Virginia Pearl Salyer Cherry
from an email

My Mom is Virginia Pearl Salyer Cherry, and she will be 89 years old November 30, 2006. The following is her remembrance of that terrible day and the following events and how it affected her family.

(Mary Cherry Burleson, daughter of Virginia Pearl Salyer Cherry and niece to Basil Salyer, who died in the explosion at 11 years of age, and whom I never got to meet except through my Mom's remembrances.)

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Written by Virginia Pearl Salyer Cherry
November 28, 2006
Recently I was with my daughter and she showed me the Web site that had information and photographs about the New London school explosion of March 18, 1937. I was reminded anew of that sad day for my family, which consisted of my parents, me, my younger sister, and my younger brother of eleven, who was killed in that catastrophe.

I had married in January of that year to a young OU graduate of the engineering school. We lived three miles from my parents. I was within a mile of our home at a ladies church meeting when we heard the blast. The group was instantly concerned for a friend whose son attended that school, and I was concerned for my brother, who was in his first year of attendance.

When I realized this was Basil's school, my husband, Fred Cherry, and I immediately started to my folk's home. By that time word had spread and families started toward the school and ambulances were on their way with sirens blasting from every direction. Never will I forget their wails all through that night. By the time we arrived at my folks, my Dad was weeping in the front yard. He had found Basil, his only son, in the First Baptist Church in Overton with many other victims.

He had recently been baptized with Basil in the Turnertown Baptist Church where we were new members. Basil and my father, Pearl Wade Salyer, were baptized after Basil had attended Fred's Sunday School class making his young profession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with his 40-year-old father, whose life changed dramatically attending church faithfully with his young son. My Dad never understood Basil's death so soon after he had trusted the Lord.

Basil was the "apple of his Daddy's eyes" and a son to be very proud of. He played violin and appeared on school programs frequently with his violin, popping the strings while playing his favorite number, "Pop Goes the Weasel." He also recited "pieces" from his expression lessons that always brought laughs from his naturally loud voice. After he moved to the New London School from Leverett's Chapel, another country school nearby where my sister and I graduated from high school, Basil started coronet lessons and became a cheerleader in the junior high school.

I have visited the museum and taken his picture and information about him that can be found there. Mrs. Marie Ashby wrote a tribute to him in the Leverett's Chapel school paper where she was the elementary principal during Basil's years there.

Mrs. Ashby wrote:
"Basil was a student of our school for several years. When he left us in the fall of 1936, he was one of our best sixth-grade students.

"Basil was such a loveable child! He had a such a pleasant smile and a kind word for all. His playmates all loved him so much, and we have heard that he had many friends in his new house at New London.

"The going home of Basil has left our hearts sad, but we realize that our sorrow is very insignificant when compared with his immediate family. We know that the suddenness of his going was a great shock, but we are sure that his beautiful spirit is continually hovering near, and we feel that he would not wish to come back.

"We do not seem to understand why Basil should be taken from us just as a flowering youth, but it is not ours to questions the judgment of the Lord. He has told us that "all things happen for good to those who love Him." Again, he tells us, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven."

"We extend to the bereaved parents our heartfelt sympathy; however, we know how futile our words are in such a sad hour as this. Believe us when we say that we sincerely trust that you may find comfort and consolation in our Lord who will lead you in such a way that you will, when He sees fit to discontinue your earthly abode, cross the river of death and find Basil waiting with open arms to receive you."

My parents and sister have all joined Basil in death and I'm sure Mrs. Ashby's prediction has come to pass. Soon I will be joining those four, my parents, sister, and Basil. At 88, I am the only member of my family still living. I have often wondered how my little brother would have become a man I know I would have been proud of. He would be 84 years old now. I can't help but wonder what he would have grown to be. I will have to wait until I join them when all questions will be answered.

We had Basil's funeral on the front porch of my folks little oil-lease house a mile out of Overton, TX. New London is three miles out of Overton.

My folks moved to Oklahoma in 1950 and helped me with my large family as long as they lived. My Dad got in his pickup and returned to Overton and moved Basil's casket up to Edmond OK where his remains rest between his mother's and fathers.

I am Virginia Pearl (Salyer) Cherry, living in Edmond, OK and have 11 children, 42 grandchildren, and 87 greats. I am greatly blessed.