Memories of Irondale, 1925 to 1942, Part VI by H. Bishop Holliman

This is the sixth in a series of reflections on an earlier Irondale, Alabama by my father, Bishop Holliman, born 1919. - Glenn N. Holliman

Above, Bishop Holliman rode a bus similar to this one from Irondale to Shades Cahaba School in Homewood leaving at 7:30 am every school morning for a 30 minute, non-stop ride.  Photo from the Shades Valley Alumni web site.

"Schools…Irondale schools were among the best in Alabama.  I remember all my teachers and events that occurred in each grade.  Mr. Houk was principal when I entered in 1927.  Later, George S. Millsap was made principal.  He was a good teacher but very, very strict, as were all of the teachers.  Irondale students competed very well at Shades Cahaba with students from other schools and from families more prosperous than Irondale families. "

Below a page from the 1940 The Owl, the yearbook of Shades Cahaba High School.  Far left is Bishop Holliman's sister, Virginia.  On the back row, standing behind and right of the student typing, is Walter Cornelius (wearing the tie).  Virginia and Walter would marry in 1942.  Virginia's brother, Ralph Holliman, was on the staff also.  He may be in the photo back row, 2nd from right, next to Walter, his future brother-in-law.

"In 1937, the year of my graduation, I was editor-in-chief of the annual and my closest friend, Charles Pugh, who lived a few doors from us on the hill, was president of the senior class and valedictorian.  Some other names that come to mind after all these years are Cecil Giddens, Jean LaFurgy, the two Gaylor boys, the Hurtt girls, Sadie Mae Burgess and Corely Odum.

Irondale students were well-behaved at Shades Cahaba, not entirely due to family upbringing, but also to the strict teachers at Irondale.  At the end of the school year in 1933 I was double promoted to the 9th grade, which was the senior year of Junior High. 

There were five of us: Clementine Shurbert, George Sorrell, J.H. Ratliff, Oscar Lee Hurt and myself.  I am the only one of that circle still living.  Our teachers in junior high were Mr. Millsap who taught 9th grade algebra, Miss Margaret Hanes, math and science and Mrs. Joe McClendon English and civics. "

Built in 1920 and renewed several times, Shades Cahaba is now a Homewood, Alabama elementary school.  Note the concrete owl on top of the building.

"In retrospect, I think skipping the 8^th grade was one of the worst things that could have happened to me.  Why?  Well, it simply took a year out of my life and it put me in high school and college a year younger than my peers.  I don’t think I every caught up, as I always felt insecure when with classmates who were a year older.  And also I did not get a good foundation in math by being introduced to 9^th grade algebra minus 8^th grade math.

In 9^th grade civics each Friday we read and discussed the Weekly Reader, a compilation of current events.  On this particular Friday one student, Clyde Godwin, was reading from the paper an item about President Roosevelt’s visit somewhere.  He meant to read, “The President wore a flower in his button hole.”  Instead he read, “The President wore a flower in his bottom hole.”  Well, the class exploded! 

Even Mrs. Mac (as we were allowed to call her) lost her dignity and laughed along with us.  At that age, now soon becoming 15 I was very conscious of how my hair looked, and to make sure it was combed neatly I put a lot of hair oil on it every day.  At graduation in May each member of the class was given a gift of dubious value accompanied by some sort of explanation.  For me, the gift was a small can of pure lard with the accompanying verse: “To keep your hair down, we know it is hard, so we give to you this compound lard!”

A sad thing happened soon after school opened again in September, principal Mr. Millsap, who was only 31 years old, one morning before 8 o’clock wrapped a towel around his head, put a gun up to it and pulled the trigger.  His death was a big blow to all of us and was not easy for his current students and the most recent graduating class to get over.  

Glenn Barrow was made principal and remained in that position until death in the Army in 1943.  Photo below.

                                                                        

 Above, Glenn Barrow died in 1943, much too young.  He had a deep influence as a principal and teacher.  Bishop Holliman in 1946 would name his only son after him.

Next posting, more memories of pre-war Irondale, Alabama....