Sharing Information
2001-2005
In this section there are unedited excerpts from the guest book as well as from email I have received.
I'm the oldest of four daughters of Ted Hudson. Daddy was instrumental in spreading the news" of the tragic expolsion within a few hours of the event. He was the first "news" person on the scene. He was the owner of the newly-opened radio station in Henderson. He arrived with transmission equipment in a "bally-hoo" wagon - panel truck - usually used for making publicity tours of the town with commercial messages booming from speakers mounted on the roof. Daddy found a dangling phone line, connected his equipment, and began broadcasting from the scene from a stake-bed truck, calling for emergency workers, equipment, doctors and nurses, and ambulances by dark on that first day. After about 70 hours on the air, he ended with bulletins to friends with car radios directing singing groups and preachers to funeral services all over East Texas. He and a friend had flown over the site in a plane from Henderson airport, and he went back to town , loaded what equipment he needed, then drove to New London, hoping there would be some way he could help. His life- long ambition was to broadcast "coast-to-coast". Nine years later, he died in the crash of his own plane, at Powell, TX.
Much has been made of the presence of Walter Cronkite as a reporter from Houston, but it seems to me the newsworthy presence was the reporter on the radio who spent many hours locating specific people and tools to help those in need. In my family, this is equal to the broad- cast of the explosion of the Hindenburg, in New Jersey. It seems a shame that this "first" has been almost lost.
Daddy was always interested in promoting talented youth in our area. He was an accomplished M C and herded groups of dancers singers and musical groups all over the oil field - right up till WW II. The radio station had been sold shortly before the war, and Daddy went on to other endeavors, but what a way to have your hearts desire ! !
Randolph Harris owned one of the only cars with a radio, and he and Daddy helped with funerals as long as needed. The plane flown over the site belonged to another friend, Ross Illif, an automobile dealer in Henderson at the time.
Somewhere there is a picture of Daddy on that stake-bed truck with his microphone, doing what he did best, helping out whenever he could. I'd love to have a copy of the picture.
Mary Lou (Hudson) Powell
December 3, 2005
Hi i just wanted to share this I live about 5 min. from New London School and I had a substitute Teacher (Mrs. Gordon ) whos Mother was a teacher at New London and she luckly thanks to her class did not get killed She and her class were on the 2nd Story when she got under her desk and told her class to do the same One Boy Stood up and said NO And jumped out the window her class followed then aslo did the Teacher. Her and her class survived. And also This teacher Neice who was a student at New London School well on march 18, Had complained and said she didnt feel good at all and that she felt sick. Her parents allowed her to stay home that day. everyone in her class were Killed that day.Im Sorry Im not sure on any names. Also does anyone know which nursing home mrs.leverett is in????
November 11, 2005
Brent Keith Fleming
TxLonghorns81891@cs.com
In 1938, I was in the forth grade in Seagraves Texas. We had a new boy in class who had moved from New London. The day of the explosion, he and a friend had played hookey the day of the explosion. They were sitting on top of a hay stack about a mile from the school when it blew. Bricks were flying over their heads. He was afraid his mother would give him a spanking so he ran home and hid in the coat closet. His mother found him as she was grabbing a coat to go to the school. I don't remember his name. Thought you might be interested in hearing about the good side of hookey. That is the extent of my 69 year old memory.
November 10, 2005
Bill Choate
Palmdale, Calif
My Daddy's name was Robert Williams. He died in 1970. Daddy never spoke of the explosion to my knowledge but my Aunt Ivonell and Uncle Buff told us all about it. It happened on My Daddy's birthday and he had skipped school to avoid the belt line. When he left that morning he yelled back to the house that he was going fishing. My Grandaddy told him he better get to school. Grandaddy really didn't mind him skipping under the circumstances. My Uncle Buff had just gone out to the band shack to get his band uniform for some competion that was going on when the school exploded. My grandparents, as I'm sure everyone was, were struck with fear that their two boys had perished. Grandmother was at the beauty shop in town when it happened and ran with her hair still wet to find her sons. She was knelling between two cars praying when my uncle found her. Moments later a man told my Daddy that his mother was looking for him and where she was. I can't even imagine how she felt to see her darling boys unharmed. My Daddy worked all night helping the other men get the bodies out. I have thought so many times how he must have felt pulling his school mates and friends out of that hell hole. Daddy started college that September at Texas A&M but had to leave due to the stress of the hazing. My Grandmother and Grandfather never spoke of the tragedy (most people didn't) and they had no idea the stress my Daddy was under. Grandmother said after what Daddy had seen on that horrible day that he could not take the crulety of people. He almost had a nervous breakdown.
