history
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — The right to resist
Born at Cape Cod and educated at Harvard, the Reverend Samuel West was a patriot. But above all, he was a devoted servant of God who sought to live in accordance with God’s Word.
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — The Mighty Endeavor
On Wednesday, June 5, 1944, the president spoke to the American people through a common and comforting medium: the fireside chat. “Yesterday,” Franklin Roosevelt began, “Rome fell to American and Allied forces.” In a voice ringing with optimism, the president added, “The first of the Axis capitals is now in our hands. One up and two to go!”
Through the Years, June 19
50 YEARS AGO: THERE’S DOLLARS IN THOSE SWATHS — This business end view of a combine in action on the Keen farm near Exeter is typical of action these days in Barry County as farmers harvest a valuable fescue seed crop. Operator of the machine is Bob Lauderdale. Worth Keen, co-owner of the operation, speculates this year’s crop on this land is about usual, since recommended fertilizer and grass care was followed in pre-season programs.
Jeremiah Buntin: Photographic memory
While walking the Cassville Greenway Trail near the ball fields one evening a few weeks ago, I noticed local photographer and Barry County Museum board member Chuck Nickle out taking photos of the kids in their baseball uniforms.
Through the Years, June 12
40 YEARS AGO: CATFISHING GETTING GOOD — Proof that trotline catches of catfish are possible came to Cassville this week in the person of Burl Mitchell and Emmett Allen. Joined by Ron Bailey, the anglers took these 36- and 30-pound beauties off a line Monday morning.
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — The Tragedy of B. F. Randolph
On Wednesday, January 15, 1868, Benjamin Franklin Randolph opened the second day of the South Carolina Constitutional Convention with a prayer. Brief but moving, Randolph exhorted God to “fill our hearts with love for the general welfare” of all South Carolinians. “Help us in our work here, and when we finish our earthly course, receive us into that welcome abode in heaven.”
Through the Years, May 29
Y ears 50 years ago June 5, 1974 — NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL TOTAL NEARLY $4 MILLION Cassville is currently in a new building and improvement program, headlined by the start of construction on the new FASCO Industries, Inc., plant. Conservative estimates placed on the program underway in nine major projects in the city area place the total value at just under $4 million.
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — Lincoln at Independence Hall
The president-elect reached Philadelphia at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, 1861. In response to warm greetings, Lincoln told a crowd that he hoped “to restore peace and harmony and prosperity to the country.” He added, however, “I shall do nothing inconsistent with the teachings of those holy and most sacred walls” of Independence Hall. “I have never asked anything that does not breathe from those walls,” Lincoln said. Paraphrasing Psalm 137, he added, “May my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I ever prove false to those teachings” of the Constitution and the Declaration.
Through the Years, May 15
40 YEARS AGO: DRUMS WERE AVAILABLE — For those who always wanted to play a full set of drums, a ticket got them the opportunity in school carnival events. For a ticket, young and old alike pounded on the drums for a two minute period. Democrat file photo
Revitalizing history
Down winding dirt roads between Jenkins and Cato, near the 150-year-old McKinney Cemetery and a stone’s toss from Rockhouse Creek, a piece of Barry County history is getting new life. At one point, Barry County had at least 115 rural one- or two-room school houses, one of which was the Hailey School House in Mineral Spring.
