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1940's News
GROUND BROKEN FOR HEALTH HOUSE (February 29, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald) Ground was broken this week on Baxter Seminary’s new Health House, a golden Jubilee project of the Tennessee Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR raised most of the funds to build the new two story building and its two side wings. Speaking of DAR, Nancy Grace of Baxter, a Baxter Seminary senior, was named this year’s winner of the DAR Award for Good citizenship. MISS MASSEY APPOINTED (March 31, 1940 - Chattanooga Daily Times)
Special to the Chattanooga Times TITANIC BIBLE AT BAXTER SEMINARY (April 11, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald) A book now sitting on a shelf of the Baxter Seminary Library has quite a history behind it. It's called the Emphatic Diaglott and, except for a man who gave his life for his sister, it would now be resting on the lightless bottom of the Atlantic in the wreckage of the Titanic. Here's the story: The Rev. R. J. Bateman, a Wesleyan minister, was accompanying his sister, a Mrs. Wells of Overleap, Maryland, back to America after she'd visited him at his home in England. Their ocean liner was the Titanic, making its premier voyage. On a Sunday night, 28 years ago this week, while Bateman was reading the Emphatic Diaglott an original Greek translation of the New Testament he felt the ship shudder and lurch as it was sliced open by an iceberg. Moments later, he climbed into a lifeboat, looking desperately for his sister. He spotted her still standing at the rail. He exchanged places with her, giving her his seat on the lifeboat and his book. Then she watched from safely afar as he and 1,516 others went under on the deck of the ship they called unsinkable. The sister later returned the book to the reverend's wife, a friend of Dr. Harry Upperman, the president of Baxter Seminary. He regularly visited and comforted her in her last months, sitting by her sick bed in Baltimore and reading and talking to her. When she died, the Emphatic Diaglott came to him. The inscription inside the cover reads, "To Harry Upperman, a gift from Mrs. Bateman as a remembrance of her husband who got up out of a rowboat as the Titanic was sinking and gave his seat to his sister." The book is going back to Baltimore this week with Dr. Upperman. On the 28th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, he is to preach in a church there and plans to read from the Emphatic Diaglott. Bible Which Belonged to Man Who Gave His Life to Save his Sister When the Titanic Sank, Now is in Baxter Seminary Library (April 11, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald By Albert W. Brogdon)
As far as is known, the only Bible saved from the Titanic* when the great liner sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean 28 years ago Sunday, on Sunday night, April 14, 1912, which was owned by a man who gave his life that his sister might be saved, is now in the library of Baxter Seminary. The Bible was owned by the Rev. R. J. Bateman, a Wesleyan minister of near Birmingham, England, who was on his way to this country to live. Mr. Bateman carried his Bible, which was an unusual book, when he took passage on the ill-fated Titanic. The book is "The Emphatic Diaglott, containing the original Greek text of the New Testament with an interlinary word for word English translation based on the interlinary translation, on the rendering of eminent critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican manuscript in the Vatican library." The minister may have been reading from his Testament at 11:40 p.m. on that fateful Sunday night or may have already read a few passages of Scripture and retired. It is not known what may have transpired in his cabin before the giant ship struck an iceberg, but his Bible was not far from his hand, for when the passengers were summoned on deck after the collision, he carried the book with him. A sister of the minister, a Mrs. Wells of Overlea, MD, who had been to England on a visit, was returning home aboard the ship. In the ensuing panic the man became separated from his sister, whom he thought had been placed in a life boat. He subsequently found a seat in a lifeboat which was ready to be rowed away from the doomed vessel when he looked back and saw his sister still aboard. He insisted on being allowed to exchange places with her, and as he helped her into the boat, gave the Bible to her. Mrs. Wells was saved, but her heroic brother and 1,517 others went down with the ship as the band played "Nearer My God to Thee." Dr. Upperman was told the story and was given the book by Bateman’s wife, who later came to Baltimore to live. She presented the book to him during her last illness and had him sit by her bedside and pen the following inscription on the flyleaf of the Bible: "To Harry L. Upperman, a gift from Mrs. Bateman as a remembrance of her husband who got up out of a rowboat as the Titanic was sinking, and gave that seat to his sister, who he though was in another boat, but who had really been left on the Titanic. Mr. Bateman got back on the Titanic and lost his life as the boat sunk." "The drama, as I see it," Dr. Upperman declared, "was in that man, who, in the darkness of the night, knew that if he got back on that boat, he would die." By a strange coincidence, Dr. Upperman will preach in a Baltimore church on Sunday, the 28th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and has announced his intention of reading his text from the historic Testament.
TENNESSEE CELEBRATES 150th ANNIVERSARY (May 23, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald) The state is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee. Locally, Dr. Harry Upperman of Baxter Seminary is in charge of the observance festivities. MASONS GATHER AT BAXTER SEMINARY (May 30, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald) Masons from five counties are gathering today at Baxter Seminary. It's the annual St. John's Festival of Masons and a variety of speakers and games are planned. BAXTER SEMINARY SEEKS FRIENDS' AID TO REPLACE BOILER (December 24, 1940 - The Putnam County Herald) Baxter Seminary hopes its friends are in a giving mood this holiday season. The main boiler in the school's academic building has gone out. It's too worn out to simply patch, so the school is looking for a new boiler. School is out at least through the beginning of next year. Meanwhile, Dr. Harry Upperman is appealing to all friends and graduates of the school to give generously when he and other Baxter Seminary officials come calling for help.