They say this changed my Daddy. However he was the most wonderful man I ever knew.
Thank you for your web site, it's helped me and I wasn't even there.
I have a picture of Daddy the morning after the explosion that a newsman had taken. It speaks about how Daddy had worked all night with the others. Once again thank you for your passion.
October 20, 2005
Becky Collums
I had a brother A J Thompson in the class of 43 who still lives in Tyler. He was the only one in the building that fell but I also had two others in school at the time of the explosion.
My mother and Dad were there as soon as they could be to help. I was in the class of 53.
There were five of us boys and we lived where the old Bunker Hill school had been. It was about two miles from the school.
My Mother still lives in Tyler by herself "by choice" .She is 95 and recalls alot about the disaster.We were very fortunate to have All the family intact. We did lose several relatives some Thompson, Maxwell, Barber, and Coopers,were all related to us on my dads side of the family and were considered pioneers of Rusk county.
October 16, 2005
Harvey Thompson
Ducknbullpoochie@aol.com
I lived about 4 miles from New London in 1937.
When the school exploded, my mother, brother and I were playing about 4 miles away and heard the explosion. My dad John (Blondie) Bowen was a roustabout for Midstates Oil, and rushed to help in the rescue efforts. I was only 4 at the time, but remember him when he came home. It seemed like he worked straight through for about 3 days and nights, without any rest. He was totally wiped out when he got home, and it was the first time I saw him cry. I remember seeing newspaper photos of the rescue workers, and dad was in several shots. Mom kept them but our home burned down in 1943 and we lost them. I have visited the musem twice once with my grandaughter, and once with my wife. It always brings tears to my eyes to remember the kids who died and the galant efforts of the oilfield community that rallied around to aid the living and excavate the victims. I September of that year I entered school at Gaston. I went there for 3.5 years before we moved to Prague, Oklahoma.
I also visited the Gaston musem when I visited the New London musem.
October 13th 2005
Kenneth H Bowen
kbowen@pdq.net
Pearland, TX
My father was one of the many men that went to help at the school on that day. My mother was in labor and about to deliver my brother at the Wheeler Hospital and watched as the ambulances brought in some of the injured from New London. It is a shame that the school changed it's name.
October 9th 2005
W. M. Thedford
Tyler, TX
My mother was Jimmie Pauline Nailon (Nation). She had two cousins who were twins killed in this explosion. She showed me a picture of them when I was a child. I don't remember their names and mom has since passed away.
If anyone knows their names please email me.
September 5th 2005
Dr. Calvin Nation
nationjcn@aol.com
We just buried Jimmy Ray Bonner on the 18th of August at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, next to his father, mother, sister and brother. His brother, George Atmon, and sister, Oneita, perished in the New London explosion. Jimmy didn't go to school that day. Instead, God chose him to go on and attend college (Texas A&M), join the Navy and become a Golden Glove boxer (he was supposed to be on the USS Indianapolis, which was torpedoed and sank during WWII, but was boxing for the Navy instead), and even went professional for a while. Then God decided he should start a family. H e raised 3 wonderful children (my husband Bucky, my beautiful sister-in-law Janna, and Brenda, who passed away several years ago as the result of a tragic car accident).
It's hard to understand why children have to die before their parents, but Paw Paw and Maw Maw kept George Atmon and Oneita alive in their hearts and soul, just as Brenda has been kept alive in the hearts of many.
