Growing Up In Small Town America Part 16

STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

I am dressed in my Bluebird outfit. Paula was a cheerleader in Junior High.

 Camp Fire Girls and Horizon Club

Mother and Daddy made sure that I was involved in the community outside of the school setting. They wanted us to be raised with etiquette and culture and became members of the Community Concerts which was a cultural show of some kind each month at the auditorium. We would dress in our Sunday best and attend these monthly concerts.

 Mother also placed me in Camp Fire Girls. I started in Blue Birds, with 10 other hand chosen girls since my mother knew their mothers. We moved our way up to Camp Fire Girls, staying with the organization until we graduated high school. The top rank was Horizon Club. These girls became my core base of friends, forming my closest connections within its boundaries. We participated in monthly meetings, earning beads with our service to community and learning to do crafts, etc. We sewed our beads onto a vest in our own chosen patterns. I attended Day Camp every summer at the beautiful rustic Camp Fire Property on the outskirts of town. I started as a camper, and eventually became a camp counselor leading a group of younger kids.  I loved the Camp Fire director, Norma Jean Nowlin, and she obviously respected me, as she eventually made me and another friend, her main assistant helpers during the summer Day Camp. Being a part of Camp Fire was definitely important during my formative years.

My Study Place

We moved from Texas Street to our home at 4105 Bismark Street in 1962. It was a 3-bedroom home so that meant Paula and I shared a room. And you know how that goes! She was 6 years older than me and pretty much took precedence over the bedroom. I had started school, and Mother wanted me to have my own space to study, do homework and color or whatever else I needed. She set me up a corner in the den. I loved to color. Here I am busy at work :)

I still have the Dr. Seuss books and the dog bookends. The square claw foot table is a family heirloom. It belonged to my great grandparents, Mama and Papa McNair. (Ella Vermell King McNair, Charles Franklin McNair)

First Day of School for Bryan Quillin -1954

 It has been the same throughout the ages. The first-time mother having her first born child leave the nest and go to school for the first time. I had a loving family, and Mother and Daddy cared so very much for me, my brother and my sister. In 1954, Mother sent Brayn to school for the first time, and she found this news article that fit so perfectly for sending him out into the world. I had the BEST mother in the whole world. There was SUCH quality in all that she taught her children. This is indicative of her love and compassion.

Bryan's First Day of School

Paula is leaning on the wall to the left side of picture. 

This must have been a day of pride for Mother and Daddy yet also filled with anticipation of what was to come. I think all young parents experience this as they send their first child to school.

My Birthday Party - 31 Aug 1964

 I was born on 31 Aug 1956, just a day shy of September. Back then, school always started after September 1 and Labor Day. Mother didn't want me to be the oldest kid in the classroom, so she took castor oil...and sure enough I arrived at 8:00 pm on Aug 31. Here, I had just turned 8 and entering 3rd grade. 

For several years, I was allowed to have a birthday party and invite 10-15 friends. Paula and one of her friends, and sometimes my cousin Patricia Emmons, would conduct the birthday party, with games, blowing out the candle, and opening gifts. On this birthday, I received a Chatty Cathy doll. That doll, to this day, is in my attic. I especially love the group picture with the little girl (I don't remember her) has peering down at the doll.

The girl gazing at the doll :) bottom row far left, me with Chatty Cathy, Janie Dickey, Pam Collins
back row: Kim McLaughlin, Lisa Jones, Mary Jane Brantley, Marilyn Michie, Karen Naylor, Connie Osborn, Kim Lane, Jane Hendricks

Growing Up In Small Town America Part 15

 EDUCATION

Education had become the focus with one out of every 3 high school graduates going to college.  To be honest, I never thought college was an option.  The next step after high school was to enter college. I was lucky to be blessed with that opportunity and to have parents that financed everything as I was never in debt to begin my adult life. Standardized testing was done once a year or maybe every other year. They would pull the whole school for two days and we were walked across the street to the auditorium where long rows of tables were set up in the very large side room for the testing. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (a standardized test implemented during that era) was a timed test for each segment. Teachers walked around as monitors, and there was complete silence. I remember enjoying these test days and the seemingly free time out of the classroom. It was never stressful, just something we did every year. In two days we had completed a standardized test that indicated our progress. There was certainly NEVER any prep work before these tests. The only other big test that I remember taking was the SAT and the ACT in order to get a ranking score. Larger universities had a cut-off point and I was able to do well enough on those tests to gain admission.

Transcription of William Lawson's Will 1852

 

William Lawson, Jr. 1763-1852

Last Will and Testament

Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 for William Lawson. Scott County, Virginia; Wills, Vol 1-4, 1816-1860, pp.293-294 [online database: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021]

 Transcription:

 I, William Lawson Sr. of Scott County in the State of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory knowing also how uncertain is human life, and wishing to make a disposition of my estate, which in a proper condition to so, do hereby make and declare This as my last will and Testament. First, I direct my executor herein after named to collect in all debts which may be owing to me at my death, and out of the same to pay all my just debts, and my funeral expenses. If my debts should prove insufficient for the above purposes, then I desire that my executor, hereafter named may sell so much of my perishable property as will be of value sufficient to satisfy my just debts, and my funeral expenses – 2^nd After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, I give to my dutiful and my Obedient son Henry Lawson all my lands in the County of Scott and State of Virginia to him and his heirs forever. – 3^rd. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Ratliff a fifty dollar promissory note payable at my death, due from my son Henry Lawson. – 4^th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Quillin a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 5^th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Levina Fulkerson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 6^th I give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Henry a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 7^th I give to my son Jeremiah Lawson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed  my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 8^th I give to my son William Lawson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death --- 9^th, I give to my daughter Rhoda Hilton a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 10^th I five to my daughter Servina Cox a fifty dollar note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 11^th I give to my sons James Lawson & Hiram Lawson one dollar each payable at my death by my son Henry Lawson one dollar each payable at my death by my son Henry Lawson – 12^th I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Addington one payable by my son Henry at my death – And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Henry Lawson my executor of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all other or former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made.  In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal, this 5^th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the Testator in our presence, who have witnessed it in his presence and at his request.  Signed ~ William Lawson

J.S. Shoemaker, S.A.J. Morison, J.O Wood

 

Virginia: Scott County Court 10^th February 1852 __ The last will & testament of William Lawson deceased was proved by this oath of James S. Shoemaker, James O. Wood and Silburn A. J. Morison witnesses thereto, and is ordered to be recorded __ Testee: __J. O. Wood CSC

 

William Lawson's Will (1763-1852)

 Imagine my excitement when I found Rebecca's father's last will and testament. It was just downloaded on Ancestry.com in 2021....and it takes a while to find these treasures. It certainly determines Rebecca's father and her brothers and sisters.

TAKE A LOOK !