GOVERNANCE 1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 05: GOVERNANCE – BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Series 07: DIRECTORS
1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT
William D. Webb, PMSS Acting Director, 1942-1944
H.R.S. Benjamin, PMSS Director, 1944-1949

GOVERNANCE 1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT ; William Hayes Photographs

Paul Hayes with young Steven Hayes, his nephew, at PMSS, c. 1944. [hay_IMAG0245_mod.jpg]


TAGS: Governance, 1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT, WWII, PMSS Board of Trustees, William D. Webb, H.R.S. Benjamin, draft status, PMSS staff, students, visitors, Defense Ball, country dancing, staffing updates, camps at PMSS, department reports, holiday celebrations, plays, donations, health care, building repairs, budgets, community, Fair Day, Line Fork Medical Settlement, religious activities, 1944 Calendar 


 GOVERNANCE 1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT

CONTENTS: January 1944 (William D. Webb)

[001-Jan] “JANUARY DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN (1944). Report-Letter to Board of PMSS), Pine Mt., Ky., February 18, 1944. Dear Mr. [J.S.] Crutchfield and Board Members:” Staff was interview for this report; 35 on payroll.
#1. Explanation of Mr. [Arthur] Dodd’s draft status.
#2. The FBI is reviewing Burton Roger’s conscientious-objection statement. The Board’s Personnel Committee approved a continuation of Mr. [Richard] Baker at Line Fork in case Rogers is called by the Draft. Explanation of the Bakers current residence in Michigan.
#3-4. Waiting to hear from the Harlan Draft Board for the results of appeals for [William] Hayes and [Brit] Wilder. They recently attended Farm-Home Week in Lexington.
#5-6. The Tuckers and LaRues will be returning to the Infirmary.

[002-Jan] Looking forward to a ‘suburban hospital’ on the hill…..” Recent activities of the Tuckers and LaRues.
#7-12. Draft status of Miner Jackson, Miner Browning, Nightwatchman Baker, and Fireman Lewis. Activities of teacher Rev. [Roland] Pinke, and Crawford of Line Fork.
#13. “Of the thirteen men on our staff of 35, six are in residence on campus. Webb (last of these) is waiting word from his Mission Board concerning a letter they sent to his Draft Board asking for release for service in Africa. … ”
#14. Former student Miss Lucile Beeler was hired as Kitchen and Dining Room Supervisor, beginning February 1, replacing Miss Evelyn Creech. Mrs. Webb is acting dietitian and meets weekly with the Food Committee (Miss [Gladys] Hill, Dr. Tucker, Mr. Hayes, Mrs.[Alice Joy] Keith).
#15-17. News about returning or departing staff: Mrs. Ruby Ayers Warren, Mrs. Dodd, Mrs. Northam, Mrs. Kaylor, Miss Spinney…
#18-19. …Miss McBride, Miss [Louise] Merrill
#20-22. …Miss [Grace] Rood, Dr. Emma [Tucker] and Mrs. LaRue…

[003-Jan] #23-24. …Miss Smith, Mrs. [Birdena] Bishop
#25-29. …Miss Hill, Miss [Edith] Cold, Mrs. Keith, Miss [Minerva] Sparrow, Miss [Helen] Kingsbury
#30-32 …Miss [Helen] Bartlett, applicants for PMSS positions, Miss Alice Cobb, Mrs. Webb…#33-35 Mrs. Cornett, Mrs. Pennington, Mrs. [Anna Wulf] Pishzak. Visitors included Rev. Lehman, superintendent of Red Bird School, was a Chapel speaker. Subjects for upcoming February letter. Closing statement. Sincerely, [truncated].