BUNDLES FOR BRITAIN DRIVE ORGANIZED AT BAXTER SEMINARY (January 9, 1941 - The Putnam County Herald) Closer to home, Baxter Seminary is organizing a "Bundles for Britain" drive. Faculty, students and area residents will produce garments and bandage packages for the English people, whose island nation is under siege by the German navy and air force. WAR NEWS - THE BLITZ (January 9, 1941 - The Putnam County Herald) "Every realist knows that the Democratic life as it is at this moment is being assailed in every part of the world, assailed by arms or secret spreading of poisoning propaganda." So said President Franklin Roosevelt as he told radio listeners in Cookeville and around the country this week that he is going ahead with the sale of warplanes, fighting ships, weapons and munitions to England, which now stands alone against Germany. In a page one editorial, Cookeville's newspaper applauded the announcement. In Baxter, Baxter Seminary President Dr. Harry Upperman this week got a letter that sheds light on what the British are suffering. It was from Dr. Thomas Tiplady, an English Methodist minister and friend of Upperman's. It described the London Blitz. "We have been bombed in London every night for the last three months, and almost every day. Some days the warning siren has sounded three times a day," wrote the minister. Yet, he says, "The behavior of the people is something to wonder at." Morale is high. "All the men and women are afraid, but no man would have the courage to show fear seeing the women don't show any." "We know, all of us, that any day or night any of us may be killed by a bomb ..." Despite bomb shelters throughout London, "... we have no real protection from a direct hit." Baxter Seminary, says Upperman, is collecting a 'bundle' of aid to send to Tiplady's church. BAXTER SEMINARY IN THE NEWS (27 March 1941 - The Putnam County Herald) Mrs. Wallace E. Brown: Mrs. Wallace E. Brown, wife of the late Bishop Wallace E. Brown was the guest of Dr. and Mrs. Upperman, Wednesday. Debate Team Goes to Semi-Finals: Members of the debate team went to the semi-finals at the regional tournament of the National Forensic League, held in Memphis last week. Miss Mary Jo Law, Hester Nipper and Messrs. George Bennett and Raymond Thomas represented the school in debate, declamation, extemporaneous speaking and original oration against contestants from twenty-four schools in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. The Baxter Seminary chapter sponsored by Miss Louise Massy in the oldest chapter in the state. Defense Classes Begin: Classes in the National Defense industries being taught, began Monday night. Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Geisman of Nashville arrived on Sunday and Mr. Geisman has been teaching all classes this week. Mr. James M. Roach of Modesto, CA, will arrive some time next week to join Mr. Geisman in the work. The school is directed by Mr. Claude Garrison, head of the John W. Lowe Trades School at the Seminary. Dr. Odell to Visit Here: Dr. Albert G. Odell of Clifton Springs, New York will arrive at the Seminary sometime next week to be guests of Dr. and Mrs. Upperman for a few days. Dr. Odell is an outstanding friend and supporter of Baxter Seminary and his visit is looked forward to with much pleasure by students and members of the community as well.
RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS FROM BAXTER SEMINARY (January 5, 1942 - The Putnam County Herald) In other war news, 82, students at Baxter Seminary have signed up and are eager to help the Red Cross knit socks for the nation’s fighting men overseas. The only snag is that the Red Cross has no yarn right now. Like just about everything else these days, there’s a yarn shortage as the nation gears up to go to a wartime footing. So, the girls at Baxter Seminary are practicing their stitches with what material they have until the Red Cross gets a hold of some yarn. WAR NEWS (December 3, 1942 - The Putnam County Herald) It is America’s second Christmas of the war and a year has passed since Pearl Harbor. The biggest battles still lie ahead and today, a lot of young men from Putnam County are away training for them now. The newspaper is full of war news. Capt. Gideon Lowe has been promoted to acting director of the supplies division of Camp Butler, NC. He’s seeing a mountain of supplies come and go as the military gears up for war. Sgt. Willis Carter, Jr., is home on leave for a few days from his school at Camp Hood, Texas. He’s learning to be part of a tank destroyer unit. Pfc. Burl Phy is on leave too. He’s in training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. James Burch Williams is with the US Marine Corp on an island no one her has ever heard of but will hear a lot about shortly - Guadalcanal. The Baxter Seminary graduate joined the Corp in 1938 and served in Cuba, Puerto Rico and San Salvador. The Marines landed on Guadalcanal last August, thrown into the mountainous jungle to slow down the island to island advance of the Japanese. Short of supplies, they are hanging on longer than many had hoped. Thousands of miles away in Tennessee, snow is falling. At press time, six inches is laying on the rooftops and fields and as the presses rolled, it was still steadily tumbling down.
UPPERMANS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS AT BAXTER SEMINARY (May 6, 1943 - The Putnam County Herald) Dr. and Mrs. Harry Upperman are preparing to celebrate their 20th year of service as the operators of Baxter Seminary, which is regarded as one of the foremost secondary schools in the South. When they came here on June 23, 1923, the campus consisted of 12 acres and had about 60 students. Today the campus owns 300 acres, including a full scale dairy operation, and has an enrollment of 335. A big celebration is planned by the community to say thanks to the couple. WAR NEWS - BAXTER SEMINARY GRADUATE MISSING IN ACTION (May 30, 1943 - The Putnam County Herald) In news from the war this week: Millard Sherrill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Sherrill, is missing in action. He served as a tail gunner on a bomber that didn't make it back from a raid over Germany. He's a 1942 Baxter Seminary graduate and is married to another graduate of that school, Nancy Lyon Sherrill.
