Senatobia 150 Years Magazine (selected pgs)

contents

WELCOME MESSAGES GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

SESQUICENTENNIAL PATRONS

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

ENATOBIA

Sesquicentennial Celebration 1860-2010

NOTABLE SENATOBIA CITIZENS

THE NAT G. TROUTT READINESS CENTER

PARKS IN SENATOBIA

TATE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION MAYFAIR!

IN PICTURES

CLUBS, CIVIC AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

A HISTORY OF SENATOBIA’S BLACK COMMUNITY DESEGREGATION IN SENATOBIA

LOCAL OFFICIALS—PAST AND PRESENT SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION

IN THE LINE OF DUTY TO SERVE AND PROTECT

INTERSTATE 55

THE DEMOCRAT

BANKING IN SENATOBIA

CHURCHES: SENATOBIA’S HOUSES OF FAITH

BUSINESS

SENATOBIA—THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS

SENATOBIA 1860-1960

EXCERPTS FROM THE 1960 SENATOBIA CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM

A Picture of Senatobia in the 1880’s

(INFORMATION COURTESY OF H.M. M C MICHAEL)

The street is easily identified as Senatobia’s Front Street. The Cotton Platform is to the right forefront and also the barrels of water in which were cone shaped buckets for quick submerging and filling to use to put out fires. To the front may be seen one of the buggies in the picture and the horse is eating from the front floor board which was the feeding custom. The mules and horses seem to be in different moods-some talkative, some dejected, some indifferent, some rebellious, some at ease.

The business houses look much as they do today with the exception of the front walk shelters. The names, of course are different. The picture must have been made in fall as a wagon load of cotton can be seen in the right center area.The mulberry tree was there in that area, also, and everyone who came to town enjoyed its fruits and its shade. To the far right one sees the pyramidal roof structures which mark the location of McCormick Livery Stable and the famed Opera House. Still further right is seen the plank bridge which spanned a ditch and to the right of that is the “dumping ground”. An apple orchard is somewhere in that vicinity.

Over the store tops in a northwesterly direction is seen the impressive Blackburn College and the roofs of buildings near it. The Masonic Hall was where it is today; notice the architecture.

In looking very closely one sees a sort of tent arbor where ladies and gentlemen sit underneath at tables, perhaps.The occasion was not identified. Except for a slight change in location it could well have been Mr. Porter’s tent-sawdust ice cream parlor in which the freezer was turned by the famous goat treadmill process of manufacture.

The first floor of the Wm. Yaffe Building, now leased by Ben Franklin Store, was occupied by Mr. Farmer, uncle of Stratton Farmer of Como. The upper story was Blackbourn Hall where the first county court was held and which also served as a depot for awhile. To the left of the Carlock-Patton were W. B. Perkins & Co. and C. C. Perkins.

EARLY HISTORY AND THE INDIANS

As a setting for the thrilling and magnificent panorama of events that marked the development and progress of the social, economic, cultural and spiritual life of Senatobia, we raise the curtain on the mid-1500’s. The first white man, Hernando DeSoto, had just entered Mississippi and the Chickasaw Indians, in arrogant possession of this part of Mississippi, attacked him in or around this area which is known as Tate County. Spain, France and England warred for years over the Mississippi lands; new settlers came in as they could make any sort of peace treaties with the Indians. In 1765, established meetings were held between the Indians and the settlers to ensure fair trade relations. The Indians peacefully traded land, strip by strip, to the French in exchange for guns, ammunition, blankets and fire water. Spain made a practice of making things pleasant within the boundaries of her territories and extremely unpleasant for adjoining neighbors. Although Catholic, she allowed Protestant churches to become established. The Treaty of San Lorenzo el Real in 1797 established more equitable boundary lines and, for the first time, the United States flag was raised on Mississippi soil. In 1801, Mississippi was made a second degree territory with Washington, a little town six miles east of Natchez, the capital. In 1803, treaties with the Indians gave colonists the right to build trails through Choctaw, Creek and Chickasaw lands. The Choctaw Trail led from Mobile to Memphis, and it was as a rest camp on the trail from Pontotoc, Miss. to Helena, Ark. that Senatobia came into being. There was also a big Indian settlement in what is now known as Wyatte and one of the biggest Indian skirmishes in this area occurred at Taylor, near Oxford. To the west of us, in the Savage, Strayhorn, Arkabutla, and Sarah area there were hordes of Indians and during the construction of Highway 4 in recent years, an Indian burying ground was excavated. Skeletons and trophies found there were presented to the University of Mississippi and are now a preserved part of our history. Jim Wolf was the buried chief in this area and his body is said to be buried on the high bank of the stream that bears his name. Legend has it that Indians discovered the curative powers of the waters of Hot Springs, Ark. Periodically they made the long trip to Hot Springs taking back their sick to be cured. The Chickasaw nation allowed the Choctaws who were to the east of them to cross their land peacefully when enroute to Hot Springs. The town of Senatobia was originally a rest stop on this trail. It is said that at one time hundreds of Indians died at what is now Memphis as they attempted to cross in freezing weather the treacherous Mississippi River.