While Jimmy was certainly a survivor of this horrible accident (his life proves it), he has finally gone home.
It's been nearly 70 years since this tragedy occurred, but finally Jimmy, George Atmon and Oneita can once again play together and with Maw Maw and Paw Paw they can finally be the family they once were. And Brenda can now spend time with the family that loved and missed her so and meet those she never knew.
This is a great website. The pictures alone are priceless. I will share this site with the family - it's a wonderful memorial to both the victims and the survivors. I'm glad I found it. Thank you for your devotion and dedication. May God bless us all.
August 23rd 2005
Leesa Bonner
Port Aransas, Texas
bucky@bboutfitters.com
My dad , Dan Mendell, Jr. was with Humble Oil and arrived at the scene moments after the explosion. Does anyone remember him?
He never once talked to me about the New London disaster. I think it was too horrible for him to talk about.
August 7th 2005
Jerry Mendell
Zavalla, TX
shane654321@aol.com
My dad , Dan Mendell, Jr. was with Humble Oil and arrived at the scene moments after the explosion. Do you have any record of hin in any of your papers? He never once talked to me about the New London disaster. I think it was too horrible for him to talk about.
August 7, 2005
Jerry Mendell
Civil Engineer, Humble Oil
Shane654321@aol.com
I am directly connected to the New London School Explosion. My father William Clifford Barber survived the explosion; his brother "Ollie Bell" died in the explosion, his sister Ruby Viola Barber had her back broken in 5 places. She survives to tell the story today.
My Aunt Helen Barber was at home sick that day.
My Aunt Ruby told me that my daddy ran all the way home from the school to Hwy 323 to tell Mary Barber, his mother there had been an explosion.
I saw my cousin, Debra Corpora in Rockport this weeked. She told me that Sara Mosle` has written the book, "A Generation Died", it will be released within 3 months.
July 31, 2005
Tonia Jane Barber Mashburn
Arlington, TX
janeycat@sbcglobal.net
My granddad and my great uncle was two of the rescuers. My Granddad died October 5th, 2003 My Great Uncle Died on Iwo Jimia in World War 2. I do know that My Granddad did say that my Uncle did everything that he could to save as many people as he could he was a firefighter if im not mistaken and My Granddad was a Police Officer and they both responded that dreadfull day My Granddad dident say very much about it I guess it upset him just thinking about it but maybe there names will be honored in the movie that is beaing made My Granddad's Name was Luther Alton Mathis or also Known as Tige Mathis My Great Uncle's Name was Donald Mathis I would appreacate it if you would put these names on the Memory list of the Rescuers.
July 16, 2005
Matt Mathis
New London Tx
Hello,My name is Linda Kay (Walton) Barr.I was raised just outside of New London in the oil-field and attended New London(West Rusk) school.My father,W.H.(Sonny) Walton was one among the hundreds in the oil field who helped to dig out and clean up after that horrific explosion.He never spoke much about it,simply stated that of all the terrible things he'd seen in his life,that was the hardest and most awful thing he ever had to do.He loved children and seeing all that death and destruction was I think almost too much even for a strong man like him.I commend you on this site and for striving to keep alive the memory of all those who were killed that day.And thanks also for bringing to the rest of the world the knowledge that people who have been flippantly called"Oil Field Trash" were good,hard working,God fearing people who cared about their neighbors even if they didn't know them personally!!This was a tragic place in time;however,the joining of forces by all involved was a tribute to the greatness of the people in our small part of this very big world.I have lived away from New London for many years,but my heart is still there and I am trying to get moved back as well.Again,Thanks for the memories!!