BAXTER SEMINARY GRADUATES 40 SENIORS (May 25, 1944 - The Putnam County Herald) With most young men off to war, Tennessee Tech had graduation ceremonies this week for its smallest graduating class ever 70. Baxter Seminary graduated nearly 40, including Mahilda Anderson, Joe Lee Anderson, Robert McIntyre Jr., Walter Warren Shanks and Mattie Jane Mires. INVASION OF EUROPE BEGUN (June 8, 1944 - The Putnam County Herald) The invasion of Europe has begun. And while Allied troops are storming the beaches at Normandy and dropping from the air behind German lines, the 5th annual war bond drive is also in high gear back home. A story in this week’s edition says, "The invasion is on! The long expected storming of Hitler’s European fortress has been accomplished by our soldiers, sailors, Marines and air force, with many of them making the supreme sacrifice. "What are we doing? Are we going to back them up with every war bond we possible can buy?" asks the story. Baxter Seminary’s president, Harry Upperman, was aboard a train when he heard the news about DDay. On a white envelope he penciled the text to a prayer: "We pray now for the speedy coming of a righteous, permanent peace through victory over the sinister forces and sinful lusts of evil minded men who seek to enslave us and to reduce all freedom by peoples and nations to serfdom..."
COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT BAXTER SEMINARY (May 3, 1945 - The Putnam County Herald) Commencement activities at Baxter Seminary will begin on Friday night with the Spring Festival, presented by the Glee Club and the Chorus, under the direction of Miss Margaret Hadley. It will be presented in Pfeiffer Hall at 7:30, May 4. On May 5, Pfeiffer Hall, at 7:30, the senior class will present the annual senior play, "Johnnie on the Spot." On Sunday afternoon, May 6, the annual "Get-Together: for the senior, their parents, alumni and friends, will be given by the President and Mrs. Harry L. Upperman, and the faculty, at the President’s home. At five o’clock Dr. King Vivion, pastor of the McKendree Methodist Church, Nashville, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon on the campus in front of Pfeiffer Hall. The commencement address will be delivered at 9:30, Monday morning, May 7, in Pfeiffer Hall, by Bishop Paul Kern. Following the commencement address and the presentation of the diplomas, the merits, prizes and scholarships won during the year will be announced. BAXTER SEMINARY CLOSES SUMMER SCHOOL, JULY 13 (July 13, 1945 - The Putnam County Herald) On July 13, the summer school session of Baxter Seminary will close with the following students graduating: Juanita Brown, Mary Alice Judd, Margaret Millring, Marcia Stanton, Jean Whitely, Jacob H.Garnder, Sterling Whitley and Elizabeth Jones. The address for the class will be given by the Rev. Jacob H. Gardner, a member of the class. Various prizes, scholarships, and the diplomas will be awarded by the President of Baxter Seminary, Dr.Harry L.Upperman. The commencement will be held on the campus, at Pfeiffer Hall, at 11 a.m. The public is cordially invited. During this same summer school period though its Trades School department, Baxter Seminary had the privilege of conducting a summer school entirely devoted to the trades work classes and studies for trades school teachers from different parts of the state under the direction of Frank Van Eynde of the Stair Technical High School, Knoxville. All of the regular faculty members and students of Baxter Seminary through enjoyed both summer schools and were particularly pleased to have the teachers from the various high schools in the state as students on its campus in the trades school program. The balance of the summer is now being devoted by the faculty and a score of students, to the improvement of the buildings and grounds of the Seminary, and the preparation for a good school year ahead. A great deal of canning under the supervision of Miss Flora Parker, dietitian, with student aid program being used, is being done. JAPAN SURRENDERS (August 16, 1945 - The Putnam County Herald) Japan surrendered this week. The war's end came with Charles E. Burch, of Algood, still serving aboard the USS Mobile. Not long ago the light cruiser ducked a dozen kamikaze planes and dodged torpedoes and mines and suicide boats to move in close to the shore of Okinawa where the ship's guns blasted more than 350 shore targets during the invasion of that island in the Japanese chain.
BAXTER SEMINARY GRADUATES 50 SENIORS (April 24, 1946 - The Putnam County Herald) Central High School, which this week learned it has been admitted into the prestigious Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, is holding graduation services next week, and with the world just climbing out of a catastrophic war, it is not surprising that the theme of commencement talks is "world peace." John A. Mitchell will speak on "world government." Clarice Cummins' talk is on "Music as a Means of Unifying Mankind." And Helen Henderson will speak on "Education and an Enduring Peace." Meanwhile, Baxter Seminary is preparing to graduate a class of 50 seniors and Gov. Jim Nance McCord will be on hand to give the commencement address. While the governor is in town, he will also speak to a large gathering of the FFA here. BAXTER SEMINARY PROVIDES PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (August 29, 1946 - The Brooklyn Citizen) Baxter Seminary, in the Cumberlands at Baxter, Tenn., offers Christian Education of practical training to boys and girls. It is accredited by the Association of College and Secondary Schools of the Southern States, State Board of Education and University Senate of the Methodist Church. Dr. Harry L. Upperman is president. Baxter Seminary seeks to provide work for each individual student that will prepare him as an experienced apprentice for actual entrance into a chosen vocation. The earn as you learn method of vocational training is now new at Baxter, but an added emphasis is being placed upon that type of purposeful education. Among the courses offered at Baxter are Agriculture, Home Economics, Commercial, Typing, Shorthand, Bookkeeping Business Law, Trade and Industrial, General Building Trades, Woodwork Electricity, Printing and other Academic and Commercial subjects.