WHITE MAN BUYS SENATOBIA

toc Indian Cession which bought from them their lands, and sent them further to the West. The U. S. Government was, of course, the purchaser of these lands, and it was on April 13, 1836, that the first white man, James Peters, bought the two sections of land that now comprises Senatobia. He paid the tremendous sum of $1.25 per acre. Other settlers came quickly but many Indians lingered until the year 1840 when all who desired to leave did so. Here the curtain falls on the First Act of local history. The next scene shifts to the far east.

A spirit of unrest had risen in the Carolinas and Georgia, also in portions of Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. At this juncture, we listen to the beloved Mrs. Annie Caldwell Bernard as she related the story: “These older states were afflicted with a disease called ‘breakbone’ fever: the remedy prescribed was “a change”.”

The rousing advice, “Go West young man,” had its influence. There was a clarion call which some interpreted in these words: “Mississippi is the promised land.” There was a rumor rife that wild lands to the West were selling for a song. The siren strain emphasized the fertility of alluvial portions, declaring the soil to be unsurpassed except by the valley of the Nile.

My grandmother had a big house during the Civil War and she would always entertain the soldiers. She told me some wild tales about how they would bury their silver and things in the yard. She was scared of the northern generals, but she said they were always nice to her.

Thus enchanted, many left the states made historic by the valiant deeds of their ancestors, for the virgin soil of Mississippi, called by Carolinians and Georgians, “The Wild West.” The Senatobia contingent of these explorers settled on a choice morsel of earth, DeSoto County, which later became Tate County.

From the lips of one of the homesteaders, the following is verified. It was soon after the departure of the Indians and the settling of blueblood Carolinians, before the clearings were made, that panthers and bears ran amuck in these parts. Bonfires were kept during the darkness of the night to ward off the encroachment of marauders in the form of wild beasts. When the men journeyed afar, women and children were locked inside the huts, terrified all the while by the yelping of wolves. Deer grazed around the habitations. Where the Senatobia post-office stands was once a deer lick.

There are records of Chickasaw Indians owning land in this county as late as 1836. In 1832, however, the Indians - unhappy, bewildered and dissatisfied with the ever constant encroachment of the white man, and his strange ways of life - agreed to the terms of the Ponto -

With undaunted courage, these brave people toiled on, their ambition fired by the wonderful possibilities of this marvelous soil. No faint-heartedness for the new settlers! Already they loved their adopted state.

LEFT: Pictured is a corner of the 1836 deed from the Chickasaw Indians to land upon which Senatobia was established. CENTER: An 1800’s engraving of a Sycamore tree. The Indian name “Sen-a-to-ha-ba,” after which Senatobia was named, means “White Sycamore.” RIGHT: An early railroad locomotive passing through Senatobia.

Elise Veazey, age 103, interviewed by NWCC Journalism Department

While Miss Berta is modern in her outlook and thinks “lots of modern things are fine,” she does not care for some new-fangled gadgets. Seeing the frustrations of many customers who came to have a broken zipper replaced, she is happy to admit that she never had one in her own clothes. She has never used cosmetics since the use of prepared chalk for powdering the face went out of style.

One of the greatest rewards of her work has been the pleasure derived from seeing and knowing the people who come to her for her services. Having never had a bad account, she is impressed with “how honorable I have found the public to be.”

Her character and personality, coupled with her love for her work, has endeared Miss Berta to all her customers. “I have been blessed with health, energy, and work and I’ve enjoyed all three,” claims Miss Berta.

MOORE’S HOTEL

When a Chicago couple passing through Senatobia asked a small Negro boy where they could get a good meal, he directed them to Moore’s Hotel, saying, “They’s got the mostest to eat up there.”

