99 10 997 https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF0492_mary-ann-smith-s-1961-62-report-card.pdf 804120b168fc64c815f823e5e5c57710 PDF Text Text ~e~O£tof ~ ~ kd/; S Grade School 4""3/- 1. ~ , HARRISONBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS Harrisonburg, Virginia �PUBLIC SCHOOLS of HARRISONBURGt VIRGINIA Report of ~ (N~ ~ £' ~ (Grade) L961-6:t (Year) [ To the Patrons: This report of your child is based on: Ffrst-his growth in character habits and attitudes that make for good citizenship. _ Second-his progress and achievement in his school studies. Third-the record of his physical development and his attendance. We urge you to study this report and discuss it with your child. Plan to visit the school and confer with the teacher and the principal. Please sign this report and return promptly to the school. M. H. Bell Superintendent of Schools Retained in Promoted to ~ . ~7J2 Jll' ~~ (Teacher) �Page 3 Page 2 Report Periods Citizenship ==========;===;====;:===;===;==:..:;::::::..:_ === 6 Term 5 4 2 3 1 Reading Follows directions well Writing Cooperates with others Spelling Arithmetic Respects rights of others Takes care of personr.l and school property Language Is courteous Practices self-control Is prompt Hygiene Uses time wisely Music Accepts responsibility Art Shows good sportsmanship Science !\larking Sy,item Explanation of Grading System ABCDEF- Superior ........ 95-100 Good .............. 88-94 Average ........ 81-87 Passing ..... ..... 75-80 Incomplete Failing S-Satisfactory U-Unsatisfactory �Page 4 Page 6 Comments of Teachers Comments of T eachers Fir st Report Period Third Report Period l J Fourth Report Period Second Report Period 1 'J �Page 7 Page 6 Physical Inspection Connnents of Teachers Fifth Report Period C indicates correction D Indicates defect Eves Teeth Ears Tonsils Weight September 7~ January 1'7tJ May Sixth Report Period Attendance 1 2 3 4 5 6 Session Report Period Days on Roll Days Absent t) Times Tardy t) �Page8 Comments by Parents First Report ~~ Signatur? . k r..... Second Repu:rt Signature Third Report ll1.?A...-.. d~ ........ . ... .. . . ... . . .d..✓.:.du.d Fourth Report Fifth Report Signature ...................~ ......................... - ............ !........ . Sixth Report Signatu.l'e .......................................................... ................................. . l �CERTIFICATE THIS CERTIFIES ~ OF - ~ ~ «m74nendcdfo fllerl~"ty and Yknct«ale"ty in sfltena'ance, haven! ken neithe1, aknt n01< la"'o/ /J«Jm 5/ckol dftnn,t de ~ endtn! ')wn,✓ 19 a.:z, f4 J2iwaded at J ~ di.J~ ~ I 9 dz:L _d~<:;7~ ln. 2 / ~ ~ck, BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY , CHICAGO. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mary Ann Smith's 1961-62 Report Card Subject The topic of the resource Mary Awkard Fairfax Family Lucy F. Simms School Students Description An account of the resource Mary Ann Smith's 1961-62 report card from the Lucy F. Simms School Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lucy F. Simms School Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1961-1962 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Megan N. Medeiros (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF0492 Family Lucy F. Simms School Mary Awkard Fairfax Students https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF0490_mary-ann-smith-s-1959-60-report-card.pdf 4ca48d0b013102003d3e4efa299f6ce7 PDF Text Text Harrisonburg Public Schools Harrisonburg, Virginia �PUBLIC SCHOOLS of HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA Report of (Grade) (Year) To the Patrons: This report of your child .is based on: First-his growth in character habits and attitudes that make for good citizenship. Second-his progress and achievement in his school studies. Third-the record of his physical development and his attendance. We urge you to study this report and discuss it with your child. Plan to visit the school and confer with the teacher and the principal. Please sign this report and return promptly to the school. M. H. Bell Superintendent of Schools 71 .. ... . ------ - Retained in .. ,t;_ ..._.. ~ - ~ .. Promoted to 7-~ c(Teacher) �Page 3 Page 2 Citizenship Report Periods I 1 I 2 I 3 ! 4 I 5 I 6 I Arithmetic Language History 14e,o.lfh I I I I I I I la \~+ la I l I I I I I I I I I I I 3 I I 4 I I 6 I Term 5 j .._, j j j \ 1 1 j . e- -..;;:, 1·, 1 e !-.:J 1 J I ,.5 ·I j [5 I- Is I I -s I~ Is I j j 5 I~ Is I::. \ Is Is /s Is 16 I C: / Shows good spor tsmanship! S Art Science Is prompt Accepts responsibility Music I I I Uses time wisely il'ygiene 2 Practices self-control \ Respects rights of others Takes care of personal and school property ::, Spelling I I Is courteous Cooperates with others Writing 1 Ig I !s I s I.s Is Is 9 5 S 1 ..s I~ IS Is 6 I S is c::::- \-..s I~ I S I _\ I5 \ --., I 5 .6 IS I C I - F oliows directions well Reading- Geography I I Term I....'.:> I S I .'.::) jS r 1- I I I I I I I ! I I I I I I Explanation of Grading System A-Excellent ; commendable; worthy of praise. B-Good; very sat isfactory ; above average. C-Average D-Below average; improvement should be made F-Failure to satisfactorily do the work required for promotion. Marking System S-Satisfactory U-Unsatisfactory GRADING SYSTEM i Superior 95 to 100 B Good 88 to 94 81 to J7 D Passing 75 to 80 E Incomplete F Failing C Average �Page 4 Page 5 Comment s of Teachers Comments of Teachers Fir st Report Period Third Report Period J J Second Report Period Fourth Report Period } ·l �Page 6 Page 7 Physical Inspection Comments of T eac l1ers Fifth Report Peri od D Indicates defect S-ep-t-em _b_e_r _ C indicates correction l_ l __:=E,_}'_yees: -1! E ars - Ill Teeth I I I O i I I MMaa~y---4/_ _ ===~ 1= < I J_ an_ua_:_::__!' ry_ ._ - + - 1_ \ ! ' L ____ I I I T~~~il~b,veight I IIH 1 I sf! I . -Ir I \ I 1· t I I I1 1- -,- -+ 1- 1 I I 1---- --1- - - dxth Report Period Attendance I Report Period II 1 \ 2 3 I ~, I .-: 11)ec I r. l.lJu.·I :!a Days on Roll .~t) Days Absent I/ I I Times Tardy I " \~ t I CI I I 6 / \ Session I 7 c I I' �Page 8 Comments by P arents F'irst Report Signature ... ' ·············································· Second Report d ................. Signature ...... Third Report Fourth Report ~ ..........................'... Signature . . .................. Fifth Report Sixth Report Signature ........ ............................................ ..............·--·················· l � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mary Ann Smith's 1959-60 Report Card Subject The topic of the resource Mary Awkard Fairfax Family Lucy F. Simms School Students Description An account of the resource Mary Ann Smith's 1959-60 report card from the Lucy F. Simms School Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lucy F. Simms School Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1959-1960 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Megan N. Medeiros (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF0490 Family Lucy F. Simms School Mary Awkard Fairfax Students https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF0228_historic-harrisonburg-booklet-by-john-wayland.pdf f305b59d24a03728515d4e9acc21abcf PDF Text Text �HISTORIC HARRISONBURG BY JOHN W. WAYLAND ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 1949 REPRINTED BY PERMISSION C. J. CARRIER COMPANY HARRISONBURG, VA. 1990 _ _ ________________________________________ :- ____; -----'-- - - -- - --·--- �{ ' OTHER HISTORICAL WORKS BY JOHN w. WAYLAND The German Element of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia A History of Rockingam County, Virginia How to Teach American History History Stories for Primary Grades A History of Virginia for Boys and Girls Scenic and Historical Guide to the Shenandoah Valley Historic Landmarks of the Shenandoah Valley A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia Chapters in Church History Virginia Valley Records The Pathfinder of the Seas Historic Homes of Northern Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia Stonewall Jackson's Way The Bowmans, A Pioneering Family m Virginia, Kentucky, and the Northwest Territory The Washingtons and Their Homes The Lincolns in Virginia World History (a textbook), with Carlton J . H. Hayes and Parker T. Moon 11 �HARRISONBURG SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES 111 serve places on the roll of honor. Among the colored teachers Lucy F. Simms, U. G. Wilson, George A. Newman, and principal W. N. P. Harris, with others, have had long and honorable careers. From time to time the old school buildings have been enlarged, new ones have been erected, and improved equipment has been provided. In 1908 a stone building was constructed in front of the brick buildings on South Main Street at a cost of $23,000. In 1910-11 the Waterman School was built at the northern edge of the city, at an outlay of $25,000, on grounds donated by the late A. G. Waterman. In 1925 this school was enlarged by a ten-room addition costing $60,000. In 1928 the new high school building was erected on the old fair grounds at a cost of $225,000, and in 1934 the building was enlarged by a six-room addition at an expenditure of $33, 000. Within the same period excellent buildings were provided for the Negro schools. I ' The Lucy F. Simms School In 1882 a four-room brick building for the Negro school t m co an M was erected at a cost of $2000 on a lot facing Effinger Street. With a substantial addition on the west side this building was used until 1938-39 when the Lucy F. Simms School, in a splendid brick building costing, with its equipment, $100,000, was opened a short distance farther east. This school, very appropriately, was named in honor of Lucy F. Simms, a graduate of Hampton Institute, who, for 55 years, was an efficient teacher in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The school is located on a part of the Gray estate, within a few hundred yards of the place where Lucy Simms was born a slave in 1855. More details concerning Negro education in Harrisonburg will be found in the narrative by Professor U. G. Wilson. (See PART II.) Two institutions of higher learning, one in Harrisonburg, the other just on the north of the city, must be included in this sketch of our educational history. �13. Negro Schools in Harrisonburg In 1911 when I was collecting materials for a history of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, which was published in 1912, Professor U. G. Wilson, at my request, wrote a paper on the Negro schools. Parts of this paper were used at that time. In 1942, when this work on Harrisonburg was under way, I requested Professor Wilson to supplement his paper of 1911 with items subsequent. This he did, and both of his contributions are herewith presented. By reason of circumstances that can not be explained, a complete record of all the early transactions connected with the purchase, sale, and transfer of our Colored Public School property has not been faithfully kept, and we have, therefore, had to depend largely upon the traditions of our oldest living citizens for the information contained in this sketch; and a closer investigation may reveal inaccuracies as to chronology and details, but statements in general may be accepted as positive truth. When, in 1865, the Negro race in America, after spending nearly 250 years in servitude, was set at liberty and almost simultaneously clothed with citizenship, the necessity for education and fitting it for the responsibilities of the new relation it then sustained to the state and nation was felt and admitted by all. The doctrine of universal education, while advocated by many individuals in every section of our country, seemed to spread more rapidly in the North and West. Men's sympathies went out toward these poor dependent and ignorant creatures until the sentiment crystalized into an organized effort to provide for them the light of knowledge. To this end such organizations as the Freedmen's Bureau and U. S. Christian Commission were established and were instrumental in sending to various southern localities many cultured, consecrated Christian women and men to labor for the intellectual and moral advancement of the race. Two of these women, Misses Martha Smith and Phoeby Libby of Augusta, Maine, came to 345 �346 HISTORIC HARRISONBURG Harrisonburg and organized the first mission school for the instruction of Negro children in 1868. They taught in an upper room in the rear of the old Scanlon Hotel. We are told that to reach the room pupils had to climb, jump, and stoop; but in spite of the many difficulties encountered, boys and girls are said to have crowded to the place daily, so anxious were they to receive instruction at the feet of their fair benefactors. The next location for the mission school was in the basement of the Southern [Northern] M. E. Church-the same afterward becoming the property of the Catholic congregation, and more recently torn down to give present site for the Snell & Co.'s wholesale grocery building. The next mission teacher was Mr. George Howard of Washington, D. C., a colored man. It was during his term that the number of pupils increased to such an extent that assistance was sent to him in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth James of New Bedford, Mass. This lady proved to be a most valuable acquisition. She was exceptionally intelligent and had the gift that few teachers possess of inspiring her pupils with laudable ambitions. "I regret so much that my son or daughter did not go a year at least to Mrs. James," is an expression frequently heard from patrons today concerning their younger children, and indicates what great confidence they had in the ability of this pioneer teacher. She taught until 1871. It was during her stay that the public free school system was established in Virginia; and when, according to the requirements of the law, she applied for examination, the division superintendent refused, saying paraphrastically, "I have need to be baptized of thee." She taught in the first school house built for the colored people of Harrisonburg. The ground was purchased from Mr. Jouett Gray and was the parcel bounded on the south by Rock Street, on the west and north by Black's Run, on the east by the property of Robert Vickers. It was deeded to the colored citizens of Harrisonburg to be used by them for educational purposes. The trustees were Elijah Huffman, William Peters, Gabriel Jackson, Arch Strother, Cary Myers, and Robert Vickers. The house was a one-story frame building about 25 by 40 feet, set upon wooden blocks or pillars about 3¼ feet above the ground. The ample space beneath was sometimes used for the packing away of wood, sometimes as a shelter for homeless canines, but more £re- II �NEGRO SCHOOLS IN HARRISONBURG 347 ,aently as a temporary retreat for an escaping urchin. Blackboards were painted spaces on the boards with which the school house was ceiled. This would become so slick that crayon would not adhere, and the children would overcome the difficulty by a violent puffing of stale breath against the boards, thus adding more poison to the already unsanitary conditions of the room. In this house from 1870 to 1882 a generation of Negroes strove for mental development. I might add, just here, that this little wooden structure, like the early New England meetinghouse, which was for one purpose a church, for another a town hall, another a court-house, so this house was the rendezvous of the colored citizens for quite a variety of purposes. Here were held the old-time devotion meetings, in which our fathers sang and prayed to the God in whom they trusted. Here were held the weekly sociables and festivals. Here were held the political club meetings where many an ambitious political Moses essayed to lead his sable hosts to the land of promise. Herc were held night schools and singing schools. In fact no building has ever been erected in the town of Harrisonburg the name of which recalls so many varied past interests or causes the indulgence of more pleasant reminiscences by the colored people than the "little old school house by the creek." The teachers during this period were the following: Robert Scott of Charlottesville, succeeding Mrs. James, taught one term. He was regarded as a ripe scholar and a good disciplinarian. He was followed by James Peterson of Boston, who was also a good scholar and much esteemed as a congenial gentleman. These as principals were assisted by Miss Mary Jackson of Staunton, who taught in the basement of the Northern M. E. Church, also in the old colored M. E. Church on Wolf Street. James Peterson was succeeded by G. A. Newman of Winchester, Va., who taught for seven consecutive years, or until 1883. He was a painstaking instructor, a constant student, a valuable churchman, and not a few of our most successful young men along literary lines bless him for the habit of persistent, systematic study acquired under his tutorship. He was assisted at various times by Miss Lucy F. Simms, Reeves Minor, Miss Sarah E. Smoot, J. W. Coles, Miss Shug Haskins, Bob Robinson, all of whom taught the primary classes m the old Wolf Street Church. In 1882 the attendance was so much increased, and the quarters then ..... �348 HISTORIC HARRISON BURG occupied had become so inadequate for the accommodation of the children, that it was evident something had to be done to improve conditions. The matter was brought to the attention of the school board, then consisting of Messrs. James L. Avis, George 0. Conrad, and French Compton. The board immediately went into consultation with leading colored citizens of the town, among them James W. Cochran, Elijah Huffman, and others, as to an available and suitable site for a school building. In the meantime a committee waited on Mayor Pent Bryan and the town council in the interest of an appropriation for the building of the same. The council agreed to appropriate $2000. A site was chosen on Effinger Street, upon which was built a two-story four-room brick building, with stair-case in the center, from the front door to the second floor. This building was heated by stoves and imperfectly ventilated by doors and windows. The blackboards were of painted slate. This building, while not constructed in strict accordance with the most modern ideas of school architecture, and lacking many conveniences essential to the health and comfort of teachers an<l pupils, was a decided improvement on the past, and for the next 26 years was the pride of our citizens and the mecca of the aspiring young Negro in this section. Time and space will not permit me to comment at length upon the personal qualifications of the teachers that taught during this period, but simply to mention them, as follows: From 1883 to 1884, Miss Lucy F. Simms, acting principal, Miss Jennie Hughes and Webster David, assistants; from 1884 to 1885, Miss Lucinda Bragg of Petersburg, principal, Misses Lucy Simms and Lizzie Evans, assistants; from 1885 to 1886, H. H. Suther of Hampton, principal, Misses Lucy Simms and Lizzie Evans, assistants; from 1886 to 1890, G. A. Newman, principal, Misses Lucy Simms, Alice Burns, and Lizzie Evans, assistants ; from 1890 to 1891, J. P. Johnson, principal, Misses Lucy Simms and Lizzie Evans, assistants ; from 1891 to 1896, G. A. Newman, principal, U. G. Wilson, Misses Lucy Simms and Jennie Settles, and James W. Botts, assistants; from 1896 to 1897, J. P. Johnson, principal, U. G. Wilson, Miss