BAXTER STUDENTS WIN UNIT SPEECH HONORS (March 27, 1947 - The Putnam County Herald) Seminary students look first honors in the speech contests of Unit Five of the Tennessee Interscholastic Literary League held at Tennessee Tech Friday. The Seminary students won five first places out of ten contests. Seventy-five students representing eight schools in this area took part in the various events. First and second place winners in each of the events were: Dramatic reading: Ann Cox, of Cookeville, Joy Gregory, Hartsville; boys’ oratory, Frances Gwaltney, of Carthage, Dean Banks, Baxter; extemporaneous speaking, Charles Wise, Baxter, Billy Judd, Cookeville; declamation, Cecil Harper, Hartsville, Murton Johnson, Cookeville; oral poetry interpretation, Sara Medley,Cookeville, Sara Allen, Hartsville; humorous reading, Sally Vaughan, York Institute, Martha Vance, Cookeville. One-act play, Baxter and Crossville; best actors, Janet Beyer, of Crossville, Billie Aiken, Crossville, Helen Satterwhite, Fred Craig, T. J. Wilson, Bob Owen, all of Baxter, and Joyce Henry of Cookeville; affirmative debating, James Mills, Richard Savage, Baxter, and Joe Stewart and Robert Bull, Sparta; negative debating,Robert Estes and Bennie Corley, Baxter, and Nancy Jane McMahan and Ethel Barnes Mitchell, Cookeville. TWO BAXTER SEMINARY STUDENTS, ONE COOKEVILLIAN WIN ESSAY CONTEST; WINNERS SENT TO STATE FINALS (April 10, 1947 - The Putnam County Herald) Two Baxter Seminary students and one at Cookeville Central won the first three places in the V.F.W. Auxiliary-Herald-sponsored essay contest on "The Home-Cradle of Good Citizenship." The announcement was made jointly today after the essays presented were culled to eight and then placed in one, two, three order by the English department of Tennessee Tech. Thomas L. Passons, head of the department said it was "indeed a hard job to rank the essays. They were all splendid." First place winner was Charlie Mae Dalton, 18-year-old senior at Baxter, a native of Putnam County, but whose mother, Mrs. Minnie Dalton, lives in Detroit, MI. Second place went to Wilburn Johnson, of Cookeville, son of Mrs. Shelton Johnson. He is a junior at Cookeville Central. Third place winner was Charles N. Wise, Baxter Seminary sophomore, whose home is in Peoria, IL. Receiving honorable mention were H. M. Marlowe, Jr., Jackie Brown, and Billy M. Starnes, all of Baxter, and Virginia Broyles, Betty Jeane Lawson, and Hargis Lee, all of Cookeville. The winning essay, published on page six of this issue of The Herald, will be entered in the state contest ,the result of which will be made at the June Encampment of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. The local winners will receive their prizes at chapel exercise the schools next week, according to Mrs. Douglas McDowell, president of the Auxiliary. Miss Dalton will receive two $25 Savings Bonds, Johnson will receive $10 cash, and Wise will get $5. The Herald strongly recommends that you read the winning essay. Please turn to page six. EARLY BAXTER ARRIVALS MEET ON 'LOVERS' BRIDGE' (August 31, 1947 - The Tennessean with photo) Standing on "Lovers' Bridge" on Baxter school campus on registration day are these early arrivals, Including (left to right) Mary Evelyn Hunt of Brighton, Ohio; Evelyn Wildon of Chicago; Mrs. Harry L. Upperman, wife of the president, Georgia Timka, Washington, D. C.; Sidney Joyce Layne, Bearsheba Springs, Tenn.; and Shirley Parrish, Cookeville, Tenn. In the middle picture, students stand before one of the four busses operated by Putnam county for Baxter school day students. Extreme left, left to right, are T. H. Owen, a teacher; President Harry L. Upperman; and R. L Titsworth, teacher. S. R. Anderson, bus driver, is at extreme right. Students from Silver Point shown, include Peggy Harris, Jackie Brown, Evelyn and Betty Smellage, Helen Lowe, Jackie Driver, Glendon and R. V. Hered, Nell and Helen Maynard, Joyce Julian, Dixie and Lorance Palmer, Martha and Kathryn Medley, Bob Magert, Jep Taylor, Celley Hall, Faye Mitchell, Clara Wallace, Eugene Dobbs, Harry Sadler, Gracie Clemons, Elizabeth Lindsey, Frances Anderson, Jess Brown, and Joyce Helm.
