WES FRANKLIN: "Buzzard Glory to Seed Tick" in second edition

As you may have already read in this newspaper, the historical society’s second edition of an old favorite is back from the printer.

And I, for one, am excited.

Part I of “From Buzzard Glory To Seed Tick: A History of the Schools in Newton County” is now available in softback for $20 at the Newton County Historical Museum, 121 N. Washington. You can also find it at several businesses in Neosho, but we hope you’ll want to browse through the museum anyway, especially if it has been awhile. (By the way, though, those other locations are Jon’s Pharmacy, Boulevard Bank on the Square, Neosho Gifts Etcetera and Silhouette Imaging).

The original “Buzzard Glory to Seed Tick” was primarily compiled by Sybil Jobe and Larry James back in 1991. Sybil passed away a couple of years ago, however, and so the revision was completed by Larry. He has added more photos and text and, importantly, an index, which Larry told me was the most time-consuming part. I appreciate that he took the extra trouble to do so and also, of course, to put together the entire second edition, which I think readers will also appreciate. Thank you, Larry.

Part I tells the story of Newton County’s rural schoolhouses from Union College to Jolly — 51 in all. Part II, scheduled to be out next year, will cover the remaining 60 schools that once dotted our pastoral county.

I think it’s no secret how I feel about rural schools. The other day I spoke with an older gentlemen who had once served on the board of Hammer School, west of Neosho. I don’t know if he is aware — and if not, I didn’t want to be the one to tell him — that that wonderful old building has recently fallen into a bad state of dilapidation.

But such is the fate of so many of our wonderful old schoolhouses.

Many of the buildings are yet standing, though some only barely. The lucky ones are those that are still being used for some purpose, be it a church, community center or even a residence, like the former Brown, Cawyer or Spurgeon Schools, among others.

Several more of those proud old buildings are used as haybarns. But I guess they at least still serve some purpose, be it ever so far from their original noble designs. Still, it's sad to think that that is what it has come to.

I had once toyed with the idea of helping organize a non-profit organization to save some of these old buildings across the county — and I would still like to should time someday permit. By then, I hope it's not too late, however. I even had a possible name picked out: “The 1-10 Committee” (a tribute to the 110 known rural schools that were once in Newton County). So if you later hear that name elsewhere, well, remember you read it here first.

Should someone else step up in the meantime to try and save some of these old schoolhouses from the fate of the former Hammer School building, more power to them. They have my full support and best wishes. I know that there is at least one group, and probably more that I'm not aware of, trying to do so in their own community. The vision, however, would be to make it a county-wide effort.
In the meantime, you can read all about these little schoolhouses, and discover why we love them so much, in the new and revised edition of “From Buzzard Glory to Seed Tick.”

Stop by the museum and get a copy. Remember, we're open every day of the week, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (1:30-4:30 on Sundays).

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Also, remember to sign your kids up for the historical society's corn husk doll making event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this upcoming Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Newton County Historical Park and Museum, one block off the north side of the Neosho Square. Call 451-4940.

Wes Franklin is director of the Newton County Historical Park and Museum in Neosho.  He is also a staff writer for the Neosho Daily News. He can be reached at 658-8443.