July 28, 2005
Linda Kay (Walton) Barr
7/12/2005 Me and my family visited your museum on Monday July the 11, 2005. We very much enjoyed the museum and felt the sorrow the town felt. My daughter is going into the 6th grade next year and she is going to participate in the history fair in her school, she has chosen to do her project on the explosion of the New London School. We came to the museum just for the purpose of her to research and get information to help her in preparing for the project. John (the tour guide) was very helpful to her. She researched the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 last year and recieved first place at school and second place in county. She was overjoyed to come home and share the information she recieved and learned with her big brothers and her cousin. She remembered the stories that John had shared with us. This will be something she enjoys learning about and something she will never forget. If there is anything that you may think of that might help her with her project please e-mail me and let me know it would be greatly appreciated. Once again thank-you for sharing and thank-you to the survivors for allowing my family to learn about what happened.
July 12, 2005
John & Shannon McIntosh
jsmc@marshalltx.com
Ed note: Many thanks for the kind words, but the museum is not "mine" but a separate entity from NLSE.ORG
My grandfather, W. Ray Spears was a pharmaceutical sales rep who was in the New London area at the time of the explosion. He was there. He arranged for medicines to be sent to the hospitals directly from the drug companies. I heard that people who were taking buses were given the packages to hand carry. I have a picture he took of the scene--it was a number written on the blackboard. The photo may have been used by the pharmaceutical company in a brochure. I'm in the process of packing to move and will keep an eye out for these things. We often wondered why there was no museum or memorial to those who died.
May 31, 2005
Pam Bell Morris, Ph.D.
My father, David Neil Wakeman, was a roughneck driving a wench truck when the explosion happened. He was a couple of blocks away and was one of the first to arrive. He stayed there helping to dig bodies out until all of the bodies were recovered. My mom and uncle told me the story about it. My father died in 1950 in an oilfield accident.
March 2005
Dave Wakeman
Even though my mother's family has lived in east Texas for many generations, I had heard very little about this disaster until December of last year, when my mother got a book about Texas cemeteries from the library. There was a whole chapter dedicated to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Rusk County, and the disaster that occured in New London. I wanted to know more about it, and came upon this site.
My grandmother was in 10th grade at the high school in Elkhart, Texas (in Anderson County) at the time. The Goff and Womack who died may have been distant relatives of hers. Another victim, Glendell Sutherlin, who was about the same age as one of my great-aunts, lived near them for awhile. I don't know if they knew each other. I don't recall Grandma ever talking about the disaster. The only memory my mother has of someone mentioning it was when she was a little girl, sometime in the 1960s or '70s. My grandfather, who was a plumber, had to fix some gas pipes in a school near Tyler, Texas. Mom remembers that everyone seemed to be very nervous about the leaking gas, and Mom didn't know why until someone told her that many years ago, a school had exploded due to a gas leak. I wish I could ask Grandma about it, but she is 84 and currently living at a nursing home in Palestine, Texas, and lost her ability to speak months ago.
I cry every time I look over the list of those who died, thinking of all those youngsters whose lives were cut short in such a tragic manner. Next time my family goes to that area to visit relatives, I am definitely stopping by the mueseum and the monument. Those poor children, teachers and others may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.
March 2005
Christie Marie Shepherd
This picture is a Courtesy of Darlene Lummus! It was taken approx 1937 or 1938. Top row 3rd from left wearing a sweater and looking as if she would rather be somewhere else is Darlene's Mother "Mildred Josephine Wyatt" and her school chums called her "Mickey". Also in the picture Top row, 6th from the left is "Joe Graham King". He was a taxi driver for many years in Henderson. Later he became the Police Chief of Henderson, Texas. Charlice is my best friend, and Joe King was her father and he passed away in or about 1992 or 1993.
November 2004
Darlene Lummus
My grandmother was a survivor of the explosion. Her name was Margaret Nelson. Her Step Mother Johnnie Marie Nelson was one of the Teachers killed in the explosion. She told stories of the horrible experience, I remember her telling me that the beautiful, very popular girl who climbed out of the second or third story window in front of her and fell through the window below. My grandmother talked about having to climb over the girl to escape.
This web site is a wonderful tribute. Thank you so much for your dedication.
October 2004
Karie Martin
Have just been extensively reading your website on the New London explosion. You all have done a great job on the site!