February/March 1944 (Webb)

[004-Feb] “FEBRUARY DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN (1944) (Report-letter to Board of PMSS), Pine Mt., Ky., March 4, 1944. Dear Mr. Crutchfield and Board Members:” Describes the rainy weather, flooding, tying down the bridges; Mentions Mr. Hayes’ concerns; and Mrs. Keith’s science class studying the streams’ origins. Tells of items in the [PMSS Family] ALBUM that reminded him of the reclassification of Wilder and Hayes; Dodd and [Burton] Rogers taking pre-induction exams in Cincinnati; updates about the LaRues, Mr. Pinke, Mrs. Pishzak, Miss Robinson, Miss Cobb, and Mrs. Northam; Miss [Evelyn K.] Wells’ return to PMSS with Mr. Crutchfield and Mrs. [Dorothy Olcott] Elsmith “(to whom much of credit for Album goes)”. Other visitors will be Dr. [Clark] Bailey, Mrs. Elsworth, Miss Spinney, in preparation for the Lexington Meeting on the 16th. Mrs. Webb met with Mrs. [Fanny] Gratz and Mr. [Charles N.] Manning concerning questions from the auditors and bookkeepers. Visitors in January: Scout Executive Parker, Rev. Rainey, and Ruth Shuler [former student].

[005-Feb] DUPLICATE OF [004-Feb].

[006-Feb] Page 2. February social events; hike to Jack’s Gap; description of the Defense Ball, “when country dancing at its best proceed under the red, white, and blue streamers of the great overhead ‘V’”; PMSS students demonstrated at the country dancing festival at Loyal High Gym, taken there by Dodd and Miss Smith. Mention of Frank Smith of Berea who visited “to get country dancing started in schools.” Miss [Abby Winch] Christensen will visit in April to prepare students for the Berea Festival and May Day. Updates on staffing: Mrs. Bishop, Miss Beeler. Mr. Pittman, founder of Stinnett School and Big Laurel and Little Laurel teacher, is staying in the cabin where Spelman [John S. Spelman III] once lived. Mentions Mr. Hayes’ farm reports in the ALBUM. PMSS invited 10 boys and girls from the American Friends Service to PMSS to help with County school building. He mentions others interested in camps. Hospital statistics for 1943; x-ray gift. Encloses “Trends” for the Board to consider. Wm. D. Webb
[007-Feb]  DUPLICATE OF [006-Feb], except for the last line. 

[008-Mar] “MARCH DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN (1944) (Report-letter to Board of PMSS), Pine Mt., Ky., April 8, 1944. Dear Mr. Crutchfield and Board Members:” Easter events; “…[M]y brother broadcasts with quartet from top of Empire State Building tomorrow morning.” Spring vacation activities; Council of Southern Mountain Workers delegates; Board Meeting at Phoenix Hotel, Lexington. (Trustees visited PMSS before and after the meeting.) Dr. Bailey, [James A.] Cawood, and his assistant, Mr. Norseworthy, met with PMSS Board and staff to discuss “how Pine Mountain might best fit into the regional picture for the future,” considering Junior College, or an additional preparatory year on 7-8 grade level. Speakers included Mr. Crutchfield on Sunday; Miss Wells and Mrs. Elsmith on reminiscences. Mention of Dr. Bailey as chairman of the Harlan Board of Education; and the Harlan High School fire.

[009-Mar] Page 2. Still waiting to hear from the Selective Service System Appeals Board. Updates about Mrs. Pishzak and Mr. Crawford. Former students Boone Hall and his sister, Frances Hall Powell were hired to become Line Fork resident caretakers. Rev. Mesler of Maine will interview with Miss Wells at Wellesley. Also, updates about Margaret and Dorothy Nace, the Bakers, dietitian possibilities, Miss Rood, Miss Anderson, Mrs. Northam, Miss Spinney, Miss Christensen. Mr. Haight from the Cleveland Public School System was a recent visitor.