REPORTER FINDS BAXTER LIVES UP TO OLD "TRADITION" (August 31, 1947 - The Tennessean, By Gordon H. Turner, Staff Correspondent) President Harry Lee Upperman had invited me to Baxter, Tenn., to speak at Baxter Seminary's 39th formal opening, but I chose rather to spend the previous day on the school's campus to get the real low-down. I desired rather to meet parents from 20 states arriving with sons and daughters, and "break in" on various student huddles here and there, than to see the school on dress parade. And I found that the famous "Highlands School" which has never turned a student away because he couldn't pay his way was all and more than it has ever claimed to be. At Baxter a student pays all his way or part of his way, or none of his way in money, depending on his ability. But work-constructive and reMunerative (sic) - abounds for all students who need help. More than 100 students work out all expenses; even more work out half or a third of the total cost of schooling. Girls do clerical jobs, work in the kitchen and dining halls, the health building, and the print shop. Boys do extra shop work, attend to heating the buildings, campus care, and even construction work on new buildings and equipment. Bill Starnes, honor student for four years from Lancaster, Tenn., and a student leader, makes all athletic teams, milks the cows and acts as supply pastor of rural Methodist churches. A modern print shop draws many student-workers. And the school's 280-acre farm not only furnishes the town's water supply; its crop and live-stock production provides profitable and practical training in every phase of agriculture from forestry and soil erosion control to hogs, dairying, poultry raising, all farm crops and even molasses making. Putnam County Partner in School Putnam county contracts for a cash consideration with the school to care for all county students who wish to attend Baxter tuition free. Four modern busses will haul 180 such students to and from home daily. Baxter is now the public high school for the western section of the county. I met Mrs. D. Poole, wife of Beersheba Springs' M.E. preacher, enrolling Sidney Layne, a girl in whom they are interested. Their son, Billy, was there for the second year. Mrs. Rachel Jennings, 211 Cantrell ave., Nashville, came in with her daughter, Frances Allen, to enter Baxter for the second year. In his newly assigned dormitory room, I saw Frank Van Es, scrubbing the floor and tidying up the room. Then J. C. Bass drove up from Lawrenceburg with son Allen to enter Baxter. Behind Bass came T. Tedderson of Perthamboy, N. J., with grandson Bobby to enter eighth grade. Pretty Alice Partin, 16, came from Hot Springs, Ark. Her ambition to become a nurse led her to Baxter through information given her from the American School association. Enters Tenth Grade Next came the Dan Atwells from Moss, Clay county, Tennessee, with daughter Betty to enter tenth grade. And here were senior Mildred Jared, 17, and junior Evelyn Smellage, 16, from Boma, Putnam county, Tennessee, old students at Baxter. Evelyn's mother, Mrs. John Smellage, had been an honor graduate there in the first class 23 years ago. I saw D. B. Earhart of Wannetka, Ill., who brought son Dale, 17, to enter the eleventh grade. As I left the ad building I met the W. Keith Crawfords of Cookeville, come to enter Alma Sue Horn. Her brother, Charlie Horn, was killed i the Italian invasion. With them was Mrs. Audrey Sanders of Cookeville, entering her daughter, Virginia. Virginia's day, casualty of World War I, is in the Murfreesboro veterans hospital. Last car I flagged down was that of the Ray Wards of Sparta, with son Herbert, 17, to enroll in the school where his daddy had gone years before. Swords Turned to Plowshares I visited the barracks erected to care for a dozen or more married veterans with their families and 150 single men, itself a pretty subdivision of Baxter. The attractive Veterans' Shop building, a two story six-room structure, is nearing completion and was formerly an administration building at Berry field, Nashville. Equipment installed with be used in teaching electricity, auto mechanics, woodwork, etc. In fact, the school had always stressed practical training, and there are large classes in general shop courses, building trades, and home economics. R. L. Titsworth, himself a Baxter Graduate, is director of the veterans' training program. Harry Lee Upperman Head In his 24 years of service at Baxter, Harry Upperman, educator and Methodist evangelist, has piloted the school masterfully. In 1923 when he became president, the little "mountain school" had but one building and 40 students. When the local bank broke in the winter of 1932, the school had exactly 8 cents in cash left. Teachers pooled expense money following a prayer meeting for Upperman to in search of Aid. Mrs Henry Pfeiffer and Dr. John H. Race of New York promised to match every cent Upperman could raise up to $5000. The total sum was realized in five months and Baxter closed its hardest year free of budgetary debt. Upperman went to Cuba in the interest of its youth, some months ago and drew plans for a training center to be founded there with the practical, moral and spiritual background of his own school. Three native students at Baxter during the previous year, Elieser Santana, Alfred Gomez, and Sammy Verdecia, had also impressed him with needs of the island's youth. But, finding no capable native teachers, Upperman selected a "faculty en embryo," 15 in number, and brought them to Baxter for complete training. The school still draws large groups to the many and varied activities outside regular classrooms. Debating, literary clubs, dramatics, and music are always popular. Top competition and keen rivalry in literary and athletic contests, is found between classes and groups as well as with other schools. Coach R. L. Terry not only teaches daily six classes of typing, one of shorthand, and one of bookkeeping, but coaches all athletics. Spiritual Training Stressed Baxter Seminary was founded to gives (sic) its students the highest in Christian training. An inspirational chapel program with music, Bible reading, and prayer is still held every school day. The school was founded and is yet largely sponsored by the Methodist church. Organized primarily to server local youth of the highlands section, the school still accepts students from more distant places only after all who live nearby are served. Nor has Baxter ever aspired to be a big school. It takes only students of high school grade but today even though about 400 are enrolled, the waiting list has hundreds of names from 35 states.
