Local News - March 2003

Howards Creek ‘family’ remembers

By DIANE TURBYFILL, LTN Staff Writer

March 10, 2003 - HOWARDS CREEK — The afternoon had all the elements of a good, old-fashioned family reunion — food, conversation and celebration.

The Howards Creek “family” is bound by love of community rather than blood. The large family gathered Sunday to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Howards Creek Community Center.

“I have looked at this school building for the last 67 years,” said Josephine Childers, former Howards Creek Elementary School teacher. “For me it was just like the stars and the moon. It’s always been a part of my life.”

Childers was one of many who spoke Sunday about the importance of preserving the west Lincoln community’s history.

City, county and state officials were recognized as well as former teachers, principals and students of Howards Creek Elementary School.

“I was one of the last fourth-graders here,” said Angela Jones, who attended Sunday’s ceremony with her mother and two daughters.

Jones has many fond memories of her years as a student at the school. She returns each year to help with the community’s May fund-raiser.

“I work at the bake sale and sell raffle tickets.”

The community building, which once was the school cafeteria, underwent a major renovation after the school — built in the early 1920s — closed its doors in 1985.

“Many of us in the community felt it was very important to maintain this building,” said Carolyn Harmon. “Church and school used to be where everyone met.”

Members of the community went door-to-door with a petition to save the old cafeteria. County commissioners approved the use of the former cafeteria, but members of the community had to raise funds to make the building handicap accessible.

Volunteers worked — scraping, painting and scrubbing the center. Their physical labor and fundraising efforts were rewarded when the building officially opened in 1993.

The building now is used during elections as a voting station and is a home for a 4-H club and Girl Scouts.

The neighboring building, once the school, is now a veterans’ center. Also on the property is a walking track that was just completed in the past year.

Improvements to the facility are made by donations and funds raised during the May yard sale.

“It’s our way of continuing to work for this facility,” Harmon said.

Following the ceremony, members of the community ate refreshments and reflected on their times at the old school.

Ninety-nine-year-old Mittie Hauss, former teacher at Howards Creek, attended the celebration. She boasted about her former students.

“Children would listen to what you said back then,” she said.

Before the celebration came to a close, Joe Stewart, committee president, unveiled the commemorative monument that now sits in front of the building.

The inscription tells of the history of the center and ends with a comment of the community.

“This marker pays tribute to the history and the spirit of this community.”

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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