Community event owes start to class project

It's not uncommon to find history in the classroom. It is a little unusual, however, for a classroom to make history. But it happened.

English instructor Linda Johnson gave the senior class of 1982-83 an assignment: research and document the Whitehouse of old, detailing everything from prices and fashions to social customs and industry. The results, gleaned from dozens of student interviews with local residents who could "remember when," were published in a slim volume with the title "Yesteryears."

The project continued when many of those interviewed visited the school wearing period clothes and displaying historical

equipment and tools as well as arts and

crafts. Bob Hagan, who was high school

principal at the time, remembers it well.

"It turned out to be a really great event. The people really enjoyed it and it made

for a great day in the school library," said

Hagan.

What could have simply been a successful class project, however, didn't

stop there. Inspired by the students'

hard work and the public's response,

Ethel Ratcliff practices for the husband calling contest in 1983. In the top photo, participants in the school's Yesteryear Day include Bob Hagan (center) and project sponsor Linda Johnson.

a group of citizens borrowed the theme and title and gave life to the YesterYear community event that is currently celebrating its 25th year.

"Linda hoped it would carry on, that someone would run with it, and I guess we were the feet," said Joyce Stanley, who remembers joining Bobbie and James Cook, Shirley Coke and Shirley Smith in spearheading the first event. "There was no chamber of commerce at that time, and we thought 'why don't we start something that promotes businesses in Whitehouse.'"

Inspired further by the classroom project, the community was encouraged to "dress appropriately" for the first YesterYear Celebration on June 25, 1983.

"We wanted women to wear old-timey clothes, and we had a contest to see which man could grow the longest beard," said Stanley. "That's why Ray Terry has a beard today. The churches were full of beards. The whole town participated."

An article in the June 23 issue of the Times Banner newspaper reports other scheduled events included a porch Rock-athon, nostalgic crafts demonstration, tow sack race, cow chip throwing contest and a husband calling contest. The newspaper assured that the "winners would be judged not by response of husbands, but by quality of the call."

The first event also featured a historical tour of the city in a mule-drawn wagon. Visitors were shown the old depot, packing shed, cotton gin, ice house and a few older homes.

"In the beginning there was more emphasis on older things -- the old city and Whitehouse heritage," remembers Hagan, who opened his old homeplace (1856) for the first YesterYear. "I kind of miss that, but you've got to remember I'm one of those past things."

Nancy Coats also has special memories of the first community YesterYear. Her parents owned and operated Shahan's Store. Although the store had closed after the death of her mother, Nell Shahan, the family reopened it for YesterYear.

"We sold ice cream and cheese for nine years at YesterYear," said Coats, who has been involved with the event for about 15 years. "That first year, we just had a little freezer. We didn't think there would be interest but people were lined up outside."

Coats recalls selling 700 ice cream cones at a nickel each and selling about 60 lbs. of cheese. "It was just more fun," she said. Like Hagan, Coats misses the historical emphasis, but knows the event has had to grow and change with the city.

One of the more significant additions to YesterYear came in 2000 with the arrival of the Coronation and Ball and Pageant (now called the Review).

"It gave the festival new life and brought new interest," said Coats. "I feel very strongly about the Coronation and Ball. It's what we had to do."

It's also not been uncommon for old events to resurface. Another feature of the first YesterYears was a shoot-out team fea- turing such Whitehouse citizens as Mike Patterson, Jerry McFadden, Marshal Neal, Scott Findley, Alex Tapp, Paul Maxwell, Kim Roberson, Guy Roberson, Penny Marshall and Debbie Findley. This year a new team will be on hand to delight crowds with their Old West re-enactments, and a carnival is involved for the first time in years.

As the festival and the city itself have changed, so have the people who labor behind the scenes to make each YesterYear as good as possible.

"Until I became involved in it, I didn't realize how much work goes on year round," said Hagan, who currently serves as president. He and wife Juanita became active after being named Mr. and Mrs. YesterYear in 2004.

In addition to the communty and business exposure that the festival has brought, the financial impact has also been important. As a non-profit organization, monies not needed to fund YesterYear itself benefit groups such as the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department and the library, which did not exist in 1983 and came about largely due to support from the festival.

"So many people have helped YesterYear. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work," said Stanley, "but we knew we were doing good."

The same could be said of the Class of 1983, whose efforts set everything in motion. Thanks to Linda Johnson Rash, the group assigned to record history ended up shaping it for the past 25 years.