MIDWAY (Durham-Reydon)
MIDWAY,
a post office from June 1924 to June 15, 1930 and
located midway between
The Midway School that is located midway between Reydon and Durham was formed by six districts (Pleasant View, Hamburg, Creston, Bacholer, Locust Grove and Liberty) in 1920. The vote was 65 for consolidation and 18 votes against. On July 6, 1920 it was official. Ed H. Williams was elected Director of the district, T Harry Garver was elected Clerk and Matt H. Shaw was elected as a Member.
They moved the old one-room buildings to the location and had the first term of school in 1920-1921. As usual, there was some opposition, and one night four of the old frame buildings burned to the ground. The opposing forces underestimated the determination of those in favor and bonds were voted, a brick building built and Midway was on its way. Alvin Moore was Superintendent, T.H. Garver, Ed Williams, Matt Shaw and J.T. Owens were some of the early school board members who pushed the consolidation through.
The town of Midway had two grocery stores, Boigegrains and Bessiers, a post office, backsmith shop and several homes besides the two old school buildings that did not burn were converted into living quarters for the teachers.
The school buses were farmers’ trucks with covered beds, canvas curtains that rolled up and a step built on the back. A board, 1x12 on each side and up the center formed benches to sit on. If the school bus driver did not watch, some of the more daring boys or girls would ride standing on the step hanging to the back of the bus. One girl was continually reprimanded for this until finally the school board took it up with hr father. He remarked that it wouldn’t be so bad if she fell off and got killed, but if she got hurt there would be a hell of a doctor bill.
Eighth grade exams were something we all studied hard to pass. They were given by the County Superintendent and you had to pass them to go on to high school. Needless to say, a lot of boys and girls dropped out of school rather than even take the test. A very small percentage of first graders finished high school and it was indeed rare for anyone to go on to college. We didn’t realize how very privileged we really were to go on to college in the thirties.
In 1925-26 there wasn’t enough money to have the entire school go eight months to qualify for four year high school credits, so the grade school was dismissed at seven months and the high school students furnished their own transportation for another month. Some went horseback, some walked and some went in one-horse carts.
We had several years of graduating classes, but in 1931 we didn’t have enough students to qualify for a credited high school. Reydon was born with the coming of the railroad and by 1936, Rankin and Midway had combined high schools. Midway survived a few years as a grade school, then it went to Reydon. All that is left of what used to be a progressive school and community are some cement steps and a few trees, three and one-half miles north of Reydon.
Another time a group of high school students decided to play hooky on April Fool. They stole some chickens from an old bachelor who lived near the school. The next day Mr. Moore marched them single file, army style, to the farmer and made them hand over a quarter apiece.
Midway School was used for voting, church services, singing schools, funerals and all community activities plus a silent movie every Tuesday night. Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix and the Lone Ranger were very much a part of our lives. The serial which left the beautiful blonde tied to the tracks of an on coming train – we could hardly wait until the following week when she would be dropped in a deep well or some other impossible situation.
