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Visitors: 20915
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Can you imagine 4500-5000 people gathering together here in Gilmer County?? It did happen. The schools have always been a big part of our community life but in the late 1940’s it was a major happening in our county. In 1946, 4500 people attended the Gilmer County Public Schools Music Festival. It was an all day event. Governor Clarence W. Meadows spoke to the crowd at the Gilmer County Fair grounds. He said, “ You can’t have schools without spending money. The pupils, your children will receive just as much education as you people in Gilmer County are willing to put into dollars and cents. You have good schools in accordance with the amount of money you put into them.” Miss Mary Louise Lewis, County music supervisor, was in charge of the music festival in 1946. This was a huge event for our county. In 1947 the second annual Gilmer County Public School Festival was held. It was a daylong event just as the first one was. County Superintendent Roland Butcher headed the festival and Mary Louise Lewis was in charge of the music. It was held at the fair grounds and included skits, folk music many costumes and both journo high and senior high chorus members. The festival began at 9:30am and ended at 3:30pm. State Superintendent W.W. Trent spoke to the crowd saying “Days like this increase one’s faith in humanity. Music is finding a lace in our educational system, and this program is but an index to the work being done in our public schools.” This year our high schools in the county had an enrolment of 794 children. In 1910 there were only 5002 enrolled in secondary education in the state. In 1902 there were only 800 college and university students in the state and 1634 students in the normal schools. In 1946, 14000 were enrolled in normal schools. These statistics were staggering for the time. Dr. D.L. Haught of Glenville State College spoke saying “ I believe our young people will be willing to prepare themselves to handle the great mechanical improvements of the future.” Little did Dr. Haught know what technology would bring to our future. We can all agree with his statement. This is what we all hope for our children. The third annual Gilmer County Public School Festival was held in 1948. They estimated 5000 people were in attendance. It was also National Music Week for out country. Mary Louise Lewis was again in charge of the music. Roland Butcher was the county superintendent. He and his assistant John Shock were the masters of ceremonies. The state superintendent of schools Dr. W. W .Trent also spoke. The guest speaker was the honorable Dr. W. Bay Irvine, dean of Marietta College. He said, “ Where there is music, there can’t be mischief.” “… The attendance today shows that adults in your community and students in your schools are working together. Music is used in every walk of life: the army, church, school and business. To enjoy music you should smile when you sing. Music makes you belong.” Music was a big part of my life in the Gilmer County School system at Troy Elementary and at Gilmer County High School. I was in the band and in the choir. Although I will never be noted as and accomplished artist with a musical instrument nor with my voice, it brought me an appreciation for music that I would have never know without the programs offered at our public schools. I would encourage every student and every parent to be involved in the schools. Try the music programs. Be a part of the music programs. I would hate to say that they did it better in 1946-1948 than we do today.
Becky (Kirkpatrick) Oppe
Combined Chorus 350 strong |
