In 2009, the photography class of Kay Grogg, art and photography teacher at David Crockett High School, received a grant from the Harris Fund of the East Tennessee Foundation for a project titled, “Scanning Our Past to Preserve for the Future.”

The charge was to acquire old photos and information related to Washington County with special emphasis on the area surrounding the school. Using word-of-mouth search, the group acquired information regarding the history of the county, including Woodland Lake swimming pool that was located where their school now resides. It was a popular recreation facility fondly remembered by older residents (including this writer). Jim Rhein, David Whitaker and Ron Dykes contributed an assortment of vintage photos, old advertisements and related facts regarding the former establishment.

An August 11, 1926 Jonesboro (now Jonesborough) Herald and Tribune newspaper contained a much-anticipated announcement: “Woodland Lake is now open to the public as an up-to-date pleasure resort for the people of this and other sections. Messrs. Rhein and Jackson have spared no expense in preparing this place for the pleasure and entertainment of both young and old.”

A promotional ad that same year by the Mill Spring Ice and Ice Cream Company amusingly noted, “Woodland Lake is in full operation representing an investment of several thousands of dollars. There are more than 50 ice cream containers scattered over the neighborhood, loaned to you in good faith. Will you please return them or drop us a line so we can get them? We need them badly.”

The most humorous clipping proclaimed in bold letters, “Own More Cows Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 13 (1927) at Woodland Lake, Jonesboro, Tennessee.” The Jonesboro Kiwanis Club sponsored the free event to publicize the location in Greeneville, Tennessee of Pet Milk’s Condensery (condensed milk) Plant and to urge farmers to bring milk to them to be made into dairy products to spur the economy.

After receiving pictures of the lake as it appeared in 1927, Kay’s students snapped current ones at the same location for comparison. In doing so, they located the ruins of the two original pools along the front of the property. They submitted several “then and now” photographs for an exhibition at the Jonesborough Visitor’s Center during May, National Historic Preservation Month.

Woodland Lake history began unfolding for the students: Spring Street was the site of the former Ice Plant for Jonesborough and the surrounding areas. Rudy Rhein (Jim’s father) and Jake Jackson (David’s Grandfather) co-owned the business. An ice cream shop behind the ice plant was adjacent to one of the street’s natural springs, hence the name.

Jake owned a small farm along the “Bristol to Memphis Highway,” now known as Old State Route 34, where he and his family spent their summers. About 1926, he and Rhein, operated Mill Spring Supply Company. They decided to expand their business by opening a swimming pool at that location. Subsequently, they dug a well and constructed two approximately 35-foot long pools near the highway on about six acres of farmland.

Double pools allowed one to be in operation while the other was down for emptying, cleaning and refilling, a laborsome task that occurred about every other day. Since water purification methods were crude, lifeguards heaped in heavy doses of chlorine to sanitize the water. Chlorine crystals could often be seen on the pool bottom. 

Over time, the entrepreneurs added picnic tables in the nearby woods, an L-shaped wooden change house, a concession stand that sold Mill Spring brand ice cream, a barbeque grill and an entrance booth. Admission to the pool was a quarter; a season ticket was available for $5.00. Bathing suits rented for a quarter. At the end of the day, previously leased suits were taken home by one of the owners, washed, dried and returned the next day.

Woodland Lake was well managed from the start; patrons had to be properly dressed and on their best behavior or they were asked to leave. Ice cream suppers (fund raisers) and family picnics became popular at the park. Businesses, civic clubs and church groups routinely held outings there. Former visitors to the pool warmly recall the refreshing, sometimes frigid spring water. 

In 1927-28, the owners incorporated further developments. Electricity became available; a water filter system was added, eliminating the need to alternate pool cleaning; and a combination lodge and restaurant was built that offered a fireplace, grill, jukebox, piano and dance floor for year-round evening enjoyment.

In 1929, Rhein and Jackson ended their joint business venture. Jackson assumed ownership of Woodland Lake while Rhein acquired Mill Spring Supply Company. In 1934, Rhein purchased the park and ran it until 1936 when he sold it to Fritz Brandt, a former Tennessee football standout under Coach Robert Neyland. The new owner added a bandstand and brought in local and national bands to attract customers. According to a July 14, 1938 newspaper clipping, Earl “Fatha” Hinds, a renowned jazz pianist, and his group played there. In 1947, Brandt sold the park to the American Legion who operated the pool for several years chiefly as a place of recreation for children. Several people recalled it was operated by the VFW for a period of time.