Lucy Simms, and John Terrell, assistants; from 1897 to 1908, G A . Newman, principal, U. G. Wilson, Misses Lucy Simms and Maggie Newman, Mrs. Hannah Nizer, and Miss Mary Brown, assistants. �NEGRO SCHOOLS IN HARRISONBURG 349 During all these years each principal and teacher doubtless .abored hard-sometimes against many odds and amid much discouragement-for the intellectual advancement of those committed to his or her charge; much good was accomplished by them, and many have crossed the mystic river to receive their reward for work well done, while many others of them have turned to labor in fields no more honorable, but more compatible with the exigencies of advancing age. From 1908 to 1911 the presiding genius over the colored educational interests of Harrisonburg was H. A. M. Johns of Hampton, Va., assisted during that time by U G. Wilson as assistant principal, Misses Nanney Fallon, Lucy Simivs, Gertrude Norman, and Mrs. Rosa E. Carter, the last being succeeded by Miss Fallon the second year. The qualifications of this young principal were shown not only in the classrqorn, but were demonstrated also in the complete change of attitude toward the school by both school authorities and patrons, by the influence he somehow exerted to secure this enthusiastic cooperation. What was accomplished during his incumbency has elicited praise from friends and foes alike and gives him a just right to a place in the galaxy of the race's most successful educators. A detailed account of what was accomplished will nbt be attempted here, but suffice it to say that, like the celebrated financier, Alexander Hamilton, of whom it was said, "He spoke to. the dead corpse of public credit and it sprang upon its feet-he smote the rock of national resources and abundant streams of revenue burst forth," so, it seemed, that some magic voice had spoken in the educational affairs of Harrisonburg. As an outstanding accomplishment of this period, the old four-room structure of 1883 was transformed into a more commodious structure by duplicating the original on the west side, which gave two more classrooms on the first floor and a much needed assembly room above, with an ample hall-way between. Modern heating and ventilating systems were installed, sanitary toilets, electric lights, and other improvements were provided. From 1912 to 1915 the principal was Hugh V. Brown of Hampton, Va. He was an aspiring and capable young manwas a conscientious teacher-but apparently was handicapped in the enforcement of discipline by his youth. He was assisted by U. G. Wilson, Misses Lucy Simms, Roberta Morgan, Ethel II I �350 HISTORIC HARRISONBURG Smith, and Rosa Jones. From 1915 to the present, 1942, Prof. W. N. P. Harris of Lexington, Va., has been our efficient school principal. During his incumbency the school has advanced along many and notable lines, chief among which has been the organization and operation of an accredited high school. A beautiful and spacious building, equipped with all modern educational facilities, was erected in the northeast section of the city in 1938, through the benevolence of the Federal Government an<l the City Council. Departments of musical and industrial arts, under the direction of competent instructors, have been added. The assistants to Professor Harris, from time to time during his administration, have been: John H. Christian, James F. Nicholas, Chas. W. Robinson, I. S. Wayne, James K. McKane, J . W. Wormly, A. T. Edwards, Misses E. Lucile Oliver. Helen Caphas, Alma Wilson, Goldie Morris, Eloise Walker, Edna Wilson, of the high school, industrial, home economics, and musical departments; Mrs. Lena Stephens, Misses Ethel Smith, Eloise Lanier, Maryland Alston, Gwendolyn Ranier, Ruth Hollins, Dorothy Davies, Julia Grigsby, Jean Francis, Elaine Bryant, Marie Snyder, Beatrice Cheatham, Dorothy Royall, Ann Sykes, Estelle Brown, Virginia Brooks, teachers of the grades. This historical compend of the beginning and progress of the Negro public school of Harrisonburg is submitted with the hope that whatever satisfaction is lost to the reader in his or her search for literary excellence, may be compensated by a realization of pleasure from the contemplation of facts, simply but sincerely and truthfully revealed. U. G. Wilson. A fact of interest that should be noted in this connection is that the splendid $100,000 school building for the Negroes, erected in 1938-39, at the northeastern side of the city, named for Lucy F. Simms, stands on a part of the Gray estate "Hilltop," where she was born a slave in 1855. She was a classmate of Booker T. Washington at Hampton Institute, where she graduated in 1874. For 56 years she taught in Rockingham schools, most of the time in Harrisonburg. S4.P.t. W. H. Keister, WM c me here in 189 ha st d.J.hat..she, until the fall of 1933 had n..Q.L missed a day from her classes because of illness within that Eeri She died suddenly in Harrisonburg, July 10, 1934. - - - --------------!!!!!==-- �256 HISTORIC HARRISONBURG 1933, June 10, fire in Tutwiler Motor Co. building, west side of N. Main, midway between Wolf and Rock Street. 1933, June 20, fire in brick building east side of N. Main, partly over Black's Run, northeast of Gay Street. 1933, July, Stehli Silk Mills increase employment roll from 400 to 500. 1933, Aug. 11, state firemen's convention parade in Harrisonburg. 1933, Aug. 12, President F. D. Roosevelt's first visit to Harrisonburg. 1933, Nov. 4, Weldon Berry recalls that he and other boys played in a~ arched-over tunnel that used to run from the site of the Presbyterian Church, northeast side of the public square, down to the Big Spring. 1933, Daly Shoe Factory opens northwest of Madison College in old incubator buildings, earlier sash and door factory. 1933-34, the jail, northeast side of Graham Street, remodeled. 1934, January, old log house, brick veneered, west side of Liberty Street opposite the jail lot, torn clown; prior to 1854 occupied by William Rehercl, blacksmith. 1934, May 24, exercises honoring Supt.Wm. I-I. Keister-40 years of service in Harrisonburg schools. 1934, June 1, night, Lowell Thomas speaks in Wilson Hall. 1934, June 14, Massanutten Chapter D. A. R. unveils bronze tablet at Smithland. 1934, July 10, death of Lucy F. Sims, Negress, who had taught in county and city schools 56 years. 1934, July 20, death of Thomas Lemen Williamson, 87, formerly of near New Market. 1934, Sept. 2, death of Mrs. Mary L. Pollock, 94. 1934, Sept. 13, new State Theater, east side of S. Main Street, opened. 1934, Sept., Evelyn Norcross Sherrill and Ben Hibbs in the Country Gentleman, Philadelphia, write of Joseph Funk and Singers' Glen. Hibbs had visited Harrisonburg and Singers' Glen to collect facts. 1934, Oct. 16, new bus terminal, west side of N. Main Street between the Kavanaugh Hotel and the Lutheran Church, opened. �rPUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN HARRISONBURG 361 Mr. L. C. Claybrook lives in a home erected on a part of this ground. When this (Ott) house was sold the school was moved across to what was then the Heneberger lot-now Keister Park. Temporary buildings were erected there from time to time until there were nine of them, which the pupils called "chicken-coops," but which were known as the Wm. H. Keister School. Manual training, domestic science, and one or two rooms of the lower grades were housed in the old Heneberger home. This Heneberger lot was purchased by the school board with the intention of erecting a modern and up-to-date high school building there. Plans for the building were drawn and the contract about to be let for the erection of the same when, because of the central and crowded location and from the fact that automobiles were coming into use very fast, no place for parking cars and taking care of the crowds could be had. Agitation was begun for the purchase of the "Fair Grounds" on which to erect the high school building, which, as mentioned above, was completed in 1928. A few years ago a ten-acre plot of ground was bought by 1 he city council on which to erect a new Negro school. Already there is a splendid athletic field and playground equipment on this ground. This school is to be known as the "Lucy F. Simms School" in honor of one who taught in the school system of Harrisonburg for more than fifty years. When we came to take charge of tlie schools in September, 1894, there were many private schools in town. These were well patronized and the majority of the children went to these schools. The Misses Sue and Esther Campbell conducted for many years a splendid school for young ladies in the house on Campbell Street recently remodeled by Dr. Deyerle and now known at "The Colonial Inn." Miss Martha Davis had in her home on the southwest corner of South High and Water Streets a scl1:-iol for girls which was very popular and well patronized. Miss Mollie McQuaide conducted a school for the Catholic children in the house now adjoining the southern boundary of the present Main Street School grounds. Rev. Mr. Yonce, the Lutheran minister here at that time, had a school for grown boys at his home on the south side of East Market Street, now the residence of B. Frank Garber. Miss Hortense Devier had in her home, which stood on the northwest corner of North High and West Market Streets, �362 HISTORIC HARRISONBURG now the Conrad F1ats, a school for children, both boys and girls. This school was very popular and largely attended. For a time Miss Jennie Davis had a school for smaller children on the first floor of the house on Court Square now occupied by Dr. J. M. Biedler. Miss Mary I. Bell conducted a school in the second story in the rear of the present Warren Hotel. Miss Bell had from twenty to twenty-five pupils in attendance. In the old Offutt building, or the "Bee Gum," on the southeast corner of North Main and Effinger Streets, there was a school for larger boys in charge of Mr. Legg. There was also a school for both young men and young women in the old Colli cello house on North Liberty Street conducted by Mr. Phipps Miller. In later years Miss Nettie Waugh had a school for small children at her home on the north side of Franklin Street, where Tom Herring now resides. Mrs. Jacob Liggett also had a school for small children in her home on South Liberty Street. There was among many of the people a strong prejudice against sending their children to what they called the "free school." It was with a good deal of hesitation that they were willing to send them to any but private schools. In a year or two, however, the children attending the private schools gradually began coming to the public schools and it was necessary for the private schools to discontinue. One by one these schools closed and all the children in the city were enrolled in the public schools. There is not now, and has not been for many years, any child in Harrisonburg attending a private school in the city. It was our policy from the very first to endeavor to make the Harrisonburg schools the best possible and to insist on thorough work in order to give the schools a high rank, not only in the state, but iP the nation. We have reason to believe that our efforts alon~ this line met with success and with the approval of the parent:; and citizens of this splendid and loyal city. The following items were added by Mr. Keister at a later date, in or about 1939. In 1938-39 the Lucy F. Simms (Negro) School, located in the northeastern section of the city on ten acres of ground, formerly belonging to the old Gray estate, was erected and equipped at a cost of $100,000, the city paying 55% and the United States Government 45% of the cost. This is a class B building and is 1 \ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Historic Harrisonburg Booklet by John Wayland Subject The topic of the resource Black History Description An account of the resource "Historic Harrisonburg" booklet (missing pages) by John Wayland about Lucy F. Simms and the creation of the school named after her Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource John W. Wayland Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1990 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Megan N. Medeiros (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF0228 Black History https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF1001_first-baptist-church-112th-anniversary-booklet.pdf bec157029c6cf7a867b91a9c685f9cd2 PDF Text Text • 1871 FIRST BAPTIST 1983 CHURCH HARRISONBURG 1 VIRGINIA 112TH PSALM 127:1 ANNIVERSARY EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOUR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT• MoTTo: EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY REV• CALVIN BALTIMORE, PASTOR SISTER SARAH SN~PSON, CHURCH CLERK DEACON JAMES FAIRFAX, CHAIRMAN OF DEACON BOARD DEACON ROSSIE BROADDUS, CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEE BOARD ��PASTOR 1 S MESSAGE TO THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY: TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED ABROAD AND OVER THE LAND: Greetings: As we think about the 112th Anniversary of our great church, I can but speak now as I have spoken that Christ is alive and that we must continue to stand together for Christ and in the name of Jesus Christ. I first then exhort you to take a stand in these troubled times. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1) Yes, we must stand and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3) We must not the many changes stand ye in the is the good way, be swept away by every wind of doctrine nor by of these times. Jere■ iah 6:16 tells us to ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where and walk therein. We must continue to walk together in unity, love, and peace. Submitted in love for the advancement of the Christian cause, Your Humble Servant and Pastor, Rev. Calvin Baltimore ��Rev. Calvin Baltimore �HISTORY OF OUR PASTOR Rev. Calvin N. Baltimore accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior on the second Sunday in June 1959, and is a member of the St. Paul Baptist Church, Happy Creek, Virginia. He served as a faithful deacon for 14 years at St. Paul before God called him for higher duties on April 10, 1976. Rev. Baltimore was licensed to preach the Gospel by his home church. After being licensed for 10 months and much prayerful consideration, Rev. Baltimore accepted the call from Third Zion Baptist Church, Success, Virginia as their Assistant Pastor. During the 105th session of the Second National Ketoctan Baptist Association, Third Zion requested the ordination of Rev. Calvin Baltimore. On the 24th of September 1977, Rev. Baltimore became pastor and served in this capacity for approximately five years. Rev. Baltimore was also called to Popular Forks Baptist Church, Warrenton, Virginia on July 15, 1979. He became supply pastor in September, 1979 and was voted in as pastor on October 20, 1979. He served Popular Forks for approximately three years. God blessed Rev. Baltimore in his pastoral works at both churches. Rev. Baltimore became pastor-elect of First Baptist on May 23, 1982. First Baptist needed the strong leader we have in Rev. Baltimore. Since becoming our pastor we have grown to great success. We have organized Homecoming Day, Deacon and Deaconess Day, baptized 9 and received 7 by Christian experience, and one minister, and numerous other accomplishments mentioned in Concentration of Improvements. Since Rev. Baltimore has been our pastor, much fellowship and love have been created among the membership and the community. Many of the former members have returned to First Baptist and we have a Spirit-filled worship service. �MODERATOR 1 S MESSAGE Greetings: As your Moderator, I take this moment in the Name of Jesus to congratulate and cmmend you at First Baptist for standing 112 years in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the road and way has not been easy for you, storms of life rage against you; but you kept the ship on course with the help of the Lord. Continue to be strong in the doctrines of Jesus Christ, be strong in brotherly love for one another, keep marching to Zion, and when your marching days are finished, you will be able to lay down your sword and shield, say farewell to old life and join in with heavenly angels and say, "I looked back and wonder how I made it over." God bless you and your pastor. Your Humble Moderator, Dr. J.P. Baltimore Elected Moderator The Rev. J.P. Baltimore, 0.0., was elected as moderator of the 104th annual session of the Second National Ketoctan Association held at the Mt. Morris Baptist Church in Hume recently. The event was attended by a congregation of about 500 people. Dr. Baltimore heads a large Baptist body in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. �HISTORY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH In the year of 1871 the Baptist believers desired to organize a meeting house of worship in the town of Harrisonburg, Virginia . The Rev. William Hill was called for this purpose and was the church 1 s first pastor. From his leadership and the aid of a few Baptist people a church was organized. It was located on West Market Street. In 1873 a church was erected on the corner of Wolfe and Mason Streets at a cost of $850.00. This church soon became too small for the growing congregation. In 1878, under the leadership of Dr. G. B. Howard, the old church was set back fifty feet. A new church was built on Wolfe Street in front of it at the cost of several thousand dollars. Having no basement to the new edifice the congregation decided to use the old church as a lecture room and social hall. In later years a parsonage was built on the property to house ministers and their families, also visiting ministers. Although the church was started in 1871 there is no cornerstone to prove it. The cornerstone on the Broad Street Church is dated 1878-1964. The church in eighteen and early nineteen hundred had strict rules of discipline. Members were excluded for: dancing, card playing, betting, fighting, bad language, adultery, non-payment of dues, and non-attendance at church or church meetings. Members were allowed to be restored back to membership by asking pardon. Church dues were twenty-five cents a Sunday and the pastor received thirty to thirty-five dollars a month. Some of the pastor's salary was raised through entertainments which brought in from five to ten dollars. In the year 1963, under the pastorate of Rev. T. C. Allen, the Wolfe Street Church was purchased by the City of Harrisonburg for the Urban Renewal Program. Groundbreaking for the present church on Broad Street was held September 17, 1963. The cornerstone was laid February 23, 1964. The first service was held in the new church July 12, 1964. �HISTORY •••... (Continued) During the building process services were held at the Lucy F. Simms School and at the homes of members. Rev. Allen, as pastor, did a remarkable job in holding the congregation together while the church was being built. Rev. Allen was a fine, dedicated minister. He and his wife, Evelyn, were parents of three children. The church was dedicated September 6, 1964. Lots of changes have been made in the church these recent years. the basement was remodeled, amplified sound system installed, new Allen organ and new piano purchased, new stairway built, a bus was purchased, new outer doors put up. The church has advanced spiritually with the reorganizing of the Choir and