BAXTER SENIORS RECEIVE DIPLOMAS MONDAY AT LARGEST GRADUATION IN SCHOOL’S HISTORY (May 13, 1948) Baxter Seminary’s 71 seniors "the largest graduating class in the school’s history" will receive diplomas Monday in the chapel of Pfeiffer Hall, climaxing the class’ commencement activities which began with the May Day program on last Saturday. Miss Evelyn Phillips, daughter of Mrs. Josie Margaret Phillips, Baxter, was crowned May Queen in the May 8 ceremonies. Serving as her attendants were honor students of the four classes, Mildred Jared, D. H.Thomas, Floretta Haller, James Millis, Betty Jean Coleman, H. M. Marlowe, Jr., Auth Coleman, and Herbert Gambrell. The annual spring music festival, under the direction of Miss Ethel Bolen, was presented in conjunction with the program. Tomorrow will be Class Day at the Seminary. In the evening the senior play, "The Night Was Dark," will be presented. Saturday night the annual alumni banquet will be given in Ivy Hall, beginning at 7 o’clock. Dr. Harry L.Upperman, president of the school, has issued an invitation to all husbands, wives, and special friends of the Seminary’s alumni to attend. Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Dr. James Henley, pastor of the West End Methodist Church, Nashville, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon in the Pfeiffer Hall chapel. Also participating in the program will be the Rev. G. C. McIlwain, the Rev. E. M. Nunally, and the Rev. H. P. Keathley. Commencement exercises Monday will begin at 9:30 a.m. After the processional and invocation, Arnold Thomas will deliver the salutatory, "I Believe." D. H. Thomas will give an address entitled "Hail to Baxter." Dr. T. Otto Nall, managing editor of the Christian Advocate, will be the principal speaker for the occasion. Diplomas will be awarded by President Upperman, followed by the presentation of awards by Dean Ethelyn P. Hill. Included in the graduating class are: Benjamin Auxier, Jr., Ina Marie Barr, Sue Davis Beaty, Betty Bowman, Ralph Lee Bradford, Grover M.Brewington, Jess Ivan Brown, Jackie Brown, Gloria Anne Burton, Luther H. Burton, Roy B. Burton, Troy N. Carr, Bobbie Sue Carter, Clyde Clemons, Fred Craig, Jr., Anita Keeble Dunavin, Nelson T. Denny, Mary Thelma Elmore, Robert Kenneth Estes, Collie Floyd Hall. Samuel Verdecia Hernandes, Mildred Juanita Jared, J. W. Keisler, Donald Theodore Huddleston, Frederick Keiper, Hildegarde Koerner, Betty Lou Lafever, Dorothy Jean Lafever, Warren G. Lafever, Phyllis MaeLighthall, Herman Delmar Lollar, Norma Lillian Mahan, Reba Louise Mahan, Robert J. Maggart, Elton Burton McBroom. Virginia Carolyn McHood, Wilfred Medley, Maxwell Bernard Mobley, Jessie Marie Moss, Ben Morris, Lela Belle Murphy, Lyman Arthur Murphy, Jr., Armon Reece Nash, Homer C. Nash, Tommy David Nichols, Robert J. Owen, Luis Barbeito Oliveros, Evelyn Royce Phillips, Benjamin F. Prichard, Billie Evelyn Prichard, James D. Ray, Lonnie Cleburn Rice, Marston Aaron Rodgers, Donald Hugh Sadler, Ramo Jean Sewell. Robert Anderson Shanks, Earl F. Springer, Billie McDonald Starnes, James Franklin Stewart, Elton D. Stout, Jeptha T. Taylor, David H. Thomas, General V. Thomas, James A. Thomas, Arthur Thompson, Jr., Truman Waddell, Harold Ray Wallace, Wilene Waller, Tennison J. Wilson, III, Ralph Ordue Young. GROUND TO BE BROKEN FOR BAXTER ADDITION BY STATE DAR OFFICER (May 27, 1948) June 3 has been set as the date for the breaking of ground for the Baxter Seminary Health House addition, according to Mrs. Robert Lowe, DAR chairman of the project. Mrs. Thomas F. Hudson, state regent of the DAR will break the ground at a ceremony which will begin at 2 o’clock. Funds of the DAR in Tennessee, originally allocated to blood plasma was given to the Putnam County institution at the annual DAR conference in Nashville in March. The Seminary will match the $12,000 given by the organization in constructing the addition, which will be known as the Practical Nurses’Training Center. A course unique in Tennessee will be started at Baxter, upon completion of the addition, which will enable high school students to receive training as nurses in their last two years. The ceremonies next Thursday will be open to the public, Mrs. Hudson said. BAXTER SEMIARY GIVES EVERYONE EQUAL CHANCE (August 19, 1948-Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, NY) The underlying theme at Baxter Seminary in Baxter, Tenn., is that every one has the right to a chance. This means that oportunity for education should not be limited by economic barriers. And it has been part of the achievement of Baxter that no one is ever turned away. The seminary is a Methodist secondary school accredited by the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States, Tennessee State Board of Education and the University Senat of the Methodist Church. School expenses at Baxter are kept to a minimum because everybody really helps. Actually every building on the campus has been built largely by student labor under faculty direction. The very bricks and stones are alive because so much devotion and sacrifice have gone into placing them in the walls where they stand. In addition to 12 acres of beautifully landscaped campus, Baxter Seminary has 250 acres of fertile farmland well stocked and managed. STATE THEATER OPENS IN BAXTER (October 2, 1948 - The Putnam County Herald) W.T. Sewell has opened the State Theater in Baxter, and the first movie shown in the 375 seat facility is Abbott and Costello’s "The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap."