During the summers of the late 1950s and early 60s, the Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Department bussed youngsters to and from Woodland Lake on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. There was no charge for the roundtrip bus ride or swimming at the pool. In addition, the department provided additional lifeguards. Jane May was the director.

Admission to the pool by the 1960s was 50 cents. Patrons took a numbered wicker basket into the change rooms, placed their clothing and personal items in it and returned it to the attendant who stored it on a shelf for safekeeping. The pool had two spring-operated wooden diving boards, one high and one low, on the right side of the deep end that were fabricated from 2 x 10 lumber. 

In 1964, Woodland Lake was sold to Joe Ramsey who kept it operating until 1968 when the Washington County School Board acquired the property for construction of David Crockett High School. Woodland Lake’s 42-year rein of memorable community service was history.

When asked about her photography class’s plans for this year, Mrs. Grogg responded: “I would like to continue this project but on a smaller scale. We need more photos of the school property from later years. If Johnson City Press readers have any to share, we would love to scan them for our project. Call the school at (423) 753-1150.” 

A January 1930 Johnson City Chronicle newspaper clipping concerning a unique program promoted by Johnson City High School’s (Science Hill) Home Economics Department had an eye-catching title, “Menus Planned by Students for Fat Folks.”

A subtitle further stated, “Home Economics Department of Senior High Display Samples of Goodies.” The display cabinet of the Home Economics Department caused much commentary among the student body and Parent-Teachers Meeting on that Tuesday afternoon. Appetizing odors permeated the air, causing a significant number of students to crowd close to the glass door to see what was appealing to their sense of smell.

Several “oohs” and “aahs” were heard attributable to a display of delicious foods that had been arranged for students in two groups, those overweight and those underweight. Imagine that occurring today. The newspaper provided a sample of a suggested daily menu of food items (and corresponding calorie count) for each group. Quantity was not always specified.

Overweight Diet

The 200-calorie breakfast menu consisted of grapefruit (100, no sugar), black coffee (0), thin cream (50) and toast (50).

The luncheon 425-calorie offering was comprised of two bran muffins (250), beans (75) and pineapple salad (100).

The evening meal yielded 625 calories with a listing of beets (100), meatloaf (100), bran muffins (275) and asparagus on toast (150).

The overweight person’s daily count totaled 1,250 calories.

Underweight Diet

Breakfast displayed six offerings totaling 575 calories: oranges (75), bacon (100), eggs (100), milk (125), toast (50) and cornflakes topped with bananas (125).

For lunch, persons on this diet were allowed 880 calories: peas and carrots (125), graham bread (70), mousse with chocolate sauce (300), milk (125), slice of meat loaf (150) and potatoes (110).

The dinner meal contained 1,180 calories (555 more than that for those on the overweight diet) that included bran muffins (125), French cocktail (250), pineapple salad with cheese and dressing (325), tomatoes (110), cold chicken (200), spinach (80), carrots (75) and beans (15). The underweight person’s daily total came to 2,635 calories, more that twice that for the overweight person.

The plum (no pun intended) in all this was that when a person crossed the line from overweight to underweight, they were encouraged to switch diets. The lower calorie diet was supposed to reduce weight while the higher one was designed to keep students at their ideal weight.

A closer inspection revealed that the underweight crowd painfully uttered the “oohs” while the underweight ones joyfully proclaimed the “aahs.”  However, the two groups were pleased that both healthy meals were aimed at keeping students at their prescribed normal weights.

On a further note … A few weeks later, 65 members of the school’s Home Economics Club and a few guests met in the home of Miss Josephine Cloninger at 212 E. Eighth Avenue. Assisting hostesses were Misses Anna Bell St. Clair, Rhea Seaver and Edith Cox (my aunt). Several pupils from the Foods and Cookery section of the department presented an entertaining two-act program titled, “The Contrast.”

According to another newspaper clipping: “Delicious refreshments were served consisting of sandwiches (352), hot chocolate (112) and cookies (101).” Depending on the quantity consumed, the calorie count could easily have exceeded 1200. This group, who likely had a hand in developing the two school diets, was definitely not aiming the social event’s snacks at fat folks.   

