By By Sherry Digmon
As the world nears a new millennium, the young and not so young came together at Rachel Patterson Elementary School Wednesday to talk about the way things used to be.
Atmore Nursing Care Center residents Estelle Hamilton, 82, and Bertha Bowman, 89, visited Yvonne Grissett's and Demetrie Payne's second grade classes.
The ladies talked a little about their own education backgrounds.
Mrs. Hamilton went to a private school sponsored by the Baptist Home Mission in Mobile.
Mrs. Hamilton attended public school for a while. She had to walk since there was no bus service.
Mrs. Bowman sometimes was taken to school in a horse and buggy. Near the school was a large dormitory which housed boys from as far away as Birmingham.
Mrs. Bowman married a farmer, but Mrs. Hamilton spent most of her life in town.
Mrs. Bowman milked two cows every day.
Mrs. Hamilton tried to milk a cow one time.
Mrs. Bowman helped provide the family's food during World War II.
Both ladies said winters seemed to be colder then. Oftentimes, bedrooms were not heated.
During a question and answer period, one student asked if they had books when they were growing up.
Another asked if they had televisions.
But, of course, neither had.
It was only logical that the next question would be if they had computers.
No, they didn't have those either.