http://www.geocities.com/ronbarons/McCamey.html I had forgotten that your family was related to the Halamiceks. As I grew up, my Dad (Doug Reeves) was great friends with both Ed and Victor. One of my "treats" was to walk from Modern Cleaners (Dad's) over to both the Echo Drug and Baron's department store (which for many years had a grocery store attached, where I believe Mr. Brooks was the butcher for a long time. These three men were always friendly with me, and took the time to chat and tease me. Sally was born in 1937 and I in '41. Dad had gone out to McCamey to work in the oil fields (I think about 1933) and met Mother (Margaret Bean Reeves), who was teaching school there. Her godfather, Mr. Blackman, was Superintendent at that time, and hired several young teachers from the Greenville, TX area during the depression. They included Dorothy (who married) Cliff Thomas) (who roomed with Dad at Mother Pearl's Boarding House), Gladys Combs, who married Colin Gilbreath, Katty (who married Mr. Fisher), Sherie Fisher's mother who obviously married Bud Fisher). Other young teacher's who came during the depression married other McCamey men....Elizabeth Fussel, Louise Ramer. and One of Dorothy's sisters. The school system was one of the very few organizations during the depression who was hiring educated women....and these young, single women found and married some very fine McCamey men, who had come out due to the oil boom! The school rule of hiring during the depression, was only one family member could be hired, as jobs were so hard to find. So, married women were not hired, as the school board assumed the husband had a job and was supporting the family, so many, many single women came to McCamey to teach. The hiring rule was not changed until WWII, when so many men left for war. All the women teachers who married during the 30s, were not rehired by MHS until after the war was declared. Ethie Eagleton and Ms. Scott were about the only two to have uninterrupted employment with the school during the later 30s. I know that I have some pictures of McCamey from the 30s and 40s in Mother's collection. I'll try to get them scanned in and send over. I also sent over my story of being at the Grand when it caught fire. I posted it on the message board, but I'll see if I can copy and add to the bottom of this note. Well, for whatever reason, my note does not seem to be on the message board. Here is basically what I said.
(Barbara Reeves)re: the Howard wolf photos, and the web site I put up
Good for you for doing the website!
It was a rare occasion for my Dad to go to the movies with us, but there was a really good dramatic film being shown so he joined us. Mother, Dad and I were sitting in the back centers ection. Sally, who had a cast on her leg, which she had broken while climbing out at Miter Peak Girl Scout camp a couple of weeks earlier, was sitting down off the left aisle with several of her friends The screen all of a sudden showed the film burning and curling. The theater was absolutely packed that night. People started screaming and jumping up...obviously ready to bolt. My Dad, who had a voice like a fog horn, stood up in the left back aisle and bellowed for people to sit down and wait. Knowing him I'm sure he used some "colorful" phrases that made my mother's face turn red. People were so stunned at his loud voice and demands, that they sat. He marched down rapidly, picked Sally up, and said. "Now, let's help each other get the XXX out of here". We all did. Walked rapidly out, many helping older people and young children up the aisles and outside. I agree that the fire was not bad, primarily smoke. But it was a scary evening and not forgotten. The theater reopened in a couple of days. Judy Cole used to say that when her Dad yelled, she jumped straight up in the air and only asked What? after she was suspended in flight! I think we should have had a men's yelling contest along with the rattlesnake derbies!...by the way, in the 1930s the Rattlesnake Derbies were a favorite activity to take a date to...another was to picnic and hunt for treasure at Castle Gap! and if those of you who were teenagers in the 40s thought you were the first to take dates up to S Cave, think again. Your parents were there before you were thought of seriously!
Barbara
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Message Thread Just Moore History - Ronald Baron July 19, 2007, 11:07 am
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