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Community News

Potts Camp News
Dale Hollingsworth

Emily Stone teaches art classes at Potts Camp

Lela Hale is teaching in Blue Mountain College this year; she and her family are special friends. We miss her at Potts Camp School across the street where she had retired last year.

We send our love and sympathy to Debbie Clayton, wife of Ricky Clayton, in the recent death of her stepfather, Sam Weaver of Tula Home, Tenn.

Estelle Bennett, who taught in Potts Camp Schools in the ’50s, and lived across the street from us, came to visit me. I was glad to see her. Her husband, M. Bennett, deceased, was school superintendent here several years.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bennett, who live in Texas, brought Estelle to visit me; she is 96. He was 1 year old when they moved away. Betty Bennett, her daughter, played with my daughter, Betty.

Recent guests of Betty Fincher was Billie Margaret Benefield, a friend. I’m sorry I missed her when she came to my home.

Emily Stone, youngest daughter of Mitch and Jeanette Stone and granddaughter of Annie R. Stone, is teaching art classes at Potts Camp this year. I’ve always loved Emily since she stayed with me as a child while her parents and sister attended ball games. She is very talented. She worked for comic books for many years.

We are thankful for the cooler weather. I enjoy sitting on my porch watching the school children every day. Thanks for all the cards and letters I receive every week.

For Mother

When you became a mother, you were given a special, unique gift from God. It came straight from Heaven and was placed at your heart’s door.

“It was so wonderful that the love we have for our children, God has for us!”

We may not realize it, but our children are watching everything we do; that’s how they learn.

We pray they learn to pray. When we show patience, a seed of patience is implanted in their hearts. When we show honesty over dishonesty, a silent witness is listening with his small ears.

“Encourage your children to do their best, hold on to their dreams, and behold the hand of God! These things build character and last a lifetime!”

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Thoughts

Times have changed over the years! The schools are very special, but when I was a child, we worshiped God in our schools. Every morning when the bell rang, our coach, who kept study hall that period, read a chapter in the Bible and prayed. We also sang a song like “God Bless America.” Once a week in chapel services, we sang songs about the Lord, and a local pastor from one of the churches spoke to us. Our senior classes, the Sunday after graduation would be honored at our church (Potts Camp Methodist Church), and we all sat together (all dressed up) on the front rows. The pastor would give us all a Bible.

Even most of the Christmas cards have changed. They say “Season’s Greetings.” The manger scenes cannot be used in public places. God is watching us!

Prayer of Renewal

Free me this day, O Lord, from fear of the future, and all anxiety about tomorrow, all bitterness from anyone, all cowardice in face of danger, all laziness in the face of work. But fill me with love that knows no barrier, sympathy that reaches all, courage that cannot be shaken; faith enough for the darkness, strength sufficient for my tests, loyalty to thy kingdom’s goal, wisdom to most life’s complexities, and power to lift me to you. Be thou with me another day and use me as thy will. For Christ’s sake, amen.

Pray for those who have lost loved ones; also pray for Mary Jarrett, Connie Work, Henry Tutor, Charles Henderson, Betty Fincher, Diane Clayton, Betty Rose Jones, Sank Owen, Gussie Davis, Doris Goode.

History and Memories
(The R.A. Butler Scholarship)

In the ’30s, a new Potts Camp School principal, R.A. Butler, moved across the street from us into the teacher’s home (demolished in the ’60s). We loved that family; they had two daughters, Jean and Bobbie, and a son, Sonny, born later. Bobbie was a tomboy. She and my little brother, Lindy, would get out their BB guns and get in trouble.

At that time, Winborn, a small community about two miles away, attended our school; it is in Benton County, so now they attend school at Hickory Flat.

The Dunn family in Winborn was large. Willie Thomas, the only girl, was a senior; several Dunn boys attended our school.

Mrs. Dunn died; it was sad. Only one little boy was too young to attend. Their dad had to work, so his aunt kept him one year after Mrs. Dunn died.

When he was 4, Mr. Butler let the child attend Potts Camp School. Years later, little Worth Dunn became an ear, nose and throat doctor. He lived in Florida, and had a few children after he married.

Worth Dunn remembered what Mr. Butler had done for him, so he established the R.A. Butler Scholarship at Potts Camp School. Many deserving students who were not able to attend college otherwise were awarded the scholarship.

We loved the Butler family. He was my math teacher. Willie Thomas (Dunn) Wicker attended college after her husband died suddenly. She taught in Potts Camp School 10 years. We all loved her.

