This is the continuation of a letter to the editor from last week from Mr. Danny “Buddy” Moore:

By my memory I can still hear Frank “Jew” Brinson the drill sergeant of the old 30th M.P. Company (National Guard) yelling to Captain Ackerman to come show this dumb $%#! recruit his right foot from his left.

Just down the street from my house stood the showplace of the county, The Argyle, the home of Captain Daniels (a harbor pilot on the Savannah River). He could actually stand on the front porch and call Catherine, Mary or Buster all the way up town, and they would hear him, too. He had a voice like a fog horn. The Argyle was later occupied by Dr. Beckwith whose son Don was one of the best yarn spinners (true or false) I ever met and Anne, one of the prettiest girls in school.

I fell in love with some of my teachers, some I remember and some I don’t. Those I remember most were Miss Mattie Lou Campbell, now Mrs. Bruce Hinely, whom I loved dearly...(Mrs. Hinely please forgive me after all these years for being a bad boy.) Another was Miss Jannette Morrow, now Mrs. Clarence Lamb of Jonesboro, Georgia. She was an angel. Another was Miss Davis who taught history. Russell Pittman do you remember the time Miss Davis asked you why you came to school and you calmly said, “to play basketball.” Boy I thought she would have a stroke, she was so mad at you. And Knocker Shearouse, do you remember the day she shook you til I thought your skinny neck would break, and the day I winked at and she threw the whole European History book at me and when I ducked it hit Otto Wilder in the face.

And Murl Seckinger whose face was always so clean it actually shone (no kidding it really did.)

I also remember when Bill Upchurch and I delivered ice in the summer for George Hickman. We always knew who had clean kitchens but none was more spick and span than that of Miss Laura Biddenbach. Bless her, she was such a prim little lady. One of the deliveries was the county jail and the house of Sheriff Marsh. I always let Bill take the ice in as I was scared to death of Mr. Eph Marsh. I don’t know why but I just was. Another man I remember was Roy Arnsdorff. He used to tell me that he was going to take me home with him and that he lived in the swamp. Every time I saw him I would run for dear life, and he would laugh. That laugh sounded to me like the baying of the “Hounds of Baskervilles.”

Now to the wonderful ladies that I can remember. In addition to those that I have already mentioned there were dear Mrs. McLeod who always lovingly called my mother “Martha” from her Eastern Star Office and Mrs. Emma Shearouse whom I loved like a second mother. Mrs.Emma told me that the day she and Mr. Julian moved into the house next to the cemetery, that I very calmly walked in, looked around and said, “Humph, pretty nice furniture” and walked out. I don’t doubt it at all. I don’t know how old I was at the time. And another was Winifred, Mrs. Emma’s daughter who loved pipe organ music. Then there was Mrs. Bray, Mrs. Moyd and Mrs. Barney Thomas who told me one day seeing that I had busted my britches, that they needed retailing. And another was Mrs. Mary Davidson whom I loved dearly.

Now I come to some of my old school mates and dear old Ben Eleazer, my professor. When I was in the graduating class, I weighed 240 pounds and was 6 feet 3 inches tall. There was a rule that anyone who talked without permission in the class would go to Ben’s office and there receive the business end of his belt. Well, two of the boys in my class framed me (I know who it was, too) and I was sent to the office. As I entered Professor Eleazer looked up at me and said, “Now what shall I do?” I told him do what was necessary. He took off his belt and told me to assume the proper angle. Then he smacked the table about five times and swore me to secrecy. So help me Professor Eleazer, this is the first time in 35 years that I’ve told it.

I have dear memories of Emory “Skeeter” Shearouse, Russell “Rusty” Pittman, Otto “Wes” Wilder, Murl Seckinger, M.W. Bragg, William “Knocker” Shearouse, Junior Shearouse, John Zeigler (who drove the first school bus in the world, that old Model T four door sedan), Bowman Hinely (who at that time was the tallest skinniest boy I ever knew), and T. C. Grier who was really an accomplished violinist.
Then there were the girls…God Bless them. There were: Catherine and Edith Tebeau, Ollie Thomson, Elizabeth Gnann, and dear Essie Gnann. Essie, I still have the red rose bud you gave me the night we graduated and Essie the fairest of the fair, that was the night I realized that I had loved you all through school but I was afraid to ever let you know for I knew that you, as beautiful as you were, would not waste a second look at such as I.

To all my friends in Springfield, I send my undying and enduring love.

In the class play of the class of 1929, I played the role of policeman and that was my ambition in life. Well I achieved that ambition and it cost me a left leg, but I have no regrets as I have a host of dear memories that I cherish, a good wife and a lovely daughter and two grand granddaughters.

I hope some day that I can come back and see each and every one of you and until then, may the great and merciful God bless and keep every one of you in the palm of his hand.

I love you all, Daniel E. “Buddy” Moore.

This was compiled by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. If you have photos or historical information to share contact her at 754-6681 or email hesheraldexley@aol.com.