During 1952-53, I was in Mrs. Fannie Taylor’s fourth grade class at Henry Johnson School opposite Kiwanis Park. She was the wife of Alf Taylor, whose father, Alf, was a former Tennessee Governor. Subjects included reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, English, geography, health, music and library. 

Mrs. Taylor had a unique talent for reading books to her students and incorporating a heavy dose of realism into each one. There were no idle minds or flickering eyelids anywhere in the class during her well-received recitations. Instead, we were kept spellbound on the edge of our seats.

One of the books she read was “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The plot involves Mary, a sickly and spoiled little girl and Colin, a pitifully lonely young invalid as the main characters. The story centered on a flower garden surrounded in mystery by a high wall containing a door that was locked and the key discarded.

Perhaps the most memorable books Mrs. Taylor read us were from the “Uncle Wiggily” series, a collection of short stories authored by Howard Garis, a prolific writer whose books became a daily favorite of youngsters because of his witty and unique writing style.

Uncle Wiggily Longears was an elderly rabbit with rheumatism. He always dressed immaculately when he went out, wearing a sports coat, trousers and a silk top hat. He wore spectacles and carried a red, white and blue walking crutch. The extraordinary animal had the ability to carry on a two-way conversation with all the forest critters. He could also understand people, but they were not able to communicate with him.

Most stories began with the aged animal leaving the comfort of his hollow stump bungalow each morning in search of an adventure. He shared his natural abode with his private nurse and housekeeper, Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, a muskrat. He usually departed each morning under Nurse Jane's stern admonition to “be careful”; “Keep your eyes open for the Woozie Wolf or the Fuzzy Fox”; and “You aren’t thinking of going out in this storm are you?” A usual daily escapade for Uncle Wiggily was encountering some person or animal that needed help and then figuring out a way to assist them in a non-threatening manner. Violence was completely unacceptable.

Some of the principal characters were (no snickering) Curly & Floppy Twisttail (pigs), Jacko & Jumpo Kinkytail (monkeys), Johnnie & Billie Bushytail (squirrels), Charlie & Arabella Chick (chickens) and Jackie & Peetie Bow Wow (dogs).

Each story ended with Garis’s unique “and if” promotion for the next exciting exploit, an example being “and if the sunflower doesn't shine so brightly in the eyes of the potato that it can't see to get out of the oven, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggily and (the next adventure).

The company issued several soft back books containing ten Uncle Wiggily adventures: “Uncle Wiggily Starts Off,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Paper Boat,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Troublesome Boys,” “Uncle Wiggily and Granddaddy Longlegs,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Black Cricket,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Milkman,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Cowbird,” “Uncle Wiggily and the Starfish” and “Uncle Wiggily and the Red Monkey.”

Mrs. Taylor was one of the most memorable teachers I had during my formative school years. Let me conclude with a Garis-like ending: “And if the two salty over-light eggs can keep from overcooking on the plate from hot runny buttered grits and sizzling smoked bacon strips,” next week I will tell you about a Tweetsie Railroad happening in 1941. 

A few weeks ago, about 200 SHHS alumni from the classes of 1959-60-61 celebrated a milestone “50-year” reunion. The dinner meeting was held at the Johnson City Country Club. Tim Jones, moderator of the event, had me give a short history talk. Several classmates requested that I reproduce it in my column. This is the text from my talk:

“We are about to embark on a sad yet nostalgic memory tour of the old downtown Science Hill High School. It is early 1979 and the big building on “The Hill” is just days from demolition. As we ascend the 88 steps between Roan Street and the front door, our minds drift back to 1960. We initially observe the Daniel Boone Trail Marker to our left and the school’s Tennessee Historical Marker on our right.

“Just before entering the school, we respectfully pause long enough to observe a group of ROTC students raising the American flag on the flagpole while the National Anthem is played over loud speakers. We enter the creaky front door and stroll down the quiet, chilly, musty, hallways.

“As we amble along the ground floor, we glance into the ROTC drill hall where we see Captain John Culpepper. He recently replaced Captain Charles East as PMS&T. One company is practicing drill formations. We recall the time when Willie Muston, the school’s jovial custodian, entered the drill hall just as a volley of M-1 rifle blanks were being fired. It took him ten minutes to recover from the blast. The students never let him forget it. Everybody loved Willie.

