HENRY C. CREECH 1930-1934 Letters

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
Creech Family
Henry C. Creech
1930-1934 Letters

003b “Our good neighbor – Mr. Henry C. Creech – son of Uncle William Creech.” [050_FN_occupations_homes_003b.jpg]

TAGS: Henry C. Creech letters, Progressive education, Glyn Morris, Philip Roettinger, Board of Trustees, Celia Cathcart Holton, Evelyn Wells, Dorothy F. Bolles, Darwin D. Martin

HENRY C. CREECH Correspondence 1930-1934

In these letters of Henry C. Creech, written during the years from 1930 to 1934, he struggles with the Progressive program of Pine Mountain Settlement School Director Glyn Morris. As Henry becomes increasingly angry with Morris he finds comfort in the advice of a good friend, Philip Roettinger, a conservative Cincinnati lawyer friend of Henry’s father, William Creech. “Uncle” William Creech donated much of the land for the Pine Mountain Settlement School.

Roettinger took on the responsibility of helping to guide Henry when William died. Roettinger, who served on the Pine Mountain School Board of Trustees, apparently enjoyed the role of “Uncle” to Henry and it is clear from the correspondence that Henry appreciated Roettinger’s amiable and consoling letters and occasional visits to the School. Roettinger also served to defuse some of the rancor that grew between Henry and Glyn Morris. The letters also reveal the growing political divide in the Pine Mountain Valley community and the anxiety brought on by the Great Depression. –HW

[Note: Most of the letters from Henry C. Creech in the PMSS Collections are carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned, and meant for his personal files. The original signed documents were sent to the correspondents. Others of his letters are handwritten originals, as noted. Letters from others are typewritten originals unless specified otherwise. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not in the order of the image numbers.]

1930

002-003 August 15, 1930. Two-page letter to Henry Creech from “Uncle Philip” [Roettinger], Cincinnati, OH, [002] who reacts to Henry’s news about his brother, Columbus Creech, ”the mountain girl who is going to Louisville to study medicine,” comments about Henry and Delia’s two daughters. “…[S]o long as the mountain people need qualified teachers, doctors and others, those who become so qualified should return to the home field….” [003] Roettinger states his opinions on the “new manager of the school.” needs of the farm animals, Katherine Pettit, and Ethel de Long Zande, and the reservoir. He suggests, “…make improvements but don’t try to fly too high.”

1931

004-004b April 13, 1931. Three-page letter to Henry from “Uncle Philip” [Roettinger], [004] who comments on the departures of Mr. [Hubert] Hadley and Mrs. [Martha] Burns, the “highly educated people” who lack knowledge of farming or raising stock in the mountains, [004a] He feels that “H.C.C.” (Henry C. Creech) should be the farm manager, instead of a farmer from Denmark. He encloses a copy of his letter to Miss Campbell; mentions his sons, Dick and Philip, his gardening, [004b] and “Miss Katherine.” He asks for updates on Columbus’ new house and Luigi Zande. He sends his regards to his “pal Bill, to old man Jo, to young fellow Columbus, to smiling John and the women members of the clan….”

005 and 006 NO IMAGES

007- 007b July 20, 1931. Handwritten three-page letter to Henry from Celia C. Holton, Sidell, IL, [007] thanking him for his letter about “Mr. Morris’s difficulties.” Also shown: Envelope addressed to Mr. Henry Creech from C.C. Holton. [007a] “…Morris…has learned a lot, I believe from this experience. It may have been a good thing for all of us, teaching us how necessary it is to be frank in all of our dealings.” [007b] She expresses her appreciation of Henry’s “deep interest in the school, your good judgment, and your high reputation for integrity in the county, make you a most valuable friend….” She assures him the board is open to any “constructive criticism” he has to offer.

1932

008-008a April 7, 1932. Two-page handwritten letter to Henry from “Uncle Philip” [Roettinger] in Wyoming, OH, [008] who writes about his health. Also shown: Envelope addressed to Mr. H.C. Creech from Roettinger. [008a] Mentions his sons Phil, Dick, and Stanley, and Intermountain.

008b DUPLICATE of 008a.

1934

009-009b June 25, 1934. Three-page handwritten letter to Henry from Evelyn Wells in Summit, NJ. Responding to his inquiry about Miss Frank, she tells him she has no information since the time she interviewed Frank in Cincinnati. She advises that he ask Morris. She hopes to meet with “Anna” in Boston next fall; appreciates Delia’s letters; hopes to attend the fall board meeting.

016 June 26, 1934. To Morris from [unsigned, apparently Roettinger]. “Duplicate of carbon copy of letter sent to Mr. Henry Creech by Mr. Philip Roettinger of Cincinnati, Ohio.” Having just returned from a “delightful” visit to PMSS with his grandsons, he wished to discuss with Morris concerning the school grounds. “The spirit of those I met was excellent, but the physical features were not so good.” He describes weeds, neglected gardens, a missing board at the culvert, broken barn windows, disorderly piles of wood, etc. He regrets that the “House in the Woods” was torn down and shares his 1915 memories of the structure. He points out that Berea College, which raised its standards of admission, did not accept Wilmer Creech even though her grades were A’s and B’s.

