Fire destroyed McCullough School in ‘64
Published 9:07 am Wednesday, March 16, 2011
This week we are taking a look at news from 1954 and a few excerpts from various columns over the last four years.
In 1964, the McCullough School burned. It took only a couple hours for the stately brick and wood-frame structure to be destroyed by the intense flames. An electrical shortage in the ceiling was the cause of the fire according to then Escambia County Superintendent of Education Harry Weaver.
Antique sewing machines and various home economic equipment were among the cherished items lost in the fire. Several honored sports trophies depicting outstanding baseball and basketball championships were also destroyed.
The fire also sent thousands of honey bees soaring from the flames as their honeycombs spewed sweet, succulent streams of thick liquid down the exterior walls of the building. Those honeycombs had apparently been there for many years.
Built back in the 1930s the former high school had less than one hundred students. Following the fire the students, grades 1-6, were sent to Huxford School to complete the school year. The McCullough School was never rebuilt.
In some more 1964 news, highly respected ECHS principal Robert Hodnette passed away after rendering 33 years of service to the school and county education system.
Curtis Forrester, Leroy Wiggins and several other northwest Florida leaders received approval to begin construction of the Walnut Hill Water System.
An unusual fishing tale occurred that year. Ben Haley and Dr. St. Amant, who were fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, hauled in a large sailfish. Ben, jokingly, claimed he snagged the fish. It was so large that some reporters wrote it was a record catch and was hauled in by both anglers. While it never made the Guinness Book of Records, a photo of it clearly portrayed it as a very large fish.
In 1955 you could almost tell where some people worked. A few weeks during that year Goodwill Manufacturing Company paid employees in $2 bills. The Pensacola Greyhound racing track also used those same type bills to pay winners. When a person was seen with some of these bills the joke was made either you have been to the dog track or you work at Goodwill.”
In current news a story in the Alabama Baptist news paper indicated Alabama Attorney general Luther Strange stated he was “still waiting word” from the National Indian Commission to clarify laws regarding Native American gambling in the state of Alabama. Local Creeks, however, have always stated they were operating within their rights.
One other somewhat related internet story surfaced out of Orlando. Two lawmakers are making efforts to initiate a drive for five Las Vegas style casinos to be built and “properly spaced in tourist sites” throughout the state of Florida. Of course that would have to be voted on statewide for it to happen. And the story did not indicate exact locations of the casinos if they were voted in. The story did not imply one would be located in northwest Florida.
The Creeks have been good to Atmore, furnishing jobs and giving money to schools and other worthy causes. They are also progressing in commercializing their tribal lands.
“.…..yes, it always whispers to me,… those days of long ago….”
More next week.
Lowell McGill is a historical columnist for The Atmore Advance. He can be reached at exam@frontiernet.net