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They built a new high school. Torn down the old one I attended for two years. The old school grounds had a football stadium, baseball field and a detached gym as well as an elementary school. Progress through the years as a new school is almost completed at the East Lincoln Street site. The only original building that will remain is the old Industrial shop .
My first job one summer was hitting baseballs and softballs up against the brick shop wall. We were testing them for durability. Some would tear up in two or three hits while others took many hits to damage. Eighteen dollars for that week's work.
The old elementary school, grades 1 through 6 holds some special times in my early childhood. It also holds some low points. Played hooky one time and got caught. Worked in the lunch room for a free meal. Remember my first kiss near the school. Play tackle football at recess on a cinder field. Broke a classmate's leg during a tackle. Push another classmate off the porch down onto some bicycles 8 feet below. He tried to drown me while I was learning to swim. At the time it was justified?? Appointed a school crossing guard the next year after the hooky ordeal. I was the only one of four who didn't get a paddling. The principle caught me coming after class to get Bobby's new bike the day we played hooky. That didn't go as planned. " Hey Nick I'll let you ride my new bike if you will go to school and get it for me." You BIG DUMMY!!
My late brother, Frank was starting school at East Lincoln. We lived about four blocks away from the school. Mother walked Frank to school that first day and got him into his room. Frank was crying and didn't want to go to school. When Mom returned home Frank was setting on the front porch still crying. He took a short cut home through the woods. Mom whipped him all the way back to school. After about two days of this Frank decided he better get an education.
The new school can be seen it the back ground of the photo. I hope it will through the years create memories for students in the future. Buildings can be hazes to the ground but fond memories from childhood will remain for ever.
Say it isn't so?? Our old landmarks are being torn down. The old Geneso building on the corner of Anderson and Carrol street has been hazed. It sad to see this old building leaving it's home since 1934. The land was originally donated by the late John W. Harton to the city of Tullahoma with the stipulation that the city would bring a manufacturing plant to Tullahoma. General Shoe Corporation had said it would be interested in a shoe plant in the town if provide with a building. During the depression the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. Employment just barely existed. A government grant was available for $100,000 for a civic center. The sly maneuver by the Mayor and alderman to apply for the grant as a civic center till the building was completed and then turn it over to General Shoe. The local banks found out that the building wasn't going to cost $100,000 but would only cost $60,000. To not try to deceive the Federal government the four local banks agreed to share in the $60,000 loan to the city. Those banks were First National, Traders, Farmers and Merchants.
The city signed a lease in 1934 with General Shoe for $1.00 a year rent on the building. General Shoe flourished as Tullahoma largest employer during the depression days and was given credit as Tullahoma saviour from bankruptcy. The General Shoe became Geneso and employed many people through the years in and around Tullahoma. Additions to the building in both 1939 and 1945 increased production to an all time high.
I recall many people through the years working at Gensco. My late father-in-law comes to mind.
The doors were finally closed in 2000 when SAS or San Antonio Shoe ceased operation at the building. My brother-in-law, Ned Hindman was the plant manager.
Progress will go on at the site but many people that still are alive will have many memories of those good days of working at Gensco. They had their own newspaper and held many social events for their employees and the town through the years.
GOOD BYE OLD FRIEND.................
People talk about plans on what they want to do some day. I think we all have had some strange ideas we want to accomplish in the future. I always laughed at a guy who worked with me for many years. Ronnie always talked about having a place on the river and living in a tent. He would bring this up many times over the years when his rent went up or he received a high electric bill. I would agree with him and say, " Yeah, one of these days??"
My sister had told me about Ronnie's place down on the Duck River several years ago. She had told me they were having a family get together at his place for the Fourth of July. On the spur of the moment I decided to see if I could located Ronnie's Roost.
A scenic drive down through the Cascade Hollow, home of the George Dickel Distillery. Around here if you don't know JACK you might know GEORGE. After a short drive you arrive in a very small town, Normandy. The only thing going on was a place in the middle of the town square renting kayaks. I soon passed my landmark; the fire hall and found the first turn off the main road onto Ronnie's Roost. Down a short steep incline and under Ronnie's sign announcing your arrival. High on the hill on my left was his herd of goats in their fenced in area. Chickens and ducks walked close to the road and I got a chuckle out of the signs posted.....Chicken Crossing...Duck Crossing. A fenced in area on my right was full of young ducks and a large white dog with a gruffy bark. Soon I came into a open field with a few cars and trucks parked. I parked my truck and was out walking to an area where some people were seated in lawn chairs near the rapid flowing river with a large home built table nearby with a covering over the top of it.
High on the hill on my left I heard Ronnie's voice asking," Who in the world is that walking up to the people seated near the river's edge." It didn't take him long to figure out who I was. " Hey, Nick come on up to the cabin and I'll show you around." The climb up to the cabin was steep and rocky but I didn't have a lot of trouble reaching the porch of the cabin where his wife and another woman were seated. We shook hands and he began to tell me all about his roost. Almost all the work was done by Ronnie using used building materials he had accumulated over the years. The small cabin wasn't the only structure on the land. He could tell you where all the materials came from in each structure. After showing me the small one room cabin with a bed, wood stove and a table.....Nick I have no electric bill, water bill or sewer bill here on my four acres. We walked a little ways to his newly planted peach and apple orchard. I want to show you my outhouse. He explained that he thought about building an old fashion out house but changed his mind......Maybe Brenda changed his mind. We entered a small building with a bunk bed by the window. A door opened to the bathroom with a commode. Four buckets of river water sat on the floor for the flush cycle. He had some barrels filled with stone as the septic system hidden in the ground.
Ronnie was upset because the river was flowing at a high rate. TVA was releasing water at the dam about a half mile away from all the heavy rains we have been having. Fishing and swimming wasn't going to be happening this weekend. His oldest son arrived and told me if his mom died first he was sure his Dad would stay here on the river full time.
Yes, Ronnie had talked big about his plans to have a place on the river many years ago. He had accomplished his dreams. Way to go Ronnie!!!
