REMEMBRANCES

DO YOU REMEMBER . . .

Buying a popsicle for a nickel anddividing it with a friend?

Playing tennis on the tennis courts in front of the school near the highway?

Sitting on the “old well” watching cars go by?

Playing school on the Presbyterian Church steps?

Building elaborate playhouses during school recess?

The boys smoking behind the gym?

Marching to music up the steps to the auditorium for chapel services?

Lights in school provided by a Delco generator – lights often going off during a program because someone forgot to turn on the generator?

Plays on the steps in the auditorium always halted when a train came through?

Slipping off from school to the Drug Store?

The gymnasium heated by two coal heaters at each end of the gym – always a good place for a firecracker to go off?

Roller skating on the highway at night?

Red and Blue Army maneuvers during World War II?

Going to the depot to see a train President Roosevelt was riding on (It didn’t stop)?

A circus came to College Grove – set up in Demonbreun’s lot?

Gypsies would come through College Grove?

Mr. John Smith rolling cart to depot to get mail?

Stock pens on the railroad for holding cattle to be loaded on the train?

Magistrate Court held in grocery store?

Marie Crunk

CAN YOU REMEMBER. . .

Peeling tomatoes at the cannery?

The night the cannery warehouse burned?

Riding Dallas Johnson’s school bus?

Selling a right-of-way through College Grove for State Highway 31-A?

Registering for the draft during World War II?

Gasoline, shoes, sugar, and meat being rationed?

Army convoys passing through town?

The whistle of the Pan American each day at 11:35?

Mr. Anderson’s flower beds north of the Depot?

A sidewalk through town?

The music room across the street from Harry Taylor’s home?

The Stockyards in town?

Lula Scales

REMEMBER THE TWENTIES. . .

Playing mother and children on the Presbyterian Church steps?

The row of stables along Arno Road and the children who came on ponies or in buggies?

The big bunch who rode the train from Arrington and Trinity (more than thirty at one time)?

When College Grove was industrial – the Saw Mill, Cotton Gin, Tobacco Warehouse, Tomato Cannery, Watson’s Store, Marable’s Store, White’s Store, Dowdy’s Store, Smith’s Store plus the Drug Store, Bank, and Garage?

The Dog Wagon on the corner of the school ground where Bruce Covington sold us hamburgers and hot dogs for a nickel?

The tennis court in front of the school near the highway?

The first hot meals when Mrs. DeBrohm made good hot soup everyday in the home economics room?

Going to silent movies in the auditorium?

The inspirational chapel programs, especially H. E. Owen and B. P. Smith?

Having your own drinking cup to get water from the cooler, which was pumped from the well by the highway?

Minnie Katherine Graham

DO YOU REMEMBER. . .

T.L.C. Hardison and Bill Lowe started operating the College Grove Canning Co. in 1924 – canning mostly tomatoes but also some green beans? This company did well in 1924 and 1925. It was then leased to J. W. Gillespie Co. of Bedford, Virginia and they operated it for a couple of years.

Erik Hardison opened an automobile repair shop and retail gasoline business in spring, 1926 where Harry Taylor’s dwelling is now located? In December, 1927, Erik moved his business to Main Street on the highway, where he was located until the business was sold August 1, 1977. He started wholesaling gasoline and oil in 1939. He was in business 52 years.

There used to be a cotton gin where the College Grove Fire Department is now located? Then, later J.P. Covington and Will Eudailey operated a feed mill - bought and sold seed.

When the Cannery went out of business, a Rock Wool Plant began operating at the same location?

There was a Tobacco Warehouse on the now vacant lot on the corner across the street from William Cownie – also where he lives used to be a store formerly operated by Mayfield Garrett, A. T. Watson, Bob Davenport, Harwell & Clendenin?

W. E. Marable operated a store on the vacant lot west of Harry Taylor’s house?

T.L.C. Hardison operated a grocery and restaurant south of the filling station?

Powell Maxwell was operating the Drug Store, then he sold to Crocker Bros., who were in business a short time, then Albert and Powell Maxwell were partners until Albert died?

When peddlers used to come out the country roads in a covered wagon drawn by horses with staple groceries, and buy eggs and chickens from the farms and the children would buy candy?

When we used to have doctors in College Grove?

When landowners had to work the roads and would haul gravel from the creek with their wagons and mules?

When we had a Blacksmith Shop, Rob Barnes, and Shoe Shop, Jim Wray, in College Grove?