For 35 years, thousands of people throughout the United States have attested to the truth of the child’s statement. A typical meal included roast beef, Irish and sweet potatoes, English peas, blackeyed peas, turnip greens, string beans, butterbeans, sliced tomatoes, chicken salad, candied apples, cornbread, biscuit, ice cream and cake, and a choice of drinks. When other vegetables are in season, they appear on the menu in addition to the regular ones.

Responsible for the bountiful meals is Mrs. R. S. Moore, whose warm personality would draw people to her if her meals did not. The proprietress of the Hotel is able to recall all of her varied clientele through the years.

The Senatobia Rotary Club was organized in Moore’s dining room in 1934. The club outgrew her room and went elsewhere for a few months, but she knocked out a few room partitions, and the Rotarians came home, where they remained until Mrs. Moore retired two years ago. Jaycees and Lions also met at Moore’s Hotel.

Only a declaration of war prevented Mrs. Moore from entertaining a president of the United States with a southern fried chicken dinner. When the Sardis Dam was to have been dedicated by Pres. Roosevelt, Mrs. Moore, through Mississippi’s Sen. Pat Harrison, invited the president and his cortege to dine, and Mr. Roosevelt accepted.

World War II intervened, and the affair had to be called off.

Mrs. Moore increased her prices once in 33 years and said she never cleared any money after she raised the fees. “As long as I charged 50c for a meal and $1.00 for a room, I was making money,” she states.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore celebrated their Golden Wedding eight years ago, but the sound of the big brass dinner bell, rung by a servant on the front porch to announce meals, is still part of Senatobia. The other charming young lady in the picture (and wearing the

“latest” in hats is Mrs. Moore’s lifetime neighbor, “Miss Ethel Wait” (Mrs. Vernon). The families are related.

TATE COUNTY IN THE WARS SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

Howard Falconer Byers, born July 17, 1878, was one of the few Tate County citizens who served in this war. He was born in Panola County but later moved to Senatobia. In relating his story he tells that James K. Vardaman from Greenwood, Mississippi, who later became Governor and United States Senator, was the captain of his company. The company was never in combat but many of the soldiers were severely ill with yellow jaundice that resulted from inadequate diet.

Serving in this same war were Mr. Clarence Williams of Tyro and also Mr. Jim Mila (deceased) of Senatobia. (We were unable to obtain names of any others.)

WORLD WAR I

Captain John C. Sheffield of Arkabutla formed and commanded the First Independent Company of Infantry, Miss. National Guard. This was known as Co. M and made up of volunteers of Tate Co. They were mobilized on June 19, 1916.

The regiment as a unit trained and sent to the front all of its men and officers. Many other men and women of Tate County volunteered their services or answered the call as they were needed.

Those who lost their lives during World War 1 were: Whitten J. East, L. W. Kitchens, Lish C. Rutledge, Clarence Holloway, S. C. Liles, Joe L. Powers, Jasper C. Patrick, Walter C. Poag, George Pigg, Robert H. Walker, and Alfred Youngblood.

WORLD WAR II

World War II began in Manchuria in 1931 – and thus began the attempt of the Fascist nations to conquer the world. The press paid scant attention to it. The New York Times and Herald Tribune gave less than a column of space to cover it; editorially, it was just “a problem of the League of Nations.” Yet within a few short years it was seriously to affect the lives of all Americans. One by one, other nations became involved and around the United States, the net of entanglement grew tighter and more restricted each month. Finally, on December 7, 1941, came PEARL HARBOR. President Roosevelt spoke to the Nation only ten minutes in relating the news-and asked for a declaration of war – 82 to 0.

Again Tate Countians were not derelict in their patriotism. Many volunteered and others went as they were needed and called. According to the record, 547 Tate County white young men and women enlisted again in the cause for freedom. There were also many colored enlistees. We pay tribute to all of them but can list only those who lost their lives. They follow: Pvt. Richard Henry Bizzell, Pfc. James I. Brandon, Pfc. Freddie Mitchell Burford, Sgt. Glen E. Carlton, Pfc. Ira Silas Casey, Pvt. John Boyce Dancy, Pvt. Jewel H. Dix, Pvt. Robert H. Dougherty, James Sidney Embrey, S2-C, Pvt. Willie Hataway, Seaman James Kerr, Pvt. M. H. Lewis, Pvt. Hollis F. Lowrie, Pfc. Robert Hurl Meredith, Pfc. Clifton Moncrief, Pvt. Bill Oaks, T-Sgt. Harold T. Peyton, Pfc. Virgil

E. Peyton, S-Sgt. Aaron Ray, Pfc. Lois Rutledge, Pfc. Grady C. Smith, Pfc. Lucas L. Wallace, Pfc. Jack R. Wheeler.

Note: Out of this war emerged a Tate County General in the person of Mr. Ralph Wooten. His name ranks at the top in Military Service.

