Charleston Had It All #77 Prof. Earl Crader &
Mississippi Co. School Busing Part VII
By Mildred Reeves Burnett
June 19, 1941—The Charleston Democrat
Anniston School Routes Re-approved
“…At the school transportation meeting last Wednesday, high school inspector fully approved the same routes it has served for the past several years….The buses on these routes will transport high school pupils from Deventer and Upper and Lower Crosno school districts, and other districts south of Anniston. Other districts included are Concord, Henson, Samos, Fox, and Woolridge…”
July 17, 1941—The Charleston Democrat
Diehlstadt Buys 42-Passenger Bus
The Diehlstadt Board of Education met Monday night and employed nine bus drivers to drive the coming school term. They are Henry Hurt, L. C. Kirkpatrick, Hascal Bowman, A. B. Summers, C. J. Powell, Max Michael, Joe Bush, and Theodore Linebaugh. The board recently purchased a 42-passenger Chevrolet School Bus. Nine Diehlstadt school busses will serve the school people this coming school season.
August 7, 1941 The Enterprise-Courier
C.H.S. Issues a Book Inviting Rural Students
“An attractive 16 page booklet has been issued by Charleston Consolidated Schools directed to prospective Grade and High School students in this trade area inviting them to inspect the educational facilities of the local white and negro school plants…”
August 14, 1941—The Enterprise-Courier
“Diehlstadt School Will Open Aug. 25
“Neighboring Consolidated School to Start 20th Year…and Will Operate 10 Buses in District
By Earl E. Crader Superintendent
“The Diehlstadt High School will start its 20th school year Monday, August 25. This institution is a fully accredited four-year high school and is approved by the State Department of Education as a school of the First Class… A total of ten Diehlstadt school buses will serve the school people of Scott and Mississippi Counties …
“Shop foreman Ed Swan has thoroughly overhauled all buses which have been in service heretofore and expects to add large service heaters later to provide more comfort in cold weather. [Gilbert “Sonny” Shanley said, “There was a large shed where buses were parked half- way in and half- way out being worked on at various stages by several mechanics. Students were not allowed to go near. However, some interested and naturally curious boys hung around there from time to time.”] 1
“Diehlstadt High School points with pride to this far-flung bus program and expects to stand aside for no one when it comes to student transportation service… There are no fees, no dues—plain buildings, just a Scott-Mississippi County rural school built by the rural people of Scott and Mississippi Counties.”
August 21, 1941—The Charleston Democrat
“Anniston School to Open Monday August 25…
“A new school bus has been purchased…”
August 28, 1941— Excerpts from The Charleston Democrat
Dealstadt School Enrolls 160 Pupils From Mississippi County
“…Three counties and thirty different school districts are represented in the Diehlstadt High School student body, divided as follows: 160 students from Mississippi County, 114 from Scott County, and 4 from New Madrid County.
“The enrollment from Mississippi County is as follows: Wyatt 18, Bertrand 14, Dogwood 13, Bridges 23, Bement 7, Woolridge 3, Lower Dogwood 6, Armer 15, Millar 1, Texas Bend 7, Birds Mill 7, Fish Lake 2, Rushes Ridge 10, Russell 8, Birds Point 7, Grigsby 4, Fox 6 Norfolk 2, Big Lake 2, Charleston 4, and Anniston 1.”
Total enrollment was 278 - a record. The year before was 240.
Lincoln School To Open Sept. 1
By C.F. Bowden, Superintendent
“The attention of all parents, patrons, and friends of Lincoln School is called to the opening of the regular term of school…
“We are happy to announce this year we will have free transportation for our boys and girls of high school rating. All preliminary arrangements have been made and our county superintendent made an announcement to that fact, of free transportation service at one of our assembly programs during our session of the Extension of Summer School.
I feel sure that the parents are particularly interested in this because of the possibilities of more of their boys and girls furthering their education by attending high school…
I am reasonably sure that the route will be as it was last year possibly with the exception of Belmont. That distance will be taken up with the route to pick up the children from Windyville…
“We are especially proud of the new kitchen, which we are getting to serve our ‘hot lunch’ program. Children who have not been able to have hot lunches will have that privilege…”
Aug. 28. 1941—The Enterprise-Courier
“Larger Enrollment Reported At CHS Which Will Open Fall Term Monday
“Increased enrollment, due in part at least to the addition of modern school busses and to the fact that new courses are being offered, has been reported for Charleston Consolidated School by Superintendent A. D. Simpson…
Voc. Ag. Popular
“Twenty- two students from rural districts and 16 boys from Charleston have enrolled for the new course in Shop Work and Vocational Agriculture here, according to Mr. Simpson’s figures.
“Registrations at the High School… show a small increase over last year’s total enrollment.
“Sixty high school students from Crosno, Deventer, Concord, Grigsby, Wyatt, Norfolk, Big Lake, Henson, Thompson’s Bend, Russell, Bertrand, Fox, and Wool Ridge districts were registered.
“Registration by classes as follows: Seniors, 42; Juniors, 58; Sophomores, 58; Freshmen, 63. Total 221…
1 Info- Gilbert “Sonny” Shanley of Shreveport Louisiana, who was born and raised in Diehlstadt, telephone interview, June 19, 2007.
To Be Continued |