“Moving forward, we approach Thomas Boles’ classroom 18 and detect music being played. Then, we smell the aroma of food being prepared in home economics room 16 under the direction of Hattie Hunt. The next stop is Paul Slonaker’s room 10, which is used to teach industrial arts and mechanical drawing. Adjacent rooms, 12 and 13, are intended for English, languages and ROTC.

“We enter the cafeteria and find Mary DeGroat and her staff preparing lunch. We grab a tray of food. We can eat in the cafeteria, drill hall or gym. Maybe during lunch, we will hear Bill Sell bellow out his famous Tarzan yell to the delight of students and the chagrin of teachers.

“We go up the stairs to the second or main floor and immediately pass C. Howard McCorkle’s (Superintendent) and George Greenwell’s (Principal) offices. Across the hall are Dessie Payne’s Library, the auditorium and study hall. We peek in room 26 where Grace Bradshaw (world history) is attempting to make the subject palatable to her students. Room 25 reveals the presence of Howard Dyer (math, general business). Room 23, overlooking the grassy courtyard between the school and gym, belongs to petite Mary Crocker (English). Next, we see J.F. Copp (math) walking around assisting students. Who is that teacher standing beside his door looking in? It is Pauline Ritchie (English).

“Let’s mosey into the gym where we spot Sidney Smallwood (Athletic Director). Coaches are Bill Wilkins (basketball), Kermit Tipton (football) and John Broyles (baseball). Dick Ellis offers play-by-play broadcasts of many Topper games over WJHL radio. Before leaving the gym, let’s not forget the ROTC ball. It is a night of company rivalry, enjoyment for cadets and their dates and a time of promotions for selected cadets entering their senior year.

“Additional classrooms are located on the third floor: Earl Lane (geography, business arithmetic, boys’ gym), Cot Presnell (biology, football, golf), Dorothy Broyles (English), Juanita Jones (English), Ruth McPherson (biology, physics), Bill Wilkins (economics, sociology), Bob Evans (driver’s education), Nona Siler (History), Estelle Thompson (Spanish), Frank Tannewitz (typing), Zeb Presnell (chemistry), Louise Huddle (art) and Warren Weddle (band).

“Sadly, it is time for us to say goodbye to ‘The Hill’ one final time. The building we cherish so much is soon coming down. The city can raze our favorite school, but they cannot destroy our beloved memories of it. After 50 years, we still miss you, old Science Hill. You served us well.”  

Science Hill High School’s classes of 1959-60-61 will celebrate a joint reunion on July 9-10. During the three senior years from a half-century ago, the city proposed, approved and constructed a new high school building along John Exum Parkway.

The old name was retained, although the new sprawling complex was not located on a hill. On June 2, the class of 1961 became the first to graduate from the new facility, having relocated there just three months prior. Three Hilltop newspapers from that era offer a nostalgic peek of school life. Sadly, several mentioned alumni are now deceased.

          1958-59: James White, Editor 

Through a school-wide election, seniors Roy Chatman and Carol Carr became the first “Mr. and Miss Science Hill High School.” He was chosen as the most athletic boy of the Senior Class and she was captain of the cheerleading squad and sweetheart of the Key Club.

The junior/senior prom held in the gym carried the theme, “Treasure Island,” with the local Joe Henley Band providing music. Guest dates had to be approved by a special board comprised of faculty and students. Mrs. Ruth McPherson was designated sponsor.

Under “Fads ‘n Fashions,” Lou Ann Siler reported seeing Jud Mast wearing bright orange pants and a shirt to match, Smitty Mast adorning a cinnamon colored shirt and pants, Betsy Harmon in a cute plaid vest and Nancy Gregg decked out in a Valentine’s Day red blouse. 

The Hilltop made several popular song dedications to students and staff: “Tragedy,” Brenda Greene; “Hurtin’ Inside,” Lana Sharp; “Alvin’s Harmonica,” Mr. Weddle and the SHHS Band; “South of the Border,” Jean Arthur Woods and her Girl Scout Troop; and “Please Love Me Forever,” Jimmy Snyder.

The “Boy and Girl of the Month” picks were Eddie Washburn and Joann Crowe: Eddie enjoyed sports especially football, while Joann favored basketball. Seniors on the baseball team were Sammy Broyles, Bob Bryan, Delbert Carroll, Bobby Little and Jim Phipps.