Hill Paschal and Arthur Parks had a furniture and appliance store where the barber shop is now and then they operated a grocery store?

Paul E. White operated a grocery store at several locations in College Grove and was burned out twice?

When we had battery radios before electricity?

When W.P.A. workers put rock on the old gym?

When electricity (T.V.A.) came to our rural homes and replaced the oil lamps?

Tom Roy Ivery operated a café for a short time just south of Taylor’s Grocery?

Mildred Hardison

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN. . .

We had to walk the tennis court in front of the school for punishment – the entire town could see us?

There was a wedding after the music recital, and the bride and groom left the auditorium by the fire escape?

We first had hot lunches at school? The parents cooked and served the lunch, one hot food each day.

An airplane made an emergency landing on the hill and we walked up to see it and were allowed to look inside and “touch it”?

We walked the railroad to the James Ogilvie farm and went chestnut hunting?

We had “Blue Ribbon” Day in Franklin and marched around the Square?

Jane Covington

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN. . .

Both Maxwell’s Drugstore and Mr. Paul White’s General Store burned at the same time? The fire started in a doctor’s office over the Drug Store. Mr. Albert Maxwell, who was pharmacist and owner of the building, and Dr. Summers were both closed for the night. Family, friends, and neighbors began saving what they could from the Drug Store before Mr. White’s store caught on fire, but White’s building was larger and probably the oldest business building in College Grove. The front was almost solid glass. Instead of breading out the glass and getting busy, we waited for someone to go after Mr. White, who walked to the store, took the key out of his pocket, and very calmly opened the door.

Country fire departments were not a part of country life at the time. All the big fire was in the middle of College Grove and made sadness for all, but in a very few days, the Maxwell bothers, Powell and Albert, began construction on a new site, which is the present one. Mr. Albert Maxwell died a few years ago, but the business continues.

As late as the mid-forties, elementary grades 1-8 were taught by four teachers in a brick building just behind the high school? About the mid-forties, four rooms with corridor and inside bathrooms, a first for the school, were added. A teacher for each grade was also a first. Teachers bought most of the materials for extra use from their own money. Children supplemented with $2.00 per child. Text books were furnished by that time. Finally, teachers were given $10.00 each for materials.

Suddenly, things began to change? All materials were furnished, extras began to be delivered, such as record players, electric duplicators, etc. Last, but most needed, the very best teachers’ aides were placed in lower grades. During these years, a new agriculture building, gymnasium and cafeteria were built on the campus.

Consolidation came, the high school building was remodeled for elementary grades? The entire elementary building was torn down? All high school students went to Page High School? All elementary above fifth grade went to Page Middle School?

Alma Burgess

DO YOU REMEMBER. . .

Playing fox and dog in the wooded section north of school and returning late from recess?

When we were sophomores, we locked the junior and senior class up in the gymnasium, where they were having a party one night? They couldn’t get out until “Blue” Windrow came back from downtown and unlocked the door.

There’s a hole in the auditorium floor? We dropped a lighted firecracker through it into one of Mr. Leftwich’s classes. We were on our way to the fire escape when it exploded. We were never caught.

Sitting in buggies and eating lunches that were brought wrapped in newspaper, in the stables where the horses and ponies were kept.

The pile of coal on the south side of the school and the open door to the basement and furnace?

I remember certain couples spending a lot of time standing together at the radiators.

And. . . . . . . Basketball, one thing most of us loved with a passion!!!!!!!

Jim Patton

I REMEMBER WHEN. . .

I used to visit the two story building (now Hazel Demonbreun’s). On the bottom floor was a blacksmith shop and on the top floor was a broom factory.

Miss Elmer Smith Boyd was the first music teacher.

F.E. Demonbreun ran the Grist Mill. It was pulled by a gasoline motor.

People used to take their cattle to the stockyard by the railroad.

It was nothing to see sheep, pigs, cows, etc. going in herds down the middle of College Grove.

The Cotton Gin was built where the school is now.

Mr. Herman Moore was principal.

Robert Wilson

DO YOU REMEMBER. . .

How children got to school many years ago? Well, of course, many walked, but those who were a greater distance did otherwise. Those from Arrington and Trinity area, which was known as Clovercroft, rode the train. Then many like us were transported by horse and buggy. We lived near Arno and I was the oldest child in my family, so until my younger sister started to school, I rode with some neighbors. The buggy had a contraption on the back which carried milk to College Grove to be loaded on a truck and sent to Pure Milk Co. In the afternoon we had to pick up the empty cans, which were left at the store, where the Church of Christ is today. Then, we also had to stop at the Feed Store for feed, which was just above where we picked up cans.

