Love 208

  

The Purdy Street News. Love from 208, Saturday August 26, 2006----***WOW******

Dear Everyone:

WOW----what a show---I am talking about the Little Theater production of Oklahoma

OKLA-----------------------------HOMA. Maybe one of the best productions of this musical ever produced in Sumter
and what wonderful talent they were.  All good, even the people that you could not see---like the orchestra that was in the pit in front of the stage and they were all wonderful---excellent musicians and how great it was for all to give their time and share their gifts from God with all of us.
Thank you, thank you---I will not name everyone as it takes all to make such a good show as this one. And County Council is making some improvements at Patriots hall and we thank them for this and on the burner with them is an additional tax to do more.s
Should be up for a vote in November---and of course it will include some recreational things etc. We are doing some much needed and good things here in Sumter.former Mayor Bill Hodge would have expressed it as , You boys are doing a good job! Oklahoma has been a sell out. No tickets available for the next two shows. A good many of the talented people are in choirs at churches all over town. Could recognize some from 1st Presbyterian. Want to hear them freejust go to church and a church of your choice

Sorry to report that one of our favorite teachers has been promoted to Glory---here is message from Arthur Wilder Jr. about his Mom!  Josephine Williams Wilder, age 85, of Holy Comforter Church Sumter,  crossed over into the arms of Jesus at 3:40 PM on 8-22-06. We thank everyone for prayers which were answered as only God can. The funeral will be at 2:00 PM on Friday August 25, 2006 at Holy Comforter Church in Sumter, SC.  Visitation with the family will be from 6:00PM to 8:30 PM at 25 South Magnolia St, Sumter, SC on Thursday night, August 24, 2006.
Bullock Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.
Love in Christ, Arthur Josephine was one of those talented people who contributed to everyone.played Organ at Holy Cross and Holy Comforter when they had a pump organ at Holy Cross--- she took her turn at this---drove the school bus---was excellent at foreign languages---(was to teach French as she was trained in this at Winthropbut not enough students in 45---so she taught us Spanish. Miss Barbara still good at this)she was a real joy to me over the past few years about sharing some history---and loved her garden.  It is a wonder she did not work herself to death doing this. She used to tell me some things she got from her mother-in-law---Mrs. Wilder a florist on Magnolia. Josephine had a gardenia bush in her yard..(3rd Generation) the Gardenia came from Africa to Charleston.. The Garden family brought cuttings to Sumter. They lived on Magnolia. Capt Garden was Capt of Palmetto Light Artillery. Mrs. Wilder guest of honor at many class re-unions.  What a great lady she was!

Hey Mayor Bubba,  as you may know, this year is the 60th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church kindergarten, and my aunt,  Susan Williams, was the founder and first director from 1946-1954 when she went to Staunton, VA to start a kindergarten there at Dick Potter's church. She is going to be honored Sunday September 17 at the 11 oclock service at First Presbyterian, and I would like you to publicize this in your letter as many of her former kindergarteners get this letter and might be able to attend. She would be thrilled to see them all,  but they will have to tell her who they are, because she thinks we all still look like we did in kindergarten and can't believe were all in our 60s! Thanks for helping to spread the word and thanks again for your fun and news filled letter. Love to you and Miss Barbara, Sue Walker Griffin.

New Law Firm at 50 Wesmark was opened by Anne Veatch Noonan(she is Mrs. Jimmy Noonanbrother of the dentist---and son of Bill and Sandy)she says she is not kin to Chuck and Bobby (Wilson) Veatch but may be way off kin. Husband Jimmy is coach at Spring Valley. They will locate back here in Sumter and will be a great addition for us.
Nice to have the folks home with us again

We had excellent response from last weeks request for information on bandmaster Jim Pritchard. He died at 84 in December 2005--Elizabeth Carter sent information on his widow and the twin girls that were friends for many of you all. Sally lives at Lake Murray---Agnes lives in Newberry and son Jimmy is out in Texas. Mrs. Pritchard lives in Chapin---many thanks to Elizabeth. She did a real job in getting us complete information..he really brought the big band half-time entertainment to us here at the High School and did this for all of us at USC,,,,I now have a good file on his time and contributions---Ivy Moore sent us information from the files at THE ITEM, Thanks. We also heard from T. C. Croft who was in band here and at USC.  Think Dr. Currie McArthur brought him here and maybe he will have some comments.  Also heard from Gloria Guess Ward and old reliable Judge Dave McInnis---

Sent you all a special notice when the P-15's won their second game in 13 innings---a real barn burning victory. Was so glad that John Quakenbush had part in this broadcast---it went further than any team---also many thanks to Miller Communications (they own all the radio stations here in Sumter)and the many sponsors. Will try to send you all a list of these.