Larry Carroll penned a poignant four-stanza poem titled “Some Things Remembered.” The first one read, “Some things remembered, From childhood to old, The spring with its flowers, And Winters so Cold.”

Several T&I (Trade & Industrial) Education Club members extolled the organization: Gordon Jenkins, Brenda Greene, Pat Dempsey, Charlotte Bowers, Martha Richardson, Wayne Dyer, Carol Ann Whitlock, John Webb, Robert Johnson, Bonnie Hicks, Patsy Goode and Marie Morgan. 

1959-60: Ann Scott, Editor 

Senior class members and faculty chose Diane Burkhalter to receive the 1960 DAR award, based on her leadership, scholarship and citizenship qualities.

The seniors presented a talent show, “The Click Dart Show” that was derived from the hit television program, “The Dick Clark Show.” It was written by Brenda Greene and sponsored by Beechnut baby foods. David Newell and Mackey Therrell received honorable mention.

The Key Club had a banner year with regard to fund raising and social and service projects. The group celebrated at Betty Gayle Young’s cabin on Boone Lake for an evening capped off with stunning fireworks. The Jr. Civitan Club’s annual fruitcake sale was a huge success with 2500 pounds of the sweet delicacy sold.

ROTC sponsors were Lt. Colonel Judy McKinney; Major Janice Taylor; Captains Joan Haire, Ann Scott, Mary Charles Williams, Pat Muse and Carol Alexander; Lieutenants Harriet Baker, Carol Montgomery, Frances Wood and Betty Miles.

The Topper’s beat Kingsport in basketball by a score of 55 to 51, giving Coach Bill Wilkins his first win over the D.B. Indians in six years. Players mentioned were Steve Wilson, Graham Spurrier, Gary Scheuerman, Bob France, Finley Cook, Larry Miller and Al Ferguson.

A section titled, “Tonto Says” offered several clever musings: “Eddie no bakes, Eddie no fries, Eddie Broyles. Patsy no ancient, Patsy no old, Patsy Young. Walter no bear, Walter no rabbit, Walter Beaver. Calvin no snap, Calvin no pop, Calvin Click. Fulton no few, Fulton no less, Fulton Moore.”

Mrs. W. Shumate thoughtfully dedicated a book, “The Story Behind Popular Songs” by Elizabeth Montgomery, to the school library in memory of classmate Eddie Moore.  

1960-61: Monty Shoun, Editor

 Dr. William S. Steele, pastor of Munsey Memorial Church, conducted the Baccalaureate service on Sunday, May 28 at the new school gym. Graduation followed on Friday night, June 2.

Seniors receiving awards were Graham Norman, Manhood; Betsy Harmon, DAR; Carolyn Ledford, First Honors; Tommy Grogg, Second Honors; Booney Vance, Athletic; Lorna Hampton, Spanish; Kathy Golden, Business; Sharon Hite, T&I; Janice Loudy, Intramural; and Rosalie Berry, Latin.

The “Senior Alphabet” identified 26 students such as A-dorable, Jean Senter; C-ute, Carol Bolton; D-elightful, Mary Perkins; H-andsome, Kip Carr; I-deal, Buddy Talley; O-bedient, Dan Mahoney; and Z-estful, Judy Spiro.

The Roving Reporter asked students what they will miss about their high school years: “being in the senior play, Tom Wilkerson; fussing and fighting with my friends, Nancy Smalling; going to ballgames and yelling my head off, Carolyn Wishon; and getting up at the crack of dawn, Marianne Hale.”

Another section, “Lend an Ear” offered advice from seniors to juniors: “Study hard and don’t put off until the last minute, Marcia Lawson; Have fun and don’t study too hard, Sarah Hagood; Place the things of real importance first, Susan Shields; and keep cool but do not freeze, Booney Vance (quoting from a mayonnaise jar).

Five drill squads, one from each company, practiced from about 6:30 to 8:00 each weekday morning in preparation for competition at the ROTC Ball. Leaders (and squads) were Freddie Sharpe (Drum and Bugle Corps), David Allen (“A”), Jud Mast (“B”), Bill Wood (“C”) and John Price (“D”).

Several students shared their most exciting moments in high school: “named Key Club Sweetheart, Carol Ann Greene; first date with a Yankee, Nancy Lee Worley; tying Kingsport in football, Jerry Jones; graduation, Judy Leach; and running an intercepted pass back 75 yards for a touchdown against Bristol, Fred Deneen.”