April/May 1944 (Webb)

[010-Apr] Page 1. “APRIL DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN (1944) (Report-letter to Board of PMSS) Pine Mountain, Ky. May [truncated]. Dear Mr. Crutchfield and Board Members:” Senior students selected Dr. Bailey to speak at Baccalaureate. Upcoming events include Field Day and Swim program. Seniors presented the play, “The Moonstone,” coached by Misses Sparrow and Spinney, with Hayes and Webb as “Hindoos”); the Scouts presented “Tuocs Yob” program. Mr. Dodd and Mr. Webb have been temporarily deferred. Webb lists the various staffing activities, needs, and hirings; community news. Mentions Miss McBride, Miss Rood, Mrs. Bishop, Miss Beeler, Evelyn Creech who married Bill Johnson, Joe Wilson’s son Albert. He tells of  personnel problems and updates at the extension center, mentioning Boone Hall and his sister, Frances Hall Powell, Crawford, Mesler of Maine, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Pishsak, Miss Robinson, Mrs. Chad Turner. Mrs. Bishop and Webb spoke at the Kiwanis Club about last year’s Pine Mountain Camp. The Bakers will head this year’s camp, sponsored by the American Friends Service.

[011-Apr] Page 2. Webb explains the various activities of the Work Camp. Updates about Mrs. Keith, Miss Christensen, Miss Smith. Students performed dances at the Berea Festival and on the May Day Green. Mentions X-ray shots at the TB trailer of the State Health Dept; Achievement tests, swimming; Dogwood Breakfast. President McClellan of Lincoln Memorial University spoke on Sunday and at the Aunt Sal’s Day Program. Miss [Marian] Kingman visited. Speakers: Dr. Ambrose of Berea College and the Advisory Committee on the “order of the Burning Heart”; Mr. Rogers at Easter, and the monthly sermon and communion by Mr. LaRue. The April appeal letter tells about the lime stack. Other community news; movie tonight will be “Beau Geste”; farm news. Montclair, NJ, paper reprinted some recent Pine Cone articles.

[012-Apr] Income from Annual Subscriptions and Contributions January 1932 through March 1944.

[013-May] Page 1. “MAY DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN (1944)…June 3, 1944. Dear Mr. Crutchfield: The beginning of the Commencement presentation is printed in the Conifer on page 14: “How Beautiful are the Feet of Youth”; Supervision by Miss Sparrow, music by Miss Smith and the Commencement Choir. The 18 seniors, “the largest class in history,” donated $40 to buy a bond and finance an Alumni Organization. “Their individual plans for the future can be summarized as Army or Navy, College, business school or nurses’ training. Sue [Hall] Angel from Hindman visited the School; Farewell Party award; baptisms by Rev. LaRue; Pine Mountain Church; Inquirer’s Class; X-ray trailer; Webb’s speech at the reception by the Industrial Stores (mine commissary folks). The American Friends Service Work Camp at PMSS will be directed by Peter and Alice Barry. Joan Ayers will be the Girls’ Counselor; other staff are mentioned; Kiwanis Camp directed by Webb; Dodd will be in charge at School in the meantime. 

[014-May] Page 2. Staff arrivals and departures: The Nace sisters, Miss Bartlett, Miss Cobb, Miss McBride, Miss Smith, Mrs. Bishop, the Bakers, Mrs. Powell and Boone Hall, Mrs. Pishzak, Miss Robinson. PMSS is renewing subscription to The Christian Century. Workers needed at Line Fork Cabin and Big Laurel; other staffing updates. Encloses summaries for “repairs” and “budget” to date. PMSS secretary reports the donations received as a result of the April Letter appeal. Farm report.