KOREAN WAR

The Korean Conflict started in 1950 and the local National Guard Unit went to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the following September. The company remained there for the duration but many members were transferred out and several saw combat in Korea. Many other reservists and draftees were called. Senatobia’s only casualty was, ironically, one who died fighting in Korea for the freedom he had come to the United States to enjoy. He was Bruno Glazers, one of the Latvian Displaced Persons who had come to Senatobia from Europe in 1949. Bruno was buried in Bethesda Cemetery with full military honors.

Note: Senatobia is very proud of its Military Units which have been reorganized from time to time and which now have headquarters in the modern National Guard Armory Building. High ranking and well chosen officers do credit to this organization.

PRESENT NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS

The officers of the units here in Senatobia and their assignments are as follows: Lt. Col. Hosea M. Holcombe, Jr., Squadron Commander; Major Henry L. Mayfield, Jr., Executive Officer; Captain Gene L. Bidwell, S-3, Air; Captain William E. Callicott, S-2 (Intelligence); Captain Frank H. Hammond, Jr. Maintenance Officer; Captain Jarvis W. Norris, S-3 (Operations and Training);

Captain Claude C. Powers, Jr. S-4 (Supply); Captain Nat G. Troutt, Adjutant, S-1; 1st Lt. Robert L. Eoff, Hq. Troop Commander; 1st Lt. Thomas M. Towles, Medical Assistant; 1st Lt. Edwin E. Moore, 111, Assistant S-3; 2nd Lt. Benny G. Owen, Support Platoon Leader; CWO Thomas W. O’Briant, General Supply Officer; CWO Wilbur L. Kirkland, Motor Officer; WO Harold C. Elam, Motor Officer.

THE ROLE OF TATE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SENATOBIA DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES

WRITTEN BY NAT G. TROUTT

Insofar as the City of Senatobia and Tate County are concerned, the War Between the States must be discussed in two spheres –events within the county itself and events outside the county in which Tate County people were involved. Events which happened and occurred within the county are discussed first.

Although many battles were fought in Mississippi during the War Between the States, Tate County was spared any major battles for several reasons. The main reason being that the Federal forces were concerned primarily with destroying the grain belt of Mississippi in the northeastern part of the state in the vicinity of Okolona and the Prairie Belt, and all major Federal invasions into North Mississippi were launched in that direction. Another reason was that Tate County was not considered a strategic point.

From written documents left by Dr. French, we know that the Federal forces raided Senatobia at least four times. The raiding forces probably came from Memphis on each occasion. The first raid took place on April 29, 1862. The second raid was on May 9, 1863. The third raid was made on May 22, 1863 at which time the major part of the city was burned by the Federal troops. Dr. French records that his store building and goods were completely destroyed. The fourth and last raid, according to the records of Dr. French, took place on June 26, 1863. Undoubtedly, many other raids or patrol skirmish actions took place in and about Senatobia.

The City of Memphis fell to Federal forces early in the war and the only effective resistance to the Federal forces south of Memphis consisted primarily of the forces of General Nathan Bedford who had command of the North Mississippi Military District and Western Tennessee Military District insofar as cavalry forces were involved. General Forrest established his main defense line south of the Tallahatchie River below Senatobia and running northeast to the vicinity of Holly Springs and Corinth. This left the territory between this line of defense and the City of Memphis open territory, more or less, during most of the war and both sides sent patrols into the territory on frequent occasions. The second and third Federal raids on Senatobia were, according to Dr. French,

LEFT: The Whitten J. East American Legion Post No. 19 in Senatobia was named just after the end of World War I for Major Whitten J. East, noted WWI pilot and commander of Mitchel Aviation Field. CENTER: Ration coupons from World War II; RIGHT: Left to right, J. W. Norris, an unidentified soldier, Herbert Moore and Lucy Whitwell, local Red Cross representative, work on details for Senatobia’s Red Cross program.