Many students likely recall the friendly, jovial school custodian, affectionately known as “Willie.” Graham Spurrier identified his last name as Muston.

(Note: Bob Cox is an alumni of SHHS’s class of 1961.) 

On January 25, I wrote about the collapse of White Rock Summit in 1882 that terrified the roughly 750 townspeople living nearby. The event was reported in several newspapers around the country.

My conjecture at that time was that the beautiful White Rock we know today is a small component of a once enormous, impressive rock formation. To the rescue came Ted Thomas, associate professor of humanities, history and German at Milligan College. Dr. Thomas located an entry written by a student, James B. Lyons, in the June, 1884 edition of The Milligan Mentor that spoke of a campus group who two months prior had hiked to White Rock for a day’s outing.

According to the publication: “After eating our dinners on the highest peak and spending a few hours rambling around through the laurels and rocks, gathering botanic specimens, we started homeward, coming down the track of ruin caused by the fall of the great ‘White Rock.’ We reached the college just in time to see the glowing sun sink behind the western hills. … If we should search the world over from the ‘Vale of Tempe’ to the California Yosemite, we might find scenes more ruggedly sublime but none more beautiful and fair or breathe the spirit of a purer air.”

Dr. Thomas is the faculty sponsor for Phi Alpha Theta, a national honorary history society that was organized on the campus in 2001. Students, faculty and selected others receive an impressive e-mail each weekday titled, “Today in Milligan History.” My paraphrased brief of the contents of several 2010 Phi Alpha Theta newsletters illustrates a broad diversity of topics from the college as well as selected regional, state and national events:

1750 Dr. Thomas Walker explored the region east of Kingsport, encountering a massive 25-foot diameter elm tree.

1785 John Sevier took the oath of office as the Governor of the short-lived State of Franklin.

1864 Col. Nathaniel Greene Taylor appealed for financial and physical aid for Union loyalists in East Tennessee.

1912 U.S. Senator Robert “Our Bob” Taylor died at 9:40 a.m. in Providence Hospital in Washington, DC of complications related to gall bladder surgery.

1919 Thousands of friends and relatives were on hand to greet the troops coming home from World War I, arriving in Johnson City by train.

1935 Josephus Hopwood, founder and president of Buffalo Male and Female Institute (later renamed Milligan College), died at his “Hill Beautiful” Tennessee home.

1942 The “dormitory boys” of Milligan College became willing volunteers to the U.S. Forest Service by fighting forest fires in Sullivan, Johnson, and Carter counties.

1943 The Tennessee Army Reserve issued a call to report for active duty, affecting 11 Milligan College students. That same year, the stark reality of World War II saddened the school with news of the death of alumnus U.S. Navy Ensign Chad Gillenwater. 

1953 Milligan College’s 55-voice Concert Choir began a spring tour beginning with a caravan of nine cars driving to Atlanta for the Southern Christian Convention.

1989 The college approved the purchase of the Taylor property – a cow pasture located adjacent to the baseball field – that once belonged to Tennessee Governor Alf Taylor.

2006 The school announced that for the sixth time in seven years the school’s nursing graduates had a 100% pass rate for the National Licensure Examination.

2007 Eight students were placed on the Dean’s List Select after having achieved a 4.0 grade point average for two successive semesters.

I wish to thank Dr. Thomas and Phi Alpha Theta for significantly corroborating the 1882 rockslide report.  

Glenn Stroup recently commented on my Science Hill High School Key Club article. He was mentioned in it as being a charter member when the club reorganized in 1949 after a hiatus during the World War II years.

Club members were (photo, l to r, f to b): 1- Bob Spencer, Tommy Coleman (V. Pres.), Delbert Marks (Tres.), Darrell Mullins (Pres.), Charles Day (Sec.), George Crisp. 2- Jimmy Overbay, Robert Moffitt, Jimmy Seehorn, Jim Greene, Robert McFall, Teddy Ottinger. 3- Ambers Wilson, Charles Stamm, Jim Berry, Reuben Treadway, Glenn Stroup.

Glenn noted that the Key Club was not the only student organization sponsored by a civic club; the Junior Civitan Club operated under the watchful eye of the local Civitan Club.