June/July 1944 (Webb)

[015-June] Repairs – March-August 1944 (WDW 6/4/1944)
[016-June] STAFF APPOINTMENTS and Proposed Salaries for 1944-1946 (6/9/44 WDW)
[017-June] BUDGET REPORT to PMSS Trustees – proposed for 1944-5; Expenses July 1943 through Apr 1944 (6/9/44 WDW)

[018-June/July] “JUNE AND JULY DAYS AT PINE MOUNTAIN 1944,” Report letter to PMSS Board, Pine Mountain, Ky., August 1st. Dear Mr. Crutchfield and Board Members:” Newspaper Article: “Something New: 12 Youths Pay for Privilege of Learning Work,” July 30, 1944.  Staff, students, and visitors picked green beans for several days. Community was invited to the PMSS Welcome Party to introduce the incoming director, H.R.S. Benjamin. Community also invited to the Glorious Fourth program. Two newspaper articles: “Something New: Youths Pay for the Privilege of Learning Work” (Harlan Enterprise), and “Children Frolic and Grow Strong While Camping at Pine Mt.” (Knoxville New Sentinel, July 23). A Time magazine article describes the Friends Work Camps (13 in U.S.). Lists the staff members who conducted workshops and activities for the Kiwanis campers; Also, the names of the leaders of the American Friends Service Work Camps.

[019-June/July] Page 2. Staff and community updates for Miss Christensen, Mrs. Comfort, Mrs. Pennington, Miss Rosalie Creech, Mrs. Bishop, the Rogers, Miss Hill, Mrs. Richard Baker, Miss Kingsbury, the Dodds. Describes the Barrys, who will arrive and live at Old Log next year. Work Camp activities. More updates: Miss Rood, Miss Wright, the LaRues, the Drs. Tucker, the Richard Bakers, Mrs. Willis, the Nace sisters, Miss Cobb, Mr. Wilder. “…[P]acking of the [Glyn and Gladys] Morris furniture which was not offered to the school for sale….” The Webbs’ vacation plans. Words of goodbye from Webb.

 [020-July] Page 3. Transcription of newspaper article, “Something New: 12 Youths Pay for Privilege of Learning Work” by S.C. Van Curen (Harlan Enterprise, July 30, 1944). Young people come to the camp “from Philadelphia families who are well fixed financially, but realize their children need to know that everything is not easy and that there are others who have a harder time than they.” Arranged by the “American Friends Service Committee of Philadelphia, which is conducting a Junior Work Camp [at PMSS] for eight weeks this summer.” Supervised by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Barry and Miss Joanna Ayers (former PMSS teacher) of Philadelphia.

August 1944 (H.R.S. Benjamin)

[021-Aug] August 5, 1944. Letter to Board from H.R.S. Benjamin, who arrived at PMSS from Oklahoma on August 1st to begin directorship. He noted improvements that need to be made to the bullpen, tool house, kitchen, and parking space. He met with staff; enjoyed the August first evening reception with staff, students, work campers, and community; helped with bean “stemming and snapping”; commented on the drought and the low water in the reservoir

[022-Aug] August 19, 1944. Letter to J.S. Crutchfield, Pittsburgh, Pa., from Benjamin, responding to his August 16 letter. (Page 1) En route to PMSS, he had stopped in Kansas City to visit Mrs. [Mary Rockwell] Hook to discuss PMSS buildings and major repairs, particularly to the tool house. “She warned us of the mistakes made in West Wind….” He and Mrs. Benjamin also stopped at Berea College to meet with his son and friends. President Hutchins, “a real friend of Pine Mountain,” offered equipment and labor as needed. 

[023-Aug] Page 2. Benjamin continues describing his trip to PMSS; met with Dr. Bailey several times. “I am satisfied that he is a positive, active, and loyal friend, not only of Pine Mountain but of the needy of this and surrounding communities.” He wonders how the improved roads will affect Pine Mountain. He lists the buildings undergoing repairs and reports on the farm crops and canning. Copies to Mr. Manning and Miss Wells.

[024-Aug] August 28, 1944. Letter to the PMSS Executive Committee from Benjamin, who is concerned the “overspending of the budget.” He praises Mrs. Bishop, the dietitian and describes her work; asks approval to hire a “first assistant.” The reservoir needs to be repaired “to assure us adequate water supply and fire protection.”

