Life and Times of the Old Gym: 1927-2014

By Olive Mullins Campbell

     The “Old Gym” was primarily about basketball, but many other things happened there.  Back in the 30’s and 40’s it served as sort of a Community Center.
     General Assembly was presided over by our principal Mr. J.A. Smith. I am not sure how often it was – probably once a month. We as Juniors and Seniors would try to get back to the high school building before Mr. Smith to see what mischief we could get into. Some of the things I remember were in the chemistry lab. Putting Phosphorus down the drain and making that awful smelling rotten egg mess was our favorite. We always got out of the room before we were caught, so no one knew who did those things.
     All of the school programs were held in the gym. The choir had their yearly concert, the lower grades had their special programs.  When I was in 6th grade our teacher Mrs. Stella Robinson taught us the Maypole dance for a spring program. All of us girls wore white dresses and white shoes. Science fairs were held and good projects won ribbons. Once when some of the smaller girls put on a dance program we got another surprise.  Edith Fairchild and Orionona Hancock (who had girls in the dance review) dressed as 1920 flappers and did a “mean Charleston.” I was in a beauty pageant one year. I came in second but it was exciting to just participate. Joanne Lipscomb won. 
     Wallace Edwards remembers an act that came to Central once a year. It was the Kelly Brothers Vaudeville Act. The brothers worked with their wives.  We don’t know what years, but Wallace said he was old enough to help set up props and earn a free ticket. There was an intermission when the Kellys sold candy and popcorn. When the intermission lasted too long Mr. Smith told them to “get on with the show.”  
    Porter Waggoner and his Wagon Masters performed in the gym about 1959. The whole Central community turned out for the show.  Porter wasn’t as famous then as he became in later years.
    There was an upright piano in the gym next to the stage.  It was the only piano on campus.  Occasionally it had to be used in the high school building.  Wallace said it took 8 to 10 "big boys" to carry it.  Sometimes we slipped off to the gym where Juanita White would play the piano and we would sing or jitterbug a little.  It was a no-no, but somehow we got away with it.
    Probably the best thing that happened there was January 24, 1945 on a cold winter night, when the community honored Sgt. Homer Wise. Homer was a Medal of Honor winner for his extreme bravery in WWII in Europe. I can still see that young soldier marching down the center aisle, flanked by a lot of military brass. His fiancée Madolyn
     DeSesa was there. She was a lovely blonde young woman who was wearing a long fur coat. Not many of us in Central had ever seen a fur coat. Homer Wise died April 2nd, 1974 at age 57 in his adopted home town Stamford, CT. A statue of Homer has been erected there in Veterans Park. Homer was the only known Medal of Honor recipient known to be born in our area. My family walked one mile to attend that event.
     65 years later a group of us who had been there in 1945 again met at the gym to share our memories and again honor a brave young soldier. Two of those who were at the 1945 event, Preston Morgan and Wallace Edwards, left immediately after January 24, 1945 to join the service. All of us had a story about that night in 1945. Charlie “Doll” Carmena, age 88, wore his field jacket and hat, and took the wheel of a restored WWII Jeep, much as he had done in WWII.
     I would hope that the old gym, so much a part of our history, can be saved. There are so many pictures, trophies, and other items out there that could be donated.  If not – progress is what it is; memories are forever.
     Editor’s Note: To sign the “Save The Gym” petition, visit “Save Central’s Historic Gym” on facebook, or click on the ad at www.CentralSpeaks.com.