15, section 2 valley vision

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By Abby TownsonWhat was almost trashed has

become a treasured collection inthe Cobb Memorial Archives.Approximately 24 boxes ofassorted World War II memora-bilia from the now-closed LanettMill were rescued from a trashyfate thanks to archives personnel.The boxes represent remnants

of the Lanett War Service Center,which worked to serve and sup-port local men and women whojoined up during the war.Centers like it also existed in

Shawmut, Fairfax, Riverview andLangdale during WWI and WWII.The mills did their own part in

the war effort by hiring secretariesand recruiting volunteers to workat the centers and keep theemployees who were called toserve in the military in touch withwhat was going on back home.This involved a range of servic-

es, from keeping track of the fre-quently changing addresses of themen and women both in the coun-try and oversees, to subscribingand sending them the local papers,to corresponding with them per-sonally.The Lanett collection Boxes 1-

11 are filled entirely with filefolders.Each folder represents a serv-

iceman or woman and is alphabet-ized according to surname. Mostof the folders contain letters, cor-respondences between the work-ers at the Lanett War ServiceCenter and the former millemployees, away at war.The letters come in different

shapes, sizes, colors and lengths.Some are written on embossedmilitary stationary, while othersare scratched onto scraps as thinas tissue paper.Some begin with the greetings,

“Hello Folks,” or “Dear Friends ofLanett” while others simplybegin, “Dear Friend.” One thingthey all have in common is athankfulness for a connection withhome.The archives also have the War

Service Center boxes from theShawmut mill.

Together, the collection ofmemorabilia from Lanett andShawmut spans nearly an entirewall of shelves in the archives.Though most of the boxes are tooheavy for her to lift alone, toMiriam Syler, Cobb Memorial’s80-year-old head archivist, thecollection is intrinsically worth itsweight in gold.“It’s probably the most valuable

thing we have,” says Syler.To Paula Kirkpatrick, an assis-

tant at the archives, the collectionhas a more personal value.Her father Lawrence Carey

Gilmore, a private in the infantryduring WWII, was a former

employee of the Lanett mill andhas a file in the collection.“When I opened my father’s file

I was very intrigued and fascinat-ed and delighted to see that therewere photographs of my father,”Kirkpatrick says. “There were let-ters that had been sent to myfather, and there was a letter myfather had written in 1944, theoriginal letter that he sent to thewar center thanking them for thebox that West Point Pepperell hadsent to him.”It was one letter, but the letter

gave Kirkpatrick a new connec-tion to her father who passedaway in 1990 at the age of 64.“Just a short little note of thanks,but to see his handwriting and rec-ognize his handwriting and knowthat it was from 1944, and I washolding that delicate piece ofpaper in my hand, it gave mechills and it gives me chills now tothink about it,” she says. “That’s apiece of history that my motherdidn’t know existed… I didn’tknow existed.”It is also a piece of history that

nearly ceased to exist, accordingto Mary Hamilton, the director ofthe adjacent H. Grady BradshawLibrary.“I think they were on the stair-

well getting ready to throw theminto the dumpster,” Hamiltonsays. “Realistically, that’s proba-bly what happened to the others.”The Lanett and Shawmut col-

lection escaped the fate that likelybefell the War Service Center col-lections from the mills at Fairfax,Riverview and Langdale.“It’s just very tragic when you

think of what could have hap-pened to a lot of these records,”Kirkpatrick says. “Thankfully,somebody was there to stop themfrom being destroyed.”Now everyone who visits the

archives can enjoy what wasalmost lost forever. Many likeKirkpatrick will discover a threadto the past of a loved one.“We are the wonderful recipi-

ents of that piece of history,”Kirkpatrick says. “I just think itwould be great if more peopleknew what was available in thesefiles and in the archives in gener-al.“Seeing my father’s letter…

that was just a very solemn, excit-ing and very touching thing forme to be able to experience,”Kirkpatrick says. “I’m just veryhappy that the war service centersexisted, that they did what theydid for all of the local men whowere serving in the war, and theytook the time they paid theexpense of staying touch withthem.”Cpl. Bennie Mobley of the AAF

(Army Air Forces) and a recipientof the EAMET ribbon was an

employee of the Lanettmill before enlisting inthe U.S. Army. His fold-er contained several let-ters between him and theWar Service Center.One letter, dated June

13, 1942, was written toR.W. Jennings, superin-tendant of the Lanettmill. In the letter,Mobley expressed hisheartfelt gratitude for thesupport the mill and thecenter had shown him.

“It is people like youall that makes this worlda wonderful place to liveand makes us boys in thearmy feel like we are wayshort of our pledge toyou,” Mobley wrote. “Itmakes a man feel as if hehad already found thathe has more to fight for.