I found this old poem written in 1904 by Mary Potts Reid, only daughter of Colonel E.F. Potts, first settler of this area. Warrine Reid Oakley, a relative, gave me the old Bible, “To My Dear Boy.” His name was Cornelius Reid.

“When tempted, son, to go astray, pause, pause, my dear child, and turn away from sin’s alluring form. Go to thy chamber and while there, check in thy mother’s gift a prayer, a refuge from the storm. Read, my dear boy, believe and live, then not in vain this book I give, to my own darling boy.

I will smooth for the life’s stormy path, teach thee to shun thy Master’s wrath, and wear His crown of joy. When grief shall check thy young son’s mirth, to weep when she who gave you birth has passed into the skies, then ponder o’er thy mother’s gift.

“It will thy drooping spirit lift, and dry those weeping eyes. And as your hands the pages turn, resolve, dear boy, of Christ to learn, be lovely, meek and mild.

Remember she who gave this book, through unseen eyes upon you look, rejoicing in her child.” (Mary Potts Reid, 1904)

Mary Potts Reid was given the Potts Camp area in the final settlement. She was my great aunt. She gave land for Potts Camp cemetery, land for a right-of-way, so the Frisco Railroad would come this way, and the depot named Potts Camp in memory of her father, Col. Potts. She also gave land for churches and schools.

Reid’s Gift Church was named for her and also Mary Reid School. My great-grandfather, Ferdinand Potts, was given farmland in the old Macedonia area — a cemetery remains there with graves of relatives.

The old church has been destroyed. I attended there with my dad; my late brother preached a revival there.

Did you know?
Richard Simmons

September 22-28 – Happenings through the years

Did You Know

In my research for my “Did You Know” article, I began to notice the happenings on the days of September 22-28, although they are of different years.

So instead of listing them in as usual, I thought I would give a little more detail in one or two of the events. Starting with September 28 and going back: in 1787 Congress voted to transmit the new Constitution to the states for ratification. This began the long struggle to convince the states that what was before them was the freedom they sought. Samuel Adams, a leader in the call for independence, was born on September 27, 1722.

Thomas Jefferson was named the first secretary of state on September 26, 1789. Eddie Rickenbacker, “The Ace of Aces,” was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 25, 1918. During WWI, Rickenbacker shot down 26 enemy aircraft. Rickenbacker, also a well known race car driver, set a speed record at Daytona reaching 134 mph.

On September 24, 1917, Ohio Congressman Ivory Emerson introduced the Service Flag to Congress, explaining that it was a tribute to those families “who gave to this great cause of liberty…the dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother--their children.” The banners began to appear in windows across America, symbolizing loved ones in military service.

September 23, 1779, was the day of one of the most talked about battles in the history of the U.S. Navy. John Paul Jones and his crew, looking at their sinking ship, continued to fight. Looking at surrendering to the British, their commander gave his famous reply to their would-be captors, “I have not yet begun to fight.” After more than three hours of broadside to broadside fighting, the British commander surrendered. He was a school teacher when the American Revolution began. In 1775 he closed his schoolhouse doors and joined the Patriot army. The British had captured New York City. General Washington needed to know the strength and positions of the British forces.

Nathan Hale stepped up and changed his uniform for the plain clothing, and carrying his Yale diploma, was able to slip through the British lines. He made his notes in Latin and hid them in the sole of his shoes. All went well until he came to the last of the British guards. They searched him and found the notes. Without trial or a hearing, General Howe sentenced him to hang. Nathan Hale asked for a minister and was refused. He asked for a Bible and it was also denied. On the morning of September 22, 1776, Hale was led to a spot that is not far from what is now Central Park in New York City. We cannot forget the words he uttered before they slipped the noose around his neck: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Quiz for This Week

Unalienable rights are base on what law?

Who wrote the “Bill of Rights?”

What is the name of the building where the Constitution Convention was held?

Who was president of the Constitution Convention?

How many states were represented at the Constitutional Convention?

Answers to last quiz

Meadowland is the origin for the name of the state of Kentucky.

The oak is the species of the national tree.

Congress place “In God We Trust” on certain U.S. coins in 1908.

Jack Jouett warned Thomas Jefferson that the British were coming.

Elvis sang “Hound Dog” on the Milton Berle Show in 1956.

Ref: The American Patriot. Questions or comments: richardps@centurytel.net

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