[025-Aug] (Page 1) “REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 1944.” Benjamin describes “The Great Spirit of Pine Mountain.” He lists repairs to Big Log School House, Laurel House, Far House, Zande House, West Wind, Old Log, Farm House. Some repairs are pending: bullpen, dairy barn, water tank. Major proposed repairs: reservoir leak, Shop Building Solarium roof,…

[026-Aug] (Page 2) ..West Wind sun-parlor windows. He describes rebuilding two incinerators so that they are safer from spread of fire in times of drought and from rats. Also, a stronger retaining stone wall was built along the stream at Laurel House. Asks the Board to consider the need for a “freezing system and locker system.” The Harlan Kiwanis Club wishes to increase camp attendance next year but Benjamin advises against it. He describes the “wholesome influence” from the Friends’ Camp. He reports on several problems, including enough feed for the herd. He tells of the good work done by Mr. Hayes (farm) and Mrs. Bishop (kitchen) and urges that they must be supported.

[027-Aug] (Page 4, sic) “We have…read all we could on the past and the programs of this institution,” including Miss Well’s history to 1928, Miss Alice Cobb’s recommendations for the publicity program (and that the Board approved her becoming a full staff member), Notes, and “the old and very precious correspondence.” He states that the best education is from the local people he talks with each day. Mr. Dodd is overseeing the opening of School and tells of eager students. Benjamin interviewed a prospective student, Catherine Brock, and, impressed, offered her the last vacancy. “They [youth yearning for an education] are most certainly tying themselves tightly into my heart strings.”

September 1944 (Benjamin)

[028-Sept] (Page 1) “REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 1944.” School opening; Benjamin’s preaching and talks; visit with Miss Robinson at the Medical Settlement; visit  with the Bakers  at the Line Fork Cabins. Problems at the Medical Settlement: “Certainly one feels that Pine Mountain Settlement School is situated between the two horns of an interesting dilemma.” Visits with the community: “One does not have to go far afield to find challenging situations,  friends, and enemies. Though the latter do not declare themselves, you can sense it.”

[029-Sept] (Page 2) Citizenship Committee; two students expelled for a false fire alarm. Benjamin resolved a petty larceny case before it went to court. Grounds repairs in the Dairy Barn and bullpen. Visitors included Mr. Galileo Patino from the Panamanian Republic and two from the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild. Weekly staff meetings.

[030-Sept] (Page 3) Weekly staff meetings, continued; Benjamin encloses excerpts from the department reports. He asked each department for a monthly report of accomplishments with recommendations, which he will use in program development. Plans for October 7th Fair Day with Miss Cobb for antiques and Dodd and Rogers as Executive Committee. Praise for Mrs. Bishop’s meals; first and second cooks (Mrs. Pennington). Alice Cobb is now a full member of the staff.

[031-Sept] (Page 4) Miss Abby W. Christensen may rejoin the staff; hiring of a second nurse; Mr. Hayes needs to replace his 1927 Fordson tractor with possibly a post-war jeep.

[032-Sept] “EXCERPTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS, September 1944.” LIBRARY (Edith Cold), COUNSELOR (Burton Rogers –  enrollment and demographic statistics).

[033-Sept] Dept Reports, page 2. EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT (Arthur Dodd): supervised by Miss Rood and Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. Home visiting program will focus on child welfare. Frank Smith of Berea College did recreational work with students, readying them for assisting at rural schools. Sale of textbooks and workbooks; covering books in heavy brown paper. Stanford Achievement Tests reveal education levels. Mr. Barry, playground supervisor.

[034-Sept] Dept Reports, page 3. HOME ECONOMICS (Miss Helen Kingsbury): Benjamin recommends building up this department, weakened by a turnover of teachers and the Laurel House fire. Miss Kingsbury lists the needs of the department.
PRINTING (Arthur Dodd): The printing instructor was sent to Louisville for a free course for linotype operators by the Mergenthaler Linotype Co. of Chicago.
KITCHEN (Mrs. Bishop): Meal statistics and costs; amounts of milk and produce from the dairy and farm.