We are also proud of the coverage given to us through THE ITEM---here is e-mail from Hubert Osteen about the team at the game for the newspaper:

Bubba: Youre right, it was Bonapartes Retreat. I remember those games as a kid and that song stuck with me over the years. I'm proud of the fact The Item has been with the P-15s all the way, from the start of the season, through the playoffs and state championship, the regional, and now the World Series. Out of all the American Legion teams in the country, the P-15s have established themselves as one of the eight best, and before its over, they may wind up as THE BEST. The Item has another connection to the team, and that is Robbie Evans, our managing editor, who is one of Wallie Jones coaches. He's out in Iowa with the team. This has been an incredible summer in sports for Sumter, hasnt it, with the 14-year-olds winning their World Series and now the P-15s competing for another one.  Hubert---and this followed---Bubba: I forgot to tell you that Patrick Enzor is reporting from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the American Legion World Series for The Item and Chris Spanky Moore is the shooter (photographer). Patrick is doing it all on his laptop, and he can be reached at penzor@theitem.com  if you want to send him and Spanky a note. The P-15s are making history, and The Item is writing and photographing it.  As you can see from today's story on the victory over Lincoln, Neb.,  Allen Caldwell is continuing to turn in one of the greatest performances in American Legion baseball history,  as he has done throughout the playoffs. His two-run homer was the difference in yesterdays game. He is one Big Time Player! Keep pulling for the locals, they could win it all. Hubert Osteen

As it turns out the P-15s were one of the top four in all of the USA. They came home after flying all day Monday and got here at nearly midnight. This team had the greatest record of any in our 77 years of American Legion baseball in Sumter. We are second oldest in the country. I believe our city may have one of the best baseball fields anywhere.  We are all proud. Sorry to report that one of the catchers and a great hitter Richard Jones did not make the trip to Cedar Rapids. He had entered The Citadel.   His uncle Wally was coach and his granddad Bernie was coach for many years

We also got good feedback from our request for information on the Theme Song by the baseball team in the 50s that played in the regionals, still do not know why they chose the tune Bonapartes Retreat---but here is some info.  I think Kay Starr recorded this I have it and have played it several times: Yep...you nailed it, Bubba..."Bonaparte's Retreat"...an old, very old, Appalachian fiddle tune. There were two versions played by us at WFIG.

The one we started with, and carried with us to Riley Park on game nights, was by Gene Krupa's band. The other, which was used a few years later, as I recall, was the Kay Starr version. She had been a singer with Charlie Barnet's big band and was just branching out on her own. She made a huge hit of "Wheel of Fortune" in 1951-52. Usually, on game day, we'd play the record a couple of times during the day just to gin up the enthusiasm to get folks in the mood to go to the game that evening. Paul Reidy and I played it in the mornings, Bill Moore in the afternoons. I recall how amused the crowd was at the Regional in Charleston when the PA system broke loose with "Retreat" during a small rally in the fourth or fifth inning. Those city folks down there had never heard of such a thing! (Drayton Cooper) and-- Bubba, I'm very familiar with the song by Kay Starr and played it quite a
lot but since it was recorded in 1950 and I left Sumter in Sept of that year for Augusta radio.  I played it over here while Drayton and Paul and Bill played it there and at the ball field. (Corky Lynn)and we heard from a lot more and will include this one for you all to answer a question--- There was a big bad running back who also was an American Legion Junior outfielder, and as I remember it, it was his favorite song. When the team was in need of a key play or score, the band would start to play Bonaparte's retreat, and this dude would come through every time! I cannot remember his name, however. Thanks for keeping us up on pertinent things. W F Ward, Jr. (formerly Billy Ward)

wilfraward@pol.net www.gwainc.familydoctors.net

Thank all of you all for your response and additional information. I will start using the US mail for some of my subscribers ---if not next week---the week after---have used my off time in the summer to add the return address to about 1000 envelopes and hired a lady to make us some stick on mail labels have about 4 weeks ready to go. Need to know if we should mail them as some of you now have computers or can get it from someone kind enough to send it to you please let me know if you do not want a mail copy. It will save time and money on our part

Bless each of you for your most generous support. Football starts now,  hope it cools off ---this will be a blessing for the fans and players..again as in the beginning. If you want to see people with talent contributing these talents to the glory of God---try a church,  no charge. Some of them now you can wear your casual clothing. God loves you---no matter how you look or act return this love by loving others.

Love from 208