“Both groups were not social clubs, although we had social events,” said Glenn. “We were more oriented toward public service. We helped the parent civic clubs in their charity activities and sometimes attended their luncheon or dinner meetings. I recall that most of those were held at the John Sevier Hotel or the Peerless Steak House. There was a plethora of clubs and activities in school back then, all encouraged and supported by faculty and staff. We had activities that were extensions of classes such as Band, Orchestra, ROTC and Glee Club.”

Stroup examined his Science Hill annuals to identify some of the clubs of 60 years ago. Several of them were exclusively male or female organizations. The clubs (and sponsors) that he remembered were …

The Y-Teen Club (Nona Siler, boys only), Hi-Y Club (Frank Tannewitz, girls only), Library Service Club, T & I Club (Cecil King), Camera Club (Eddie LaSueur, president), Auditorium Club (appears the entire school was a member of it), FHA (no boys), Red Cross Club (apparently only for girls), Folk Dancing Club (only one boy visible in the photo), Allied Youth Club (Ruth McPherson), National Forensic League (a major influence in schools then), Drama Club (consisted of separate senior, junior and sophomore clubs), Girls' Athletic Club (obviously girls only), Rod and Gun Club (boys and girls, most famous classmate was journalist Bill Kovach, president), Football Club (obviously all male with another famous classmate: Big League baseball player, Joe McClain, president), Archery Club, Boys' and Girls' Swimming Clubs (two clubs) and finally, a Boys' and Girls' Chorus.

“I think our schools today have lost a lot by not having a wide range of clubs and activities,” said Stroup. “The old administrations were much more flexible and clubs could be created and discontinued rather quickly. My personal resume in the 1951 annual shows membership in the ‘Radio Announcers Club,’ which is not one of those listed in the Annual. I also have a 1950 Annual and note that there were a couple of clubs that year that did not show up in 1951.

“For example, 1950 shows a Latin Club as well as a Projection Club. I belonged to the latter one that sometimes enabled students to earn some money. Once trained, the person could volunteer to show movies at night meetings of various organizations and get paid for it. I did that for civic clubs and The Unaka Rod and Gun Club.” Glenn said that he planned to discuss the subject of school clubs at his next 1951 quarterly social.

The former Key Clubber suggested that I write a column about local bands and musicians from the 1940s and 50s: “We know that Mr. Weddle, the Science Hill Band director, played drums for a nationally known band and that George Eiche, Sr. of George's Men’s Shop had played professionally.”

Send me any information you have about local bands and I will include it in a future column. 

On July 19, 1959, I received a letter from the president of the Science Hill High School Key Club, a student all male organization sponsored by the city’s Kiwanis Club, inviting me to join this group.  

The Key Club was under the strong guidance of the school’s PMST (Professor of Military Science and Tactics), Captain John Culpepper. Student officers during my junior year were Johnny Starnes (pres.), Guy Wilson (v.p.), Eddie Broyles (sec.) and Eddie Washburn (treas.). Our club sweetheart was Betty Gale Young. Senior year officers were Bill Wood (pres.), Kip Carr (v.p.), Butch Tysinger (sec.), and Howard Cothran (treas). The club sweetheart was Carol Ann Greene.

Initially, we met once a month at the Broadway Court Restaurant on North Roan. Later, we briefly switched to the Derby Grill on West Market and finally settled down at Dinty Moore’s Restaurant on E. Market. Our club’s mission somewhat mirrored that of our parent club; we were a service club interested in promoting our high school.

Each month, the Kiwanis Club invited a Key Clubber to attend its meeting at the John Sevier Hotel, which was a quick dash across Roan Street. I vividly recall the meeting I attended mainly because the guest speaker was the colorful Fire Chief L.L. Geisler, who delivered a brief message promoting “Fire Prevention Week,” which began that week. The Johnson City Press-Chronicle gave a brief write-up about it the next day. 

Capt. Robert Wilson showed a film entitled, “Before They Happen,” depicting the efforts to prevent and minimize fires. Howard White, club president, praised Chief Geisler for his long record of service noting that Johnson City had less fire loss than any city in the nation. Guests were then introduced that included Dr. Fred McCune of Johnson City, Dick Owen of the Training School Key Club and myself.

According to a 1934 school newspaper article, the first Key Club at Science Hill was formed in 1933 with H.A. Lee and Roy Bigelow serving as school advisors. Student officers that year were Joe Jamison (pres.), Phil Carr (v.p.), Bill Willien (recording sec.), Leonard Bevis (corresponding sec.) and Carl Marshall (treas.).

