Gala Open for Kanteen Picayune

    The original fourteen Kanteen Girls were on hand to welcome the numerous guests who came by Sudnay, July 23, [1944] between the hours of 2 o'clock and 11 p.m. at the opening of Kanteen Picayune. Among the guests servicemen from Camp Shelby, Hillcrest Prisoner of War Camp and Navy and Coast Guard personnel from Algiers and New Orleans naval stations.

   The fourteen young women responsible for the organization of Kanteen Picayune are Misses Sue Goodwin, Mary Jane Moore, Beulah Honea, Irene Schreck, Marie Smith, Margaret Bentley, Vic Attaya, Dorothy Harmon, Dixie Graves, Bobbie Skinner, Christine Attaya, Wilodean Sanders, Ester Schaller and Acel Mitchell.

   The above paragraphs were from the Thursday, July 27, 1944 issue of the Picayune Item. Kanteen Picayune was an organization that was organized by the City of Picayune and local citizens to provide entertainment and social activities for servicemen stationed nearby during World War II. They functioned much like the USO.

Comments and questions are welcomed.

Stranger than Fiction

 Every now and again that our 21st century mind has trouble understanding. I recently came across a recorded, apparently legal, bill of sale. The text was quoted in Richard B. Morris, "White Bondage in Antebellum South Carolina, "The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 49, no. 4 (Oct., 1948), page 191.

"Agreement made between William Collings, and Thomas Schooler that the said William Collings Sold his Wife to the said Thomas Schooler for Value received May the Second 1781, the said Mr. Collings says that he never will disturb the said Thomas Schooler Or his property, that the said Schooler has purchased of the said Collings.      Witness my hand sealed sign'd and delivered in the Presence of John Hart"

"I do hereby acknowledge to have received from Thos. Schooler the Sum of Two Dollars and half Dozen bowls of Grogg for the sale of my said Wife and  property to him, and to have my said Wife forever and a Day, with her bed, Cloathing, etca.         Charles Town  the 2d May 1781     William Collings"

Sort of a foreshadowing of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge. No additional information about this sale has been found. Hopefully William Collings' wife and Thomas Schooler were happier together than William and his wife were.  I'm guessing the sale was by mutual agreement.

Using Technology to Discuss history

 

   Because of Covid-19 and the need to “Shelter-in-place during 2020, and the limits to group meetings, the Historical Society has been unable to hold our monthly meetings and history programs. Meetings in the Holland Room of the Crosby library are still limited to ten people for the foreseeable future. The library is open for book return and check-out and the use of the computers on a limited basis. The research tool, “Magnolia” is available for use on the library’s computers and on home computers.

   I’m suggesting that the “boleycreekhistory” blog be setup with a weekly discussion of topics on Pearl River County history and the opportunity for readers to comment. If all goes well, it may lead to a thirty to forty minute “zoom” discussion once a week. There is also the possibility that a website could be developed for the discussions.

Please comment on this post and let me know your ideas about an online discussion of history. The blog address is: boleycreekhistory.blogspot.com