In those days there was no gym? If the ball teams needed other practice, besides recess period, they had to stay after school hours and practice. As I stated, I rode with a neighbor girl and her brother, who was in high school. At that time College Grove had a Tomato Cannery which was located near Raymond Harper’s today. So while Robert practiced ball, Annie Laura and I would go over to the cannery, get in line, put on an apron and peel a bucket of tomatoes, for which we would receive a nickel per bucket. Sometimes we would peel two or more buckets. Before starting home, we would go by the Drug Store and buy an ice cream cone for a nickel.

In March, I believe it was 1927, we were out of school for two days due to a tornado whose path was about 2 miles west of College Grove extending to Kirkland area? We had gotten home from school and we had no telephone so we didn’t know about it until we were on our way to school the next day, when a woman waved us down and said “There has been a terrible cyclone!” “Trees are everywhere farther on.” It was just like she said, the road was blocked by huge trees. One house and a barn were completely demolished. By the way, our house is located on the lot where the house was demolished.

Back in those days, at least a week was observed by closing exercises of school? These would be a music recital, Grammar School program, Dramatic Club play, and a senior play. I remember one year we were upstairs in the auditorium one night and Eudaily White was delivering his oration and as he said the words “We are now at a critical period in our nation, someone yelled “Fire!” It’s a fire! We looked out the window and the store located on the corner, where Matthew Harwell now owns, was on fire. Well, everyone went to the fire and I don’t remember if the contest was ever completed.

Another big event, I don’t remember the year, when the Governor came to our school? We were dismissed to go to the auditorium and hear Governor Austin Peay speak. There were other dignitaries. The purpose was plans for building Highway 31, which was named Horton Highway. Plans were made under Peay’s administration, that was really built under Horton’s administration. So that’s how we got on the map.

The College Grove boy’s basketball team who won the State Tournament in 1929? They were coached by Principal Haynes Brinkley and Mabry Covington, Sr. They went to Chicago to the National Tournament and were defeated by a team from Texas. Most team members are deceased but Dink Scales, Albert Wilson, Hiram Beasley, and Tom C. Hatcher survive.

When it did not take much to make a senior class think they had really been somewhere? When we were seniors, we spent April 8th by visiting “The Hermitage.” We were accompanied by our principal, Mr. Homer Owen and class sponsor, Miss Sara Young, who now lives in Murfreesboro.

Josephine Culberson

DO YOU REMEMBER. . .

When we moved from down on what is now Cox Road and moved in with my Grandmother Demonbreun? My father bought the house and 40 acres from my Grandmother and Aunt Dove. She had just married Mr. Henning Hughes. I started to school the first of January 1911. Miss Mamie Jackson was my first teacher. My Mother took me to school and when she left I cried. I sat with Mary Willie Dobson my first year.

When there was a livery stable in College Grove? The front was about where the west side of Harry Taylor’s home is, there were two offices on the side. There was a stagecoach that came from Chapel Hill going to Nashville one day and came back the next. Charles Rigsby has a picture of the old stagecoach.

A new Methodist parsonage was built and Mr. W. C. Lanier bought the old parsonage and moved there. Louise and I would go over to the livery stable and get eggs that their hens laid over there in the hay.

The railroad that was built in 1913 or 1914? They used Italian labor. They camped up back of New Town about where J. W. Hood now lives and they made the best bread and did their own cooking. People would go up on Saturday and buy the bread. Two of the steam shovel operators boarded with us. Papa always said that James Loftin came in on the first freight train that came thru about midnight on September 11, 1914.

Mr. Rob Yancy built a store where Powell Covington has his Feed Mill. Also he built a pretty home on the lot back of Dr. Owen’s. He had died and Mrs. Owen, Sarah, and Buddy moved to Texas.

The Toll Gate, where Jack Hood’s home is? It was first run by a Mrs. Black. About 1910 when we moved up to where we live now, from down on what is Cox Road, Mrs. Ed Cole and her family ran the toll gate, and they ran it until it was done away with. Mr. Cole was a carpenter.

The Drug Store was a two story building on the east side of the highway, where the garage is now? Dr. Owen and Mr. Emmett Wilson owned it. It was moved across the street to the present location.

