The next time you’re cleaning house, and you see a stack of papers, think twice before you toss them aside. A West Tennessee woman is thankful she took a closer look.
One recent Saturday, 34-year-old Tiffiany Lee of Huron, Tennessee was cleaning out a desk that “came with the house” when she bought it last year. “I found these papers, handwritten and folded in half,” she said. There were about thirty of them, and curiosity got the best of her. She read the first one, and she was hooked.
“They were dated 1963, and it was a writing assignment for 10th graders,” she said. Each paper was signed, but she couldn’t find the name of the school. There were references to a town named Trenton, but she thought it might be Trenton, Tennessee. She showed them to her ten-year-old nephew, who was fascinated, but baffled. “They are written in cursive, but since they don’t teach that in school now, it was all foreign to him.”
She was determined to find the authors of these 53-year-old papers, each titled “My Life.” “They were mini-autobiographies,” she said. A teacher named Mr. Smith, who had previously owned the house, had assigned his 10th graders to write about their lives.
The students, around 15 years old at the time, wrote about their friends, their homes, and their hobbies. “One girl had been a junior bridesmaid in her aunt’s wedding when she was 11, and wrote that she got to wear stockings and heels. I guess that was a big deal back then!”
In her quest to find the writers, Tiffiany shared her story with some 700 Facebook friends, hoping that they could make a connection to find the school, and hopefully the students who wrote about their lives a half-century ago.
Within 24 hours, she had tracked down about half of them. Her friends made contact with people who had attended Dade County High in Trenton, Georgia. She learned that S. J. (Joe) Smith, then a first-year teacher, had assigned the three-page autobiographies to his sophomore English class. “He had graded and corrected each of the papers,” she said, “and he kept them all of his life.” She believes he died around 2007.
The response from the Dade students, who went on to graduate in 1966, was immediate and emotional. Tiffiany was thrilled to hear from them, and to share the life stories they had written long ago. Sadly, she learned that five of the students had passed away, but their surviving spouses and children eagerly latched on to a newly discovered connection to their loved ones.
The late Paul Millican had written about his hobby. “I love to draw and paint,” he wrote. He added that his mother had ordered an eight-dollar art kit in the mail, and he was looking forward to using it. His daughter Melinda, now living in Minnesota told Tiffiany that her dad had enjoyed painting until his death in 2012. (His son Zack, who now lives in Boston, wrote to me, “He made art his career. He was so talented with graphic design, painting, woodworking and sculpting. He worked for TVA as a graphic designer. To read that his mother ordered an art kit is so touching. I know $8 was a lot of money to their family. It was such an important part to the rest of his life. To be able to see my dad’s picture at 15 is heartwarming.”)
Another student wrote how about she enjoyed going to a movie theater to see a new movie called “Cleopatra” with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Tiffiany laughed as she read a girl’s hobby: “I enjoy the company of boys.” She remarked that she was struck by the innocence of the writers and their dreams, especially compared to the bold, direct language frequently used today.
There were references to the typical teen activities of the era: Pony League baseball, piano lessons, 4-H Club projects, sewing, and scouting. The maladies of the day were mentioned: mumps, measles, and even one child who had battled polio. Several girls proudly admitted they were tomboys who loved to play football and climb trees. One remarked she was embarrassed to have to wear a skirt in school, revealing her scratched-up legs “that make me look like a tattooed lady.”
Linda Bray York was surprised to learn that she had written about her desire to “be a baby doctor.” She said, “I don’t even remember the assignment. But I did have aspirations to be a nurse and was interested in cosmetology. I became a hairdresser in 1978 and am still enjoying it. I’m so glad this young lady found our papers.”
Tiffiany says the papers don’t contain many details of mischief, although one student admitted to “crushing leaves and rolling them in a newspaper, and then smoking them.” Compared to the easy accessibility of much stronger stuff in 2016, those were innocent times indeed.
The Dade class of 1966 reunion, scheduled for October, is likely to have a special guest. Tiffiany Lee plans to make the five-hour drive to personally deliver the papers to the once wide-eyed teens who put their hopes and dreams to pen and paper. “I’m probably more excited than they are,” she told me. “I feel like I’ve made thirty new friends.”
Dade County High English teacher S. J. (Joe) Smith in 1963
I just teared up instantly. My dad is Paul Millican. I now live in Boston and so happy to have read this. He made art his career. He was so talented with graphic design, painting, woodworking and sculpting. He worked for TVA as a graphic designer. To read that his mother ordered an art kit is so touching. I know $8 was a lot of money to their family. It was such an important part to the rest of his life. To be able to see my dad’s picture at 15 is heartwarming.
I would love to see a scan of the whole paper if possible.
David, we worked together at WRCB. I was a graphic designer for you guys. Thanks so much for writing about this.
Zack, glad to see your post on here. Wanted to let you know I have fond memories of Paul in High School. He was a good friend a fun loving guy and most of all a very good person. His talent in art was evident in his High School years, he liked to draw hot rod cars, what else would you expect a high school boy in the 60,s to draw? I can remember him showing me some of his car drawings at school one day and they were great, after I looked at them I looked at Paul and said, “and you drew these” just to make sure I had heard him correctly and Paul said yes, all I could say was “wow, Paul that’s really good” it was hard for me at the time to believe someone I knew could have that talent. I still have a hard time drawing a stick man. After that it was common to see Paul’s drawings. As adults we didn’t see each other much, no reason other than our paths just didn’t cross and I am sorry for that. I,m sure Paul was a great Dad. Wishing you all the best as life goes on and again thanks for posting on here. Sincerely, Richard Doyle, class of 1966, Dade County High School.
