Bill Lathrop - Berry School Journal, 1958-1959

Bill Lathrop was a school teacher from 1958-1992.  He worked at Berry School his first year teaching 7th grade.  The school journals measure 6 x 9 inches.  The page header has a space to record the day, date and absences. Below is a memoranda area where Bill recorded which student would work in the kitchen for the day, appointments, notes and other items.  He went back through the journal in 1993 and added notes.  These are shown in italics.
 
Berry School Journal 1958-1959

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1958

   Linda Finley absent.
   Linda came at Noon.  She said she went to town.
   Lorna Reed and Donna Reed about 10 minutes late.
   Lorna Reed will work today.
Wrecked car on the way to school this morning . . . on the highway west of Sims I wa started to pass a big semi-truck (Art Barnard’s) as I got up beside it, he pulled over towards me.  I slowed up and pulled over.  He had gotten on pass me but my car slipped sideways and hit a bridge buttment [sic] right at the middle post.  I sorta blacked out.  I remember starting to slide sideways, next thing a loud crash, then I fell out of the car.  It rolled a little ways and stopped or I jumped back in and put the breaks [sic] on.  The truck driver stopped.  I asked him why he pulled across the line.  He said that he was changing over to his saddle tank.
Thursday, 10-2-1958
   All present
   Bill Lathrop tardy came at 9:30
   Louise Bailey worked today
I think I had someone take me to Sims and I borrowed Dad’s car to get to school.  I don’t remember as I am writing this some 35 years later.  I did use Dad’s car while mine was being fixed.  I would take him to Sims School then go on to Berry.  It took a long time to get my car fixed at Lawrence Johnson’s.
Monday, Nov. 10, 1958
   Anna Mae Griffith
   Norma Finley will work today.

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1958
   No school
   Veterans Day a legal holiday – replacing Armistice Day by act of Congress June 1, 1954.

Friday, Nov. 14, 1958
   9 o’clock Earl Lowe came before noon.
   Donna Reed will work today.
   We are going to visit Verl Shreve’s Dairy Farm this morning.

Nov. 17, Monday, 1958
   All present
   Norma Melton will work today.

Thursday, Nov. 20, 1958
   All present
   Louise Bailey will work today.
   Dec. 1 world books, 11 o’clock

Friday, Nov. 21, 1958
   All present
  Announce only three days of school next week.  Bring only .75 lunch money.
  Donna Reed will work today.
  We play our first basketball game tonight against Keenes.  We beat Keenes 36 to 16.

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1958
   Roy Mattox
   Lorna and Donna Reed were late about 10 minutes
   Louise Bailey will work today.
   Kathryn Beeson was sick today stayed in clinic from before noon until last period.          
The teachers had me a birthday party this evening after school.  22 years old! Still wet behind the ears.
Friday, Dec. 5, 1958
   Norma Melton
   Donna Reed will work today.
               
   We play Orchardville tonight.  Orchardville beat us 47 to 37.

Monday, Dec. 22, 1958
   All present
   Norma Finley will work today

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1958
   Sandra Weaver came a few minutes late.
   Last day of school before Christmas vacation
   Mrs. Riley wants to come in a few minutes this morning.

Monday, Jan. 5, 1959
   Mary Withrow
   Earl Lowe got sick went home after dinner.
   Norma Melton will work today.
 First day of school after Christmas vacation I got married Dec. 26, 1958 – Trixie Erkman Lathrop, Got sick on Honeymoon
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1959
   All present

   Geraldine Walker works today

Monday, Jan. 19, 1959
   All present
   Grade Cards due today.
   Norma Melton will work.
Grade cards will not be given out today.  Some of the teachers didn’t get theirs filled out.  I left mine at home.  Trixie and I moved Saturday.  I think she likes it very much.
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1959
    Ann Wodicker           
We moved to a little 2 room house in Wayne City.  Rent $25 a month.  Cora Gurley gave us an old refrigerator and Elston gave me an old hammer.

    Geraldine Walker will work today.  It snowed and rained last night.

Friday, Feb. 13, 1959



   Donna and Lorna    
Issue of Feb. 12, 1959 [clipping from Wayne County Press, emphasis added]
Pat Hand, Cisne High School coach, is employed as Fairfield city park recreation director for the summer . . . Bernie Dalton, Mt. Erie farmer and garage Operator, dies at Salem . . . A big Youth for Christ meeting will be held at Fairfield High School . . . John L. Wilson, 85, near Geff, dies . . . Strong winds hit the Fairfield area, with $5,000 damage to the county fairgrounds property . . . Leon Camfield, former Fairfield boy, dies in a car-truck accident at Decatur . . . H.T. Kerr is re-elected president of the Fairfield Building Association . . . Little Kent Peddicord, 7, Berry Township boy, fails to survive a heart operation at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis . . . The 70th Pink Press is published with 48 pages of letters . . . The C of C now has 157 members.



   Give out Valentine’s today.

   Carolyn King will work today.

   Have students bring a dime for flowers Monday for Kent Peddicord.

   We play Mt. Erie tonight.



Monday, Feb. 16, 1959

   Gary Bailey

   Carolyn King



   Norma Melton will work today.

   Pictures will be taken tomorrow. 

   Basketball players be sure and bring suits.

   Cheerleaders bring suit for picture and Graduating class.



Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1959

   Gary Bozarth



   Carolyn and Lorna will work today.

   Lyman Gurley got killed yesterday.  His tractor turned over on him.



Thursday, Feb. 26, 1959

   Geraldine Walker

          

   Louise Bailey will work today.

   Last day of school this week and this month

   Teachers meeting tomorrow

   Lyman Gurley’s funeral today at 3 o’clock.  I am going home today at one thirty.



Friday, March 6, 1959

    Roy Mattox



   Donna Reed will work today

   End of six weeks

   End of fourth term

   Grade cards due Monday We got all E



Monday, March 9, 1959

   Earl Lowe tardy came about 10 o’clock

   Ann Wodicker absent, uncle died

   Bill Lathrop

I was sick and had to stay home.  I went to the Doctor.  He gave me a shot and some pills and charged me ten Dollars.


Monday, March 16, 1959

   Gary Bailey was tardy came about 9 o’clock

               

   Norma Melton will work today



Tuesday, March 17, 1959

   None absent



   Geraldine Walker will work today.

   We play Wayne City in tournament tonight.

   Dorothy’s birthday 19 yrs. old.

   We beat W.C.

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