[035-Sept] Dept Reports, page 4. FARM (William Hayes): list of monetary worth of produce, dairy, and poultry products; list of September farm work. HOSPITAL STATISTICAL SUMMARY (Dr. Francis Tucker): Calls, bed patients, maternity cases, minor operations, cash collections. Nurse Virgie Wright, substitute nurse, left on September 30. Miss Grace Feng (interim nurse for October, begins October 1.

[036-Sept] Dept Reports, page 5. GROUNDS COMMITTEE (Gladys Hill, chairman). Defines the purpose of the Grounds Committee; lists outstanding needs.

October 1944 (Benjamin)

[001-Oct] Page 1. “REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 1944.” Fall colors; “John Spelman III, spent ten days here trying to catch the spirit of Pine Mountain on canvas and in watercolor…. Since I am something of an amateur photographer I have spent some few hours trying to catch on Kodachrome the compelling soul-searching beauty with which we are surrounded.” 

FAIR DAY: “It was revived after a few years of Community Day which did not seem to satisfy School or community.”; descriptions of Fair Day. A continuing committee was appointed to plan for next year.
MOUNTAIN DAY: Included “[e]veryone except the fire crew and two adults….”; Putney Tower; 14 miles round trip; followed by dancing.

[002-Oct]  Page 2. OFF GROUNDS: Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin enjoyed several days off the ground visiting Harlan, a lumber camp, and neighbors at Divide and Isaac’s Run. LINE FORK: Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin walked to Line Fork to visit the Bakers at “The Cabins.” The Bakers worked for seven years, left for a year and a half, then returned as “they had come to feel a real part of the community and had felt the response of the people to their message.” NEW NURSE: Miss Ruth Danner of Bloomington, Ill., who had 25 years of experience in North China. MISS CHRISTENSEN: Will spend November at PMSS to teach students the dances in preparation for the Thanksgiving Party. GUESTS: Several from Berea College to work on various projects, and ten other people, whom he describes.

[003-Oct] Page 3. REPAIRS: Office (a need for “conveniences”); Open House. STUDENT ACTIVITIES; ballgames; Halloween; Citizenship Committee. ROUTINE WORK: Office routine; Farm.

[004-Oct] Page 4. LOSSES: Bob Creech, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Creech, was killed in action in the Pacific. “Three others who have been students here have given their lives for their country…. Our service flag bears the stars of 156 boys and girls….”

November 1944 (Benjamin)

[001-Nov] Page 1. “REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL – November 1944.” MEDICAL SETTLEMENT’S HALLOWEEN: Put on by a group of the Community students, with their advisor, Mr. Rogers. ELECTION DAY, ARMISTICE DAY: PMSS supplied transportation for voters; “returns” on the radio; pre-election day stump speeches and discussions at PMSS. Armistice Day observed at lunch in the Dining Hall with a speech, the service flag, and a poem. FIRE FIGHTING SQUAD: Called out three times this month, led by Mr. Hayes and Mr. Wilder. Describes the fire’s location and damage. The boys contributed their earnings to the athletic fund.

[002-Nov] Page 2. COMMUNION SUNDAY; Observed each month this year; “We are aware of the fact that the ‘core of any culture is religion,’ so we are anxious and concerned that our students may be wisely guided and instructed.” OFF GROUNDS VISITS: Tells a story about successfully disciplining a boy (who came inebriated to the Saturday night dancing party) after visiting with his father. Other visits: to educational authorities in Harlan; headquarters of the Frontier Nursing Service at Wendover and their hospital in Hyden, and the head, Mrs. Breckenridge. Although valuable ideas were gained, “[w]e learned that they have plenty of problems themselves.” CALENDAR OF 1945: “…[O]ne or two sketches could cause some misunderstanding we feared.” After consultation with older workers and a local man, it was decided to send the calendar to areas outside the community only. “Extreme care must be exercised that no sensitive soul be injured, no matter what the cost to us.”