ABOVE: Red Cross Training, Camp Shelby, 1957-58. Senatobians pictured include Dr. Mac Adams, in the jeep; 2nd from right: “One of the Robinson boys”; far right: Bobby Lakey

Chromcraft

SENATOBIA’S FLAGSHIP INDUSTRY: CHROMCRAFT

Chromcraft Corporation began in St. Louis, MO in 1908 as the American Fixture and Showcase Company. Immediately following World War II, the company led the field in peacetime reconversion and found that facilities were inadequate to carry out the projected plans for postwar production.

Because additional production facilities were needed, a modern furniture plant was constructed. This plant was named Chromcraft and was operated as a division of the parent company until 1955. At that time, the fixture and the furniture divisions separated under independent management groups. The continued growth of the Chromcraft Corporation created a need for further expansion, and in 1961, a decision was made to build a 250,000 square foot furniture factory in Senatobia, Mississippi, which opened in 1962.

In 1965, Chromcraft entered into a period of growth. Mohasco Corporation bought the Senatobia company and added it to its family of progressive home furnishings manufacturers. Since that time Chromcraft has expanded its manufacturing warehouse, research and development facilities to a total of 650,000 square feet.

In 1992, Chromcraft was spun off from Mohasco along with Peters-Revington, an occasional furniture manufacturing company in Indiana. These two companies were combined under the name Chromcraft-Revington, Inc. (currently traded on the NYSE with the ticker symbol CRC.)

At the Senatobia plant, Chromcraft produces both commercial and residential furniture. The commercial furniture division spe-

FAR LEFT-TOP and BOTTOM: Chromcraft’s modern exterior and offices circa 1962; TOP RIGHT: Entrance sign to the 100-acre Chromcraft complex; CENTER RIGHT: A 1960 Chromcraft brochure featuring “Dinette Furniture”, BOTTOM RIGHT: Chromcraft dignitaries at its 1962 Grand Opening; BELOW: The Chromcraft Flipp ergonomic table.

cializes in airport seating, healthcare, education and corporate furnishings. The residential furniture division focuses on casual dining.

Chromcraft’s manufacturing operation encompasses over 15 acres under roof and 100 acres of land. Chromcraft has on site a complete national advertising center, photography studio, a printing complex for catalogs, and its own product design department.

From Senatobia, the national sales force for both the commercial and residential divisions exhibit their products in the major furniture markets in Chicago, High Point and Las Vegas.

The Veo chair, part of Chromcraft’s ergonomic office line

RR Donnelley is a world leader in managing, reproducing and distributing print and digital information. Founded in Chicago in 1864 by Richard Robert Donnelley, RR Donnelley has grown to over 60,000 employees worldwide with 195 employees located in Senatobia, MS. RR Donnelley’s deeply rooted traditions have contributed to the success of our business. With a rich heritage devoted to high quality, we continue to evolve to meet the changing

needs of our diverse customers. RR Donnelley’s Senatobia Plant utilizes state-of-the-art technology as a viable supplier for medical journal and magazine publishers.

Established in August of 1973, the Senatobia facility consists of 140,000 square feet and is recognized as an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program STAR site.

Northwest Mississippi Community College |

Northwest Mississippi Community College has its roots in the system of agricultural schools set up throughout this rural state in the early years of the 20th century. First organized as Tate County Agricultural High School in 1915, the school began to offer college level classes in the fall of 1926. With encouragement from the State Department of Education and leadership from Porter Walker Berry, who became the college’s first president, this initial endeavor proved to be successful. Two years later Quitman County pledged its support for the expanded class offerings. Meanwhile the Mississippi Junior College Commission urged school officials to convert the established classes into a complete two-year program. As a result in the fall of 1928 a fully-sanctioned junior college, later named Northwest Mississippi Junior College and accredited by the Mississippi Junior College Accrediting Association, opened its doors to 59 students.

Like all public institutions Northwest has been influenced by the political and economic climate in the state. When the Great Depression struck Mississippi with particular virulence, students were allowed to pay for their board by donating garden and farm products to the dining hall, while the government’s public works program provided funds to supplement the school’s budget. During World War II an accelerated program was introduced to allow young men to complete their educations quickly so that they could join the war effort. As returning veterans enrolled in large numbers after the war, the curriculum was expanded to fit their needs, and new buildings were constructed from government surplus materials.