My family connections to the New London explosion are thru Mrs. J. D. (Johnnie) Nelson, an elementary school teacher, and Anna Ray Purcell, who's brother Tom Purcell was guardian. I believe Anna was in the 8th grade at the time of the explosion. Tom Purcell was Johnnie Nelson's father. I have genealogy information on that family and would love to share with anyone interested.
August 2004
Geneva Cole
genevacole@earthlink.net
I was raised in Leesville, La. As a child and adult I would visit our family cemetary. At the gate I always stop at a grave by the gate and look at the headstone of a young child. His name was Walter Thompson and it told that he was killed in the New London school explosion. I now live near New London and decided to look it up on the internet. I had no ideal of the magnatude of this explosion and how many children and teachers lost their lives. I tried talking about it to my friends around here and they didn't know anything about it. It truly has affected me and makes me realize that you should kiss your children every day and tell them you love them. I couldn't imagine the grief the community went through. I want to donate something to the museam as soon as I can. We mustn't let these children be forgotten.
August 2004
Name Withheld
Maybe someone remembers my Mother?
My mother attended the school and she told me that was the only day of school she missed, as her mother was a strict displinarian when it came to education. I thank the Lord for that one day of absenteeism of my mother's. Mother was born in 1923, so I figured her to be either in the 5th or 6th grade at the time of explosion. Her name was " Mildred Josephine Wyatt ".I do know that Mother said the children called her Mickey, as her first name was Mildred. Thank you again for all the research and the dedication you have devoted to this tragedy. It still brings tears to my eyes when I visit New London or to the cemetary where all the children were buried. If anyone remembers my mother, Please let me know at the E-Mail below.
TejasGal1957@aol.com
July 2004
Darlene
About the new london school tragedy. I was born in 1926 near waco and well remeber it. We went to a neighboors who had a radio and listened to the sad news. I am glad you cleared up some things. I thought it was the steam heat boiler had burned dry causing the explosion. Years later I lived in Kelleen and became friends with a lady, her sister, dad and her husband and when they told me they were from New London I asked about it and she was at home sick and her husband to be had a paper route and had left school early. Her dad talked about being part of the rescue crowd and he had lost two children.It was a very emotional thing for us all even tho I was a child but remember it well. Thanks for posting the story. I am 78 and was sitting here thinking about it and came to the computer and found your story.
Thanks,
July 2004
Marie Rush
My Great aunt was May Braswell. She was married to Edwin Solon Holt; They leased the land the school sits on. Infact, their homeplace sits next door. Renee (Ed's son) resides there now. It was truly, a dark time in Rusk County's history. May's younger sister "Myrtle Braswell ( Mert )" was a teacher at New London. At the time of the explosion, she was in an unattached building. Her student's were putting on a play for their parents. Mert took it very hard, from what I've been told.
July 2004
Jason E. Braswell
Sirs, I know very little of the tragedy and can contribute but a small second-hand childhood remembrance from the 1960s.I recollect my choir teacher named Mrs. Marlow telling us children in class at Gladewater,Texas about the explosion and aftermath. She was somehow connected to the Red Cross and stated she and others were rushed to the site on hearing of the tragic event. She remembered the rows and rows of small bodies and the family members frantically searching for their loved ones. My folks drove us to the site of the school when I was a lad (1963) and it was a haunting exsperience.So very sad...
June 27, 2004
R.D.Morgan
Just a short note to let you know what a wonderful project your website is!
My Dad, DC Rogers, related his personal story fo how he and my Mother's Father, WH Ferguson were cutting firewood in the Good Hope Community off of Hwy 64 about a mile east of the Gaston School Campus when they heard the explosion. Not knowing what it was they continued their chore. Someone came along and told the horrible news and they left for New London to help in any way possible. Needless to say the devastion was unspeakful as they worked nonstop for the day or so.
My Grandmother, Werda Lloyd Rogers, told me of Pickup trucks being used for herses passing her house on Hwy 323. Most of our family is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery and I have looked at the photos of the forever childen attached to their tombstones over the years - now sadly disappearing.
