CMYK By Abby Townson What was almost trashed has become a treasured collection in the Cobb Memorial Archives. Approximately 24 boxes of assorted World War II memora- bilia from the now-closed Lanett Mill were rescued from a trashy fate 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 who joined up during the war. Centers like it also existed in Shawmut, Fairfax, Riverview and Langdale during WWI and WWII. The mills did their own part in the war effort by hiring secretaries and recruiting volunteers to work at the centers and keep the employees who were called to serve in the military in touch with what was going on back home. This involved a range of servic- es, from keeping track of the fre- quently changing addresses of the men and women both in the coun- try and oversees, to subscribing and sending them the local papers, to corresponding with them per- sonally. The Lanett collection Boxes 1- 11 are filled entirely with file folders. Each folder represents a serv- iceman or woman and is alphabet- ized according to surname. Most of the folders contain letters, cor- respondences between the work- ers at the Lanett War Service Center and the former mill employees, away at war. The letters come in different shapes, sizes, colors and lengths. Some are written on embossed military stationary, while others are scratched onto scraps as thin as tissue paper. Some begin with the greetings, “Hello Folks,” or “Dear Friends of Lanett” while others simply begin, “Dear Friend.” One thing they all have in common is a thankfulness for a connection with home. The archives also have the War Service Center boxes from the Shawmut mill. Together, the collection of memorabilia from Lanett and Shawmut spans nearly an entire wall of shelves in the archives. Though most of the boxes are too heavy for her to lift alone, to Miriam Syler, Cobb Memorial’s 80-year-old head archivist, the collection is intrinsically worth its weight in gold. “It’s probably the most valuable thing we have,” says Syler. To Paula Kirkpatrick, an assis- tant at the archives, the collection has a more personal value. Her father Lawrence Carey Gilmore, a private in the infantry during WWII, was a former employee of the Lanett mill and has a file in the collection. “When I opened my father’s file I was very intrigued and fascinat- ed and delighted to see that there were photographs of my father,” Kirkpatrick says. “There were let- ters that had been sent to my father, and there was a letter my father had written in 1944, the original letter that he sent to the war center thanking them for the box that West Point Pepperell had sent to him.” It was one letter, but the letter gave Kirkpatrick a new connec- tion to her father who passed away 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 know that it was from 1944, and I was holding that delicate piece of paper in my hand, it gave me chills and it gives me chills now to think about it,” she says. “That’s a piece of history that my mother didn’t know existed… I didn’t know existed.” It is also a piece of history that nearly ceased to exist, according to Mary Hamilton, the director of the adjacent H. Grady Bradshaw Library. “I think they were on the stair- well getting ready to throw them into the dumpster,” Hamilton says. “Realistically, that’s proba- bly what happened to the others.” The Lanett and Shawmut col- lection escaped the fate that likely befell 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 them from being destroyed.” Now everyone who visits the archives can enjoy what was almost lost forever. Many like Kirkpatrick will discover a thread to the past of a loved one. “We are the wonderful recipi- ents of that piece of history,” Kirkpatrick says. “I just think it would be great if more people knew what was available in these files and in the archives in gener- al. “Seeing my father’s letter… that was just a very solemn, excit- ing and very touching thing for me to be able to experience,” Kirkpatrick says. “I’m just very happy that the war service centers existed, that they did what they did for all of the local men who were serving in the war, and they took the time they paid the expense of staying touch with them.” Cpl. Bennie Mobley of the AAF (Army Air Forces) and a recipient of the EAMET ribbon was an employee of the Lanett mill before enlisting in the U.S. Army. His fold- er contained several let- ters between him and the War Service Center. One letter, dated June 13, 1942, was written to R.W. Jennings, superin- tendant of the Lanett mill. In the letter, Mobley expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the support the mill and the center had shown him. “It is people like you all that makes this world a wonderful place to live and makes us boys in the army feel like we are way short of our pledge to you,” Mobley wrote. “It makes a man feel as if he had already found that he has more to fight for. “I am glad that I can fight for men like you all and will stand up till the last man has fallen and be more than proud to die for it in the end.” 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 he said was “meant for Mother, but I think it will do for all the Valley mothers and workers as well. “In my leisure here, Mother, you are always in my thoughts, “I picture you beside me though we are far apart, “Someday I am hoping to return again to you, “But if I don’t, remember, in Heaven I will wait for you.” Intimate glimpses and personal revelations shared with a stranger or at best, an acquaintance, might seem strange to some, but for these men and women serving their country away from every- thing familiar, it was a way to stay connected with home and loved ones. This strengthening connec- tion can be seen throughout many of the folders. “It’s just really interesting to read the progression of the let- ters,” Hamilton says. “They start out very, very formal, but, by the end of the correspondence, there’s kind of a friendship.” “There’s definitely more of a one-on-one relationship between the soldiers and the ladies.” In a letter to one of the service- men, Annette Walker, a secretary at the center, demonstrated the concern and interest that the home-front volunteers felt for those who had left home to serve and defend the country. “I went out and talked to your mother and father the other day,” Walker wrote on April 15, 1942. “Any time that I can be of help to you or your family, don’t hesitate to call on me. I know your parents are proud of their two boys who are so willingly giving their serv- ices to this good land of ours. “Keep your chin up! Remember that we are back of you and will try to do everything here to speed victory.” Some letters like one by William Delee, a seaman aboard the U.S.S. Warrington, are less hopeful. On Aug. 4, 1944, Delee wrote to the center expressing his bad feelings upon hearing about those from home who were wounded 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 be for all my friends at home and good old Lanett.” Forty days later, Delee drowned when the U.S.S. Warrington sank during a hurricane off the Atlantic coast. Again, the Lanett War Service Center came through with letters to the wife of the deceased, this time from Mrs. Claude Milford, secretary. “Dear Mrs. Delee,” Milford wrote. “I know how weak and fruitless any words of condolence will be at this sad time. “If there is anything I can do for 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 to lose. 