Throughout this time the course offerings, the physical facilities, and the extracurricular activities of the school were growing. By the end of its third decade of operation the curriculum had expanded from a basic program of liberal arts and agriculture to include science, art, and journalism in addition to a variety of vocational-technical courses. The original three buildings had been supplemented with a cafeteria, additional dormitory and classroom space, sports and recreational facilities, and acreage for a model farm. In 1953 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools commended Northwest as a “bargain in educational facilities” and granted the college its coveted accreditation. During the next few years the college continued to prove that it deserved

this honor by broadening its capacity to serve the needs of the 11county district it had grown to encompass. A bus route began to provide free transportation for commuters, while night classes and off-campus courses offered extended educational services. Recent innovations include accelerated classes and non-traditional scheduling to accommodate adults, as well as short non-credit courses of interest to all ages. Northwest’s first distance learning programs were offered on the Internet in the spring of 1999.

Today Northwest serves students at four campuses: the main campus in Senatobia, DeSoto Center at Southaven and Olive Branch, and Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center at Oxford. Enrollment in fall 2010 exceeded an all-time high with 8756 students. Yet after eight decades of growth and in the school’s eighth administration, the mission of Northwest remains true to the vision of its founders. Northwest strives today, as it did in 1926, to bring higher education closer to the people as it serves the academic, employment, physical, cultural, and special needs of the citizens of northwest Mississippi.

TOP LEFT: Tate County Agricultural High School, the predecessor to Northwest Mississippi Junior College and later, Northwest Mississippi Community College, circa 1915; CENTER: The campus administration building during construction; RIGHT: A new entry sign to the NWCC campus was installed in 2010. BELOW: This aerial photo of the Northwest Mississippi Junior College was taken in the late 1960’s.

Northwest Mississippi Community College

TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: McCormick Building circa 1960’s; former band director Glenn Triplett; main entrance to NWJC circa 1950’s

2ND ROW: left to right: Homecoming Dance around 1961; M. L. Burks’ science class circa 1940’s; NWCC entry sign around 1988 after the school’s name changed to Northwest Mississippi Community College.

3RD ROW: left to right: NWJC Fine Arts Auditorium featured on a 1960’s postcard; Cheerleader Lacee Redd displays Ranger spirit.

BOTTOM: left to right: 2009 Homecoming Queen Taneka Miller; head football coach Bobby Franklin and the Ranger team celebrate winning the 1992 National Championship; 2010 Nursing students Alexia Sanders and Josiah Jones.

The E.E. Moore and Company building on Front Street has been a community fixture for 143 years. Built in 1877 by J. T. Gabbert, it housed his mercantile business known as J. T. Gabbert and Company. M.P. Moore later became a partner and the firm was known as Gabbert and Moore.

Some years later, J.T. Gabbert and M.P. Moore gave their mercantile business to their sons, M.W. Gabbert and E.E. Moore, Sr. Around 1920, E.E. Moore bought Gabbert’s interest in the business and it became known as E.E. Moore and Company. During the 1929 depression, E.E. Moore, Sr. felt that he could not allow his customers to go without food and supplies. He borrowed money from his life insurance to help them through those hard years.

E.E. Moore and Company, which sold farm supplies, groceries, hardware and dry goods, furnished supplies to local farmers, many of whom were sharecroppers. The company also provided cash funds, sometimes as much as $500 or more, to these farmers to operate on until their crops came in.

In later years, the business was divided between the two sons, and E.E. Moore, Jr. continued to operate the firm.

The historic E.E. Moore and Company building was destroyed on Feb. 13, 1985, when part of the roof and the south wall collapsed in the early morning hours. No one was injured in the 6 a.m. collapse which was attributed to failure of aging mortar in the walls. Part of the rear of the store was undamaged. Because

store employees sold merchandise from their cars and later from a rented building, the business never lost a day’s sales. Rebuilding began immediately and the “Lil Country Store” reopened later the same year.

Employees of E. E. Moore and Company were widely-known within the community. Among them were W. K. Brown, L. G. McClure, John R. (Red) Price, Jr., W. Y. Henley and Marguerite Williams. E. L. (Shorty) Rhodes, probably the most noted employee, worked there 45 years. The employees at the time of the collapse were Dot Williams, Carolyn Wright, and 82-year-old George Guest who was an employee of the Moore family most of his life.

