather early for everybody had to be up ready to do chores--fires had to be built in the wood cookstove, in the fireplaces; water drawn from the well; the "johnny" was some distance away and time had to be allowed for that situation. Cooking breakfast took time for there were few "store-bought" items such as bread. It took time also to make biscuits, fry meat, sweet potatoes and other foods for breakfast and lunch. The condition of the wood for fires often determined the length of time it took--wet Soggy wood could delay the departure very much. There were no school cafeterias, so each of us carried lunch in a brown bag or newspaper. Some luckier ones had lunch boxes; if there were thermos bottles--we had none. Incidentally, that beautiful table and chairs are being enjoyed by a great granddaughter and her family. Soon great, great grandchildren may be studying their lessons on it. THE FLU EPIDEMIC I recall three especially important events during my Tyler High School days: two had worldwide implications--the great influenza epidemic and World War I and the Armistice. The third, a personal matter, was my withdrawal from school in December, 1921 due to serious loss of vision. In early fall shorly after school began, many Tylerites and hundreds of other Americans fell victim to the "flu", epidemic which was to last many months and affect people all over the world. I was the first in our family to contract the disease, which was to drastically affect my scholastic career as well as my health. The pain was indescribable and not one inch of my body escaped it. Chills, fever, diarrhea, and coughing led me to wonder if I could possibly survive and even more if I wanted to. Being young, I did survive the pneumonia which the elderly, the very young and weaker ones could not overcome. Uncle Shade's wife, Mae, and Miss Ann, our Tatum friend, did not survive. I was up and sufficiently recovered to take care of the other family members when one by one they too took the dreaded disease. Our grandparents and other Troup kinfolks had barely recovered enough to participate in Christmas events. I don't think Mamma really ever recovered after she had the disease again when we lived on Ione Street. As I have noted, our sanitary facilities were very primitive. One characteristic of the malady was great sweating--necessitating frequent changes of nightclothes and bed linens. I had never heard of a washing machine; so it was the washtub and rubboard in the kitchen for me very often. It was usually cold and rainy and the clothes often had to be dried in front of the fireplace. In those days many of us wore what we called "union suits," which provided one of the few humorous details then. I put the clothes on the line one day only to find a bit later that the union suits and other unmentionables were flying high in the sky frozen stiff as pokers. Another job was trying to keep the woodboxes full of dry firewood. No doubt the moisture generated by the clothes drying in front of the f ireplace helped to clear our lungs. Cooking didn't pose too much of a problem as I saw it at the time; few of my family were able to look at food much less eat it. But I'm not sure now; during their recovery period they may have needed more and better nourishment than, they received. The amazing thing to me is I don't recall how I got food for us; most of our relatives were ill as were our neighbors and friends in the city. Fleischman's Store was a half mile away but I didn't drive in those days. We did have a phone, and it is possible that I called Pledgers Meat Market and Parker and Pinkerton Grocery Store and had groceries delivered. It must have been that way--I hope so! I do remember the many times I heard my mother call the meat market and order a big T-bone steak for twenty five cents! When it was beautifully browned, she made a skillet full of gravy to pour over fluffy creamed potatoes. Peach or berry cobbler and string beans completed a classic supper for the Moores. Oh, yes it would be washed down with big glasses of iced tea or clabber. I suppose the present-day nutritionists would have a "field day" with that menu? It's a wonder I didn't relapse; but the Lord was good to us and we all lived through it. I have heard that more people in our country succumbed to the flu than to direct and indirect results of World War I. In time I overcame the physical incapacities left by the flu, but played havoc with my first term in high school mathematics. I had looked forward to high school, but my hopes for a successful year were dashed when my first report card showed that I had received a "C" in algebra. That big fat "C" stands on my records today--as the only C I ever made in content areas. Mathematics was the one field in which it seemed difficult for me to make good grades. I always put the blame on my long absence during my bout with flu. I just couldn't catch up. However, in all fairness, I must point out that my problem with mathematics began in Winona when my teacher embarrassed me in front of my peers and my superintendent. I developed in that area an emotional block which I have never gotten rid of. I took only the required courses and avoided the others like the plague. Finally, I was able to make A's and B's by memorizing some of it in plane geometry, solid geometry and trigonometry. In fact, I made an A in trig and actually enjoyed the course. During those years our lives as well as thousands of other families in America were changed drastically by the escalating World War I in Europe. The reality and enormity of the situation was brought home to me the day Papa had to register for the draft. I shall never forget that night, I'm sure I spent most of it in prayer and tears. I remember thinking "What shall we do if Papa hs to go?" Mamma was also concerned for her brother whose departure seemed imminent. But he was reclassified for farm status. Everybody was expected to help grow food; there was a victory garden in every available spot. No one was too old or too young to help in some way. The situation became quite clear to us each morning when we had to eat cornbread for breakfast. Our flour was given to Grandpa Hill. Mamma said he deserved it for the long hours he spent in the field for growing food for the armed forces and his own countrymen. Since most able-bodied men and women were in some type of war effort, there were not many people left on the home front to do field work. So Mamma sent us down to help our grandparents. We pulled a cotton sack and picked cotton, helped gather corn, dug potatoes, picked fruits and vegetables. We washed jars for canning; we kept the dried fruits and peas "turned" and out of reach of animals and insects. It is likely that our efforts were minimal; but the lessons we learned