Best Regards and Thank You!
May 29, 2004
Kenneth(Ken) Rogers
My granddad Phil Snyder also went to school in New London. He had skipped school that day. He went back to help in the rescue efforts and then helped to dig the graves for the children killed. He died in 1986 and is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery east of New London. If anyone wants to talk or share pictures please e-mail me. Thank you very much.
Unknown date
Cindy Rives
cinisajoy@prodigy.net
I first learned of this tragedy as a 7th grader at Cushing Jr. High. Our math teacher, Joe Dan Satterwhite, told us about it, describing in some graphic detail the events of that day. How he was connected with the school explosion, I cannot remember, but he must have been there to assist in the recovery and cleanup of the site. You have done a wonderful job with this website to memorialize those children, teachers and others who lost their lives that sad day in March 1938. May their souls find sweet peace.
May 1st 2004
Marsha Rawlinson Perkins
Cushing, Texas
I grew up hearing the whispers, and seeing the tears shed over this tragedy. My Mother, Joyce Earline Pyle, who was 10 yrs old at the time, would tell me bits and pieces of the story along with a comment of kin folks parrishing. Unfortunately, I do not know who these persons were, and until now never knew the entire story. What a lovely site to help keep these persons, and thier families in rememberance.
April 30th 2004
Kristina Galipp
Dallas, TX but living in Washington State
My late Father, Loyd Richardson was a fifth grader at New London on the day of the explosion. It was an event that haunted him his whole life. One of the ways he made peace with the event was he and my late Mother (along with many other survivors and their spouses)worked to make the New London Tea Room and Museum a reality. I encourage anyone who has an interest in this tragic event to visit the tearoom and museum. The survivors are now in their late seventies and early eighties, so we are slowly losing this generation of survivors. They are great people, worth getting to know.
April 21st 2004
Bill Richardson
Dallas, Tx
My mother, Marguerite(Eakes)Roach was a student when the explosion happened. She and 3 other girls, including Sylvia Scott (actress Sandy Duncan's mother), had just left the school a few minutes before and arrived in Henderson for a typing competition when they began to hear whispers that the New London School had exploded.The teacher brought the girls back to the school and just let them out of the car.The sight was horrific and they all began to wander away from each other in shock. The first person Mom saw was my Dad, Marshall Roach and his mother & sister who had driven over from Henderson...Mom talks about how she nearly lifted a sheet that was lying on the ground and thankfully, something stopped her. Her little brother, Forrest Eugene Eakes who was in the 6th grade died that day. He had begged his mother to let him stay home that morning, but because he often wanted to skip school she wouldn't let him. She always lived with pain that she made him go. Sylvia's parents, who also lost a son that day, took my mother home, but they couldn't find Sylvia. Mother said that even though she only needed to cross the street to be home it took what seemed like hours because the cars and ambulances were bumper to bumper, sirens & horns blaring, and she couldn't get across! The typing class was destroyed and had she been there that day, I would not be writing this! At the 50 year reunion which I attended with my mom, she and Sylvia sat and talked for the first time about what had happened that day, Sylvia said she had started wandering down the railroad toward Overton. They finally found her. Many of the other survivors opened up and started telling their stories that day...many of them had never been able to speak about it before.I was amazed at the miraculous escapes and near misses, and very saddened by the accounts of those who didn't make it.My aunt Lorena Eakes was home sick. My daughter, Lindsay just completed a scrapbook of the old newsclips Mom had saved.
April 15, 2004
Nancy Gillespie
Spring, Texas
I was 10 years of age and had 3 1st cousins killed. When thenews came to us, my oldest brother drove all of us to New London to be with the families of my mother's two brothers and one sister who lost sons. The funeral was in Joaquin and all three caskets were placed side by side and one can imagine the grief that was present there that day. I will place a link to this site on my site.
April 6th 2004
Lannie G. Walker, Sr.
My cousin Sharon Rea, whose half-brother died in the explosion.
