Page 56 - barefoot-in-the-sand-remembering-the-waning-days-of-the-hopewell-community-(1998)-bruce-c-gragg

Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 52/123

Beginning in January 1952 Mama was the school cook. It took her a few
days to adjust her cooking methods, so she could fix the right amount
of everything, and not have a lot left over. There were a lot of the
kids that were very picky about what they ate. Some didn’t want this
or that while she was serving. Even the most stubborn before long
began to come around and at least try something. It took Mama a while
but eventually she had all them eating what ever was served. They all
learned it didn’t pay to resist her suggestions about eating. I had
learned years before not to get into a debate over food with her.
This was a long time before the ’’junk food era” had come into being.
The-most exciting thing about her job as cook, we went in the Jeep
and I didn't have to ride the school bus. I had just gotten my
restricted drivers license and I could drive to school when in only
the eighth grade. Not many eighth graders could do that.

All the schools we attended during our elementary years had a special
program at Christmas, Easter and school closing for the summer. More
of the community of Little Creek School seemed to participate in
these programs, and there would usually be a very large turnout of
parents and children for these events. The Christmas and Easter
programs were very much religious in nature. Most parents attended
and all students were expected to attend. Family members made sure
everyone got a gift from the tree. The favorite gift for senior
family members was a large stick of peppermint candy. A real treat
for them. To many it was just a large stick of candy, but to them it
was something special it was a big peppermint stick. I can still see
how it would light up Mr. & Mrs. Joe Shaw's’ face, when they got
theirs, and they would talk about it all the way home on the bus. The
Shaw's were the parents of Mrs. Melton and Jesse Shaw. They lived on
Mr. Melton's place.

During the Christmas Program of my fourth grade Howard Register
recited ’’Twas the Night Before Christmas", I can still close my eyes
and listen real close and hear him. The school buses ran their
regular route and picked up the whole family if they wanted or needed
a ride. Such joyous carefree times will probably never be seen again.
Most in the area participated, it was a chance to see many friends
and neighbors and visit. As usual the middle of December then was not
very cold, that made it easier for the older ones to get out. Even
when it was cold we had wood heaters to warm us up, if we sat real
close to them, then someone always had to keep them supplied with
wood. At Murray Hill we had Gas Heaters with a fan. Now the whole
room was comfortable, not just a small area around a heater in a
drafty school room.

Bay Creek was a newer school than was Little Creek. It was painted
white with green trim and a green asphalt shingle roof.

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