TEEN-AGE "A" STUDENT AT BAXTER SEMINARY WINS TRIP (January 13, 1949 - The Putnam County Herald) Ronald Lee Anderson, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Anderson, and senior student of Baxter Seminary, who majors in history, has been notified that he has won the Nashville Tennessean’s contest on "Why I Should Like to See President Truman Inaugurated." The young student will start on the four-day all-expense paid trip on Tuesday, January 18. After Ronald’s first wave of excitement of the joyful news brought him on Friday by the Editors of the Tennessean, he began making plans to depart on the Special at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday with anticipation of the sights he will see in Washington: Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, George Washington Masonic Memorial, and all the government buildings, and the inaugural parade, itself, which he will view from a reserved seat furnished by the Tennessean’s Special. Former student of Bohn High School, Nashville, Anderson will also be a guest at all the events preliminary to the inauguration. While on the four-day trip there will be another little matter -- sending back daily reports to the Tennessean of what he saw that day and what his impressions were. Dr. and Mrs. Harry L. Upperman will also attend the inauguration aboard the Tennessean Special. Dr.Upperman is president of Baxter Seminary. The Winning Letter: Why I Should Like To See President Truman Inaugurated: I should like to see the man inaugurated as President of the United States who, despite the predictions of all the "experts" to the contrary, kept saying "I'm going to win", and did. I should like to see a man who is unafraid, a man who never quits, a man who has a message and who is so impressed with the urgency of message that he will face what is sometimes taken as insurmountable odds and overcome them. I should like to see President Truman inaugurated because he, to my mind, exemplifies as no other man in public life the things that may be accomplished, the heights that may be attained by an American boy who sets his course toward a goal and has the courage to pursue the course. He proves that the achievements of an American who tries are truly beyond prediction. I should like to see this inauguration because I would there by be seeing democracy in action. I would be seeming a leader who was chosen by the free vote of a free people take upon himself the responsibilities of leadership that the people had entrusted into his hands. I should like to see President Truman as he looks out upon the throng of well-wishers and knows, as I know that he must know, that everyone on this scene is praying that his tenure of office will be one of prosperity and peace. I should like to see places where history is made, the places where great men have stood, and worked, and achieved. I should like to see the pulse center of America, the place around which the destinies of the nation and much of the would revolve. For in doing this, I know that I will have a better knowledge of my native land - a land that I love. I should like to see the places where Washington, and Jefferson, and Lincoln, and Jackson, and Wilson, and Roosevelt brought in to fruition the dreams and hopes of a great and grateful people. I should like to see the greatest library in the world, the shrines of the honored dead, the Supreme Court building, the many magnificent buildings of the seat of Government, to just stand off and look at some of these things that would be so wonderfully new to me and thank God that I'm an American. Ronald Lee Anderson, Baxter Seminary Senior, Baxter, TN. HONOR STUDENTS AT BAXTER SEMINARY (February 17, 1949 - The Putnam County Herald) Candidates for membership in the National Honor Society were named at a recent chapel service at Baxter Seminary and are as follows: Ronald Lee Anderson, Geneva Barr, Floretta Haller, John Harris, Betty Sue Howell, Eugene Jared, James Millis, Gertrude Mitchell, Grace Thomas and Evelyn Smellage. Members of the National Honor Society are selected from the Senior Class on a four year record of character, scholarship, leadership and service. New members of the Beta Club have also been recently announced and are as follows: Lorita Shields, Anita Cunningham, Gertrude Mitchell, James Fields, Ruth Coleman, Nellie DeRamus, Betty Sue Howell, Helen Nash, Jerry Denny, Dan Maxwell, Eliecer Santana, Waurine Denny, Mary Anne Stewart, Hilda Schmidt, Lorane Palmer, Silas Maxwell, George Lafever. MESSICK BELL RINGERS PRESENT PROGRAM AT BAXTER SEMINARY (March 24, 1949 - The Putnam County Herald) The Messick Bell Ringers, who have appeared with the Columbia Broadcasting System in New York City, will appear in person at Baxter Seminary, Wednesday, March 30, at 9:00 a.m., bringing with them a large collection of famous bells from all parts of the world, including musical Swiss bells which they play. With a set of Swiss Bells handed down from his father in early times, Clarence Messick has made ____of bells so that today he has become an outstanding bell authority. The Messick Bell Ringers arrange their bells so that they not only have history but music also. Bells from all parts of the world make up this program. The Messick Bells present to the public bells of wood from the days of the primitive man down to the present type bells. The program is made up of music and comedy which makes these bell ringers an outstanding educational novelty. A short time ago the Chicago Daily News said that Dr. Clarence Messick, bell scientist, was one man who has proved that Webster was wrong. The dictionary says that a bell is a hollow metallic vessel which rings when struck, but Messick has bells made of wood and glass that have a fine musical tone. Another interesting set with the bell ringers is a set of musical sleigh bells. These bells hang on "chains." The "chains" are hung from a rack. To play them the hands are run down the leather, in much the same fashion as a pianist hits the keys. The best sounding bells, according to the scientist, are fashioned from a special bronze alloy. When asked how he tuned his sleigh bell chains, since each of the dozen or so bells on a chain must be the same pitch, Dr. Messick stated that the tone of any bell is controlled by three factors; the metal from which it is cast, the size of the bell, and the typed of clapper used. Since these bells are of the same metal and have the same type clappers, the tone is the tuning element. So before going on a program, Dr. Messick seeks out a file and proceeds to give each bell a shave. The bell ringers are bringing with them a set of tuned up American cow bells which they promise to play. One of these is from Oregon, another from Boston, one made for them from Arizona copper, and some from Kansas and Illinois. Many different types have been presented to the Messick collection in towns where they have appeared. The Swiss Bells which the artist play are a very rare type. They are over two hundred years old. The clapper in each bell will throw in one direction only, the back side being covered with felt. Small wooden pegs are used to hold the clappers in place. The tones of these silver bells are very beautiful and well suited for radio work. Almost any piece of music or song can be played on these Swiss Bells. ‘MINE LICK’ NOW THRIVING TOWN OF BAXTER; INCORPORATE 1915 (April 28, 1949 - Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN)