The organization had three stated objectives: foster vocational guidance, train members in correct parliamentary procedure and have fellowship. Club organizers sent out questionnaires to 15 high schools all over the country where similar clubs existed. Feedback was used to help prepare the club’s Constitution and outline club activities.

A 1949 newspaper article suggests that the Key Club was dropped sometime between 1935 and 1948, most likely during the war years when so many male students entered military service. The 1949 clipping speaks of the Kiwanis Club organizing a Key Club at SHHS that year. The committee, headed by Sam Grogg and assisted by Steve Lacy, Joe Cox, Ed Wright and John McKell, met frequently with Principal Howard McCorkle to establish the club. 

Charter members were Darrell Mullins (pres.); Tommy Coleman (v.p.); Charles Day (sec.); Selbert Marks (treas.); Glenn Stroup; Robert Moffatt; Leddy Alan Ottinger; Robert Lee Spencer; George Crisp, Jr.; Jimmy Seehorn, Jr.; Ambers Wilson, Jr.; Charles Fredrick Stamm; Jim R. Green; James Roland Berry; Reuben Treadway; Clarence Willard Sapp; Bob McFall; and Jim Overbay. To celebrate the occasion, a joint dinner meeting was held with Kiwanis Club members, Key Clubbers and their parents.

Sadly, school officials tell me that the Key Club ceased operation again several years ago. Perhaps this laudable organization will spring forth a third time to benefit future generations of high school students, both male and female. 

I fondly recall going to basketball games in the old Science Hill High School gymnasium that stood atop “The Hill” in downtown Johnson City. I attended the last games held at that site before the school moved to the John Exum Parkway location. Coach Bill Wilkins’ starters were Steve Wilson, Gary Scheuerman, Finley Cook, Graham Spurrier and Bobby France.

A Nov. 22, 1939 issue of the school’s monthly student newspaper, The Hilltop, had some exciting news for faculty and staff. A new gym had been built on the east side of the school and plans were underway for its use. Under the heading “Grads to Return for Dedication,” the publication noted that the new addition was ready for its very first official event by alumni.

Former living graduates were invited to the special homecoming and urged to “come with bells on.” The invitation humorously said that “old-timers of multitudinous descriptions – tall, short, fat, skinny, cross-eyed, bowlegged, pigeon-toed, freckled, pretty, ugly, baldheaded, smart and many dumb – would overrun the facility on December 15.”

The Toppers were scheduled to play their first home basketball game against Bristol. Prior to the tip-off, a dedication ceremony was planned. The paper assured both current seniors and former graduates that they would find the occasion to be one of much enjoyment. “So students, take heed”, it said, “and be sure and come to the ballgame, but don’t believe all the stories that those alumni are sure to tell.”

A group of class representatives and PTA members served on the committee and were charged with planning the festivities to insure that the interests of all parties were represented. They stressed the fact that the event would be entirely a school affair and therefore would feature games that everyone enjoyed.

A decision was made to use both the school cafeteria and the gym in order to provide table games such as ping-pong. Refreshments were described as “simple yet plentiful, which is, after all, what counts.”

The student body stressed again, as it had many times before, that it wanted an active social program at the school. The students were reassured to know that the committee was composed of students, parents and teachers, all working toward the goal of producing a social program of merit comparable to the educational and athletic excellency that marked their school.

Football season was over and basketball was about to begin. Coach Denver Dyer was back at the helm after an absence of a year. Dyer had wrestled with the huge task of shaping a group of promising yet inexperienced athletes into an effective team. He had only one letterman, Allen Chandler, returning from the previous year. The Topper fans looked on the bright side and saw plenty of promising material on the current squad.

Joe Summers and Charles Roller returned from the previous year’s squad and a new group of players had entered the school from Junior High School. Adding to this group were performers from the Training School, giving the team a fighting chance to show up favorably that year.

 The schedule through Christmas was Happy Valley, Dec. 5 (away); Mountain City, Dec. 8 (away); Blountville, Dec. 12 (away); Bristol, Dec. 15 (home); and Blountville, Dec. 19 (home).

When the old school was demolished in early 1979, the gym complex was spared the same fate. But after standing idle for several years, it sadly met its fate in 2000 after an encounter with a wrecking ball.