FHS Old School memories part 2
First Saturday in May Grand Reunions remain special for grads of Old FHS; next one is May 3
My father (Alfred McFee, Class of ‘49) and his four siblings had all attended Farragut High, and some years back during the 1970s began gathering at the school cafeteria on the first Saturday of May.
They, along with many of their classmates, would gather there all morning over coffee and doughnuts to reminisce about their glory days attending Farragut High while growing up in the Concord community.
They talked about family, football, baseball, basketball, homecoming queens, plays held in the auditorium, pranks played on the principal, the horse stables below the gym, agriculture strategies with the Future Farmers of America, home economics in the cannery and so much more.
Many of them brought old annuals, old football and basketball programs, pictures of the school buildings, various letters and report cards — and everyone shared stories about their glorious teenage years and life in high school in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.
As they grew older, some went off to college, some went to war, some got married, some became teachers, coaches, dentist, pharmacists, doctors, professors, scientist and community leaders — yet they somehow continued to keep meeting in the cafeteria on the first Saturday of May to share memories, tell stories and sometimes complain how so much change had come to their beloved farming community.
Many of their parents attended Farragut School as well. My grandfather, along with his three brothers and sister — as well as my grandmother (Ellen Belle Russell) and her siblings — also graduated from FHS.
The community population was sparce with multigenerational family farms spread across the west end of Knox County. Families, such as Galbraith, Hall, Hobbs, McReynolds, Marion, Justice, Shanks, Shipley, Ivey, Blevins, Strange, Williams, Hensley, Boring, Fox, Bondurant, McCarter, Starkey, Kimsey, Swicegood, Hunt, Scarbrough, Donovan, Loy, Johnson, Smith and more made up the community of Concord.
This long traditional gathering affectionately became known to these old timers as “The Grand Reunion,” and everyone knew that on the morning of the first Saturday of May, to show up at the school cafeteria.
At one point, the high school administration wanted to charge the group for use of the cafeteria, apparently to cover the cost for the electricity and custodial clean-up, so for the last decade or so the event has been held at Virtue Presbyterian Church as many of the organizers and attendees were members of Virtue.
The church opened its doors, provided access to their community center along with the coffee and doughnuts for those attending the “Farragut Grand Reunion” at Virtue.
Growing up, neither I nor my cousins ever attended this particular reunion — we only heard bits and pieces about it over the years at Sunday lunch at my aunt’s house (Anne Shipley). It was the only Saturday that our parents weren’t on the farm working cattle, cutting hay or planting tobacco, but had gone to the reunion.
Two years ago, my uncle (Bill McFee) made his traditional visit from West Layfette, Indiana, to see his old high school buddies and maybe an old girlfriend or two.
Upon his arrival with his wife and daughters, he talked about who he hoped to see and how disappointing it was that some would not be there; and he shared a few funny stories from back in the day.
So, I decided it was time for me to go hear the stories for myself, meet many older Farragut graduates from the late ’40s, ’50s into the mid-’60s. There were some old annuals with many of my family relatives pictured on the pages with descriptions of their activities and group sport pictures.
You could learn about each of them as teenagers.
My father passed away in 2015, and I am so disappointed that I never went with him to the FHS Grand Reunion to hear his own stories about playing football, basketball, F.F.A. and some mischievousness, like beaning the principal in the head with a snowball or running his porch swing up the flagpole.
But I had the next best thing: his best friend and little brother “Willie,” my uncle, who shared stories of their adventures in school, on the ballfield and on the farm.
Grand Reunion invite
The Grand Reunion is traditionally for anyone who attended the old brick building on the hill that served its students from 1909 to 1976, and the tradition continues to this day.
If you or your relatives attended Farragut School at any time or you are interested to see FHS history, hear stories and meet some of the Concord community pioneers, I would encourage to you to attend the FHS Grand Reunion at Virtue Church on the first Saturday in May (May 3) from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
They ask for a $5 donation at the door to cover the refreshment cost. You will receive a number ticket for some terrific handmade door prizes donated by classmates.
Come see us and many old timers from the Concord community that attended the school on the hill.
It’s great fun and you won’t be disappointed.
