Raleigh, North Carolina
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A HISTORY OF BOYLAN HEIGHTS
P.T.A.
Raleigh, N.C. [Thanks
to Glenn Plott of 1003 W. Lenoir for providing this transcript to the
neighborhood] 1927-1944
by Mrs. L.B. Rhodes 17th Birthday
February 15, 1944 The history of the Boylan Heights Parent Teachers Association is of special interest to me: First, I knew personally all who have served as presidents. All except one live in Raleigh now (1944). Second, in reading the minutes of each years work what I find revealed so much of the character of the person serving a president. I find that the things that she stressed then, she still strives to accomplish. Knowing each one as I do, I could almost name the president by reading a record of the year’s work. It is fortunate that each can bring new interest into the association. Third, another interesting thing that I find in the history of the association is that it is not only a history of the association, but a record of events that show changes in the lives of all the people of the whole nation. This is the point that I find most interesting The Boylan Heights Parent-Teachers Association was organized in 1927-1928 with Mrs. Hardy Mills as president. The minutes of the first two-years are lost, but we know that a motion picture machine was purchased for the use of educational pictures in the school. It was used on Friday evenings for the purpose of making money with which to help buy needed conveniences for the school. Now let us see for just a minute what was happening in 1927. This was about eight or nine years after the close of World War I. The population of Raleigh had grown by leaps and bounds and construction of school buildings has not kept up with this growth. But with such energy, a new building program in the schools was begun. Thus we had a new school in Boylan Heights in which this organization begun. 1928-1929 Mrs. O. F. McCrary served as president. The association continued paying on the picture machine and purchased a great many books. A program of parent education was stressed. The school was still new and many were the needs for both necessities and conveniences. 1929-1930 Mrs. L.W. Baker served as president. In the minutes of this year’s work I find these statements: “$143 spent for books for the school library, $50 given to the library for more books, and furniture for teacher’s room from 67 members. I have marveled at these large amounts of work with such few members. 1930-1931 Mrs. H.G. Walker, president. I find in the minutes for this year; “50 members. Purchased pedestal, curtain for stage, books for the library.” Still (this is) a mighty lot of work for only fifty members. 1931-1932 Mrs. Sam Lumsden, president. I find in the minutes for this year this statement: “Mrs. Thompson, the treasurer, reported a balance of $10.32. Also reported a $51 loss in the Commercial National Bank when it failed to open in December.” Following this report I find this statement: “Fifty-one garments were made and donated by this association to underprivileged children.” This is a story that needs no explanation. We all remember it well. 1932-1933 Mrs. C.F. Wheeler, president. Motion carried that P.T.A. dues be reduced from fifty to twenty-five cents; also that mothers will make sandwiches for children at school as of previous year. (How I remember these lunches prepared by mothers at home, sometimes by mothers who could not really afford much were for the children at home.). Another statement in the minutes that interest me is this “After lengthy discussion, a motion passed that a Sunday motion picture be held for the benefit of our underprivileged”; “Applied for federal aid for improvements on school grounds”; and “Sent resolutions to legislature protesting further reduction in teacher’s salaries and school appropriations.” 1933-1934 Mrs. W.R. Hanchey, president. “$18.50 spent for books for the library. Milk was purchased for the undernourished children in the school.” (This responsibility was taken over by the association from the city council, a huge job. Things were not better but were no worse. 1934-1935, Mrs. E.M. Powell, president. “Standard Encyclopedia” bought. Milk and sandwiches furnished. Soap and towels purchased. We reached the largest membership in history of association, 152. Ventilators were bought and placed in school classrooms. Shrubbery was bought for school grounds. At last we had reached the place again where we could think of a few other things besides feed and clothes. 1935-1936 Mrs.
L.B. Rhodes, president. Playground
equipment was purchased. Six more ventilators purchased for the school
classrooms. Final payment was made for
books. (Note: not as many children now
being feed by the association.) 1936-1937 Mrs. John Coffey, president. Shoes and lunches for needy children, more book purchase for the library, new ventilators purchased, and classrooms painted. (We are at least breathing a little more easily in a financial way.) 1937-1938 Mrs. W.H. Jeannette, president. Here I find the first reference to the school supplement –a letter to the school board stating that our organization was anxious to corporate in putting over the school supplement. Punch bowls and cups placed in the school. Then I find a statement that carries much more meaning ”Flags were purchased for the schools”. This should have been nothing unusual, for it is only right that patriotism be taught in the schools. But there had been no flags mentioned before this time, and this happens to be the year before England and France declared war on Germany. 1938-1939 Mrs. W.C. Edwards, president. Finished last payment on books, purchased stage equipment, urged member to work for a school cafeteria. 1939-1940 Mrs. J.D. Garner. President. At the October meeting a panel discussion on “preparing our children to live in a democracy”. Dedication exercises for new classrooms, new cafeteria, and library. After about seven years of effort in this direction, the overcrowded conditions in the school had been relieved. 1941-1942 Mrs. L.O. Page, president. It was reported that the seventh grade class of 1941 had donated money for equipping two dressing rooms back of the stage in the auditorium and that they had given a year’s subscription to the National Geographic magazine to the new library. (I believe that the subscription has been kept up-to-date since that time.) Bought books for Parent-Teachers shelf in the library. Motion made and passed that the association cooperate with the Red Cross in conducting first-aid classes. At the October meeting Dr. Bulla spoke on the problems connected with “Defense Maneuvers”, but we were not in the war. Grade mothers raised money for installing baseboard sockets in the seven classrooms. In January the association cooperated with the school in the sale of Defense Stamps. (War was declared in the previous month of December 1941). The association’s scrapbook won the gold ribbon at the State Convention. 1942-1943 Mrs. W.C. Edwards, president. (The only one brave enough to serve a second term.) The first statement in the minutes of the first meeting of this year: “the chairman of the Boylan Heights salvage committee urged the association to help in collection of all old metal, old rags, rubber, and old keys.” The association urged to cut down expenses on account of the war. Mr. Fred Green spoke on ‘P.T.A. goes to War”. The “Penny Milk Program” adopted. The “Junior Britannia Encyclopedia” purchased for the library. Mrs. Herman Senter, principal, thanks the association for the help in rationing gasoline and sugar. 1943-1944 Mrs. J.J. Filicky, president. Her works listed here shows that she is carrying on with the same devotion as those that proceeded before her. They have purchased shelf labels and holders for the library, redecorated the first grade room, and purchased benches for the new music room. The association was on the Honor Roll edition of the State Bulletin with a 22½% increase in membership over last year (163 members this year) then the last statement in the minutes of the last meeting: Mr. George Whitley, Jr. from the OPA spoke on “Price Control and the Black Market”. So ends this record. This is no way attempts to cover all the important things accomplished in any one year, but only points to events recorded in the history that show vital changes in our community, our State, and our Nation. We find ourselves in the midst of another war. As to the cause of it, there are many questions. But I knew that the prayer of each of us is that through wisdom, hope, courage, diligence, corporation and comradeship we will be able to keep the peace that we hope will come soon.
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