“I am glad that I can fight formen like you all and will stand uptill the last man has fallen and bemore than proud to die for it in theend.”In a later letter, written on Dec.

14, 1943, to Mrs. Matlack, a sec-retary at the War Service Center,Mobley wrote a poem which hesaid was “meant for Mother, but Ithink it will do for all the Valleymothers and workers as well.

“In my leisure here, Mother,you are always in my thoughts,

“I picture you beside me thoughwe are far apart,

“Someday I am hoping toreturn again to you,

“But if I don’t, remember, inHeaven I will wait for you.”Intimate glimpses and personal

revelations shared with a strangeror at best, an acquaintance, mightseem strange to some, but forthese men and women servingtheir country away from every-thing familiar, it was a way to stayconnected with home and lovedones. This strengthening connec-tion can be seen throughout manyof the folders.“It’s just really interesting to

read the progression of the let-ters,” Hamilton says. “They startout very, very formal, but, by theend of the correspondence, there’skind of a friendship.”“There’s definitely more of a

one-on-one relationship betweenthe soldiers and the ladies.”In a letter to one of the service-

men, Annette Walker, a secretaryat the center, demonstrated theconcern and interest that thehome-front volunteers felt forthose who had left home to serveand defend the country.

“I went out and talked to yourmother and father the other day,”Walker wrote on April 15, 1942.“Any time that I can be of help toyou or your family, don’t hesitate

to call on me. I know your parentsare proud of their two boys whoare so willingly giving their serv-ices to this good land of ours.

“Keep your chin up! Rememberthat we are back of you and willtry to do everything here to speedvictory.”Some letters like one by

William Delee, a seaman aboardthe U.S.S. Warrington, are lesshopeful. On Aug. 4, 1944, Deleewrote to the center expressing hisbad feelings upon hearing aboutthose from home who werewounded or missing in action.

“I don’t feel good about that,for I think I may be the next one,”Delee says. “But if I do, it will befor all my friends at home andgood old Lanett.”Forty days later, Delee drowned

when the U.S.S. Warrington sankduring a hurricane off the Atlanticcoast.Again, the Lanett War Service

Center came through with lettersto the wife of the deceased, thistime from Mrs. Claude Milford,secretary.

“Dear Mrs. Delee,” Milfordwrote. “I know how weak andfruitless any words of condolencewill be at this sad time.

“If there is anything I can dofor you, please call on me.”“Ordinary people joined the

service, in WWI, WWII,”Kirkpatrick says. “They enlisted.They wanted to fight for the coun-try, and they had everything tolose. They had their lives to lose,and a lot of them did.”“I have a great sense of pride

that we can look back on that andgo, ‘We have this piece of history.We have our memories.’”The Cobb Memorial Archives is

a treasure trove. In it are 11 treas-ure chests, each filled with hun-dreds of pearls, many of themstarting with two words, “DearFriend.”

Library archives hold treasured WWII letters

BByy AAbbbbyy TToowwnnssoonn

Mary Hamilton, 41, has worked inlibraries since she was 15 and has been H.Grady Bradshaw Library’s director forseven years. She knows firsthand what real-ly goes on in them, and according to her, theH. Grady Bradshaw is anything but stereo-typical. “We’re not the quiet tomb of schol-arship that people think,” Hamilton says.“We do a lot of fun things too.”If the library is atypical, then Hamilton’s

job as director is a perfect match for it.“It’s just something different every day,”

Hamilton says. “I’ve unclogged toilets andput out flaming rolls of toilet paper. There’s500 other things that I do.”To Hamilton, the H. Grady Bradshaw is

more than just a place to find books. “I see it as the community center,”

Hamilton says. “We don’t have a bookstore. We don’t have a movie theater, so thisis kind of the place that people come.”Besides books, movies and computers,

the H. Grady Bradshaw offers a myriad ofservices and social opportunities.“Anybody can come to the library and findsomething that appeals to them,” Hamiltonsays. Kati Behrens has worked at the library for

three years as the youth programs coordina-tor. “I’ve lived in New York, Los Angeles,Chicago, San Francisco,” Behrens says.“Out of all of those places that I’ve livedand worked with libraries, I have never seena library like this.”“We’re a really good team here,” Behrens

says. “We work really well together.”Miriam Syler, 80, has worked in the

archives for 24 years. Originally from GoldHill, Syler came to Valley in 1952.“I reallysort of fell into it,” Syler said of her positionas head of the archives. “I’d always beeninterested in family history and history ingeneral, local especially.” The archives were opened at the same

time as the library, 1976.