Sunday School. A Youth Group has been organized to help our young people. These church clubs have been organized: Ladies Auxiliary, Willing Workers, Missionaries, Men 1 s Club, and Usher Board. As an outreach program the church is sponsoring a Day Care Center in the lower part of the church. Pastors of the church and improvements made during their pastorate: Rev. Hill - 1871-1872: Began church in a building on West Market Street. Rev. J.B. Howard - 1873-1890: Church erected in 1873 on corner of Wolfe and Mason Streets at a cost of $850.00. In 1878 the old church was moved back and a new one was built in its place at a cost of several thousand dollars. Rev. Deskins Rev. J. W. Hackett - 1890-1897: Electric lights installed in the church. Rev. G. Fox - 1897-1900 Rev. White - 1900-1902 Rev. L. C. Garland - 1902-1907 �HISTORY ...... (Continued) Rev. Taylor Rev. Samuel Moses - 1907-1912 Rev. St.Clair Drake - 1913-1915 Rev. Jordan - 1915-1917 Rev. Arthurs - 1918-1921: Built parsonage for Wolfe Street Church Rev. Walker - 1922-1924 Rev. Lee - 1924 Rev. J. 0. Wright Rev. C. A. Morgan: Remodeled church Rev. Obediah Simms: Wurlitzer Organ purchased Rev. T. C. Allen - 1956-1964: Broad Street Church built Rev. R. T. Duncan - 1965-1966: Church grounds improved Rev. Calvin Chew - 1966Church basement remodeled Rev. J.B. Williams - 1976-1978: Allen Organ and piano purchased Rev. Lloyd Minor - 1979-1981: Public address system put in Sunday School reorganized Rev. Calvin Baltimore - 1982 Church bus purchased Church kitchen remodeled New stairway built Youth Group organized Choir reorganized Day Care Center sponsored in lower level of church New metal outside doors installed The church is steadily moving forward under our pastor, Rev. Calvin Baltimore. We have also had an increase in our membership. Sister Mary A. Fairfax Church Historian, 1983 �REV. THOMAS CARY ALLEN 1922 1981 New First Baptist Church erected during his pastorate. (1964) �Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. CONCENTRATION OF IMPROVEMENTS 1. Bus 2. Fence barrier around the church 3. Painting of the outside of church 4. Painting of the inside of church 5. Construction of a new stairway 6. New ceiling in vestibule 7. Construction of the kitchen New cabinets New countertop stove Sinks Repair of refrigerato r New deep freeze f. New floor g. New hood fan h. New stainless steel table i. New soda machine j. Water cooler k. Calculator a. b. c. d. e. 8. Updating of public address system 9. New steel doors 10. New fence around the church lot for Day Care playground 11. Day Care tables, toys and lockers 12. Day Care Center 13. Bringing people back together on one accord 14. Hosted Annual Youth Group Convention - July, 1983 II Chronicles 7:10-22 �CHURCH BUSINESS OFFICERS Mrs. Sarah Sampson Church Secretary Mrs. Catherine Williams Church Treasurer (Seated left to right) Mrs. Rachel Lewis, Deacon Rossie Broaddus (Chairman). (Standing) Miss Mattie Myers DEACON BOARD TRUSTEE BOARD (Seated) Deacon George McGuire (Deacon Emeritus). Standing left to right) Deacon James Fairfax (Chairman), Deacon Ralph Sampson, Deacon Rossie Broaddus, (Deacon Hampton Sampson not pictured) �ROLL OF HONOR Mrs. Maude Carter, 101 years of age Deacon George P. McGuire, 103 years of age These loyal Christians were awarded plaques of honor on Homecoming Day, July 3, 1983 at the church. �FIRST BAPTIST DAY CARE CENTER Mrs. Marian Frankel, Director Mrs. Dorothy Payne, Co-Director Miss Robin Winston, Aide Mrs. Diane Whitley, Aide �MOTHERS OF THE CHURCH (Left) Mrs. Rachel Lewis (Presently) {Right) Mrs. Hattie Washington, Former Mother of the Church, Choir Member and Church Cl erk for a number of years • . MISSIONARY CIRCLE (Seated left to right) Mrs. Pauline Brown (Secretary), Mrs. Ann Turner, Mrs. Mary Fairfax (President), Mrs. Helen Buck {Treasurer). (Standing) Deacon James Fairfax �LADIES AUXILIARY (Seated left to right) Miss Mattie Myers (Treasurer), Mrs. Catherine Dunn (Chaplain), Mrs. Mary Fairfax (Secretary). (Standing left to right) Mrs. Helen Buck, Mrs. Rachel Lewis (Vice-President), Mrs. Catherine Williams, Mrs. Patricia Blakey (President) DEACONESS BOARD (Seated left to right) Mrs. Margaret Rowe, Mrs. Marena Flemming, Mrs. Mary Fairfax, Mrs. Hattie Washington, Mrs. Helen Buck. (Standing left to right) Mrs. Rosa Banks, Mrs. Amanda McCall, Miss Mattie Myers, Mrs. Rachel Lewis, Mrs. Catherine Dunn �USHER BOARD (Seated left to right} Miss Adrian Carter (Chaplain}, Miss Mattie Myers (Treasurer}. (Standing left to right} Mrs. Ann Turner (President}, Mrs. Patricia Blakey (Secretary}, Mrs. Virginia Smith (Vice-President}. (Miss Lois Pratt not pictured . } WILLING WORKERS CLUB (Seated left to right} Mrs. Cathering Dunn (President}, Mrs. Marena Flemming. (Standing left to right) Mrs. Ann Turner, Miss Adrian Carter (Sick Editor}, Miss Mattie Myers (Secretary), Mrs. Amanda McCall, (Mrs. Hilda Carter, Treasurer, not pictured} �(Seated left to right) George McGuire, Dilmon Washington (President). (Standing left to right) James M. Fairfax (Secretary), Ralph Sampson, Sr., Rev. Calvin Baltimore, Oscar Banks, Rossie Broaddus (Treasurer) (Not pictured: Warren Curry, James Ware) EASTERN MENNONITE COLLEGE STUDENTS (Seated left to right) Dale Flood, Sylvia Perry. (Standing left to right) Lawrence Dow, Sonia Perry, Kristen Freed, Billy Scott �CHURCH MUSICIANS (Seated left to right) Lawrence Dow (Pianist), Mrs. Cathy Winston (Pianist), Mrs. Mary Fairfax (Organist and Choir Director for over 40 years). (Standing left to right) Miss Cathy Williams (Organist), Mrs. Sarah Sampson (Assistant Choir Director) CHURCH CHOIR (Seated left to right) Dale Flood, Cathy Williams, Mary Fairfax, Katie Bell Brown. (Standing second row) Cathy Winston, Sylvia Perry, Joyce Sampson, Catherine Williams, Alva Williams, Pauline Brown, Sarah Sampson. (Third row) Lawrence Dow, Ralph Sampson, Sr. �SUNDAY SCHOOL (Seated L-R) Miss Mattie Myers (Assistant Superintendent), Mrs . Rosa Dickerson (Treasurer), Mrs. Mary Fairfax (Superintendent), Carmen Davis, Miss Joyce Sampson. (Standing L-R) Deacon James Fairfax, Deacon Rossie Broaddus, Mrs. Ann Turner, Rev. Calvin Baltimore, Miss Adrian Carter (Secretary), Mrs. Pauline Brown, Miss Millie Bryant, Miss Lois Pratt (Not pictured: Eric Brown, Tyronne Brown.) FIRST BAPTIST YOUTH GROUP (Seated L-R) Jamesa Williams, Joyce Sampson (President), Shawnee Madden, Carmen Davis, Mrs. Catherine Dunn (Coordinator), Mrs. Pauline Brown (Coordinator). (Standing L-R) Adrian Carter (Secretary), Tonya Madden, Raquel Williams, Winnie Dickerson, Millie Bryant, Mrs. Patricia Blakey (Coordinator), Parrish Madden �FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1873 �FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1878 - 1963 Rev. J. 0. Wright 1930 - 1945 �FIRST BAPTIST CONGREGATION WOLFE STREET CHURCH, 1950 �FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR (left to right, front row) Altee Beale, Emsie Barber, Bertha Fields, Maude Carter, Ethel Ball, Nanline Awkard . (Second row) Peggy Thomas, (Back row) Harold Cathy Winston, Carrie Rankins, Lloyd Ball. Fairfax Mitchell, Hampton Sampson, James �BIBLE STUDY CLASS (Left to right) Mrs. Catherine Williams, Miss Frances Scott, Mrs. Edith Nickens, Gary Carter, Mrs. Katie Bell Brown, Deacon James Fairfax , Mrs. Modestine Davis (Bible teacher), Miss Mattie Myers, Mrs. Pauline Brown, Mrs. Ann Turner, Mrs. Alva Williams, Mrs. Rosa Dickerson. (Not pictured: Mrs. Mary Fairfax, Miss Louise Winston, Mrs. Catherine Dunn) �MODESTINE R. DAVIS * Evangelical American Missionary in body and "to the uttermost parts of the earth," prayerfully and financially. * Born, reared, and attended high school in Blacksburg, SC. Moved to Greenville, SC in 1940. Attended Claflin Colle-~ 1941-43. Taught on two-year certificate. Further education at Houghton College, Houghton, NY. * Married Wilkins Garrett, Sr. in 1948. One son: Wilkins Garrett, Jr., Pastor of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, FL. Brenda. Daughters: Kamara, Adri~nne, Jackie, Christian Wife: * Widowed for seven years. Married Abraham Davis, Jr. One daughter: Silena R. Davis, entering junior year at Eastern Mennonite College. * Converted under white missionary of the Methodist Church at age 11, and received a call from the Lord at that time. * Baptized under Rev. Charles F. Gandy, Springfield Baptist Church, Greenville, SC. Varied training and experiences. My very heart, teaching the Word of God and intercessory prayer. * Associate member of Wesleyan Church, Brethren In Christ, and many others. * It was most appreciated that the Rev. Calvin Baltimore permitted me to teach at First Baptist Church, taking others in from the community, in a weekly Bible study. Missions Include: * Setting up and teaching Bible studies in evangelical and non-evangelical churches. * Vacation Bible School * Introducing good, solid Christian magazines and books; use of Bible dictionary, concordance, Bible study methods, Bible doctrine * Cross-culture students in our home * Telephone ministry * Regular correspondence in all states and abroad, sharing the Good News (18-20 letters daily) * Distribution of literature by mail and in person: Placing Bibles in pews, setting up Good News stands where permitted * Home open for Biblical and prayerful help: Provide clean beds and food for those who spend the night, but most of all spiritual food. from everywhere. Visited by people * Some speaking in churches: Cutting down as He leads, due to health. My Prayer "Then saith He unto His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:37, 38) �FIRST BAPTIST CONGREGATION, JUNE 5, 1983 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BUS �GOSPEL CHORUS OBSERVES FIRST ANNIVERSARY (left to right, front row) Miss Julie Helms, Mrs. Gloria Moore, Mrs. Alora Williams, Mrs. Rosa Brown, Mrs. Ophelia Whitelaw and Mrs. Patricia Howard. (left to right, back row) Mrs. Catherine Williams, Mrs. Cathy Winston, Mrs. Sarah Sampson, and Messrs. George Williams, Raymond Williams, and Ralph Sampson. Other members of the chorus not present when photo was made are Gary Carter, Miss Ellen Myers, and Stanley Thomas. Mrs. Cathy Winston, Director of group. LITTLE STEPS OF SOUL, 1977 (left to right, front row) T. C. Curry, Stephanie Howard, Winnie Dickerson, Wendell Howard, Kim Brown. (left to right, back row) Debbie Washington, Sonya Myers, Felissa Nelson, Frances Nelson, Charita Blakey. Directed by Cathy Winston. �Ralph Sampson, Jr., super basketball star, who is nationally known, is a member of the First Baptist Church. He is shown here receiving a plaque from the church presented by the pastor, Rev. Calvin Baltimore. �In Me■orial Me■ory Of Deacon Lester McCall 1908-1980 Wife Mrs. Amanda Brock McCall Children Maureen Lynch Margie Murray Alice Carter Eileen Madden Maurice McCall Alberts. Amos Twenty-Four Grandchildren Sister 01 a Belle McCall Half Brother Lawrence Brown Tribute to Mrs. Sarah J. Wood 1867-1946 - Grandmother Mr. Joseph C. Awkard, Sr. 1881 - 1946 - Father Mrs. Nanline W. Awkard 1892-1957 - Mother By children Mary Awkard Fairfax Leona A. Smith Joseph Cyrus Awkard, Jr. Fred Monroe Awkard In Me■ory of Mrs. Della Mae Harper 1910-1983 A Faithful Member of The Willing Workers Club And Ladies Auxiliary �PATRON LIST James and Anna Hoover Mary Tali aferro Louis and Dawn Campanelli Paul and Becky Christophel Betty Beasley Eleanor Page Price Elon and Edna Rhodes Donna Green Louise Winston Andrew Yancey Dr. George Nipe Mr. and Mrs. Charles Broaddus Mrs. C. I. Sease Rev. and Mrs. Nesmith Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Madden Katie Brown Warnetta Tuckson Mr. and Mrs. Willie Bryant Charles Jackson Linda Frazier Frances Holley Mattie Myers Mary Hayes Ann Turner George McGuire Alberta Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Brown Eric and Tyrone Brown Sgt. and Mrs. Harry Brown and Son, Jeremy Sp4 Perry Brown Kim Brown Kisha Tolliver Angel Tolliver Mr. and Mrs. James Fairfax Edith Nickens Carmelita Bundy Mr. and Mrs. James Madden Larry N. Madden Bobby A. Myers Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Washington Debra Washington Shawnee Madden Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stuart Corliss Brown Rev. Calvin Baltimore Sister Maude Baltimore Sister Henritta Baltimore Mr. and Mrs. Sampson Baltimore Rev. J.P. Baltimore Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Scott Mrs. Jean Burrill Mr. Harry Johnson Mrs. Geneva Ruffener Mrs. Delores Trammel Mrs. Yvonne Dade Mrs. Josephine Johnson Miss Claudette Crusom Mr. and Mrs. George Sampson Gene Carter Mr. and Mrs. William Reed Mrs. Delores Jones Marie Bates Beulah Webb Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Freeman Edward H. Wilt Mrs. Wilt Biller Scott Bi 11 er Virginia Smith Rachel Lewis Rossi Broaddus Glori a J. Moore Rosa Lee Brown Rosa Dickerson Warren Curry Ms. Hattie Brown Mrs. Margaret Strother Ms. Julia Buck Mrs. Helen Buck Ms. Betty Peyton Ms. Marie Peyton Mr. George Buck Mrs. Ementha Prince Mr. Leroy Buck Ms. Patricia Dunn Mrs. Catherine Dunn Mrs. Alfonzo Jordan Mr. Alfonzo Jordan Ms. Nakisa Jordan Ms. Ellen Ann Myers �PATRON LIST ...... (Continued) Mr. Aaron Myers Ms. Lynn Myers Mr. Derick Myers Ms. Alva Williams Mr. Ronald Williams Mr. Frankie J. Williams Mr. Sam L. Knight, III Mr. Mrs. Oscar Banks Mom Janie Solomon Mrs. Cathy Winston Ms. Robin Winston Ms. Donna Winston Mr. T. P. Winston Ms. Millie Johnson Mr. Ralph Walker, Jr. Mr. James Brown Mr. and Mrs. John Huffman Ms. Delores Bland Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Blakey Mr. Dwight Blakey Ms. Charita Blakey Mrs. Marian Stewart Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lawson Rev. and Mrs. Jefferson Wright Rev. and Mrs. Edward White Carolyn R. Nicholas Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jordan Rev. and Mrs. Ausberry Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Folkes Mrs. Gwen B. Smith Sister Louise Ausberry Mr. Robert Hill Sister Ethel Dean Mrs. Amanda McCall SOUVENIR BOOK Chairman •.....•..••.... ..........••.•• •.• Mrs. Pauline Brown Publicity Chairman ......•.....•... ..•..•• Mrs. Cathy Winston Church Historian .••...•......... •......••• Mrs. Mary Fairfax Typing/Assembling .........•.•... ..•.... Mrs. Frances Sampson Mrs. Pauline Brown, Mrs. Mary Fairfax Pictures ....••...••••.. .....•...•.....• ••• Gitchell 1 s Studio Old Church Pictures ••.....•...••.• .....•...• Mrs. Helen Buck �BEST WISHES THE J.E. PLECKER CO., INC. PLECKER FLORISTS "THINK OF SOMEONE THEN CALL US" 434-8000 619 COLLICELLO ST. 2 BLOCKS WEST OF VALLEY PLAZA SHOP. CNTR. HARRISONBURG, VA. "Congratulatjons" From St. James United Methodist Church Pleasant Valley Salutes First Baptist Church on 112 Years of Community Service! Congratulations and Thanks!! 231 S. Liberty St. Harrisonburg, Va. Phone (703) 433-2702 �g~lfpepsi. t: HEAR WHBG 1360 ON YOUR. DIAL -J>UAIOAY MORIV/#68- �CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 112th ANNIVERSARY Captain Johns Seafood Market Route 33 East 434-8030 601 N. Main Street 433-11 21 Fresh Fish and Seafood Of All Kinds • nnwersa Rockingham National Bank RNB CENTER, HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA 22801 A Dominion Bankshares Bank / Member FDIC With 1 2 Locations To Serve You II �PRINTING - P ~ Wli& You.. Wa-M./ Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 7¢ XEROX Copies ~ 35 Kenmore Street Happy112th Anniversary from Blakem ore' s Flower s, Inc. 273 E. Market St. Harrisonburg, Va. Phone 434-4461 433:2s2s CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 112th ANNIVERSARY ~· THE KWIK-KOPY KID Selected Member of F. T .D. Florists The Pastor and Congregation Of Mount Paran Baptist Church Elkton, Virginia Michael A. Turner, Pastor �' A FULL SERVICE SALON 1106 RESERVOIR STREET HOURS 10-6 CLOSED MONDAY COMPLIMENTS OF FOR APPOINTMENT PHONE 434-0401 CENTRAL COCA COLA CO. 794 N. MAIN ST. HARRISONBURG, VA. �''Congratulations'' On Your 112th Anniversary Always attempting to serve you better. 234 E. Market St. 1B REALTOR~ CALL 434-7383 JESSE'S QUICK LUNCH 30 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, Va. -~"41rl~~ A Good Friend of the First Baptist Church ''Congratulations'' �COMPLIMENTS OF 'Wam Annivefllf'/l from Griffith Bag Company Watson's VALLEY MALL HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA 10-9 MONDAY thru SATURDAY 510 Waterman Drive Harrisonburg Virginia Phone 703-433-2615 RED FRONT SALUTES RALPH SAMPSON I I I ON BEHALF OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE INFLUENCE HE HAS MADE ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY! �"Compliments" GRAHAM'S SHOE SERVICE "If The Shoe Fits, Repair It" Henry B. Graham 111 N. Liberty St., Harrisonburg, Va. Phone 434-1026 Charles E. Garner 200 Arch Ave., Waynesboro, Va. Phone 943-7666 BIBLES I RELIGIOUS RECORDS • CHURCH &SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPPLIES • ART &OFFICE SUPPLIES I MUCH, MUCH MORE I 20 N. Main St., Harrisonburg, Va. Phone 433-2421 City of Harrisonburg City Cab City Bus 434-2515 • Tax Service 6 AM-12 PM • School Bus Service • Package Delivery • Transit Bus Service to Valley Mall Congratulation s on Your 112 Years �HAPPY 112th ANNIVERSARY FROM DALE WEGNER CHEVY CITY Cars & Trucks - Sales & Service Your One Stop Center For New Chevrolets ''where the customer is #1 '' 237 E. Market St., Harrisonburg Va. Dealers License #66 lcf~ H.E SHOMO RW DRECHSLER. CLU T. HARRIS SHOMO. JR W PRICE LINEWEA VER JOE B. MORTON . JR. . CPCU H. DANIEL O'DONNELL II MICHAEL A CONWAY MICHAELE. FIORE . CPCU SHIRLEY S HOLSINGER •AUTOMOBILE •HOMEOWNERS •BUSINESS INSURANCE •GROUP INSURANCE •LIFE INSURANCE •MOTORCYCLES 434- 6731 Lindsey Funeral Homes, Inc. • • • • Funeral Service 24 Hour Ambulance Cremation Service Air Conditioned Chapels Conveniently Located in Harrisonburg, Bridgewater Weyers Cave Harrisonburg 434-7318 Bridgewater 828-6901 Weyers Cave 234-9211 �"CONGRATULATIONS!! · LIGHTING CENTER, INC. FROM BILL'S MUFFLER SHOP Foreign & Domestic Custom Pipe Bending 433-9407 521 N. Main COMPLIMENTS OF Harrisonburg 11 EAST GAY STREET HARRISONBURG, VA. PHONE 434-4781 Congratulations On 112Years from Double J&J_Salvage 600 N. Main St. · Harrisonburg 433-2005 �BEST WISHES 'A w arin Welcome Awaits You At ... ' THE UPPER \\J United Yirginia Bank CUT Harrisonburg, Va. FOR MEN AND WOMEN SALON ROGER TUSING 14 NEWMAN A VE. HARRISONBURG, VA. PHONE 433-1226 Self-Service Banking Center At Main Drive-Up Location With Branch Offices Located At: 1300 S. Main St. & Rt. 33 East MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR PASTOR ON YOUR 112th ANNIVERSARY - LOUVENIA A. COVERDALE AND FLORIDA AVE. ·BAPTIST CHURCH WASHINGTON, D.C. �Congratulations Congratulations on your from 112th Anniversaay AlfredNey~ Inc. I from Downtown and Valley Mall Fine Apparel For Men and Women Highway 33 East 433-2561 For Your Building Materials COMPLIMENTS OF The way Virgi,nia banks today #VIRGINIA NATIONAL BANMi Member FDIC �CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 112th ANNIVERSARY AND THANKS FOR ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY • Valley National Dank Harrisonburg-8ridgewater, Virginia Where people come first Member FDIC ��' • � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource First Baptist Church One-Hundred-Twelfth Anniversary Booklet Subject The topic of the resource Mary Awkard Fairfax First Baptist Church Description An account of the resource First Baptist Church Anniversary booklet Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource First Baptist Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1983 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Justin L. Attas (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF1001 Church History First Baptist Church James Fairfax Mary Awkard Fairfax https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF1002_first-baptist-church-dedication-services-booklet.pdf b94550f864ed96b8207bcd21e754effa PDF Text Text • "The Church's One Foundation Is Jesus Christ Her Lord." Dedication Services For First Baptist Church ~ Harrisonburg, Virginia September 6, 1S64 3:00 P. M. OFFICIATES Rev. Thomas C. Allen, Pastor Dr. M. F. Robinson Rev. David H. Mefford �DEDICATION PROGRAM Organ Prelude Call To Worship The Invocation ----------------· ------------- Rev-. Thomas C. Allen, Pastor Hymn Of Praise (No. 244) _____ ___ The Church's One Foundation Wesley W elcome From Church ___ _________________ ___ _ Mrs. Gloria June Moore Rev. Richard Bell, John Wesley Methodist Church Greetings: Churches of Harrisonburg _______ _________ Ministerial Association Mayor of Harrisonburg, Mr. Frank C. Switzer Berean Valley Baptist Association Recognitions: Local Committee ____ George McGuire, Chm., Deacons Board Architect and Builders ------------------------------ Leon A. Awkard, Chairman of Building Committee Presentation of Keys, Mr. Charles E. Burgoyne, Contractor Dedication Hymn (No. 2L17) _______ _ I Love Thy Kingdom Lord Handel Dedication of Tithes and Offerings The Offertory The Prayer Song of Inspiration Introduction of Speaker ---------------------------- Rev. Thomas C. Allen The Dedication Sermon ---------------------------------- Dr. M. F. Robinson Pastor First Baiptist Church, Covington, Va. The Responsive Reading of Dedication __Rev. David H. Mefford, Minister, Harrisonburg Baprtist Church The Prayer of Dedication -------------------------------- Rev. Calvin Chew, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church, McGaheysville, Va. Hymn ,(No. 343) ____ ___ _ Come, We That Love The Lord-Lowry Remarks by the Pastor Closing Hymn Benediction �"HISTORICAL SKETCH" 1871 - 1964 In the year of 1871 the Baptist believers desired to build a house of worship in the town of Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Rev. "\Villiam Hill was called for this purpose, and was the church's first pastor. From his leadership and the aid of a few Baptist people a church ,vas organized. The first building was located on \Vest Market Street. In 1873 a church vvas erected on the corner of Wolfe and Mason Streets at a cost of about $850. This Church soon became too small 'for the growing congregation. In 1878, under the leadership of Dr. G. B. Howard, the old church was set hack 50 feet. A new church was erected at the cost of several thousand. Having no basement to the new edifice, the congregation then decided to use the old church building as a Hall and Lecture room. In later years a church house was built on the church property for its ministers. In the year 1963 the church was purchased by the City of Harrisonburg for the Urban Renewal Program. Ground breaking for the present church was held Sept. 17, 1963. Corner Stone was laid February 23, 1964. First Service was held July 12, 1964. Former P astors of the Church were: ... Rev. W. Hill Rev. J. vV. Howard Rev. St. Clair Drake Rev. Deskins Rev . J. W . Hasket Rev. Arthurs • Rev. Walker . Rev. G. Fox Rev. Lee Rev. T. White Rev. S. 0 . Garland Rev. J. 0. Wright Rev. Taylor Rev. 0. Simms Rev. S. Moses Rev. Jordan Rev. J. Morgan ~ -. ~~ �THE SERVICE OF DEDICATION The people standing and all joining in the responses. Pastor: To the glory of God, our Father, by whose favor we have built this house; To the honor of Jesus, the Christ, the son of the living God, our Lord and Saviour; To the praise of the Holy Spirit, source of light and life; People: We dedicate this house. Pastor: For worship in prayer and song; For the ministry of the Word; For the celebration of the Holy Sacraments; People: vVe dedicate this house. Pastor: For Comfort to those who mourn; For strength to those who are tempted; For help in right living; People: Vve dedicate this house. Pastor: For the sanctification of the family; For the guidance of childhood; For the salvation of men; People: We dedicate this house. Pastor. For aggression against evil; For fostering patriotism; For promoting civic righteousness; People: We dedicate this house. Pastor: For sympathy and fellowship with the needy; For brotherhood with all men; For the essential unity of all believers in Jesus Christ; People: We dedicate this house. l J- �Pastor: For the building of character; For the giving of hope and courage to human hearts; For the teaching of morality, temperance and justice; People: \Ve dedicate this house. Pastor: For missionary endeavor at home and abroad; For world-wide evangelism and education, till all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; For the reform of social wrongs, till all human society is transformed into a kingdom of heaven; People: We dedicate this house. Pastor: In grateful remembrance of all who have loved and served this church; with hearts tender for those ·who have fared forth from the earthly habitations; People: We dedicate this house. Pastor and People: vVe, novv, the people of this church and congregation, compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, grateful for our heritage, remembering the sacrifices of the fathers, confessing that a.part from them our work could not be made perfect, do decicate ourselves anew to the worthy \vorship of God in this place and to the constant service of God in the Christian service of men. I l �Gifts Of Memorial '\-Vindows Mr. George Terrell Mr. Leon Awkard Mrs. Hattie \ Vashington and Mrs. Margaret Rowe Mr. Hampton Sampson Mrs. Maude Carter Miss Mary F. Awkard Miss Louise VVinston Mrs. Mary Yokley Mr. Earl Harris P.F.C. Gary Martin Mr. Edward Black Mrs. Marena Flemming Board Of Deacons George McGuire, Chairman Albert Francis Hampton Sampson Ralph Sampson Allan Howard Charles Thomas James Fairfax Trustee Board Robert Fields, Sr., Chairman George Terrell Leon Awkard Percy vV ells �Church Treasurer ----------------·------------------ ·-·------ Mrs. Maude Carter Church Secretary ------------------------------------ Mrs. Marena Flemming Church Organist ------------------------------------------ Miss Mary F. Awkard President Ladies Auxiliary ______________ ____ Mrs. Hattie Washington Head Usher ------------------------------------------------------ Mrs. Inez ,vmiams Sunday School Supt. ------------------- ----------------------- Miss Elsie Martin Building Committee Mrs. Maude Carter Mr. Leon Awkard Mr. Charles Thomas Mr. Allen Howard Miss Mary Awkard Mrs. Susie Bryant Mrs. Hattie vVashington Mrs. Ruby Sampson Mr. Lester McCall �- ---- ·- ___ __,j � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource First Baptist Church Dedication Services Booklet Subject The topic of the resource First Baptist Church Description An account of the resource First Baptist Church dedication services booklet Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource First Baptist Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1964 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Justin L. Attas (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF1002 Dedication First Baptist Church Mary Awkard Fairfax https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF1003_effinger-street-and-lucy-f-simms-school-reunion.pdf fab02e76ce4d69f3c68dcb8d8a7b4c0b PDF Text Text Effinger Street School �,: �WE L C O ME Dear Teachers and Fellow Students: Welcome to our first Effinger Street/Lucy F. Simms School Reunion! We are pleased that you have come to share this new experience with us. We have worked diligently to make this reunion a success. effort was made to contact as many people as possible. Every It is our hope that this weekend will renew old friendships and bring back fond memories of our high school days. Also we want to recognize our teachers and extend to them our sincere appreciation for their dedication in molding our futures. We need your help in identifying persons and the years in our memory mate section. If you can help us, please notify anyone on the Reunion Committee. We hope that you will enjoy every minute of this gathering. Sincerely, REUNION COMMITTEE Ms. Delores Jones, Chairperson Mrs. Eileen Madden, Secretary Mrs. Betty Winkey, Assistant Secretary Mrs. Brenda Bolen, Treasurer Mr. Howard Curry Mrs. Amelia Jones Mrs. Doris Reed Mrs. Betty Martin Mr. Douglass Lewis Mr. Wilma Byrd, Jr. Mrs. Roberta Johnson Mrs. Doris Washington Mrs. Naomi Thomas Mr. Carter Bundy Mrs. Carmelita Goodwin Mrs. Elaine Milam ��THE FIRST EFFINGER STREET/LUCY F. SIMMS SCHOOL REUNION LUCY F. SIMMS SCHOOL AND BELLE MEADE RED CARPET INN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA FRIDAY - MAY 28, 1982: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. SATURDAY - MAY 29, 1982: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Registration - Lucy F. Simms School Hospitality - Lucy F. Simms School Late Registration - Lucy F. Simms School 12:30 p.m. Luncheon and Fashion Show Belle Meade Restaurant 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Banquet - Belle Meade Restaurant 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Dance - Belle Meade Restaurant SUNDAY - MAY 30, 1982: Morning Church of your choice 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Memorial Service - Newtown Cemetary Sponsored by the American Region 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Picnic - Northeast Park 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Vesper Service - Northeast Park ��all We-bb 1pe,,\.-ll. /'(\O, .,r Ro fm' . EFFINGER STRE T FACULTY - YEAR \ EFFINGER STREET FACULTY - YEAR ;( -, ; . Mr, -Soh (J th r, ollan ).... ~ti.if- w-N- P· Hatt, s 3- J.,Lss k/p/~0 \/laJKer If M,·s.s bo rufhq Da t,'er; .5, M ; SS I- Cl n i' e r .:,__.'f/:~J b. M;s_g ·1, !vl,as \ ·~... ~ ,- '. ,/fl', -~ ., ,1;. \ /..ue.,y S1mme f/ele11 <Jephas ? -- ? ��9th GRADE - YEAR 10th GRADE - YEAR / f ;t/{ ��~ ""\) {.~ " ~ ~~ { l'n ~"""'(. ~ " ,;:.. t., ~ , ...... .v.•,~•·,,'"''"",l., ~ ..,,,.,,;;;;;.~ ,xw»<«°'"'.(l f \{\\~=, ,_.J~· ·~ ~- IS , Sherm a,r, W tfJ.. s on 1,. li11drew 1em Je 11 ~e,,,.r,J ~-:ttJ /Yr ./' ;; ~ ��YEAR ? ���:.•· � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Effinger Street and Lucy F. Simms School Reunion Booklet Subject The topic of the resource Effinger Street School Lucy F. Simms School Reunion Description An account of the resource Effinger Street and Lucy F. Simms School reunion booklet Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Effinger and Lucy F. Simms School Reunion Committee Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1982 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Justin L. Attas (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF1003 Effinger Lucy Simms Mary Awkard Fairfax Reunion School https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF1041_color-photograph-of-jim-fairfax-in-a-black-suit-and.pdf ce8dac2e495a62ed3eacb67a85c156d9 PDF Text Text I, ··l ,,,z) ��� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Color Photograph of James Fairfax in a Black Suit and Tie and Mary Awkard Fairfax Subject The topic of the resource Mary Awkard Fairfax Description An account of the resource Color photograph of James Fairfax in a black suit and tie and Mary Awkard Fairfax with envelope Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Justin L. Attas (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF1041 Mary Awkard Fairfax https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection/MAF0367a_celebration-of-life-booklet-for-john-f-johnson.pdf 32a174a484778e0ab926d75464cc33eb PDF Text Text Cefebration of tlie Life of Jolin :f. Jofinson sunrise January 10, 1920 'Jim" · ·Sunset - · June 17, 2003 Saturday, June 21, 2003 9:00A.M. St. Elizabeth R. C. Church 179 Hussa Street Linden, New Jersey �Obituary John F. Johnson went to be at home with the Lord on Tuesday evening, June 17, 2003. He was born to Ethel and Wade Johnson on January 10, 1920 in Bethesda, Maryland. As a child, his family moved to Bayonne, New Jersey where he resided for many years. In 1941, he met and married his wife of61 years. He worked at Kraft Foods Company in Hillside until his retirement after which he worked odd jobs for a while. John was a lover of boxing, baseball, football and all sports. He also collected and loved jazz. He was a faithful member of St. Elizabeth's Oiurch and served on the Usher Board, the Holy Name Society and the Encounter with Christ Group. He leaves to mourn him, his wife Mae Johnson of Linden, NJ; 1 daughter, Linda Johnson of Avenel, NJ; 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 2 nephews, 1 niece and a host offriends. FILL NOT YOUR HEARTS WITH PAIN AND SORROW Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, Remember I've o Alt~ugh My going So N Becaus Under ·an1Zl"'n'l...lllm 'Tis hard to break the tender cord When love has bound the heart 'Tis hard, so hard to speak the words ''We must forever part." Dear loved one we have laid thee In thy peaceful crypts embrace But thy memory will be cherished When we see, in heaven, thy face. Lovingly and Sorrowfully, The Family i.\... 1· \ \ ,!tzorrow. ✓ he smiles rta hile. ··· 1-f and grief, 'i,en me relief 1:fer me, std to be. d/~k on with a smile 'llif!tw:tSJW~~ J .gone to rest for awhile. .flMlrlDildof each of you rts of all of you. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection Description An account of the resource The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939-2012 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebration of Life Booklet for John F. Johnson Subject The topic of the resource Friends Tribute Description An account of the resource Celebration of life booklet for John F. Johnson with location, time, and color photograph of John in a purple collared shirt with glasses. Pages 2 and 3 of the booklet for the remembrance of John F. Johnson, containing the obituary and a poem called <i>Fill Not Your Hearts With Pain and Sorrow </i> Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Linden (Nj.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Saint Elizabeth R.C. Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mary Ann Smith-Tucker Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 21 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Megan N. Medeiros (digitizer & annotator) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource records (documents) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MAF0367 Friends Tribute https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Simms School Oral Histories/Interview_with_Dr._Sheary_Johnson.pdf cce491202d52ebba1d393b47ad93e4c3 PDF Text Text Interview with Dr. Sheary Johnson Lucy F. Simms School Oral History Project Interview status: Open to the Public Name of interviewee: Dr. Sheary Johnson Name of interviewers: Emily Hernandez Alvarado and Owen Longacre Date of interview:Feb 15, 2023 Duration of interview:00:57:01 Place of interview: Simms Center Language of interview: English Interview with Dr. Sheary Johnson Owen Longacre 00:00 Alright, and so we are officially recording. My name is Owen Longacre. The date is February 15th. It is 3:29 at the start of our interview with Dr. Sheary Johnson. Dr. Johnson, do you consent to this recording and the following interview? Dr. Sheary Johnson 00:18 Yes, I do. Owen Longacre 00:20 Perfect. Then at this case, we will go ahead and get started. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 00:25 All right. Hi, my name is Emily Hernandez. It is February 15th. So today, we are here to get to know you. We weren't able to meet you our last time that we were scheduled to interview so, if you wouldn't mind just saying a little bit about yourself, a little bit of what you do, just to get to know you a little bit. Dr. Sheary Johnson 00:47 Okay. I'm Dr. Sheary Johnson. I am a retired educator who's still teaching full time--different things to different people. I'm in full-time ministry now, but I was a librarian in elementary and high school. And I've taught students who wanted to become librarians at VCU. That was my career. But now I'm full-time ministry and I'm excited to be able to share with you about some of my experiences. [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 1 �Emely Hernandez Alvarado 01:37 Okay, we're glad you're excited as well. So, can you tell us about any of your experiences from Lucy Simms? We know that you did attend eventually Harrisonburg, but we'd like to know, from what you remember what was Lucy Simms like to you? Dr. Sheary Johnson 01:55 Lucy Simms was a good place to go to school in my elementary experience. I had very good elementary teachers. They were very serious about students giving their best and giving their all. I remember learning a lot of things. But it wasn't just in the classroom that we were learning. They did a lot of what we consider extracurricular activities with us. I remember the musicals and the choir. Especially at holidays. We would do a lot of things around the holidays. Christmas, May Day. May Day was a big occasion. In fact, former students came from all around for May Day. Have you all heard of May Day? Emely Hernandez Alvarado 03:03 Yes, we did speak with Tom to learn a little bit about May Day when we did go to Lucy Simms. But if you have any personal experiences with that day, if you wouldn't mind sharing them. Dr. Sheary Johnson 03:14 Well, I liked May Day because it was a full day in the spring. We were all outside and we learned how to wrap the maypole. I liked doing that, wrapping the maypole. That was an honor because they would choose people to be able to do that. Then they'd have a lot of games and other activities and food. It was just a great day of celebration that was planned by the school for the coming of spring, for the arrival of spring. Owen Longacre 04:00 Dr. Johnson I wanted to add to that. We talked a lot about May Day when we did our research on the Simms project, using the website, but we also knew about May Day because I wanted to communicate to you did you know that the Harrisonburg City Public School's Waterman Elementary actually still celebrates May Day? Dr. Sheary Johnson 04:20 Oh, it does? Oh! Owen Longacre 04:22 Yes. And the reason I knew that was my wife is actually a second-grade teacher over at Waterman and she's been there for almost ten years, and we've always done the May Day celebration. It wasn't until we started this project that we realized that was a tradition that actually carried over from the Simms School and it was carried over by one of the teachers there, Mary Awkard. Dr. Sheary Johnson 04:47 Yes. [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 2 �Owen Longacre 04:48 When she was hired there. So there's--some of the traditions and the legacies from the Simms School are still living on in our community. Dr. Sheary Johnson 04:55 Well, that's good. Now, Miss Awkard--well, she did get married and her married name was Fairfax. Mrs. Fairfax was very instrumental in my life, not only at the Simms School but after I graduated from Madison and went to work. My first job as a librarian was at Waterman Elementary School. Owen Longacre 05:30 Oh, no kidding. Dr. Sheary Johnson 05:31 At Waterman Elementary School and Mrs. Fairfax was, I believe, the second grade teacher there. She really went from the role of being a teacher and a mentor to being a friend. She showed me how to make watermelon pickles [note: Dr. Johnson later shared that she meant to say 'cucumber pickles'], [laughs]. I used to give her rides back and forth to work after I started working at Waterman and so we became great friends. