The sixth annual Massey School and Community Reunion was held Sat., Oct. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Massey Fire Station Community Center.

Charles Holladay, Joel Holladay and Frances Vest Rowe helped get the event started. The schools involved were the Massey School near Mt. Nebo and Evergreen, the new Massey School west of McKendree and Windes School on Nanceford Road near Herring Cemetery.

Several teachers and many former students of the schools attended. Hattie Mae Hardin, Doris Anders Herring and Dr. Troy Kilpatrick were from the original Massey school. Some spoke on how special the new schools’ Halloween carnivals were.

In the 1940’s, they had a competition for Miss Massey Grammar School during the Halloween carnival, but no competition was held for a king at that time. The PTA, Home Demonstration Club and Farm Bureau sought donations and prizes for bingo and the fishpond.

There was a fortune teller for some years. Rose Parker and others called her Madame Shalimar. Adults had as much fun as the children and youth.

The cakewalk was popular because of all the good cooks. Robbie Morris’ coconut cake and Sarah Morris’ pound cake were delicious.

Vera Dobb’s chicken salad sandwiches and Rachel Bryant’s pimento cheese sandwiches were best sellers. Vernie Penn’s peanut fudge and Gladys Howse’s divinity candy raised funds as well. School egg hunts were remembered also. They were held in the Caperton’s and later in Holladay’s pasture.

This year, the community churches were featured. Cedar Plains Christian is the oldest one still in the same location.

Founded in 1837, the church observes homecoming the first Sunday in August. Their revivals traditionally began the same day.

The Rev. Otto Henderson was a powerful speaker, and the music there was outstanding. At their fellowship meals, people remember Frances Laney’s blueberry salad, Gladys Howse’s sweet potato casserole, Emily Doss’ chocolate cake and Pernie Morris’ egg custard.

Mt. Nebo Baptist Church was founded in 1869. The building has been turned into rooms and a fellowship hall and a front entrance porch has been added.

Their all-day singing was in June and featured Sacred Harp (fa-so-la) in the morning. Dinner on the ground and a southern gospel singing followed. Allen Humphries was the chairman.

Those enjoying lunch had Ollie Buckelew’s fried chicken, Gladys Hopkins’s peach cobbler, Marion Brown’s tea cakes, Odessa Minter’s candied sweet potatoes, Hattie Mae Hardin’s chicken dressing and chocolate pie, Allie Patterson’s apple pie and Bernice Bailey’s buttermilk icing cake. The pastor is Greg Compton.

McKendree United Methodist Church began as Crowdabout Church off Hopewell and New Cut Roads in 1823. Later, the congregation had the church built on the Evergreen Road and West Pike corner.

There was a pump organ protected by a beadboard-folding closet. Sunday school classes were separated by fabric roll back curtains on wires or cords.

The other churches had the same type arrangement. McKendree’s all-day singing was in March and was the kickoff for community singings. Arthur Lee was the chairman.

Gertrude Lee and Rachel Bryant fried many chickens and made dozens of sandwiches, while others made vegetable dishes and desserts. The revival was in July.

Visiting ministers stayed with host families in the area. Morning church would be at 10:30 a.m., then the preachers had lunch at a member’s house and usually ate supper at another home.

The evening service was usually at 7 p.m. Most churches had youth programs at 6 p.m. before revival service.

McKendree’s fundraiser suppers for civic clubs were popular. Some special foods were Rosa Hardwick’s lane cake, Earline Morris’ pound cake, Verna Field’s chocolate pie, Lorene Bryant’s fried peach and apricot pies, Flora Aycock’s egg custard, Peggy Jean Durand’s baked apples, Velma Vest’s pecan pie and Rachel Bryant’s chicken dumplings. The pastor is the Rev. Mike Vest.

The new church was built in 1947 on the New Cut Road and Hwy 55 corner. Evergreen United Methodist Church was founded in the 1880s and sold by the North Alabama Conference in 2008. The last pastor was the Rev. Ozbolt.

Decoration Day is the fourth Sunday in May. Many have enjoyed lunch at the outdoor tables for a century and more. Grace Jones fried apple pies. Doris Herring’s lime pineapple congealed salad, Ethel Jones’ peach cobbler. Neena Blackwood’s chicken dressing and Mary Sue Tillery’s beef roast were tasty favorites.

Cora Minter taught children’s Sunday school with a lot of creativity and was director of the vacation Bible school each summer. Homer Shoemaker and Fred Summerford were co-chairmen of the all-day singing. Gospel singers from the area and Cullman, Lawrence and Lauderdale counties came to the event.

Revival altar calls at all the churches could last for 30 minutes to an hour. Baptisms following revivals were held at Summerford pool and Flint creek by Huckaby Bridge.

The Rev. Patsy Carlberg conducted a Blessing of the Animals service at Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church Sun., Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. Members were invited to bring their pets for the ceremony.

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals. He said the bond between a person and pet is like no other relationship because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic level.

The Big Book Bag Bonanza at Falkville Public Library will be Sat., Oct. 11, during the Fall Festival. Bags contain a category of books such as children’s, inspiration, crafts and hobbies, sports, romance, mysteries, westerns, history and politics, cook books and even magazines and paperback books will be on sale as well.

The book bag prices will be $5 for one bag, $9 for two bags and $12 for three bags. The sale will be in front of the library, facing Railroad Street from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Congratulations go out this week to the Danville Lady Hawks who are No. 1 in the state in their class. They defeated Priceville in three sets Thur., Sept. 25.

The outstanding players were Sydni Shelton, Kellee Stiles, Charlee Anderson, Morgan Weatherwax and Mattie Forman. They also won against Austin High School and Hazel Green in Madison County.

We salute Danville High School’s coaching staff for their work and enthusiasm and the Hawk’s football team for their diligence and spirit this season. They have completed homecoming week and the Curry game.