By Bridgette BonnerDianne Jones, 63, considers

herself lucky to have a job sheloves for the last 17 years.Jones has done many things inher life, including working inthe Fairfax Mill, the bank, thehospital and owning and con-ducting classes in a ceramicsshop. Seventeen years ago she

took a job working at theValley Senior Center and willretire in the Spring. Her asso-ciation with the Senior Centerwill not end on retirement day,though. “I told them all I’monly a phone call away,”Jones says.Jones now lives on Lake

Harding but was born in WestPoint and lived in Fairfax allher life. She says Valley has been

good to her and she is thankfulto call it home.“I believe God put me

here,” Jones says. “It’s part ofhis plan for me and I’ve trulybeen blessed.”Growing up, Jones, the old-

est of six children, had a lot ofresponsibility. Both of herparents worked in the FairfaxMill on different shifts, sotime together was hard tocome by. “With six children it was

hard to have luxury items,”Jones explains.Jones realizes how hard her

parents worked to provide forher and her five siblings.“I remember mother and

daddy showering onThursdays before we went tothe grocery store,” Jonessays. “They wanted to showerthe lint off their hair andclothes. People would lookdown on them, which is ashame, because they weregood, hard-working people. Ididn’t realize that was whythey were showering first, butnow as I am older I knowwhy they did that.”All of her parents’ hard

work made sure Jones and hersiblings had everything theyneeded. It was a simplelifestyle, but a complete one.Jones knows she has been

lucky not to have been affect-ed greatly when the mills shutdown, but she has her fairshare of concerns. “I knowwe’ll be all right, but whatabout my children and mygrandchildren?” Jones won-ders. “Some people think youcan’t make it but you can.”Jones says. “Just keep plug-ging. As long as you’re notafraid to work, you’ll makeit.”

Memorabilia from World War II now in the Cobb Memorial Archives.

By Bridgette Bonner

Although some places inValley are struggling, theValley Senior Center isalive with activity andenthusiasm. More than 50 senior citi-

zens visit the center daily. “Mostly these are the

same people, but new onescome and we get excited towelcome the new faces,”says Dianne Jones, staffmember at the VSC.Valley introduced its

Senior Center program onOct. 1, 1982. Members firstmet at the Langdale BaptistChurch, then at the oldFairfax post office beforethe City of Valley pur-chased the building onCombs Street where theprogram is currently locat-ed.The program is free for

members to participate.Funding comes from thecity of Valley and grantsfrom the East AlabamaCommission on Aging. Longtime member of the

senior center program,Dorothy Bailey, spendsmany of her days at thecenter.“I enjoy all of it,” Bailey

says. “The older you get

the more you enjoy cominghere. We’re all friendshere, and the staff is won-derful.”The center is run by five

staff members, who deliver69 meals to homeboundseniors daily.“My husband and I used

to come here together untilhe became disabled and wecouldn’t come anymore,”Bailey says.“Now that he’s passed, I

have started coming backby myself.”Many of the members

come for the relationshipsthey form after hard times,such as the loss of a spouseand the different activitieskeep their minds busy.“We think of it as more

of an activities center thansimply a senior center,”Jones says.

They enjoy playingdominos, card games anddoing puzzles mostly.“They get real serious

about their dominos,” saysMargaret Bledsoe, seniorcenter member. “It’s com-petitive.”Recently the library

donated Wiis to the centerand seniors have come toenjoy Wii bowling and Wiigolf as well.

The largest event associ-ated with the senior centeris the Masters Games, orSenior Olympics. “For some of them, if

they didn’t come here theywouldn’t get up at all,”Jones says. “It gets themout of bed and gives themsomething to do.”“It’s a place to come and

get their minds off things,”Jones says. “They comehere and can just relax andinteract with other people.Just have someone to talkto.”Jones and other staff

members keep things inter-esting at the center by cre-ating fun events. They alsoprovide fellowship for theseniors interested in wor-ship, and come up withexercise and dance routinesto music to keep the seniorsactive.Bailey’s friend Grady

Jones describes the center

as “one big family.” The program has been so

successful it has nowgrown to be larger than thecurrent location can pro-vide for.

Relocating to theCommunity Center wouldsolve the overcrowdingissue.“We can’t do it alone,”

says Senior Center manag-er Suellen Snowden. “Wealready have a floor plan,but we still need a grant.”If the program is success-

fully moved to theCommunity Center, itwould provide enoughroom for 150 people to par-ticipate daily. The plans include a new

kitchen, computer room,and a larger sitting area forfellowship and conversa-tion. The seniors wouldalso be able to use the pooland other facilities at theCommunity Center.

The Valley Senior Center may soon outgrow site.

15 Valley Vision Spring 2010

Photo by Abby Townson

Photo by Morgan Stashick

Tame tomb or treasure trove?

Jones to retire fromher ‘lucky’ position

Senior Center provideshome away from home