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 06:13 So along with Miss Fairfax—wait, if you don't mind, what are watermelon pickles? Dr. Sheary Johnson 06:27 What are watermelon pickles? Emely Hernandez Alvarado 06:29 Yeah. Dr. Sheary Johnson 06:30 They're pickles made out of cucumbers. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 06:33 Pickles made out of cucumbers? So it—does it go through the same process of like pickling cucumbers? Dr. Sheary Johnson 06:40 Yes. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 06:41 Okay, that sounds interesting. Along with Miss Fairfax, is there anyone that you'd say you'd have, you also had a strong relationship with at school, whether that be friends or another teacher that you could've considered a mentor? [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 3 �Dr. Sheary Johnson 06:58 Another teacher that I especially remember is Miss Barbara Blakey. Miss Blakey taught typing. She was a business teacher and she taught typing. I valued the lessons and experiences that I learned because typing helped me get through college. That's how I earned money. Because I could type—I was typing over 60 words a minute—because I could type I was able to get a job on campus at JMU, which helped give me spending money and helped make ends meet while I was on campus there. In the summertime, I used to get a job at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, using my typing skills and transcribing the doctor's notes for the records there. So, typing was very—I was so glad that I had taken that class, and that she had taught it so well, that I was able to use that skill. Owen Longacre 08:27 And just for reference, can you explain to us what ages you would have attended the Simms School? And maybe what years, if you can remember specifically when that might have been? Dr. Sheary Johnson 08:40 Well, I started Simms when I was six. I couldn't go when I was five because my birthday came after the first of October. So you had to wait another whole year to go to school. When I started school, I was six years old, and I started at Simms School. It was first grade there and then I stayed there until the 10th grade. I went to Harrisonburg High School, the 10th. I think I was about 15 when I changed schools. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 09:41 Okay, yeah. So, from the stories that you have been telling us about those two people, would you say that Simms impacted you and pushed you to pursue the career you went into today? Dr. Sheary Johnson 10:01 I would say that indirectly, they prepared me to choose the career that I chose. And the reason I say that is because, a lot of the time, I finished the work that my teachers had for us--for the class--I finished early. So they would send me to the library a lot of the time. I spent a whole lot of time in the library and I would help the librarian do different things. I guess it was during those times that I achieved the love for library work. Even when the librarian went out on pregnancy leave, they did not get a substitute for her. I carried on the work that needed to be done during that time frame. Even to the point of ordering books. That was an awesome experience, to spend the money to buy the books for the library during that time. So I had a lot of experiences there. Maybe not planned, but that turned out to be something that was of value to me. And so when I went to Harrisonburg High School, I did join the library club there. Then I, eventually, got a job as a page at the public library in downtown Harrisonburg. By then, I had quite a bit of experience with libraries and knew well that I would like to do that when I went to Madison. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 12:13 Okay. Owen Longacre 12:15 [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 4 �Mind, if I ask? You, you mentioned a couple teachers, Miss Blakey, Miss Awkard. Do you remember the name of the librarian that seemed to help maybe navigate your path a little bit? Dr. Sheary Johnson 12:30 I want to say Miss Bates. Owen Longacre 12:33 Bates? Dr. Sheary Johnson 12:34 Mm-hmm. [confirming] Owen Longacre 12:36 And, and just thinking about those three teachers, how would you describe the staff at the Simms School? And what you remember in terms of expectations and the environment that they set up for you as a student? How did, how did those teachers maybe impact the lives of their students, and what was that environment like there at the school? Dr. Sheary Johnson 13:03 The elementary and some of the high school teachers—theythey were very dedicated and had a firm hand on the students. They weren't afraid of the students at all. If if somebody needed to be corrected, they would correct them. They were very serious about children giving their best. They wanted to get the best out of the children. The expectations were high. It wasn't until I was in the high school part that I did run into some teachers who were not as focused. And unfortunately, those subjects were serious subjects. So I realized that I needed to change environments if I was going to get out of school what I needed to get out of school for my future. At that point I talked with my parents, and they decided to go to the school board and ask if we could change schools. They asked for me, if I could change schools. Then, when they granted the permission, some other parents wanted their children to change too. So there were six of us who integrated Harrisonburg High School. Owen Longacre 14:59 Do you know what year that would have been? Dr. Sheary Johnson 15:03 I graduated in '66, so that would have been probably '64. Owen Longacre 15:10 Interesting. I did not know that. So you transferred in 10th grade you said, so you possibly could have graduated from the Simms School, but you chose to go to Harrisonburg. I did not know that. Dr. Sheary Johnson 15:28 [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 5 �No, they had not integrated at the time that I graduated, but after I graduated from high school, the total integration came. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 15:43 Okay, so we know that—oh, sorry. Along with spending your time at the library, was there any other things—oh,whether it was a different class or just another activity—oh,that you enjoyed doing at Simms? Dr. Sheary Johnson 16:00 At Simms? [pause] The choir. I remember Mr. Moore was the choir director and Miss Fairfax played. She was the pianist. Owen Longacre 16:19 That's right, I remember hearing that. Dr. Sheary Johnson 16:21 Yes. We did a lot of songs, a lot of music—classical music, all genres of music—we sang. And the Christmas songs. Those stick out in my mind. In fact, that's one thing that I wish that our youth today could experience more of—those those holiday songs that we had. Of course, today they don't really sing the sacred music in schools much, but we used to do the sacred Christmas songs as well. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 17:12 So were you part of the Operettas? I know that was one of the singing groups that they had there as well. Dr. Sheary Johnson 17:20 The Operettas? I don't remember that name. But I did sing in the choir. Maybe that was something that happened later. I'm not sure. Owen Longacre 17:39 Did that choir travel around or anything? Or was that mostly within the school building? Dr. Sheary Johnson 17:44 It was mostly within the school, that particular choir. We did extra programs at night and on the weekend or something like that. But I don't remember us traveling much with the Simms choir. We traveled some with the Harrisonburg High School choir. And then I traveled in my choir with Madison. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 18:18 Alright. I know we already asked you if you had any specific friends or anything, but what I want to know is how was the environment in your classrooms? Specifically with the students there and your friends that you had? What was it like, if you remember? What was it like—like a school day? If you can run down like a school day that you had. [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 6 �Dr. Sheary Johnson 18:48 Like a school day? Emely Hernandez Alvarado 18:49 Yeah. Dr. Sheary Johnson 18:51 Oh, I can remember coming in in the morning and the first thing we'd do, of course, you would have your attendance. We would have, over the loudspeaker, we would have the Pledge of Allegiance. We used to do the Lord's Prayer. In fact, I remember there used to be a religious group that would come in and teach us Bible lessons. After a while, there was a trailer that they would bring that would be there beside the school, and then we would go out to the trailer for the Bible lessons. I don't know—it might have been something that happened as far as the change in the religion in school, and all of that, that made that change necessary for them to be able to still do what they did, but that's just a memory. That was a very valuable thing for me because even though my father's a pastor, and I've been in lots of study groups and things, I still feel like that has served me well over the years because part of that program was memorizing Bible scriptures. You memorize so many scriptures and get a prize, memorize so many more scriptures get another prize. And I kept on doing that. The highest was if you remembered 300 scriptures, you would get to go to camp for a week. So my goal was to go to camp. That was awesome. They had a great camp over near Culpeper. We would go and stay the whole week. That experience was one that happened there at the school. But anyway, you asked me what a typical day was like. After the devotional part, the teacher would collect our lunch money because we had to pay for lunch. She would collect the lunch money and then we'd go into our lessons. Like I said, the elementary teachers really had their lesson plans and their schedule that they kept and so we worked until it was time for lunch. Then after lunch—the lunches were really very good. The cooks fixed homemade meals. They were better than I've seen [phone ringing loudly in background] most school lunches today. We had homemade meals for lunch. [phone continues to ring, caller ID annoucement] We had recess, going outside and playing ball. Different ball games, like baseball, kickball, volleyball, you know— Owen Longacre 22:44 Which one of those sports did you play? Well, let's say it this way. Whenever they were picking the teams, I was the last one they would pick. [All laughing] So choir was more your speciality. Dr. Sheary Johnson 22:59 [laughing] Right. Owen Longacre 23:02 Well, you've mentioned so many things that happened outside of the building with extracurriculars. Yyou've mentioned some nightly performances from the choir. I wanted to take a moment maybe just to ask about how did the Simms School serve a role in the community at large? And was it seen as a center for the for the Newtown community? Did they have [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 7 �community events at the school? How did the school also serve the larger confines of the Harrisonburg community? Dr. Sheary Johnson 23:42 I believe the school was more like the center—it was at the center of the community. It would have the games and things. People would look forward to that and come back to that. Homecoming. I believe that people enjoyed coming back to the high school and having things. In fact, it was about the only place other than church. It was about the only place you could have something. [The only way to] have an event of any kind would be to use the school. Owen Longacre 24:33 You mentioned it's the only place. Can can you elaborate on that a little bit? Dr. Sheary Johnson 24:37 When I say the only place... When I grew up, all African Americans sort of stayed on one side of town, on the—you know where Gay Street or—well, it's still on the same side where Waterman is but it didn't go up as far as Waterman school. It didn't go past... I guess that's Main Street? It didn't go past Main Street. So the Blacks had... Whenever they did anything it was within the community. The Black community was from Gay Street going over to Johnston Street, over in that area. In that time—I don't know what's there now—but during that time, there wasn't anything in that area that you could have a function in other than a church or the school. Owen Longacre 25:59 We have spent time looking at some older maps of Harrisonburg and talking about that division. I was interested to see if that's similar to your experience and it sounds like, of course, that would be. So I want to transition, and you talked about leaving—eventually, that you did leave the Simms school, and that maybe, I wanted to ask, was it your choice and your initiative to eventually leave the Simms school in your high school years? Or was that something that was pushed from your parents? And if it was your decision, how did your parents feel about that when that went on? And how did they react to that decision? Dr. Sheary Johnson 26:44 Well, it was my choice. Something happened as far as... One of the valedictorians from the Simms school went to Virginia State and she ended up taking remedial classes before she could get into her regular classes. When when I found that out, I thought that should not have happened, in my opinion. Because if you're at the top of your class—of your high school class—you should be able to go to a college and at least go in regular classes if not classes that were extra hard. The other thing was a couple of the teachers that I had in high school at Simms allowed the students to get them off the subject and the whole period, they'd be talking about sports, basketball games, football games, and it wasn't a gym class. It wasn't a PE class. Well, that was not good. So, just a couple things were happening that let me know that I needed to go somewhere where education was treated more seriously. The other thing that I was aware of was that we didn't have new books. We would get the old books from the high school. They would get brand new books and give us the old books. Well, that meant we were studying from [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 8 �old information. Some information was probably going to be about the same, but others—like science and courses like that—the information changes and you need to have up-to-date materials. Our teachers basically did extra things for us out of their own pockets. The teachers that we had were dedicated to doing extra things for us, but as far as funds, they had to pay for it themselves. So, all of that together, I sat down with my parents and just explained to them that I thought that I needed to go somewhere else to school. So then my father and mother went to the school board and asked if I could go to the high school— [computer alert noise] Harrisonburg High. Owen Longacre 30:25 That must have been a tough decision at the time and something unique at the moment. How did your friends at the Simms School—did they have any reaction to thinking about you leaving and going somewhere else? Dr. Sheary Johnson 30:47 Well, since five of them also left at the same time, I guess they could see why I wanted to go and decided they wanted to go as well. Or their parents decided. I don't know exactly how it was with them—who actually made the decision—but I'm sure that the student was involved in the decision making. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 31:30 So once you got to Harrisonburg, were the changes that you were expecting noticeable? How were the teachers different or students different from Simms? Dr. Sheary Johnson 31:42 I would say the changes were noticeable [laughs]. The subject matter was a lot harder. The demands for learning—I was in the college bound classes—the demands were a lot stiffer. But I needed that. I needed to be ready to move forward academically. So it was worthwhile doing. Owen Longacre 32:19 You seem like a very motivated person, very self-guided in a way. Did the other five classmates that came with you, did you feel like they had similar experiences at Harrisonburg? Or, was your experience similar in any ways? Or did you feel like maybe everybody had a different experience? Dr. Sheary Johnson 32:41 I found out years later—many years later—that their experiences were not remembered as fondly as I remembered mine. I kind of moved in a different track, so to speak, by being in college bound classes, by being in the operettas and the extra... The kinds of things that I was involved in were different from the ones they were involved in. They were moving in another path. And, unfortunately, they had some experiences that were negative. And [both speaking—unclear] Emely Hernandez Alvarado 33:36 [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 9 �Sorry. Dr. Sheary Johnson 33:38 So that meant their memories were not as fond as my mine were of my time there. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 33:47 So, could you say, from your experiences, did you feel comfortable attending Harrisonburg? Did you have any negative experiences going there? Dr. Sheary Johnson 34:05 I really don't remember any that were that negative beyond... Well, everybody's not going to want to be your friend anyway. That's kind of the way I look at it. Even if I were in an all-Black environment, everybody's not going to want to be your friend. So when that happened in a white environment, you know, people think differently. However they think, that's the way they think. But then there were enough other people who welcomed me and befriended me that it really didn't matter. Owen Longacre 35:01 Can you describe what some of those circles were like where you felt the most comfortable in? Were there any particular teachers in Harrisonburg, or were you able to join the choir at the new Harrisonburg High School, or what are maybe some of your fondest memories of of your time there? Dr. Sheary Johnson 35:19 I did join the choir there. Miss Hackman was the choir director. The music was definitely one of the good memories that I still remember and reflect on. Again, the Christmas music and all of the extra activities that the choir had. I was in a special touring group with that choir. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 36:01 Along with joining choir again, were there any other groups you might have been part of whether it was like another club or maybe even just other friends that you shared experiences there with? Dr. Sheary Johnson 36:17 Other than music and the library club and—that was about it. [laughs] Emely Hernandez Alvarado 36:30 So in the end, did you like attending Harrisonburg? Dr. Sheary Johnson 36:35 Yes. It was a long walk, but it was worth it. I walked all the way from where Simms School is, in that community, all the way over to Harrisonburg High School, and that's not a short walk. Have you walked that far? Have you been between the two places? [laughing] [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 10 �Emely Hernandez Alvarado 37:03 I don't think I have. Owen Longacre 37:05 The previous school, not where Harrisonburg would currently be, but where I guess... It's now called Memorial Hall over at JMU. Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:14 Oh, okay. Owen Longacre 37:15 I believe that's the building we're talking about. Is that correct? Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:20 It wasn't the new building. They built another high school. Owen Longacre 37:27 Right. Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:28 That was Harrisonburg High School. The one that I graduated from was the old Harrisonburg High School. Owen Longacre 37:36 Right. I think it's called Memorial Hall now. Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:40 Okay. Owen Longacre 37:41 Just for reference for them and it's funny we're talking about that because they're now building a new new high school in Harrisonburg. Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:50 And where are they building that? Owen Longacre 37:52 It is on the south side of the city, and they're calling it Rocktown High. Dr. Sheary Johnson 37:58 Rocktown? Owen Longacre 37:59 [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 11 �Yeah. That was the name they came up with and it is slated to be finished, I believe in the fall of 2024. So they're in the process of building it, but the city is continuing to grow. Dr. Sheary Johnson 38:12 Alright. Owen Longacre 38:14 So we we know that eventually when you graduated Harrisonburg, you went on to enroll at James Madison University. Did, did that process happen immediately? And how did you—can you describe your process of how you ended up at JMU? And what that was like? Dr. Sheary Johnson 38:35 Since I wanted to be a librarian, I started looking for schools that had the library science program. In Virginia, Madison had it, Longwood, and Virginia State had the program. Of course, being from Harrisonburg, Madison was closest to me. So that's where I decided I'd like to go. I filled out the application for early admission, or at least for them to decide that I could come there. So in December of my senior year, I did receive my early acceptance to go to Madison and I went there. I graduated [high school] in in June of '66 and then in August, I went to Madison. Owen Longacre 39:56 Can you describe any of your emotions that you were feeling when you walked on campus for the first time and saw yourself as a college student there. Dr. Sheary Johnson 40:09 Ah, well, it's a large place. Not as large as it is now. [laughs] To me, walking on—it's a beautiful campus. I enjoyed just walking around around the campus, especially at sunset. It's a beautiful campus. I enjoyed being there. The teachers, the faculty there, were very supportive. They always had an open door. Whenever I wanted to go and discuss my work or anything, if I was having any issues or what have you. They were always willing to listen and give support. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 41:13 So, where was the change from being a librarian to studying to become a doctor [get a doctorate]? Was there anything or anyone that influenced you to change into that career? Dr. Sheary Johnson 41:29 Well, when I went for school to get my doctorate, I chose to go to the University of Virginia because of the technology. When I decided to go back to school to get my doctorate, I had gone through Madison. We'd had some AV classes, a couple of AV classes, but the schools were beginning to do more and more with technology. So I went to University of Virginia, because they had a degree in technology and I always wanted to work on a degree. I felt like, just to go and take courses, without being in a planned program, you would end up with just a lot of hours, but I wanted the most that I could get from the hours. And that could only happen if you were in a planned program. It was an extension of my job because as the library media specialist at [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 12 �Hopewell High School, I was in charge of the technology for the school. It was all in line with with my job that I had. [pause] I was not only interested in the technology, but how to combine the technology with learning. So, the fact that you had media—how was I going to help the teachers merge the media and the actual lesson plans together? That's what I was focusing on. Owen Longacre 43:49 So it sounds to me like in the years after Simms School, between going to Harrisburg and James Madison, that you did stay local in the Harrisonburg community for a fair amount of time. Was there a point that you then moved away? And do you currently live in Harrisonburg, or I [unclear] from the beginning of our meeting that you don't live locally anymore. Dr. Sheary Johnson 44:13 No. I worked at Waterman Elementary School for 10 years, and I was happy there and enjoyed it. My husband graduated from Madison in '74. Owen Longacre 44:29 Okay. Dr. Sheary Johnson 44:29 And he was not able to get the kind of job that he wanted to have, making the kind of money that he wanted to have as a family man. So he decided to come to Richmond and look for a job. And so he came to Richmond and he found a job, and I told him, well, I didn't want to move unless I had a job. Then I came to Richmond and spent a few days looking but didn't find anything right away. I went back home to Harrisonburg and received a call from Hopewell High School asking if I would come and work there as the head librarian. So, I did go to get a job at Hopewell High School. That fall in the fall of '78 we moved from Harrisonburg to Richmond, Virginia. And we've been here ever since. Owen Longacre 45:57 Thank you for explaining. The reason I was asking was, we know that the Simms School of course shut down in '66. That was a part of the desegregation process. I'm interested, in the years after that, I know you had already left and gone to Harrisonburg, but did you have any experience with how the closing of the Simms School might have impacted the community? We mentioned earlier that it was kind of maybe the heart or the center of that community. When that building in that place shut down, how did that impact everyone else who still, of course, was going to other schools, but not having that particular place? Did you have any experience with how that that might have had an impact? Dr. Sheary Johnson 46:47 Well, since a lot of things happened there, beyond the classroom experience, I think it had a very big impact on the community not having Simms School there, because for a long time it was closed. So that cut out the more cultural side of the community. If people wanted to do something, they needed to go outside of the community. Then you had problems with transportation and knowing what to do, where to go, all of that. Then those things became [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 13 �barriers. When people don't have positive things to do, then your crime rises, your—other negative things rise. And the community has changed a whole lot. Of course, I'm looking at it from visiting, not as from living there, now. But just visiting, I can see that a whole lot has changed. Owen Longacre 48:31 We've discussed a lot in our class about some of the unintended consequences of desegregation, and how there's always two sides to every story. I was interested, maybe if you could continue to elaborate maybe on what your opinion is about the fact that when the Simms School shut down, that it had maybe some of those unintended consequences, and— Dr. Sheary Johnson 48:57 I think it did, too, especially for Black children. Because when when they went to white schools, they no longer saw Black role models. Owen Longacre 49:10 Right. Dr. Sheary Johnson 49:11 At the high school—not like they did at Simms School—they didn't see Black role models. They also missed out on that person who really pushed them to do their best. It means a lot when an adult will push you to do your best. Children just kind of want to get by sometimes, and they don't really need to get by, they need to go on and do their best. But, there has to be somebody who is pushing them whether it's their mother, grandmother, teacher—somebody to do the pushing, because you've got to get that good talent that's inside of those individuals to come out. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 50:25 So once you went to Hopewell High School, did you feel the need to become that person for the students there? Did you make it a goal to push those students as well from the new school? Dr. Sheary Johnson 50:40 Yes, I did. And I still do that now. I'm a pusher. I'm a person who tries to encourage—motivate—others to reach their goals. Owen Longacre 51:00 Is it fair to say that, that might have been something instilled in you from your interaction with some of the teachers at the Simms School, even from your earliest days? Dr. Sheary Johnson 51:10 Yes, I believe I picked that up from them—from their spirit, the way they did things. The way they involved us. I have utilized that in my programs here in Richmond. I have a nonprofit, Better People Incorporated, in which I take inner-city children, and involve them in activities that [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 14 �they don't normally have, such as going to concerts, plays, going different places that they don't normally get to go, and meeting people. I think I picked that up from them as well. Emely Hernandez Alvarado 52:19 Including your nonprofit, is there anything else that you went on to do after JMU? Dr. Sheary Johnson 52:33 Well, I'm very active in church. When I left VCU full-time ministry, I kind of just focused on our local church. I'm also active at the state level and at the national level in our church. So I've just been busy doing those kinds of things and encouraging people in the community and working with individuals, as best I can. Owen Longacre 53:25 Well, we—we're getting close to the end in terms of our pre-created questions, but we've been, this has been wonderful kind of getting to know you and your story. A lot of what you said is near and dear to my heart as my wife is an educator and my mother is a librarian. So— Dr. Sheary Johnson 53:41 Oh, ok! Is she still a librarian? Owen Longacre 53:44 I kind of—and as a teacher myself. Dr. Sheary Johnson 53:47 Is just still working or is she retired? Owen Longacre 53:49 She just recently retired. She's about seventy years old now, so she's been retired for a few years, but—so I kind of grew up in that environment as well. I spent many days sitting around waiting for mom to finish up work and just reading a book and all that so—so I relate to a lot of what you've been talking about. So, as we come to a close, I just wanted to offer—was there anything else specific to the Simms School that you feel like we didn't get a chance to talk about in terms of memories of classmates or teachers or any special events? I know we've had a chance to talk about a lot of it, but wanted to offer if you had any final remarks or ideas that you feel like we might not have gotten a chance to get to. Dr. Sheary Johnson 54:41 Well, I know that at Simms School, children were bussed from all around the county, all around Harrisonburg to Simms School and some of them rode the bus for about an hour in the morning before getting to school, then have an hour to get back home. I just—I value, the fact that I did live in the city, and I could walk to school and be there in fifteen minutes and get home in fifteen minutes, but it was, it was a good experience for me up until the time I decided that I needed to do something different for academic reasons. To me that those are two different things, to have a nice environment, but academically, I needed more, and therefore I needed to be in another [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 15 �environment. And I'm glad to know that now that they are doing some things at Simms, community-wise, they're doing some things. That gives some positive activity in the community for the children to go to as they need to. Although I haven't seen it in operation, but I understand there is something going on there now. Owen Longacre 56:39 Oh, absolutely. Did you have any other questions? Emely Hernandez Alvarado 56:43 No, I think I got pretty much all the ones I wanted answered and heard way more than I was expecting to. Owen Longacre 56:49 Yeah. Dr. Sheary Johnson 56:50 Good. Owen Longacre 56:51 I'm going to go ahead and stop our recording. [Dr. Sheary Johnson – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 16 � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview with Dr. Sheary Johnson https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Simms School Oral Histories/Interview_with_Lowell_Toliver.pdf 1a20a6388b9e24291da59b62589f4afa PDF Text Text Interview with Lowell Toliver Lucy F. Simms School Oral History Project Interview status: Open to the Public Name of interviewee: Lowell Toliver Name of interviewers: Avery Chandler, Owen Longacre Date of interview: Feb 16, 2023 Duration of interview: 01:11:10 Place of interview: Google Voice Language of interview: English Interview with Lowell Toliver Google Voice Notification 00:00 This call is now being recorded. Avery Chandler 00:05 Mr. Toliver, do you consent to this recording and give us permission to interview you today? Lowell Toliver 00:12 Yes, I do. Avery Chandler 00:13 Awesome. And for recording purposes, my name is Avery Chandler. I will be interviewing you Mr. Lowell Toliver. Today is February 16, 2023. And we are interviewing in SHS [Spotswood High School]. All right, Mr. Toliver. I know you graduated from the Simms school, but what years did you attend the school, begin your elementary years, and when you graduated? Lowell Toliver 00:42 Whoa. You know, I was afraid you were going to ask that [laughs]. Let me see. I've got to do a little multiplying. I graduated in '52. And so why don't we say 1941 I started. Avery Chandler 01:07 Yeah. Lowell Toliver 01:07 Okay? [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 1 �Avery Chandler 01:08 Yeah, that's about 11 years. Lowell Toliver 01:10 Because yeah, okay. 1941 I started in in the first grade with Miss Jean Francis. Avery Chandler 01:20 Jean Francis, that was your first grade teacher? Lowell Toliver 01:23 That was my first grade teacher. Now, I'm not too sure whether she was kindergarten, too. But that was the first class that I attended with her. And that was in 1941. Avery Chandler 01:36 1941. Lowell Toliver 01:38 Incidentally, you know, World War II was going on then. Avery Chandler 01:42 Yes. Lowell Toliver 01:44 Okay. Avery Chandler 01:46 What was your experience like at the Lucy Simms School? Could you tell us a little bit about that? Lowell Toliver 01:53 For all the years? Avery Chandler 01:56 Yes. Your whole experience throughout your time at the Simms School. Lowell Toliver 02:00 I think it was really okay. It could have been better, but during those times, you know, it wasn't going to get any better. So we just had to make do with what we had. Avery Chandler 02:15 Would you like to elaborate on what you mean by "okay?" What are some details about what made the experience "okay." [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 2 �Lowell Toliver 02:27 I guess I got the basic foundations of education, because we had to multiply, subtract, and do the general work from first to second grade. Avery Chandler 02:56 And what was your average school day like? Besides all the curriculum and what you were learning? Lowell Toliver 03:03 You're taking a big bite at the apple here because you said average school day.You're talking about from kindergarten to high school? Avery Chandler 03:13 Your early years. We'll be talking about your early years. Lowell Toliver 03:15 So we stick with the early years now. Avery Chandler 03:18 Yeah. Lowell Toliver 03:18 Okay, well, first of all, I would get up in the morning. We would have breakfast. And I had to walk to school, which was around about maybe a mile, a mile and a half away. And we had no snow days. Avery Chandler 03:34 [laughs] So you didn't get that free day off of school, like we do? Lowell Toliver 03:42 No, and I didn't get a free ride to school [laughs]. I was walking, you know, patting and turning. That's the old term that they used to use. Anyway. By the time we got to school, in the first grade, there was tables set up. Miss Jean Francis would teach us different colors and nursery rhymes and things like that. And we would be in there until about three o'clock in the evening. And then we'd go back home. And that would be the end of the school day. Avery Chandler 04:28 And what time did the school day end? Around three o'clock like we do now? Yeah, it started at nine o'clock and it was over with at three. And we had an hour for lunch. During those days, you would bring your lunch. You'd fix a bag lunch at home. In the first and second grade, you wasn't old enough to go to the cafeteria. Did you have a favorite lunch went that you brought to school? Lowell Toliver 05:12 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 3 �Well, whatever my mother and father fixed for me, that's what I ate. No, I didn't have a favorite lunch. Avery Chandler 05:21 Okay. Do you recall what street you grew up on? Lowell Toliver 05:26 I recall two streets that I grew up on. Rock Street and Mason Street, which are the main streets. It was during the redevelopment period. Well, the streets are there, but the houses are not there. I know you're not familiar with Harrisonburg, but on Mason Street, where my house was, an Advanced [Auto Parts] store is there now. And there's a big rock. And that was in our basement. And I think around the corner is the fire department, the new Hose Company No. 4. And on Rock Street, which was 160 Rock Street, which was around maybe five or six houses, and across the street was an open field and that field was where a [chicken feed] bag company eventually built a store or a cleaning facility for bags. Avery Chandler 05:26 I do recall the streets, Rock and Mason. My dad actually works at Hose Company No. 4 in downtown Harrisonburg. He's the captain for the Harrisburg Fire Department. So I just made that little connection between the two, which I thought was pretty cool. Lowell Toliver 06:01 It was downtown. Was he in the new department or the old department? Avery Chandler 07:12 Well, he currently works for them. So it's the new House Company No. 4. Lowell Toliver 07:14 Okay, because No. 4 was located on Wolf street. No, it wasn't Wolf Street. It was the next street over where the post office was. And they were down there Hose Company No. 4. But during the redevelopment, almost all of the county government's offices were built in places where the new Hose Company is now, which is on Rock street. Avery Chandler 08:00 So back to the Simms School. How were the teachers in your early years at the elementary school? Lowell Toliver 08:07 Well, I can remember two teachers and what I'd learned under them. Miss Jean Francis, who I probably learned my colors from. And then there was another teacher called Ruth Hollins. She had third, fourth, and fifth grade. And boy, did she have a job [laughs]. In the first grade, we had tables, and the teacher could set up the tables in any way that she wanted to. But with the third, fourth, and fifth grades, there were desks lined up for three rows. Now don't ask me what would happen if there was more people than there was desks in a row. I'm still trying to figure that one [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 4 �out as I got older [laughs], but fortunately, it wasn't enough to fill up. I think it was about nine desks in a row. And it was three rows or that was third, fourth, and fifth grade which Ruth Hollins taught. She actually taught us how to read, write, and sentences, multiply, subtrack, everything. That's where I basically got the learning of the basic foundation. Avery Chandler 09:31 And could you say that Miss Hollins was one of your most influential teachers in your years at the Simms school? Lowell Toliver 09:39 She was. No questions asked. Avery Chandler 09:45 So, she definitely made a significant impact on your experience there? Lowell Toliver 09:51 She took time to understand each individual kid. Now maybe because we had a small class she could afford to do that. But she made sure when you walked out of there every day you learned something, if it wasn't anymore than how to tie up your shoes [laughs]. Avery Chandler 10:19 So as you got older, you obviously moved up in grades. And what was the dynamic like between the high school students and the younger elementary school students? Because I know you guys were all in the same building. Lowell Toliver 10:31 Yeah, well, when you said high school, you mean what grades? Avery Chandler 10:36 The grades would have been 9 to 12? 