were worthwhile. We learned that if you wanted to eat, you must work! On the whole it was a tense, exciting time and we were pleased with an opportunity to serve our country. There were not too many slackers, cowards, and deserters slipping off to Canada, Sweden, or seeking a safe hiding place until the war was over--as was the case in later conflicts. Public opinion seemed to take care of many such problems. A sense of sincere patriotism came from saying the pledge to the flag, and seeing the stars and stripes flying in the breeze, and the soldiers marching off to war. All of these sights and more made us appreciate our freedom and willing to make the sacrifices needed to preserve it. We agreed with the one who said: "Once you have tasted freedom, you can't live without it." Then the great war to end all wars--so we thought--was over. Before daylight on the morning. of November 11, 1918 we were awakened by the persistent Cotton Belt Shop whistles and the sounds of bells from all directions. We had no radio sets in our home but many people did. At any rate we knew what was happening; it is likely the Tyler Courier Times printed something on Sunday to alert the citizens. After breakfast Papa and the boys were on their way to town to join in the celebration. Ironically, it was a Monday; the sun was shining --though very cold. Nothing, but nothing ever dared interfere with Mamma's washday routine-certainly not a parade even as important an event as the close of a world war! So Mae and I helped Mamma get the clothes on the line, dinner on the stove, and then waited impatiently for the return of the masculine family members to bring us up-to-date concerning world affairs. That was our first Armistice Day! That afternoon Papa and the boys went back to town for the latest developments. Mae and I took turns ironing and helping Mamma with supper. After such an exciting day the "boys" were sure to be hungry, and we wanted them strong enough to make a good report about Armistice Day in Tyler. We lived in five different homes during my high school days: the Funderburg place; the Queen Street home, which I have described in the Douglas School story; the East Lawrence Street home; the Ione Street place; and lastly, Mamma's dream house at 402 South Saunders and East Front Street just across from the Funderburg place. We had come full circle! We were at the Ione Street house when I started my senior year, then the eleventh grade. Mae was in the ninth grade; the boys were in Gary School, which at that time was where the elite sent their children. The house was rather old and dilapidated when we bought it, but after remodeling it was a comfortable place, and located only a few blocks from high school and from Gary. We found ourselves among some people who did not share our old-fashioned ideas and middle-class values. This ceased to be a problem when the decision was made to build the home Mamma had so long planned for. We bought two lots across the street from the Funderburg place; and for many years 402 Saunders Avenue was the Moore homestead. with my head in a book most of the time, I was determined to be valedictorian of my class when we graduated in May 1922. As first honor graduate I would receive a choice of scholarships to several Texas colleges and universities. I needed financial help to go to college, and was not greatly surprised when I learned that the chances were good. I remember thinking, "Well, I deserve it--I've paid a high price." Later I learned that I had no idea of the real price. My obsessive desire to excel came to an abrupt halt in December of 1921. After a thorough eye examination, Dr. Edgar H. Vaughn told my parents I would have to withdraw from school, undergo surgery, and follow a medication routine indefinitely. That was the first of several similar withdrawals from school. It all began one cold December afternoon while I was walking home from school. I realized that everything around me was blurred and objects too indistinct to be identified quickly. The vision in the left eye was almost nil and remained that way for months. Mamma and I went to see Dr. Vaughn for months; and I continued to feel frustrated and bitter. It was my first realization that I did not have control over my life. During my first seventeen years I had labored under the delusion that if I worked hard enough I could do anything. The day I withdrew from Tyler High School in 1921 I saw every dream I had ever held fade into nothingness. Gradually, I came face to face with the fact that I could do nothing alone--that I would need help, which must encompass aid from my family and friends, as well as the divine help of a forgiving and understanding God. It was the first important step in my life, though I strayed from time to time. In retrospect, I see that my life has been a series Of highs and lows. It is wonderful that after I have been severely chastized, the Lord has set me an a road of higher opportunities and directed my path toward greater achievement and happiness. I don't understand it, but know He has made it possible for me to move forward step by step. At times I have felt that every position I held led directly into a better one; every pause or handicap prepared me for the next opportunity. It's unbelievable that I have been able to attain the personal and professional positions and my creative writing status. I have been truly blessedl But the news that December day was hard to take--a bitter pill to swallow. The most devastating hours were spent in May 1922 in the high school auditorium watching my classmates graduate. It was so beautiful; I cried like a baby because I was not the one standing on that stage giving the valedictorian speech. But there were happy times, too. The first was that we moved to our lovely new home on South Saunders Avenue. Then, one of the happiest days in my life when Dr. Vaughn said he would approve my returning to school in the fall of 1922 if I would get some one to do some of my reading for me. Mamma had been doing that all along, but I would require more than she could do. I had reached a very humble stage in my attitude toward my situation; and when the good news from my physician sank into my consciousness, I felt that I had had a real miracle in my dramatic improvement. It was my first miracle, and though it turned out to be a sort of remission, I was very thankful as I was in similar situations through the years. Mae graduated from Tyler High School in May 1924; we left soon after my school closed in Starrville to enter Baylor College at Belton. Travis graduated from Tyler High School in 1926 and entered Business College. Bruce entered Texas Technological College in Lubbock in September 1928 following his graduation from Tyler High in May of that year.