Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

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THE AXTONIAN Class Prophecy- -Time, 1957 A S time passes in its never-ending course, it brings many joys and sorrows, but it cannot erase the things that have gone before. In a distant city I became very homesick one day in June 1957, for my friends and classmates of Axton High, who have become scattered as time has rolled on in its ten-year course. Trying to overcome this feeling, I start on a stroll. You may wonder why I am alone. If any of you married a doctor you know why. He never comes home at nights, never eats on time, and we never go any place. The days are lonely without a husband! At this particular time I cannot get my far-off school mates out of my mind. I have not walked very far until I see a sign reading “Madame Martha Houdini — Sees and Knows All.” On the impulse of the moment I go in her tent and tell her of what I am desirous to hear. When I pay her five dollars, the sorceress seats herself before me studying my face earnestly. She calls my name and tells me something of my past life, especially of my days spent in Axton High School. A mist appears in the room and I become dazed. Soon a familiar, smiling face peers forth. It is Charlie Agee and he’s handing out invitations to the grand opening of his new night club, “Charlie’s Tavern”, in Hollywood. Now there is a different face before me. I see Mae Ashby and her husband alighting at the Martinsville airport. They have just returned from New York where they attended “Pierre’s Beauty Premiere” to obtain modern ideas for their own beauty salon, located in the aristocratic section of Martinsville known as Axton. The scene moves to the broadcasting studio of the Axton section. There are Norman Cassada and his brothers, who are known as “The Cassada Trio”. They are the hit fea- ture each evening. But I catch another familiar scene with Norman at work during the day at his airplane factory in Martinsville. Again I see a familiar face. It is Peggy Billings and she is head telephone operator for the Bell Telephone System in Washington, D. C. Peggy is not married as she still be- lieves in having her own independent way. Next, I see a group of Axton F.F.A. boys. They are being instructed by representatives from Blacksburg Experiment Station, Lyne Starling and Cyrial Ray Jones. The topic be- ing discussed is “The Art of Modern Agriculture”. I now see another senior of ’47. It is Katherine Moss. She has never married and is now the head of “The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals”. She is giving a talk on the cruel customs of severing the horns of cattle. A large building in Boston appears now. A door opens and Billy Lawrence comes forth. He is the head of the new comedy production, “The Dignified Mr. Jones”. Melvin Jones is the star of this production. He has risen to lofty height and won worldwide fame. Why, just a week ago a man laughed himself to death after hearing Melvin in the play! Oh, how thrilling to get a clear view of another classmate after all these years of sep- aration There’s a lovely lady entering a publishing company. It is Mildred Holland, who is Fashion Manager for the current magazine, “Beauty in Fashion”, published in Dallas. Mildred is married to a wealthy oil merchant, has two children, and lives in a large subur- ban residence near Dallas, Texas. The scene changes to a large militiary academy. I do believe it’s West Point, and there is Colonel Ralph Wright, who is instructing a group of international forces. On the cam- pus watching him is his wife, a beautiful strawberry blond, formerly from his home com- munity, Axton. Page Sixteen