Located just twelve miles from Center Hill Dam (only three miles from the fishing territory) is the third most highly populated town in Putnam County, with a present population of 1500. Previous to 1902 it was know as Mine Lick, but at that time was changed to Baxter in honor of Jere Baxter. The Little town was incorporated in 1915, with J. E. Oliver as its first mayor. W. T. Sewell, present mayor, is serving his eighth term. Other officials include W. G. hale, recorder; four aldermen, Lawrence Grace, Charles Ligon, Charles Nunnally, Harold Vickers; and Lawrence Maxwell, town marshal. Charlie Maxwell was recently appointed water commissioner. The present government operates on the "pay as you go" system. When Mayor Sewell was first elected, fourteen years ago, $69 in cash was turned over to him together with an indebtedness of $2600. To date they can boast of no bonded indebtedness except on their water system and they have the money to pay this. (Water works were installed in 1939). The Mayor states that their freedom from debt was accomplished in large part by cooperation with county and state. Tax rate is still a dollar on the hundred; yet the town is thriving. With three miles of streets oiled enough money is available to oil another mile. A street program has made possible the widening, grading, and rocking of those streets that could not be oiled. Another feature has been the installation of street lights and the laying of two miles of sidewalk. By far the greatest asset of the town is its Seminary, known far and wide for its Christian teaching. Mayor Sewell recalls that when his father first came to Baxter, incidentally because of the school, it was not an uncommon thing to hear gun shots any hour of the night as well as in the daytime. He attributes the present orderliness and quietness of the community to the influence of the school. Putnam Countians, as well as Baxterians, should be proud to claim such a great institution for their own. Having given more than a quarter of a century in promoting the Seminary Dr. and Mrs. Harry L. Upperman have made it what it is today. The one school of its kind in this section of the country, much stress is being placed on Christian activities, Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., literary society, and work of the varied clubs. In addition to sponsoring a radio program each Thursday afternoon, the students have rated very highly in forensics and debates for the fiscal year 1948-49, winning many firsts in both district and State meets. A tour of the campus would include Pfeiffer Hall (academic), the Trade School, a Science Building under construction, a gymnasium, eight dwelling houses, D.A.R. Health House with a new addition known as the Practical Nurse Training Department, Ward Hall (for boys), Ivy Hall (for girls), the President’s home, two barns, (cows, mules, and chickens) a new recreation hall for boys, football field, and the playground. With an enrollment of 325, eighteen faculty members, and four staff members the Seminary is undergoing vast improvements. Practically all building and repairing is done by students under faculty direction. Dr. Upperman states that during the current year they have completely rebuilt the library and have additional rooms added on to be used when needed, and are re-working the commercial department, enlarging rooms; the chapel has been given an entirely new platform, curtains and side decoration; also, they are building a new trophy case and are reconditioning plumbing, heating and lighting systems. Provision is being made for a lighted football field and are expecting to remodel gymnasium, inside and out. A new cafeteria set-up is being installed with new kitchens; plan to have a new dining room, a very fine recreation room for girls, and a new series of apartment additions for the girls’hall. In addition the entire campus is to be landscaped and reconditioned farming, terracing, and soil erosion projects are to be introduced. The most recent addition to the campus is its Veterans’School with twenty-two instructors and four staff members. It was set up with the understanding with the Veterans Administration that the courses would be taught at their request as follows: to veterans at this time; the curriculum would be composed of seven courses; namely, General Electricity, Cabinet Making, Auto Mechanics, Radio Servicing, Auto Body Work, Masonry, and Carpentry. There are two buildings which have been erected for the Veterans school along with their own shop, class rooms, and offices The Trade School for boys, known as the John W. Lowe Trade School, teaches general building trades, woodwork, blueprinting, cabinet work and related courses such as English, Science, and Mathematics. Serving the town, via employer and employee, is the W. T. Sewell Grocery, the Seminary, Robert Lowe Lumber Co., Taylor Dunavin’s Block Plant, a Wholesale Produce run by the Scarlett Bros., V. D. Nunnally’s Drug, the four general stores of H. N. Campbell & Sons, F. D. Scarlett & Sons, Knight & Maxwell, and Dow Gentry & Co.; Charles Nunnally’s Dry Cleaning establishment; two beauty shoppes, known as the Baxter Beauty Parlor and Selma’s Beauty Parlor; two grocery stores operated by Nash & Barr and Ambros Dyer; two hardware’s, S. N. Barr & Sons, and Maxwell & Hale; two cafes: the Baxter Café and Baxter Coffee Shoppe; and two garages. In addition, hundreds of cars of paper and acid wood are loaded here every year. BAXTER QUEEN NAMED (October 13, 1949 - The Nashville Banner) Cookeville, Tenn., Oct. 13 -(Special)- Mildred Maynard, Baxter Seminary senior will be crowned Football Queen tonight at Upperman Field in Baxter at the half-time ceremony of the Baxter-Crossville game which will be the homecoming for Baxter. The queen's attendants, chosen from the four classes are Evelyn Cherry, Oneal Herald, Willene Taylor, Ruth Coleman, Nelldene Allison and Betty Pippin.
Photo, D. A. R. Health House: Baxter Seminary Highlander - Baxter Seminary Yearbooks 1934-1060 by Mike and Audrey Lambert www.ajlambert.com Read more history of Baxter, Putnam Co., TN and surrounding areas at: http://www.ajlambert.com * See Titanic and the Bateman Bible at: http://www.ajlambert.com
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In the picture at right, a group of Cuban students, who will form the faculty of another Baxter seminary planned for Orienta,
Cuba, relax on the school steps. Included are Eliecer Santara, Alfred Gomez, Sammy Verdecia and others.