8 to 12? Lowell Toliver 10:47 All right. Our junior high was sixth and seventh. And then our high school was eight, nine... Wait a minute, I got that wrong. Seventh and eighth was junior high, which was still on the elementary level of the school. We didn't move upstairs until eight, nine, ten, and eleventh. There was only three high school grades now. So seventh and eighth were still on the elementary level. Nine, ten, and eleven was what were considered high school. Avery Chandler 11:42 Okay, and when you were a younger student, what do you remember about the high school students? Did you ever interact with them whatsoever? Or did you guys stay to your separate ways since you were on different floors? Lowell Toliver 12:01 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 5 �If you was in high school, you didn't have anything to do with the elementary. Anybody that was on the first floor [laughs]. I'll put it like that. Because actually, high school was considered a second floor. It was only two floors in the school. So, it was the top level. Avery Chandler 12:28 Did you have a younger or older sibling that attended the Simms School alongside you? Lowell Toliver 12:33 I had a younger sibling, which was a brother. He came along about three years behind me. Everything completely changed. I think they had more studies and more educational work. Avery Chandler 13:04 Go ahead. Lowell Toliver 13:05 No, go ahead. Avery Chandler 13:07 So they got a little more curriculum and a little more education than you guys did, persay? Lowell Toliver 13:14 Oh, my older brother and sister were about four years ahead of me. When they graduated from Simms, it was the place to be then because they were coming from Effinger Street School. And it was altogether different to have a school of their own. A modern school, I'll put it like that. Avery Chandler 13:49 So do you remember your relationship with your older and younger siblings? Were you guys close? Lowell Toliver 13:56 Oh yeah. We was all close because we lived in the same house and we was a close knit family. And if my younger siblings didn't do what we were supposed to do, then my oldest siblings was right there to make sure we did it. Avery Chandler 14:22 And how did your school day and experience change as you got older and moved up in grade levels? Lowell Toliver 14:38 I'll say there was more book work. But we would have books that we would work out. Like the third, fourth, and fifth grade, Miss Hollins had books. And she would stay strictly on those pages. So we learned what she had down for the year. In the beginning of the year, we had used books. Half of the pages are gone. They were all marked up and everything. But eventually, by the time we got to the fifth grade, we was getting new books straight from the press. And we [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 6 �would have to buy those books, and then we'd have to sell them to the next grade for half of the price that we paid for them. But they had all the pages in them. Avery Chandler 15:49 So what were some of your fondest memories of Simms School? Lowell Toliver 15:56 Memorial Day. Because that was the day we got out of school the next day. Avery Chandler 16:05 Did you say Memorial Day? Lowell Toliver 16:07 Yes. We got out for the summer. Avery Chandler 16:11 Yes. Lowell Toliver 16:13 Yeah, we got out Memorial Day and then we didn't go back until after Labor Day. And I guess that was because you were needed around the house or whatever to do little odd jobs like. You didn't go up until July or August or anything. Avery Chandler 16:48 Do you recall any celebrations or extra curricular activities that you've enjoyed at the Simms school? Lowell Toliver 16:58 All the way through elementary, we had what you call operettas, which was plays that the teachers would practice. Each student had a talking part and we had costumes. And I never will forget it. The costumes were made out of crepe paper. Crepe paper. If you can imagine that. And they were all hand sewn by a lady called Miss Goodell. And she did all of this on the crepe paper. And you would have to go to her house and be fitted. And you never put on that costume until the day of the play. And that was it. And for half the kids, the paper would tear and they would be crying and it was a grand mess [laughs]. Avery Chandler 17:57 So what did you say that play was called? What is this? Lowell Toliver 18:00 It was an operetta that we had every year. I think this is the only place that they had it was in black schools. Because we actually learn how to sing "Lift Every Voice," and sing. And we had operettas at the end of the school year for all the elementary grades. And they all participated in it. And that was a big thing. That was almost equal to our May Day. [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 7 �Avery Chandler 18:39 So what can you tell me about May Day? I know you mentioned in our previous interview that you enjoyed it but what's a little more about your experience with May Day and details that you remember? Lowell Toliver 18:49 You know, I don't remember a whole lot about May Day. Because our operetta probably took the place of May Day. The older kids in high school would probably do a May Day program which would last for about 25 to 30 minutes. It was just wrapping a band around around the flagpole. That was our May Day celebration. Avery Chandler 19:26 And you really are talking about that play. Did that celebration and activity unite you guys as students? Lowell Toliver 19:40 In those days, our whole community, now it's called Northeast, was called the colored section of town, and everybody sort of stuck together. They worked together. Nobody needed anything. You never saw kids walking around hungry. Somebody was always feeding them or somebody took you in and bought you used clothes or something. It was a tight knit community. Avery Chandler 20:23 So that community: what impact did that make on you? What do you recall from your experiences living in that community? Lowell Toliver 20:33 Well, I could go to anybody's house and ask for help, if I needed help. I just felt safe in that community, because everybody knew everybody, and everybody looked out for everybody. And we all communicated and played together. Avery Chandler 20:59 So you guys were very close as a community, not just as a school, but as a community as well? Lowell Toliver 21:05 In that part of town, yes, it was. We were all together. That was the only thing we could do. We couldn't go anywhere else. So we had to stay in that community and the older generation would have unorganized baseball games. And then we had a lot of talent programs. Talent shows that the whole community would take part in. And then we had a strong religious community. Because we had two churches, the Baptist and the Methodist. And you belonged to one of the two churches. Avery Chandler 22:03 Which church did you belong to and attend? [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 8 �Lowell Toliver 22:06 I belonged to the Methodist, John Wesley, which was on Liberty Street. Which there again, we had to walk to it down around the Court Square. I think the Wetsel Seed Company has a restaurant or something there now. The church had special programs where you had to go in the evenings to them. And they would have Bible study during the summer. And we used to go on day trips on the train from Depot Hill to Linville and have a cookout, a lawn party. And then have a picnic. That was one of the big things that we did during the summer was go to summer Bible school. Avery Chandler 23:14 What were these picnics like with your church? Like what food did you guys serve? What activities did you guys work with? Lowell Toliver 23:22 Well, there was always three or four chaperones. We had picnic baskets that each family would fix for their kids. You would get off the train, and you probably have to walk maybe about two miles down the road to the area where we would have picnics set up. You would sit out there and eat and dance and sing and play ball. Whatever kids would do when they were out like that. Avery Chandler 24:04 I've heard you mentioned baseball a few times. Were you able to play any sports when you were younger? Lowell Toliver 24:12 Yes. We had a basketball team. And that was about the only sport that we really could participate in because our the coach was also a teacher. And he was also an instructor for the shop. He would coach part time, do shop part time, and was also the health instructor. So everybody had part time jobs. I don't think of any teacher that had a single job. They always had combination of jobs. We had the basketball team. That was really an outlet for our high school days, because you were like the upper class. Everybody looked up to you. And especially if you had a home game. But then we had to travel. We would leave school, say on Thursday, and have games on Thursday and Friday. Maybe in Richmond, Lynchburg, Clifton Forge, and then back around. We would be gone for about two or three days. And we would go in the coach's car, and one other car, whoever the other driver would be. And we would miss school those two days. And I don't know how much they paid the coaches to travel that distance, but they seemed to enjoy it. But then we would stay in private homes. And by the time we got back on Saturday morning, all of the parents was looking for us. And we had to tell them what kind of experience that we had. And believe me, it wasn't any experience. You would eat in the school cafeteria. And from the cafeteria, you go upstairs and practice and then you have a game. And then whoever you was staying with would be right there to pick you up to take you to their house. And you spent the night twisting and turning. You didn't know what the heck to expect, you know. We was always glad to get back on the road the next morning to go somewhere else. [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 9 �Avery Chandler 27:13 Was it uncomfortable or awkward for you to stay in people's private homes while you were away traveling for games? Lowell Toliver 27:19 Uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. But then those days you couldn't stay nowhere else. Avery Chandler 27:31 Did the people who took you in nice? Were they very accepting? Lowell Toliver 27:35 They were really a friendly bunch of people. And to this day a lot of us (I guess all of my contacts are dead) kept in touch with people during the years. And whenever we'd go to someplace like Richmond or Roanoke we'd always look them up and we always felt welcome. Avery Chandler 28:07 Were you any good at basketball? Or was it just really fun for you to play? Lowell Toliver 28:11 You know I was good [laughs]! The only problem was I just didn't make it into the NBA [laughs]. Average. Incidentally, there should be a picture there at Simms hanging on the wall somewheres of our team. And I was in the picture. Incidently, I was number 30. And it's been published quite a few times [unclear]. Avery Chandler 28:52 What position did you play when you played basketball? Lowell Toliver 28:56 I was a guard. And, actually, we didn't have any set positions because you just played wherever you got the ball at the time. We had set plays, but we didn't stick to them. You have to remember we were high school kids, 15, 16, 17 years old. Basketball was entirely different than what it is now. Our whole gym would be half court to what a professional court is right now in the NBA. And believe me, we had one of the better gyms in the whole valley. [unclear] compared to Charlottesville, because they played in a little building outside. And Waynesboro, I can't remember what kind of building it was. But all our activities was within the school itself. Avery Chandler 30:25 And what was that gym and facility like? What do you remember? What do you remember hearing in the gym? seeing in the gym? Lowell Toliver 30:34 I can remember trying to figure out why they put the baskteball backboard so close to the wall and not have pads. We had radiators in front of the basket backboard. And if you run into it? You'd hit a brick wall. I mean, it was just one of those things where they had some space and [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 10 �they said, 'Oh, we'll make this a gym, an auditorium,' and whatever else they need it for. It wasn't made for a gym, as gyms are today. But we learned how to use what we had and we was very happy that we had what we had, because there were places down the road that didn't even have a school. I know in Luray, Virginia, they played basketball outside, on the side of the hill on dirt. That was their court. So we were really fortunate to have something like that. And we appreciated it. Avery Chandler 32:02 Do you remember playing with Don Burgess? Lowell Toliver 32:06 Whoa. No. [Laughter.] Now, you're talking about maybe 40 years difference. Oh, incidentally, bring it back when you said I remember playing with Don Burgess. No, I don't. He was much younger than me. We had to contend with World War II veterans that came back that did not finish high school. And they could come back and get their, I was going to say college, their high school diploma after they had served in World War II. So we had a few of the older players that were veterans. I mean, they were men returning from World War II. And they played basketball with us. So whenever they would come in, men older and more worldly individuals, then they usually took over the gym. And they played much better than the younger kids. Avery Chandler 33:25 So were they intimidating, those veterans that came in there looking all muscular? Lowell Toliver 33:31 You know, I can't ever remember them. They played with us on the home games. But if we had anything like a tournament, they didn't play. I'm trying to figure it out. I can't figure it out so I'm not going to try to. So they had to be at least three or four years older than the ones that were there. Well, I graduated when I was 17. And I left Harrisonburg at 17 and a half. I went into the military. You didn't hang around after you got out of high school because we couldn't. Well, if I wanted to go, the only place I could go to was Virginia State and Elizabeth City. Our superintendent [William Hampton] Keister had worked a deal out with those two colleges, that they would accept students from Simms into their college program. Any other college, any other HBCU, you had to go to school for a whole year to get a high school diploma, because our eleven grades wasn't a high school education. Avery Chandler 35:16 So you said you graduated in 1952. After that you did join the military. I remember you saying that. But what were your years like after attending the Simms School and after you graduated? Lowell Toliver 35:27 I graduated in '52. I left in '52. I went in the military in '52. I didn't have any downtime in Harrisonburg after I graduated. Avery Chandler 35:44 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 11 �So you went straight to war. I believe you said you fought in the Korean War, correct? Lowell Toliver 35:49 Correct. Incidentally, my parents had to sign for me to go in. Well, the majority of the kids that graduated then, and when I say the majority, we had a real large graduating class, which was six. Did you hear me? Avery Chandler 36:13 No, say that again. Lowell Toliver 36:15 We had a large class that graduated that year. It was six. Avery Chandler 36:21 Oh! So, you only graduated with six people? With five other people, I guess. Lowell Toliver 36:27 [Laughs]. It's been a long time, you know, getting there, but once I graduated and got my diploma and whatever, my mother and father signed for me to join the military. So I joined the military and after three years and two days in the military, I got out. But before I went to the military, you couldn't get a job in Harrisonburg. You almost had to wait until somebody died to get a job. And that would be like as a porter at one of the hotels, or a waiter, or a chauffeur. And that that was it. That was it. So there wasn't any vacancies around for young black kids other than the military. And then the military wasn't the best place in the world either because it wasn't too easy there [laughter]. Avery Chandler 37:50 What was your experience like in the military? Lowell Toliver 37:54 Well, like I said, I went to a joint, I went to Alexander. I got on a Greyhound bus in Harrisonburg on Wolfe Street, and went to get my physical and to be inducted in the army in Alexander, Virginia. From Alexander, Virginia, I went to Fort Meade, Arkansas, Fort Meade, Maryland. And I was there long enough to get a suit of clothes and on a plane the next night to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. I'd never even knew it was in Arkansas. And it was cold. And I called my mother and father. I never will forget it and I said, "Daddy, I want to come home." "There's nothing I can do for you boy. You got it, you asked for it and you got it." Then I had about 12 weeks of training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and I got orders to go to FECON [Far East Command, U.S. Deptartment of Defense]. I didn't know what FECON was. And I'm in Camp Chaffee. What's the name of the town in Arkansas? Anyway, I got a plane ticket. They gave me a plane ticket back and said, "So, where do you want to go to?" And being from Harrisonburg, the closest big town that I knew was Charleston, Charles Town, West Virginia. And that was close to Washington. So I knew I could get transportation. I'd have my brother, sister, somebody pick me up in Charleston, Charles Town. So I said Charles Town, and they wrote the ticket down Charleston, [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 12 �West Virginia. Do you know how far Charleston, West Virginia is from Charles Town? From Harrisonburg? Avery Chandler 40:08 