The canning factory on the corner of the lot now owned by Raymond Harper? It was run by Erik Hardison and his father. I worked there all summer, made $20.00 and thought I was rich. We got 5 cents a bucket, then we got 10 cents.

When the interurban right-of-way was surveyed? It was to run from Franklin to College Grove and Eagleville. The work was finished to Eagleville, but no tracks were laid, as the people around did not want it. Louise Lanier said it really made a good skating place for us, it was all graded level and packed down.

After Mr. John and Billy Smith died, Mr. Dowdy ran a store in a building next to the bank? The Post Office was in there for a long time and run by Earl Culberson. They later built the present Post Office.

Dr. W.J.M. Covington? He delivered 2700 babies in this area. All my brothers, sister and myself were delivered by Dr. Covington. When he came to see us when we got sick, he would sit down and tell us some big story and give us some Calomel, to be followed by castor oil. By the time my Mother had given me at least 3 doses, she would say, I think you have had enough now. It just would not stay with me long.

Jonnie Demonbreun

I REMEMBER WHEN. . .

I walked in the snow on New Year’s Day to hear the Rose Bowl on the radio at John Haley’s. Tennessee was playing.

I took a dozen eggs in a Crystal Wedding Oatmeal box to Mr. Hardison’s store. He told me they were worth 5 cents a dozen, but he would have to pay in script. (That particular morning was when the Bank closed and issued script instead of money.) I told him I’d rather have 5 cents worth of candy—he gave me 1 lb. of hard fish candy.

Bill Covington (“Uncle”) would lead 20 mules (head to tail) to Decatur, Alabama. He would sell them at the mule barn.

My brother, Houston McPherson, was the water boy when they built the concrete highway that goes through College Grove. I took his place for a week—pay was 50 cents a day, but he couldn’t pay me because I was too young.

Jim Wray had a shoe shop behind where Taylor’s Bi-Rite stands today. He used to blow warts off of people’s hands.

People that had pigs to sell, would pull up to the school and honk their horn. I would jump out the window and buy their pigs. They would take them over to my barn, then I would travel to Indiana on weekends and sell them. I was back in time for school on Monday a.m.

I used to milk cows, then drive the school bus and then go to school.

I bought a pig for 71 cents on Webb Road. I drug him in a feed sack back to College Grove and sold him to Pete Drumright for $1.00.

I used to buy bologna, crackers and a large Coca-Cola at Mr. Paul White’s store for 10 cents. I would write him a check for 10 cents or 5 cents, often on the Bank of College Grove.

I could go on a date and just spend 25 cents. That included the gas!

Bob Taylor and I slipped off from school and went to the Fair. We only had a nickel between us and we spent the day !!!

I paid $30 for my ’29 Chevy car. I took a load of girls to Chapel Hill to shoot pool and loaf (of course, it was during school hours). Mr. Jones whipped us for going and whipped Sam R. Ogilvie and Bob Taylor because they DIDN’T go—they just sat on the church steps.

I walked to the store. I would always stop and ask Miss Tennie Blanton (who lived on the corner) if she needed anything. She always wanted a nickel’s worth of dried California peaches. Then she would give me a piece of candy, when I returned.

I went to Mr. Dowdy’s store to buy 5 cents worth of oranges. Seeing how dirty my face was, he said I should be buying a bar of soap for my face! I didn’t return to his store for over a year—he turned out to be one of the dearest friends I’ve ever had.

There was a stockyard in College Grove where the Church of Christ sits today. My father, S. J. Bellenfant, bought 11 trailer loads of Jersey heifers (300 lbs. each) from Mississippi. They cost 3 cents per lb.

The Cotton Gin set where the Fire Department is today.

Bill Pettus made “rock” wool (where Raymond Harper lives today).

Louise McCord was the telephone operator. When I first went into business, she used to leave the long distance hooked up at night so I was able to make my business calls.

The College Grove Methodist parsonage was sold to George Holcomb and moved to “New” Town.

Watt Blanton ran the blacksmith shop.

W. J. Covington was the country doctor. He lived where Ira Waddey lives today.

The hard, hard times of the early 30s seemed like the world was coming to an end (having to eat side meat and biscuits), but with many years passed and after traveling around the world, I’ve decided that College Grove is one of the finest places to live and raise a family.

Joe Bellenfant (62 yrs.)

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