{written
by Elma
Garver Spencer,
1920-21 Alvin Moore, Zella Jackson, Claudia Rose
Board Ed H. Williams, T.H. Garver, M.H. Shaw
1921-22
Teachers Alvin Moore, Flora Moore, Claudia Rose, Sara Shaw
Board E.D. Williams, T.H. Garver, M.H. Shaw
1922-23 Census 215
Teachers Alvin Moore, C.M. Rose, Sarah Mae Shaw, Pyrle Jackson, Zella Mae Swopes
Board E.H. Williams, T.H. Garver, R.E. Boigegrain
1923-24
Teachers J.B. Austin, Ray Garrison, Pyrle Jackson, Sara Shaw
Board R.N. Cox, R.E. Boigegrain, J.T. Owens
1924-25 Census 215
Teachers Josh B. Austin, Ray Garrison, Rosa Newkirk, Beulah Taylor, Sara Shaw
Board F.M. Benton, R.E. Goigegrain, J.T. Owens
1925-26 Census 201
Teachers T.E. Tippens, Mrs. Ruth Tippens, Miriam Rector, John Dickason, Clara Lozier, Mary E.Flick
Board F.M. Benton, R.E. Goigegrain, J.T. Owens
1926-27 Census 249
Teachers T.E. Tippens, Mary Flick, Alice Shelton, Onis Cox, Francis Massey, Ocie Cowling
Board Jesse Kennison, Henry Barbee, J.T. Owens
1927-28 Census 244
Teachers Everett Arney, Grace Reynolds, Saunders Davis, Eula Wilson, Cora Lyles, Mrs. Everett Arney
Board Jess Kennison, Henry E. Barbee, Sam Berry
1928-29 Census 238
Teachers Everett Arney, Mrs. Everett Arney, Grace Reynolds, J.T. Masoner, Eula Wilson, Juanita Estes
Board J.M. Kennison, Henry Barbee, Sam Berry
1929-30 Census 236
Teachers Howard Cooley, Hulda Cooley, Grace Reynolds, J.T. Masoner, Eula Wilson, Juanita Estes
Board Henry Harrison, Henry Barbee, Elva Laney
1930-31 Census 278
Teachers Howard Cooley, Hulda Cooley, Wayne, Fowler, Eula Wilson Cross, Juanita Estes Hunt, Vivian Swope, Gerta Starck
Board Henry Harrison, Henry Barbee, J.T. Owens
1931-32
Teachers J.Scott Vincent, Amata Camp, Henry Carl, Bertie Carl, Vivian Swope, Gerta Starck
Board Henry Harrison, Harry Garver, J.T. Owens
1932-33
Teachers J.Scott Vincent G.W. Young, Henry Carl, Bertie Carl, Mrs. George Young, Clarabelle Woods
Board G.W. Anderson, T.H. Garver, J.T. Owens
1933-34
Teachers J.Glen Townsend, Mrs. J.G Townsend, Vern Lee Doughty, Vina Doughty, Hazel Cole, Clarabelle Woods
Board G.W. Anderson, Harry Garver, J.T. Owens
1934-35
Teachers J.Glen Townsend, Mrs. J.G. Townsend, Vesta Long, Vern Lee Doughty, Vina Doughty, Hazel Cole
Board G.W. Anderson, Harry Garver, O.H. McGlothlin
1935-36
Teachers J.Glen Townsend, Rose Marie Townsend, Vern Doughty, Vina Doughty, Vesta Long
Board W.I. Gray, Harry Garver, O.H. McGlothlin
1936-37 Census 224
Teachers J.Glen Townsend, Rose Marie Townsend, Charles Gourley, Vina Doughty, Vesta Long
Board W.I. Gray, T.H. Garver, O.H. McGlothlin
1937-38 Census 206
Teachers Glen F. Crane, Glena Belle Crane, Vesta Long, Vina Doughty, Charles Gourley
Board O.H. McGlothlin W.I. Gray, R.M. Estes, Ralph Coon
1938-39
Teachers Glen F. Crane, Glena Belle Crane, Vesta Long, Vina Doughty, Charles Gourley
Board Ralph Coon, N.H. Thurman, R.M. Estes
1939-40
Teachers Vern Lee Doughty, Vina Doughty, Charles Gourley, Mary Barbee, Verna Musick
Board F.M. Estes, Frank George, N.H. Thurman
1940-41 Census 201
Teachers Lamar Lamb, Pauline Lamb, Mary Barbee, Irma Pennington, Gardner B. Walker
Board E.T. Gamble, J.N. Edwards, F. George, W.W. Duke
1941-42
Teachers Lamar Lamb, Pauline Lamb, Irma Pennington, Mary Barbee
Board E.T. Gamble, Frank George, Wester W. Duke
1942-43
Teachers Thomas Crume, Hazel Crume, Mabel Mason, Irma Pennington
Board E.T. Gamble, Frank George, Wester W. Duke
1943-44
Teachers Thomas Crume, Hazel Crume, Mabel E. Mason
Board E.T. Gamble, Frank George, Albert Hartley
1944-45
Teachers Lloyd Taylor, Viola Burns, Patsy Estes
Board E.T. Gamble, Frank George, Albert Hartley