No. About how long is it? Lowell Toliver 40:09 Oh, it's a long ways. I got home. I had a four day delay enroute on the troop train. I was at home and said hello, goodbye, and showed him my uniform. And it was a guy going back to Fort Lee, Virginia. And he dropped me off at a nice little airport. And I flew to St. Louis and caught the troop train and from there to Fort Lewis, Washington. And Fort Lewis, Washington. I found out FECON was in the Far East. And there was 150 of us in the unit. And 149 went to FECON, and one went to Camp Lee, Virginia. Oh, man, I wanted to go there so bad. But anyway, ended up in Fort Lewis, Washington, stayed there for about a day and got on the ship and off to Korea. Was on the boat for 22 days going over and went to.... Stopped in Japan and then to Inchon, [South] Korea. And that was it. Owen Longacre 41:32 Mr. Toliver, this is Mr. Longacre again, I wanted to just pop in for a question. It sounds like you had quite a life and a career in between your graduation from the Simms School and when it actually closed in 1966. And I just wanted to ask, I know it was 14 years apart, but when the Simms School officially closed, even though you might not have lived in Harrisonburg, did you have any parents or family in the area? And do you remember any reactions to the Simms School closing and maybe what that meant for the surrounding community, even though you might not have been living there yourself? Lowell Toliver 42:15 I may have this all wrong. But I'm thinking the closing of the Simms School and the redevelopment was all at the same time. Owen Longacre 42:24 You're correct, it was. Lowell Toliver 42:27 And that was, excuse the expression, that was a shock to the black neighborhood. Because I remember, very few people in the black community knew what was going on then. There was only a couple of people. And the majority of the blacks didn't know what was going on with this redevelopment, because we had just built... Well, the house was around about maybe 10 to 15 years old. And my mother and father scraped and begged and worked and built that and we had a comfortable house that we lived in on Mason Street. And then when I came back and they said, well, they have redevelopment. They had torn down all the old parts. Well, they said.... How did they put that? "The blighted area of Harrisonburg." And our house wasn't blighted. It was probably one of the newest built houses in that whole neighborhood. But they didn't have any choice. They voted it [unclear] eminent domain. And that meant you either took what they [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 13 �was going to give you or you was gonna end up losing more money fighting it. But anyway, after the redevelopment and the closing of the school, it seems like the kids that went to Harrisonburg High, they really wasn't accepted out there at first and it was a rough turnover between leaving Simms, being all black, and going to an all white school, which didn't change. That meant the kids had to change. Now I'm coming back from the military, and I knew you was gonna have to change. But the majority of the kids around there, that when they went to Harrisonburg High, they accepted it was for the good because they got a better education. At Simms, you was limited to where you could go. Owen Longacre 45:03 Mr. Toliver, we've talked in class about some of the unintended consequences of the desegregation process. And it seems to me that's part of what I'm hearing in your story is that not all of it might have been positive. Even though there, even though integration was something that most people seemed to want. Did you feel like that's a fair characterization? Lowell Toliver 45:29 That is true. That is, I can remember that whenever we would have a program, we'd always get hand-me-down stuff from the school board. Now, you learned how to deal with it. The teachers during my time in school, they accepted that, and they knew they wasn't gone to get anything any better. And they wouldn't get anything else. So they have to use what they have. And I'm talking about school books and desks. I can remember in first and second grade, we had tables, which the names were, you could see where they had been carved in. And then when I got to third, fourth, and fifth grade, there was actual desks. And they were in terrible condition. I mean, you just couldn't describe it. But they were better than what we had because we had nothing. I think through the years, the supply system got better, or it had to get better, couldn't get any worse. And it was just like books! We would get books, we'd have to buy books from the school system. And you had to have those books on your first day of class. And the only way for you to get them was to buy the used books from whatever system that they had. There in the city of Harrisonburg. My biggest fault is Superintendent Keister. We had a principal which was W. N. P Harris. He was against everything like that. I mean, but he knew he couldn't win the battle by himself. So if you needed a desk, so if you got a desk with a name carved in it or with all kinds of... Everything. I mean, you can't think about how bad some of the conditions were. Owen Longacre 48:08 Is it fair to say that most community members in the Harrisburg area would have reacted positively to the integration process? Or was it more complicated than that? And with the urban renewal that came along with it and pieces like that? Lowell Toliver 48:28 No, because we could walk to school. And everybody had a sense of community. Everybody looked out for each other, you know, and from what I understand, when they integrated the bus system, they had to walk to begin with, which was a long ways. From Simms School to Harrisonburg High was a long way. And there again, I don't know whether they had snow days or "I'm tired" days or whatever, you know, I just can't make it. But my wife talked to a cousin that [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 14 �was one of the first ones that went to Harrisonburg High. And some of the things that he said was terrible. We didn't have to put up with that at Simms. And they were spit on, throwed rocks, called names. When they got far enough away from school, they would throw rocks at them. And the kids from our neighborhood would have to run to survive. And there was no need in calling the police. They didn't do anything. It was a school problem. And I'm pretty sure it's not the same way now. I hope it's not [laughs]. Owen Longacre 50:14 It certainly sounds complicated. Lowell Toliver 50:16 I can remember my brother and sister. They were much older than me. And they could not believe that they was integrating the school almost overnight. I mean, there wasn't a warning or you know, we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that. It just happened. You know, you report to Harrisonburg High. And a lot of the parents just wasn't up for that. They had to work. They had to go to work in some of the homes where the kids who would walk would right past. So, that meant that they didn't know whether the kids were going to go to school, walk to school, or what. But they couldn't stop work to make sure that their the kids got to school. Actually, that was the downfall of the black neighborhood when they integrated the schools. That school. Harrisonburg High. Owen Longacre 51:39 Interesting. What do you mean by that? Lowell Toliver 51:43 Well, you knew just about all of the kids, they walked home together, they talked together. And there again, there was this redevelopment. That we had our own little grocery stores, and restaurants, and pool halls, and places like that. And after that, all of that was gone and nobody seemed to care any. Let me give you a little example. We had a drowning and you can probably look this up in Harrisonburg Daily News Record. It was a black kid drowned in the Rock, we called it the Rock Quary [a rock quarry], which was on Depot Hill. We could not swim but in ponds and places like that. And we would always go to Bridgewater. The water was real low and you can walk through it. But then you'd get down and you go to the Rock Quaryto swim. Well, Happy Holly dived in. And when he dived in, he ended up on a rock that went right straight through his body. And all the rest of the kids that was there with him, they left, they ran. You know, something was going to happen. And they pumped that place for about two or three days before they found his body impaled in a rock. About two or three months or years, they gave us a swimming pool, which was about ten feet long, and about seven feet wide, and about five foot deep. It was nothing. But that was the only place that the kids had to go. And then everybody would just.... The kids went there for a couple of hours and they knew they were safe. But after that the redevelopment took that away.They took everything away that the black man was really comfortable with. Everything. Owen Longacre 54:33 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 15 �It sounds to me that in a way you lost a lot of the pillars of your community that you had built there. Lowell Toliver 54:41 Yeah, let me give you another example. I was still just getting out of the army. We had to build a house up in called Newtown on Myrtle street. Which was 520 Myrtle Street. Which if I call the names, you'd recognize the house because he's really Ralph Sampson. Have you ever heard of him? Avery Chandler & Owen Longacre 55:16 [Simultaneously] Yes Lowell Toliver 55:17 Well, our house was there. And his parents, his grandparents live next door to us on Myrtle Street. In the process of them doing this redevelopment, they knocked down our house on Mason Street and set it afire. I could smell it burning. Now, I have a bitter outlook about Harrisonburg about that. There's a book that you should read: "Keeping up with Yesterday." I'll send you a copy of it. Owen Longacre 56:20 You said "Keeping up with Yesterday"? Lowell Toliver 56:23 Did you read that? Owen Longacre 56:24 I have not heard that book. Lowell Toliver 56:26 Oh, I'll send you a copy of it. You want to send it to the school or to your home? Owen Longacre 56:35 To the school would be fine. Lowell Toliver 56:36 Okay. That will give you an inward look of how people felt during the redevelopment and maybe about the integration of the high school. Owen Longacre 56:53 That would be great. That'd be a great resource. Lowell Toliver 56:56 Yeah. We had a community in Harrisonburg at one time. [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 16 �Owen Longacre 57:04 Right. Lowell Toliver 57:05 And everybody knew everybody. All the blacks knew everybody. And I don't ever remember seeing a sign... Well, let me take that back. I do. At the bus station, they had 'colored' and 'white'. And that was probably the only place that I ever saw a sign in Harrisonburg that said [that]. But we knew where we could go and where we couldn't go. So that was in the back of your mind all the time. And believe me, I had some real well, some of my best friends who were white [laughs]. I know you've heard of that term before. I had good white friends. And because we used to play together. Believe it or not, on Rock Street, we lived next door to a white family, which they would eat breakfast with us. My mother and father would fix breakfast for their family and us. And we would eat breakfast with their family on the days that they had to go to work early. So we had that interconnection. And I really, you know, like I said, and we played ball in the evenings when we come home from school, and in and out each other's house. But now like I told my kids, "Hey, you can't go to certain places." I remember when we was coming through Harrisonburg at McDonald's where McDonald's was in second grade, you could not eat at McDonald's, out in Virginia. And my kids were just young and they couldn't understand that. And it's just little things like that. And now they are up in age now. Sixity and sixty-five. So they look at it and say "Now Daddy, I know what you were talking about." Owen Longacre 59:26 Right. Lowell Toliver 59:28 But it wasn't easy after integration, as far as I'm concerned. Things got tougher. He was supposed to compete with people that you didn't have to compete against. And, like the only jobs that you could get was in a hotel. And believe me, the people that had those jobs, they weren't going nowhere because they paid good money. So you didn't have anything. My father... [laughs]... I better not tell you this one. But when he ran... [talks to someone off mic] Like I said, I got bitter things about Harrisonburg. Owen Longacre 1:00:25 Sure. Well, I certainly understand it's complicated. And I hear in your voice how much the Simms School meant for that community in particular. Lowell Toliver 1:00:40 Let me give you a little quote from W. N. P Harris. Owen Longacre 1:00:43 Sure. Lowell Toliver 1:00:45 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 17 �You ought to look up his credentials. He was quite a scholar. I don't even deemed to carry his hat. But he had a quote, and I picked it up. "A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or [thirst] not [of] the [Pierian] spring." And it never dawned on me until I got older. And I said, "He really knew what he was talking about." And he always would try to get the best out of us. If he had to take you into his office and sit you down and teach you who was the president in 1915. He was just that kind of individual. And after that, we lost all of that. I could probably tell you who the President was and..and what happened on.... Oh, incidentally, you know, today is Black History Week! I mean month! Or this one is! Owen Longacre 1:02:14 That's right. Lowell Toliver 1:02:16 When I was going to school, we had black history week. And that was where you had to always have a quote from someone that was a famous black individual. But I see Harrisonburg is making a strive for the better. But until they get rid of the old people in Harrisonburg, cecause they turned the Simms School into.... I don't know what it was when it first opened up, but it wasn't a center for the.... I don't know what it was. It was a place for people that just didn't, couldn't get along. Owen Longacre 1:03:18 I believe now it's a center for continuing education and a community center for events in other capacities. So it has changed probably a quite a bit since it first opened. Lowell Toliver 1:03:32 I can remember for now. In the later years, they even gave us a baseball ground. A court. All we had was a set of swings. And that was it. Owen Longacre 1:04:13 Sorry, Mr. Toliver. Are you still there? Lowell Toliver 1:04:15 Yeah, I'm still here. Owen Longacre 1:04:16 Oh, I'm sorry. I think we might have lost it just for half a second. Well as we just think about the school, I wanted to just offer you is there any other memories about school in particular or the role it played in the community that you feel like we didn't get a chance to talk about this afternoon? Lowell Toliver 1:04:36 At the school, I always remember there was a connection, the community, was Memorial Day and then the last day of school. Because on the Sunday, we had a little program at the cemetery and then we walked across and had another little program at the school, and that was the end [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 18 �of the school year. So you knew everything. But that was more or less a community thing. And everybody participated in that. But we didn't have any organized sports, per say. Because we didn't have the equipment, like gymnastics or anything like that. We had a couple of mats that they threw out on the floor where you could do a flip [laughs]. And that was the extent of our gymnastics. I think somebody had the right idea, but it just took a little time to take effect. Owen Longacre 1:06:00 Sure. And I guess that no matter how old you get the Simms School is always a part of you in some way. Lowell Toliver 1:06:07 It was a part of me until they start turning it into different things. Owen Longacre 1:06:15 Right. Lowell Toliver 1:06:16 And what got me was they could have easily kept it a high school there in that community. The kids could walk to school. There wasn't any... I can't ever remember a drug problem in our school. And now I know down here, they're just going out of control. And it's the younger generation. I think the worst thing we did when we grew up was we would smoke. They had cigars that would fall off the trees [laughs]. And you'd get sick behind the smoke, you know. So you never tried that, you know. So, as far as smoking weed and all of the drug problems that you have in the school system. I don't know if Harrisonburg has got it yet. But if they don't, it's on its way. Owen Longacre 1:07:33 Yeah. No, it's certainly not a perfect world anymore. Lowell Toliver 1:07:37 No, and in the old community that we had, you wouldn't dare do anything like that. Because everybody knew everybody. And, I don't know. When I tell my kids... They talking about they graduated from a class of 200 and 300. And I say Yeah, well, you're lucky. I graduated with six in my class. [Laughter] Owen Longacre 1:08:11 Yeah. Lowell Toliver 1:08:12 And they thought... I didn't tell them how many was in the class until eventually they saw a picture [laughs]. Avery Chandler 1:08:25 [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 19 �Well, this has been a great experience to talk with you Mr. Toliver. I've really appreciated and loved hearing what you've had to say and how you've shared your experience with us. Lowell Toliver 1:08:36 I probably have many more but I just can't... You know, the older you get, the more you lose them. And you only stick with the bitter things. And I don't think I should do that. Because I'd like to be more negative, I mean more positive than negative. Avery Chandler & Owen Longacre 1:08:55 [Speaking simultaneously] Right. Yeah. Lowell Toliver 1:08:57 Because you get nowhere being negative. And I see a great improvement in Harrisonburg by being away from it. But then talking to several people: The reason why they left was because of redevelopment. And when you start thinking about redevelopment and how it was done in Harrisonburg, it's ridiculous. But that's one of the things that I think a few of the people are trying to correct down there now. A few. Not many. But it's going to take a good education for these kids to outgrow it. Owen Longacre 1:09:51 Well, I think hearing from individuals like you and the students' participation in a project like this is a small step, but a step towards maybe learning from our past and in trying to correct some of those wrongs that have happened in the past. Lowell Toliver 1:10:12 You know, I think somebody that should really get some flowers or whatever is W. N. P. Harris. He was the principal of the school, of Simms. And he and the superintendent of schools just could not get along. First of all, Ruth Hollins made an impression on me. Miss Jean Francis, and W.N.P Harris. Those are the three individuals that I would consider that I look up to. Owen Longacre 1:10:58 Well, thank you, we certainly have those names. We certainly have the recording here. I'm gonna go ahead and stop the recording. [Lowell Toliver – Lucy F. Simms School Oral Histories] 20 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview with Lowell Toliver