I have a newpaper clipping of a Blackton class back then that was reprinted and 2 of the boys in the picture was named WATTS. I have been researching the Watts since my paternal great grandmother was a Watts. My question is: do you recall any Watts you went to school with? Do you have any info on them? My great grandmother was Emma Watts and as far as I know she was born and raised in Monroe/St Francis counties. Any help would be appreciated!
The first time I recall the town of Blackton, located in the eastern part of Monroe County, was as a child. My mother would put me on the Brocato bus that came to Holly Grove from Helena every day to pick up and return passengers. Passengers who needed to go to Clarendon, Blackton, Marvell and Helena and points in between. We had no car at this time and the bus and the "Doodle-Bug" train was our means of transportation.
I had an two aunts who lived in Marvell. My daddy's parents, 3 brothers and a sister lived in Helena and West Helena. These were two seperate towns back then. We are talking about the late 30s and early 40s. Mother would put me on the bus in Holly Grove and the relative would meet me at the appropriate location.
I remember going through Blackton and by the old Palmer house. At the time, bachelor Jack Palmer lived in the house and he had a collie dog he had trained to meet the bus and have the evening paper put in his mouth to take to Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer later married Dorothy Huffstellter (spelling?, ask Ann Palmer or Kay Williamson) from either Stuttgart or DeWitt, I think,
I remember the bus stopped in Blackton at the Beadles General Store, whose owner was Bill Beatles, father of Wayne Beadles, a classmate of mine. Wayne lives just east of Henderson Corner at the intersection of Hwys. 79 and 49 now.
Years later another classmate, Gloria Jean Johnson Lewis' parents lived in the school house at Blackton and we held our 10th high school reunion there. That was in 1962.
In 1946 or 1967 all the students in the Blackton school except the first three grades, were consolidated into the Holly Grove system. Those coming to HG from Blackton in my class were Wayne Beadles, Kenneth Turner, Betty Jo Morrison, Bobby Gene Moore, Estelle McKoy, Minnie Belle Dunavan and Mary Brown. (Betty Jo, Minnie Belle and Mary are no longer living). Kenneth, Bobby , Betty Jo, Minnie Belle, Estelle, Minnie Belle and Mary had brothers or sisters in other grades.
