It was an interesting and emotional day. I arrived at Roosevelt State Park a little after 12:30 and decided to see if I could check in. No one was in the office but finally someone showed up. I asked for two extra nights and when she tried to charge my card, the computer jammed on her. In any case, I’ll stay through Tuesday.
Alfreda-Harris Lodge which replaced the original CCC Lodge. The name Harris is Carl Harris who was park manager for several years and was head basketball coach at Morton High.
After getting the key, I checked out the room. My room supposedly has recently been updated and modernized. If so, they need to ask for their money back. It’s decent enough for the price.
The motel where I’m staying. You can’t really call it a lodge.
From there I toured the park and brought back old memories.
The Livingston Center is named after Dick Livingston, a state legislator from Pulaski. This building sits atop where all the WWII canons and the Sherman tank was located.
The athletic field. This is the only thing that hasn’t changed. It looks exactly like it did when I was a Cub Scout and participated in the three-legged race and egg race with a spoon.
This was the area our Boy Scout troop cleaned up for our camping area which was then grabbed by the park service for their camping area.
Changing rooms for the swimming area. Boys on the left, girls on the right. I passed through those gates many times.
Boat shack where you used to rent boats. It’s been upgraded but needs another.
Back in the day, this is where the boats for rent were kept. The pier arms went out further back then and it was an excellent place from which to fish – there were two fishing there today.
This is one of the original CCC cabins. I’ve actually stayed in this one – with a single light bulb handing down in the kitchen. All the old cabins are scheduled for renovation.
Park Manager’s home. This was the home of the long time superintendent “Slim” Hannah. We knew his kids as they went to school in Morton.
The dam that holds back the lake. It was replaced several years ago.
Spill of the lake. Back in my day it was paved concrete and you could play in the waters as they came over the spillway.
From the park, I traveled the Morton/Marathon road to Pulaski and visited the Searcy Cemetery where my family is interred. It’s also called the crock pot road because Archie and Tanis were bringing a stew to my Mom and Dad and took a curve to quickly and spilled the contents in the car.
Our family is at the very back. Dad, Mom, Grandad, Grandmother, Dad’s stillborn brother, and Uncle Jack and Aunt Sue. It’s been here since 1895.
My Grandparents “Old Place. It’s pretty much swallowed up by the weeds. His magnolia tree is just to the right and is one of the largest I’ve ever seen. It has to be over 100 years old.
Main Street of Pulaski, Mississippi. It used to be a thriving community with a k-12 school, three churches (Methodist and Baptist, a post office and two stores. They built a post office later. The old one was in one of the two stores. I remember eating dinner on the ground next to the school building.
This is what’s left of one store – the one that my Grandad used to run. He also taught school and worked for the government during the cattle tick outbreak where you had to dip your cattle. Very contentious.
From here I visited my 1st cousins. I haven’t seen them in quite a while. Minnie Jean managed to get us all together for the first time that didn’t include a funeral.
Me, Jean and Charles – 1st cousins
Jean, Russel (Jean’s husband), Charles, Me and Minnie Jean (Charle’s wife). We all have our aches, pains and physical problems but we’re still here!
Just as I left Charle’s house to go to Brandon to see my brother, the check engine light on the Jeep came on.
Stay tuned!
Author: searcyf@mac.com
After 34 years in the classroom and lab teaching biology, I'm ready to get back to traveling and camping and hiking. It's been too long of a break. I miss the outdoors and you can follow my wanderings on this blog.
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