[003-Nov] Page 3. Benjamin provides statistics and costs for the 1945 calendar. BUTCHERING: Mr. Hayes “provided excellent pork and beef at the Dining Hall.” The dietitian reported on how the parts of one “porker” were used; and statistics and costs of the meals.

[004-Nov] Page 4. GROUNDS VISITORS: A former work, Mrs. [Martha] Burns, came from Hindman, with two other ladies; former worker, Margaret Motter spent a week at PMSS; and students’ parents. ROUTINE WORK: Office work and visits; student visits; correspondence. THANKSGIVING DAY: Chapel service; games; pork roast dinner; annual Ball. NEW YORK CITY AND THE BOARD MEETING: He and Mrs. Benjamin “enjoyed every minute of the New York meeting.”
[005-Nov] Page 5. Benjamin reported on the NYC board meeting at the staff workers’ meeting. “By doing so we trust that all can be kept aware of plans, developments, and made to feel they are trusted to assume a responsible part of the success of the total program. It is too large for any one individual. We must have complete sympathy and understanding.”

December 1944 (Benjamin)

[001-Dec] December 1944. “REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL.” Enduring the winter weather. RELIGIOUS LIFE: Training students in the church’s sacraments. THE COUNTY SCHOOL PROGRAM: So far, PMSS has resisted assuming certain responsibilities that the county officials are proposing. “[W]e felt those particular ones belonged to the county and were not in the field of a private school. Little Laurel, one of our neighboring schools has closed as a result.” CURRICULUM COMMITTEE OF THE SCHOOL: The committee is meeting regularly to “study the local school situation” and to set up a 1945-46 program. SCHOOL GUESTS: Mr. Richard Chase, who wrote “The Jack Tales” is working on a second book, collecting new tales from students and the community.

[002-Dec] LIGHT: A greater appreciation for electricity was felt after an outage of current from the REA [Rural Electrification Administration] for a day. MEMORIAL SERVICE: A service was held for one of PMSS’s “gold star boys,” Raymond Pennington, including planting of a dogwood tree in the School House lawn. FOOD: Description of a meal after a beef was killed. “…[T]he bulk of the meal came from our farm.” CHRISTMAS PACKAGES: Mrs. Benjamin and her assistants prepared donated items for community youngsters, students, and workers. Gifts came from the chairman of the board; $500 from Mrs. Fred Kelly of Washington, DC, responding  to the “needs” column in Notes; a donor to the general fund and production of the calendar. Cost of calendar was $1416.66 and donations amounted to $2258.00. SENIOR BAZAAR: A December charity fundraising project; lists money raised by various projects.

[003-Dec] CHRISTMAS WEEK PROGRAMS: Silver Tea at Zande House, Nativity Play, fun and food at Open House, Big Log girls’ candle-lighting ceremony, West Wind girls’ wreath hanging, the men workers’ Christmas tree trimming, Mummer’s play, Boys’ House wassailers, the students’ minuet, Santa Claus, caroling by the choir. “Christmas week at Pine Mountain is different. It heals. It restores faith in mankind. It satisfies the deep and insistent needs of the soul.” VACATION: 27 students willingly remained at the school to “maintain the essential work program.” COMMUNITY PARTY: Over 300 attended from the community; included comic movies, games, set running, fish pond [which Benjamin describes].

[004-Dec] Members of the party committee: Miss Rood (Chair), Brit Wilder, Miss Cobb, Mrs. Bishop, assisted by Mr. Dodd and Mrs. Benjamin. Closing statements.

[005-Dec] “Recommendation to the Curriculum Committee of the Board of Trustees” by Arthur W. Dodd, Chairman, Curriculum Committee.


 GALLERY: GOVERNANCE 1944 Directors Reports and Letters to BOT


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DIRECTORS Guide
GOVERNANCE

GOVERNANCE BOT Alphabetical Guide 1913 to Present
PMSS Boards of Trustees GUIDE – Chronological Listing