The restored building is currently (2011) occupied by Cotton Treasures in the front while a rear office is still used by Buck Moore for the operation of the Moore family business.

ABOVE, LEFT: E.E. Moore and Company on a busy business day in 1960; CENTER: Vintage cash register used by E.E. Moore and Company; RIGHT: The well-recognized E.E. Moore sign on the side of the building at the corner of Front Street and Ward Street.

BELOW, LEFT: An undated picture of E.E. Moore and Company employees, left to right, Chuby Smith, B. E. McCrary, unidentified, E.E. Moore, Will Jones, next 4 are unidentified, M.P. Moore, Tom Hyde and Latan Patton. RIGHT: A 1985 article and picture in The Tate County Democrat documented the collapse of the E. E. Moore building in the early morning hours.

PHOTO: KEVIN PITTS

Space Shuttle Named by Senatobia Fifth-Graders

LEFT: A night launch of space shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. RIGHT: Pictured are left to right, front row: Zack Zettergren, Sarah Alford, Casey Craig, Spencer Miller, Mac Monteith. Middle row: Melody Durrett, Jennifer Hale, Ryan Burke and teacher Martha Riales. Back row: Mike Waldrop, Superintendent of City Schools, Phil Mote, Middle School Principal, Mississippi Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, and Howard Riales. Not pictured is the ninth student, Thomas Anzalone.

A group of fifth-grade students from Senatobia Middle School won a nationwide contest in 1989 to name the United States’ fourth space shuttle. Both Martha S. Riales’ 1988-1989 Senatobia fifth grade class and a class from a Georgia high school won first place in the contest. Senatobia students included Sarah Alford, Tom Anzalone, Ryan Burke, Casey Craig, Melody Durrett, Jennifer Hale, Spencer Miller, Mac Monteith, and Zack Zettergren.

The space shuttle Endeavour was named through a national competition involving students in elementary and secondary schools. Following the tragedy of the ill-fated launch of the space shuttle Challenger, a contest was initiated in 1986 by President George Bush and Congress for students across the United States to choose the name of the next space shuttle, which took its first flight in 1992.

The name “Endeavour” won the students a trip to Washington, D.C. for an award by President George Bush. Riales and her students were able to meet the President and were presented with plaques with the shuttle’s name displayed on them. Later, they also were given a trip to California when the shuttle was unveiled.

The mission flight patch that was worn by the crew of the Endeavour features Senatobia’s school colors. The flags flying on Endeavour’s masts bear the colors of the two schools that won the competition to name the orbiter: the blue and gold of Senatobia Middle School and the green and white of the school from Georgia.

Entries to the contest included an essay about the name, the story behind it and why it was appropriate for a NASA shuttle, and the project that supported the name. Endeavour was the most popular entry, accounting for almost one-third of the state-level winners. The national winners were Senatobia Middle School in Senatobia, Mississippi, in the elementary division and Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Georgia, in the upper school division. Both groups were honored at several ceremonies in Washington, D.C., including a White House ceremony where then-President George H.W. Bush presented awards to each school.

The competition was open to K-12 students enrolled in U.S. public and private schools. Interest was high and NASA received 6,154 entries, representing more than 70,000 students. Students could not suggest just any name. It had to be that of an exploratory or research sea vessel, be appropriate for a spacecraft, capture the spirit of America’s mission in space, and be easy to pronounce for radio transmission. A required classroom project challenged

students to research their suggestion from historical, scientific and technical sources. The Senatobia students devised a simulated space camp and taught kindergarten and second grade-pupils about the space program as a part of their entry.

NASA published a book about the naming of the space shuttle. The book, “NASA Orbiter-Naming Program, September 1988May 1989, From Ship to Shuttle” detailed the process of the competition. It features pictures of the Senatobia’s winning students with President Bush and the astronauts from the Atlantis crew.

TOP: The mission flight patch that was worn by the crew of the Endeavour features Senatobia’s school colors. The flags flying on Endeavour’s masts bear the colors of the two schools that won the competition to name the orbiter: the blue and gold of Senatobia Middle School and the green and white of the school from Georgia.

CENTER: Space shuttle Endeavour in flight; BOTTOM: President George Bush, surrounded by members the Atlantis crew, presented Sarah Alford with a plaque with the shuttle’s name displayed on it.