Thanks for covering this cool story, David! It’s heartwarming to know the effort Tiffany went to in order to track us down. Zack, I was one of many girls who had a crush on your dad. I remember in grammar school pretending to be so weak that I couldn’t move my school desk so that I could ask Paul to please move it for me. Lol! I was such a Southern Belle as a child!
Paul Millican is my father. A friend of mine from school saw Tiffanys post and let me know. I got in contact with Tiffany. Today she sent me the link for this article. My mom and I were in a restaurant while I was reading it out loud to her, When I got to my Dads name I could barely read it befor I started crying.. It was just so overwhelming to see what he wrote. My dad was such a wonderful artist and to hear Grandma Millican spent that much to make his dreams a reality broke my heart. My dad came from a large family and his dad died when he was very young. So her pending that much was a major sacrificed for the family! I can’t wait to read the complete paper! I am so thankful to Tiffany for reaching out to everyone! It means so much to me and my family to have this piece of our dads history. David this was a wonderful article. Thank you so much for writing this! I have always been one of your fans!
I am Tiffianys mother an we have really enjoyed this adventure that she took. I am hoping that I will be able to be with her when she delivers the papers to each of the family members. Just reading this article, is very touching to me. We sit around our dining room table an read the letters an had several good laughs.
Love this!! My father, Tyrone Buchanan was in this Sophomore class. He was voted “Wittiest” his Senior class of ’66!! Thanks for sharing!!
Loved this article. Growing up in Dade County, a graduate of the ’54 class, I will always have a special love for Dade County. I loved the comments on Paul. He was my cousin, and very special! Several of the kids I could remember. Rebecca Smith was married to my brother, Charles Carver, Jr., at one time. Shirley Lee is a sister to my brother in law, Charles Lee. I know all these kids will love having their stories returned to them. Keep up the good work! Thank you Tiffany, and David.
My father was Buddy Stevens (spelled Stephens in the yearbook). Dad passed away in 2003 and I am not sure if mom knew of this, but she passed away in January and I can’t ask her…. I would love to pick up his story if that is possible. Thank you for sharing this.
Wonderful story! I’m so glad those papers weren’t tossed out as trash. They are definitely treasures!
Thanks for this story. I graduated in 1968 and remember this class well. Theses papers will be a treasure for the families as well .
Was there one by Belva Wheeler. She is my cousin.
There wasn’t one by her. From my understanding, there was 66 people in the graduating class. 32 of them had Mr. Smith’s class (those are the ones I have). The rest had a different teacher for English II. I’m sorry, I wish I had one for all of them!
I am Martin Ridley’s daughter. My dad passed away in 2009. I miss him everyday. I would love to be at the reunion and be able to get his story. 🙂 thank you!
Kristen Ridley
There wasn’t one by him 🙁 From my understanding, there was 66 people in the graduating class. 32 of them had Mr. Smith’s class (those are the ones I have). The rest had a different teacher for English II. I’m sorry, I wish I had one for all of them!
My sister is in one of the class pictures her name was Janet Wooten….
Eddie drew is my uncle who passed away few years ago. I am writing to ask if maybe his paper is also in the stack of papers you have found. My name is jessica highfield an would love to have it if so. Thank you so much.
There wasn’t one by janet or Eddie. From my understanding, there was 66 people in the graduating class. 32 of them had Mr. Smith’s class (those are the ones I have). The rest had a different teacher for English II. I’m sorry, I wish I had one for all of them!
Thank you Tiffiany…..
Was there one from Milton Holmes I seen his pic on there as well… He was my brother n law he passed away in 2012…. Thanks…..
There wasn’t one for him either 🙁 I’m sorry. Someone had already asked about him! Must have been a popular guy!
There wasn’t one for him either 🙁 I’m sorry. Someone had already asked about him! Must have been a popular guy!
Thank you very much…..
Was there one for Elizabeth Hicks or Hugh Julian Hicks?
Hello to all, my name is Faye ( Russell ) I was in that class of ’64 and I believe in Mr. Smiths class, was there a paper from me? And I remember Paul very well, he was a very nice person and remained best friends with one of my very best friends thru out our lives until his death just a yr. before Paul died, Millard Goodwin. They remained close thru out their lives and Millard so looked forward to Paul’s visits, especially after he lost his sight. I have enjoyed the letter from Paul’s daughter and son very much and thank you for sharing with all of us from that class. And have really enjoyed all the photo’s from our yr book, unfortunately mine was destroyed in the tornado of 2011, so sad to know that so many have passed already but that makes all the of us that much more precious to me though and I hope to make it to our 50th reunion in Oct. Love to all that remain. Your friend Faye Russell Willey. My reg. e-mail address is: fayew1983@yahoo.com
My Dad died about 5 years ago, I was wondering if he had written one of the story’s, his name was Rayburn Lusk
Thank you
I’m sorry but there’s not one for Elizabeth Hicks, Faye Russell or Rayburn Lusk. Wish there was one for everyone but there’s only 32 of them out of the 66 students who graduated that year!
Do you know the feeling when you want to cry, but you’re afraid someone is watching or listening? Well, that’s what I felt when I read this. Especially the above comments.
Thanks David for another good story.