“This makes it essential that you do better work or let it be known that Pine Mountain does not prepare boys and girls for college.” He concludes “that the former insistence that in every detail the school present a model to the mountain boys and girls, including adults, should be rigidly maintained.”

013-013a June 29, 1934. [013] Envelope addressed to “Col. Henry C. Creech” from Roettinger. [013a] Handwritten letter to Henry from “Uncle Philip” [Roettinger], who encloses a copy of his letter to Morris and tells him it is confidential.

010-010b August 6, 1934. To Henry from “Uncle Philip” [Roettinger], [010] telling him about his recent bronchitis, plans to travel to Canada, the hot weather’s effect on his garden. Also shown: Envelope addressed to Mr. Henry C. Creech from Roettinger. [010a] He describes his sons’ activities, including Dick’s month in the military training camp. [010b] Mentions his age as 82; “While I was sick I wished that I were in the School infirmary…for the fun of the thing.”

011-012 August 27, 1934. Carbon copy of a two-page letter to Celia Cathcart Holton from Henry C. Creech, asking her to move the board meeting to an earlier date. He details the conflicts occurring as a result of Morris’s firing of Miss Emily Frank, PMSS Principal. He expresses his doubt that Morris acted justly and questions whether Morris is actually carrying on PMSS’s mission as expressed by William Creech. Therefore, an early board meeting is needed to work out these issues before the school year begins.

014 September 2, 1934. To Henry from Celia C. Holton, Manager of The Cathcart-Holton Farms, London, OH. “(Reply to this on opposite side – P.T.O.)” She regrets that she cannot change the date of the board meeting. She has misgivings about Henry’s letter and wished that Miss Frank would have written her directly. She asks who Henry would suggest to replace Morris and whether the community could agree on the person. She gives updates on her family: her Mother, Caryl, the farm loan business, and struggles experienced by farms in Ohio.

015 September 5, 1934. [On reverse side of 014.] To Celia from Henry, assuring her that Miss Frank was not actively involved in or aware of his letter to Celia. He continues his complaints concerning Morris’s “impolite activities” with staff. He and the community feel that there should be a “thorough and impartial investigation into the matter” when the Board meets this month. Mentions that Harlan Bank is under new management.

017-017b September 7, 1934. Three-page handwritten letter to Henry from “Your Uncle Philip” [Roettinger], [017] who describes his vacation travels with Stanley, including sailing on Lakes Erie and Ontario. [017a] He will send photos of him and Dick fishing; describes his sons’ activities. [017b] He asks about “Dr. Oma [Creech].”

018 September 7, 1934. To Miss Dorothy F. Bolles, Cohasset, MA, from Henry, in response to her September 4th letter in which she apparently wrote in support of Morris. He continues to “insist upon a thorough and impartial investigation…” by the Board.

019 September 13, 1934. Western Union telegram to Henry Creech from Evelyn Wells, Wellesley, MA, who will be arriving at PMSS early next week, and assures him that “your wish for inquiries has our fullest attention… Meanwhile depending on you to help school’s best interest by checking community agitation until you can talk to us.” Also shown: Western Union Telegram envelope addressed to Henry Creech.

020 September 29, 1934. To Henry from Darwin D. Martin, President of the Board of Trustees, on PMSS letterhead, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Board to Morris. He acknowledges Henry Creech’s “advice and interest, which has helped us to our conclusions” and thanks him for his “assurance of continued cooperation, in your advisory capacity towards the development of the Pine Mountain Settlement School.” Also shown: Envelope to [truncated] from Darwin D. Martin, Buffalo, NY.

001 N.D. “Draft Copy” of a letter from [unsigned], Pine Mountain, KY, to “Sir,” asserting that “I definitely repudiate and reject the second paragraph of your letter….” and his objection to having been designated as serving in an “advisory capacity.” Copies of his letter were sent to each Board member, and President Hutchins and Charles Morgan at Berea College.

021-021a October 17, 1934. Two-page letter to Henry and Delia from Evelyn Wells, Wellesley, MA, [021] who describes her visit at PMSS, mentioning Mr. [Leon] Deschamps’ building, May’s coverlet, and Luigi Zande, his children (Berto and Elena), and wife Caroline, She hopes Henry is “feeling a little happier over the school situation” and explains how the Board reached its decision to support Morris. She lists those involved in the decision and their expertise: Miss Pettit, Mr. [Charles N.] Manning, Mrs. Holton, Dorothy Bolles, and herself. [021a] She mentions Gib Lewis, Oma, Una, and letters to Berea from Morris and [Arthur] Dodd about Wilmer.

022 N.D. Handwritten letter on Pine Mountain stationery to Delia and Henry from “Margaret,” who encloses a Memorial Day sermon presented by her pastor in Frederick, MD, hoping his words may bring them comfort.

023-023c N.D. Four-page sermon titled “Stones for a Memorial.”