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THE AXTONIAN corned to the school, excitement over games grew more intense. Axton won the county championship for Class “D” schools. Charlie Agee, Billy Lawrence, Mack McDaniel, and Melvin Jones of this class were on the winning team. Two members of this class went to the University of Virginia to join in the High School League activities. Lyne Starling was on the debate and Cleo Martin represented Axton in the spelling contest. Although they did not win in the state contest, they had an inspiring trip. Unfortunately two members left the class. Jasper Hankins was injured in an automo- bile collision, and Evelyn Hall moved to Stuart. In the spring the class entertained the seniors with a wiener roast at Fairy stone Park. Everyone was happy in spite of the showers. Soon the rumor was spread about that Mr. H. L. Saville, the principal, after twenty years of service, was leaving Axton High School to take up agricultural work in the high school at Charlotte Court House. Everyone contributed to a farewell present which was presented to him on commencement night by the seniors as they were about to say good- bye. This class took part in the class night exercises as they marched upon the stage with a beautiful daisy chain and sang a farewell song to the Seniors of ’46. They too had become seniors since examinations were over. In the autumn of ’46, twenty-one were nearing the goal of graduation as they as- sembled in the auditorium to greet the new principal, Mr. R. V. Long. They were soon in the senior room with Miss Clara Norvell as sponsor. Charlie Agee was chosen president ; Cleo Martin, vice-president ; and Katherine Moss, secretary. The annual staff was soon organized. Picture-taking time found only ninteen senior pictures were to go into the annual. George Barker had taken the veteran’s examination and left. Beatrice Burnette had joined the matrimonial ranks as Mrs. Lester Hankins. The activities of the year were many. There was the V.H.L. debate by six seniors, the spelling contest, of which Cleo Martin was local winner, the senior play, and the F.F.A. oration contest, of which Lyne Starling was local winner. This year inter-school athletics were established with other schools again. Basketball received more attention in the fall with Mr. Long, Mr. Tavenner and Mrs. 0. W. Hairfield coaching. Thirteen seniors were on the teams. One exciting event was the bulldozer which was here for several days improv- ing the play grounds. In the spring four senior boys entered the baseball games with en- thusiasm. The first game with Brosville was won on April Fool’s Day. In the County Tournament the Axton baseball team won the Silver Cup for Class D Schools. After the rating of the seniors with Lyne Starling valedictorian and Martha Holland salutatorian, the annual was completed. It went to press in April. A party was enjoyed in May when the juniors entertained the seniors of ’47. June first came around with numerous examinations over, and we were listening to our baccalaureate by Rev. Cooley. Tonight, June fourth, our class night is being enjoyed. This class will soon flow from the joyful stream of high school life into the ocean of broader knowledge. PEGGY BILLINGS, Historian ’47. A LITTLE FUN IN AXTON HIGH Melvin Jones: How much are your haircuts? Barber: 30c. Melvin: Well , I don’t want all of mine off. Do you think you could cut 10 cents worth? Dillard Gravely: There are two things I never eat for breakfast. Margie Grant: Bacon and eggs? Dillard: No, lunch and supper. Claybrook Gilley: Will your parents be sur- prised when you graduate? L. C. : Oh, no. They’ve been expecting it for several years now! Miss Norvell: Cecil Carter, give the mood and tense of the verb in the following sentence. “The boy took the cow out of the field.” “What mood?” Cecil : The cow mooed. Page Fifteen

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THE AXTONIAN A confused scene now appears. Finally I catch a glimpse of a young woman. Why, it’s the former Martha Holland, who has just completed a course in interior decoration. She seems to be trying her newly acquired skill in her own home in the Leatherwood section of Martinsville. Her husband is landscaping her yard and garden. A young man appears now. He is Charles Manning and he is moving from place to place in his helicopter. Charles is a high class mechanical engineer and has his head- quarters in Lansing, Michigan. Soon I see within a large library building, and Gertrude Watkins is librarian. Gertrude is answering a long distance telephone call from her fiancee, who is on a business trip to China. She is discussing their marriage on his return. The scene changes again and I see a familiar face. There is Mack McDaniel waiting with Dillard Graveley to take a plane from Martinsville to carry them to the Minnesota Farm Association at St. Paul. They are delegates from the agricultural sections of Axton and Dyer’s Store of Henry County. Out of the mist comes someone else waiting for a plane, southbound from New York. It’s L. C. Hankins, a well known entomologist. He is all packed up for a trip to Africa to search for a new specimen of the African beetle. Then out from the cloud steps an automobile agent. Julian Compton is the leading salesman for the Ford-Compton Pygmy Auto Company. This special type of small auto was the outcome of Julian’s inventive mind while working in a Ford factory. We all said Julian would be the head of something some day. At this moment the mist completely disappears from the room, for Madame Houdini has shown me the last of my classmates. “0 wake once more ! How rude so’er the hand That ventures o’er thy magic gaze to stray ; 0 wake once more! though scarce my skill command Some feeble echoing of thine earlier lay; Though harsh and faint, and soon to die away. And all unworthy of thy nobler strain, Yet if one heart throb higher at its sway. The wizard note has not been touched in vain. Then silent be no more ! Enchantress, wake again.” Cleo Martin Class Phophet Page Seventeen