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 and go, ‘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 them starting with two words, “Dear Friend.” Library archives hold treasured WWII letters By Abby Townson Mary Hamilton, 41, has worked in libraries since she was 15 and has been H. Grady Bradshaw Library’s director for seven years. She knows firsthand what real- ly goes on in them, and according to her, the H. 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 and put out flaming rolls of toilet paper. There’s 500 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 book store. We don’t have a movie theater, so this is kind of the place that people come.” Besides books, movies and computers, the H. Grady Bradshaw offers a myriad of services and social opportunities. “Anybody can come to the library and find something that appeals to them,” Hamilton says. 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 lived and worked with libraries, I have never seen a 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 Gold Hill, Syler came to Valley in 1952.“I really sort of fell into it,” Syler said of her position as head of the archives. “I’d always been interested in family history and history in general, local especially.” The archives were opened at the same time as the library, 1976. By Bridgette Bonner Dianne Jones, 63, considers herself lucky to have a job she loves for the last 17 years. Jones has done many things in her life, including working in the Fairfax Mill, the bank, the hospital and owning and con- ducting classes in a ceramics shop. Seventeen years ago she took a job working at the Valley Senior Center and will retire in the Spring. Her asso- ciation with the Senior Center will not end on retirement day, though. “I told them all I’m only a phone call away,” Jones says. Jones now lives on Lake Harding but was born in West Point and lived in Fairfax all her life. She says Valley has been good to her and she is thankful to call it home. “I believe God put me here,” Jones says. “It’s part of his plan for me and I’ve truly been blessed.” Growing up, Jones, the old- est of six children, had a lot of responsibility. Both of her parents worked in the Fairfax Mill on different shifts, so time together was hard to come by. “With six children it was hard to have luxury items,” Jones explains. Jones realizes how hard her parents worked to provide for her and her five siblings. “I remember mother and daddy showering on Thursdays before we went to the grocery store,” Jones says. “They wanted to shower the lint off their hair and clothes. People would look down on them, which is a shame, because they were good, hard-working people. I didn’t realize that was why they were showering first, but now as I am older I know why they did that.” All of her parents’ hard work made sure Jones and her siblings had everything they needed. It was a simple lifestyle, but a complete one. Jones knows she has been lucky not to have been affect- ed greatly when the mills shut down, but she has her fair share of concerns. “I know we’ll be all right, but what about my children and my grandchildren?” Jones won- ders. “Some people think you can’t make it but you can.” Jones says. “Just keep plug- ging. As long as you’re not afraid to work, you’ll make it.” Memorabilia from World War II now in the Cobb Memorial Archives. By Bridgette Bonner Although some places in Valley are struggling, the Valley Senior Center is alive with activity and enthusiasm. More than 50 senior citi- zens visit the center daily. “Mostly these are the same people, but new ones come and we get excited to welcome the new faces,” says Dianne Jones, staff member at the VSC. Valley introduced its Senior Center program on Oct. 1, 1982. Members first met at the Langdale Baptist Church, then at the old Fairfax post office before the City of Valley pur- chased the building on Combs Street where the program is currently locat- ed. The program is free for members to participate. Funding comes from the city of Valley and grants from the East Alabama Commission on Aging. Longtime member of the senior center program, Dorothy Bailey, spends many of her days at the center. “I enjoy all of it,” Bailey says. “The older you get the more you enjoy coming here. We’re all friends here, and the staff is won- derful.” The center is run by five staff members, who deliver 69 meals to homebound seniors daily. “My husband and I used to come here together until he became disabled and we couldn’t come anymore,” Bailey says. “Now that he’s passed, I have started coming back by myself.” Many of the members come for the relationships they form after hard times, such as the loss of a spouse and the different activities keep their minds busy. “We think of it as more of an activities center than simply a senior center,” Jones says. They enjoy playing dominos, card games and doing puzzles mostly. “They get real serious about their dominos,” says Margaret Bledsoe, senior center member. “It’s com- petitive.” Recently the library donated Wiis to the center and seniors have come to enjoy Wii bowling and Wii golf as well. The largest event associ- ated with the senior center is the Masters Games, or Senior Olympics. “For some of them, if they didn’t come here they wouldn’t get up at all,” Jones says. “It gets them out of bed and gives them something to do.” “It’s a place to come and get their minds off things,” Jones says. “They come here and can just relax and interact with other people. Just have someone to talk to.” Jones and other staff members keep things inter- esting at the center by cre- ating fun events. They also provide fellowship for the seniors interested in wor- ship, and come up with exercise and dance routines to music to keep the seniors active. Bailey’s friend Grady Jones describes the center as “one big family.” The program has been so successful it has now grown to be larger than the current location can pro- vide for. Relocating to the Community Center would solve the overcrowding issue. “We can’t do it alone,” says Senior Center manag- er Suellen Snowden. “We already have a floor plan, but we still need a grant.” If the program is success- fully moved to the Community Center, it would provide enough room for 150 people to par- ticipate daily. The plans include a new kitchen, computer room, and a larger sitting area for fellowship and conversa- tion. The seniors would also be able to use the pool and other facilities at the Community 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 from her ‘lucky’ position Senior Center provides home away from home