It's a Circus out there

 When I wrote the Spring Creek book several years ago, I came across an old, abandoned schoolhouse in Keenerville, North Carolina. Many of the people I interviewed had ties to the school or knew people who went there. I visited there this summer and the building had fallen, so I'm glad I was able to take a picture of it before it did.

Looks are deceiving, however. Old and decrepit as it might be in this photo, it was once the glory of the community. Children by the dozens at a time flocked to this one-room school house for their primary education. For many, what the school offered was the only "book learning" they had. Their success in life later is a testament to the basic learning they received. Many of them owned their own businesses and achieved what few of us in modern times would guess was ever possible considering their humble beginnings.

All this to say, I ran across a cartoon in the Sunday paper a few weeks back. It is from The Family Circus by Bil Keane. He has a knack of zeroing in on what touches me, but this particular day's strip showed my feelings exactly.

Does that look like the Keenerville School or what!!

Oh, my, someone else in this world recognizes the value of those old schools. In case the image is too small, let me explain. Mr. Keane drew characters of all kinds around the school to show their adult successes. Not only that, he had the modern children superimposed at the school and wondering what ever became of the "poor little kids." The illustrations answer that. They did well in life! 

If only the walls could talk, what stories would they tell these children? I've heard some of the stories and included them in my book, Back in the Time.

That's my co-author Jasper Reese on the cover when he was fourteen years old. He didn't attend Keenerville School, but his ancestors did. Back in the time, school was in session when the children weren't in the fields working. Teachers lived with families in the community. Students were related to each other. All of them. The older students helped the younger. They walked to school and carried their lunches, as there was no cafeteria. No indoor bathroom either. One year, 1919, the school closed early for the year. Spanish flu epidemic. Last day of school was in early March. The principal reported that there were no promotions. Everyone was held back in the current grade. 

Back in the time...

Catch of the day,

Gretchen