It’s summer time in the city—and in the county. The LoJo invited readers to write about their favorite summer memories of time spent in Russellville and Logan County. The following are some of the responses we received.
Dorris ‘DB’ Burchett
I cannot forget the summers in Russellville during the 50's. There was no swimming pool in those days except an old indoor pool in the old RHS gym. Later a stage was built over the pool when the building was remodeled. But back to the pool itself; it was small, the water was always cold (being indoors it did not get any warming sunshine) and also since it was indoors, the amount of chemical that had to be added for health sake was strong-smelling chlorine, My eyes burn just thinking about it. It served a purpose, I guess, since a lot of us kids learned to swim in that old pool.
I remember the tennis courts, as well. I guess you could stretch the point and call them "courts" when actually they were the side street between the old high school building and the elementary school building. There were chicken wire-covered planks for backstops, the nets ran from curb-to-curb and the curbs also served as out-of-bounds. But, what the heck? Glenn Gilliam, Jerry Burchett, Pat Kirkpatrick, Ralph Gilliam and I (and others) got in many hours of tennis that we could not have gotten without those "courts."
I also remember Wednesday afternoons in the summer. All the stores closed their doors at noon and everyone had the afternoon off for leisure activity. The thing I remember most about the stores being closed on Wednesday afternoons was how totally "dull" the downtown was on those Wednesday afternoons. Especially when we could likely be found on the park benches around the town "Square" (which was then, and is now, not square at all).
Lots of changes since then; but, some things remain the same…teens then and now liked to keep busy. We didn't have electronic gadgets like there are now so maybe that aspect of life has changed somewhat. I venture to say that neither us nor today’s teens think of summers in Russellville as "living in the fast lane" but we were "making memories" and someday today's teens will recall their Russellville summers as fond memories as well.
Dorris Burchett and his wife, the former Lula Reynolds, are graduates of Russellville High School and are benefactors of Western Kentucky University. They live in Germantown, Tenn. He is a retired highly successful businessman.
Mary Lucy Franklin
Like Dorris I do remember those tennis courts; they were taken down when school started. (Summer vacation started the Friday before Memorial Day and lasted until the Tuesday after Labor Day.) I also remember that swimming pool—and the smell. It's where I learned to swim, and walked through that foot bath that was probably pure Clorox.
I also remember one of the mothers' taking a group of us to either Beech Bend (and that slide) or Dunbar Cave. Several years ago I stopped by Dunbar Cave and couldn't believe how small the mouth of the cave is. It was much larger in my childhood.
I also remember three annual events eagerly anticipated and attended by the whole town: The Catholic Church Ice Cream Supper, Bisbees' Comedians (Ray Smith is the authority on this), and the Fair. As I recall, those latter two lasted a week, and I thought I should go every night—that didn't happen. Seems we were all outside a lot; the only air conditioning in town was the Dixie Theater, and it was COOL.
Mary Lucy Franklin is a 1958 graduate of RHS and of Vanderbilt University. She is one of Russellville’s leading active historians.
Alberta Cauley Hayes
I grew up on tenant farms. What i want to share is Saturday night in town. Around dark we would all start cleaning up and, of course, we kids were getting excited. Going to town was the most exciting thing we did except for maybe the fair and the Tobacco Festival.
In those days people could park all around the square. We would just pull in there and it would all be full all around the square. Mostly black cars back then, in the ‘50s. Then the visiting would start as people walked around, stopping at cars to talk. As the night cooled seemed everyone had a coke in their hand, and I suspect some had more than cokes. Every cola was a coke in the South; there were RC cokes and Nehi cokes.
My brothers and I—there were three brothers Dale, Johnny and little brother Stevie--were just turned loose with lots of warnings from Mama not to go to far. My parents, Clifton and Ella Ruth Cauley, were very good people. Dale--I am sure—was looking for girls, and Johnny was just finding his buddies, I guess. But now Stevie and I were off like two little mad devils who had had too much sugar. We ran, we looked into every store that was open. We zigzagged around people on the sidewalk. When we recognized anyone, we would go zooming up to their group where someone would inevitably say, "What are you two up to?" We would laugh and say nothing and off we would go.
Now in those days, we would usually get a dime to spend and that would buy you a coke or an ice cream. That didn’t last us very long. We would run exhausted, sweating and giggling up to the fountain to drink like two camels getting ready for a long trip. After a couple of hours as we were still going all over. People started to tell us, "Hey your mama is looking for you." We ignored until the reminders started to sound like this, "Your mama said if you two didn’t get to the car she’s gonna wear you out!!" We knew what that meant and didn't want any part of that, so sweating and really starting to wind down we went to the car, only to fall asleep on the ride home.
Alberta Cauley Hayes is a 1969 graduate of Olmstead High School, attended Western Kentucky University and lives in Russellville.
Paul Vick
I don't guess I have any one favorite visit to Russellville. I was born there, but left when I was in the first grade. Every visit was most enjoyable. My dad worked for the Kentucky Highway Department and was a part-time farmer. I went to the first grade in a little one-room school in the rural area, off the Buena Vista Road.
One visit that stands out is my meeting the love of my life (at that time). I was 16 or 17. I was there visiting my cousins. I had ventured off by myself one day and ended up downtown. I was looking for something in Duncans Drug Store when I spotted her sitting there by herself sipping on a coke. I assumed she was alone, so, I casually sat down introduced myself and started a friendship that lasted several years. She was from Louisville and was also visiting. From that day on, my trips to Russellville were more frequent. I even moved to Louisville after I graduated to be near her. It was a romance that lasted until I had to leave for the military...
Although I live in Mississippi, I still enjoy my yearly trips to Russellville, just to get out and walk through our old farm and see how the city has changed, All my relatives have either moved or passed away. That does not keep me away. I still consider R’ville home.
Paul Vick graduated from Biloxi High School in Mississippi and is retired from the Gillette Company. He lives in Ocean Springs, Miss.
Phillip Wagoner
Working on the farms in Logan County is a cherished memory I think about a lot. Now as a minister, I reflect on the things you get to see around the farm that others live their entire lives and never see. I remember arriving early one morning at a dairy farm I was working at in Middleton, and the night before one of those monsoon rains had come through and had flooded one of the fields, forcing Mama Holstein into a corner. She gave birth that night to a fine young man. I crossed over the fence and lifted this little guy and carried him, reuniting him with his mother. That memory and many others I will carry with me forever. I love Auburn and Logan County.
Philip Wagoner grew up in the Auburn area, is married to the former Patty Clement, and serves as assistant pastor of Haven Pentecostal Church in Henderson.
Betty Ruth Gunn Ditmore
Summer time for our family was to attend all of the gospel meetings being held at all of the area churches. Sometimes the weather was so hot, windows up with lots of funeral home fans in use. Just a really special memory for me.
Betty Ruth Gunn Ditmore grew up in Auburn, lives in Simpson County where she taught in the school system for 34 years, and now is part-owner and manager of the H& R Block office in Franklin
Beverly Gaines Karaffa
Seems like summer memories of Logan County wouldn't be complete without memories of Spring Acres pool.
Beverly Gaines Karaffa is a graduate of Auburn High School, attended WKU and lives in New Albany, Ind. She and her husband John have spent a lot of time watching their sons play soccer