Fort Worth, Texas
My mother, Irene Brown, had first cousins that were killed in the explosion. I am trying to find out their names. She told me that one of them was identified by a ring on her hand.
April 3rd 2004
Virginia L. Wheeler Mucklow
Paris, Texas
ginandlee@aol.com
I am currently a student at New London High School and I can't begin to explain how difficult it is for me to walk up and down these halls eachday knowing what happened here. Though the school was rebuilt the memory of that tragic day still remains embedded in the walls and in the ground. The memory of that day lives on. It will forever remain in the hearts of the families, and the friends of those who lost their lives. As well as in the hearts of the people in the world who experience the tragedy through reading and learning. But especially in the hearts of the students who attend this school each year. Knowing that those poor, innocent children and teachers who lost their lives once use to walk the same paths that we do now, makes it hard on us not to think about them as we sit in class. I wish that everyone could come experience the feeling and the sadness that comes from this area. It was tragic and those victims did not deserve to die. It was really hard for me to stare into the faces of those children in the pictures and to think about how they must've felt, sitting here that day in their desks just wanting a chance to live their life. To imagine the dreams and hopes that they must've had, and never knowing what was going to happen or that all their dreams, hopes, and ambitions were to never come true. I can't help but feeling pain for each individual that died here. I hope that as the days continue forward that others around the world will read and learn about what happened. So that the children, the teachers, and the story will never be forgotton. They deserve a chance to live.
March 30th 2004
Amanda Walters
New London, Texas
My mother-in-law lost two first cousins in the explosion from her father's youngest sister Lucille. She remembers one of them as Marcelene(sp?)but does not know the last name. I am doing geneaological research and hoped to find more of her father's people. Unfortunately the list doesn't match the name. I gave her the list to study and she believes she has a photograph of her mother's from a family function that includes the girls.
She was 7 at the time living 7 miles the other side of Kilgore. She remembers her father and mother dropping everything, grabbing her two older brothers and taking off for New London. If anyone knows of Marcelene(?) or her mother Lucille (maiden name Tudor), I would love to hear from you.
I think this is an excellent website very well done on a horrible tragedy. If my mother-in-law is able to offer any information or corrections, I will contact you. Thank you.
March 8th 2004
Beth Thompson
Reno, NV
My grandfather and grandmother were both teachers at New London. They both survived but lost their neice, Ruby, in the accident. My grandmother had a quilt with the victims names on it. I remember asking her about the quilt as a child. She never explained what happened that day, but she looked so sad, I didn't quesion her more. My father later explained what happened. It was a horrific accident. My understanding is that this is one of the reasons natural gas has an odor to it now.
March 8th 2004
Karen Sory Dunbar
Beaumont Texas
My mother, Gloria Gay Henson (Maiden name Davis) was a survivor of the explosion, although she had such extensive injuries she was not expected to live. Obviously, she did, although her sister, June Davis, was killed. My mother went on to have four children, of which I am the youngest. My Mother had her first child on March 18, 1949. I have always thought that this was a blessing given to my Mother and her parents to soothe their memories of that day. My Mother's Mother, Vivian Davis, will be 100 years old in March. I would like to bring her to East Texas, but I don't think that she would be up to it. I do plan to take my Mother to any memorial service or event, this year, as I have never visited this site. I hope that I have the honor of meeting other survivors that my Mother may or may not remember. I feel certain that my visit will be an important date in my life.
January 23rd 2004
Walter Henson
Houston, Tx.
I have visited before but I would just like to comment that the site just gets better and better. In an earlier post I mentioned how my grandfather and great uncle, Joe & Jim Nelson (who worked for Humble) were part of the rescue. What I didnt know is that my future husband's grandmother lived near by and lost a cousin and many friends in the disaster. She said she heard the explosion and was scared to death. I was surprised by her experience because my husband and I both grew up in San Antonio Tx, we knew we both had family in East Texas, but didnt know just how close they were. Our families share a very sad but interesting connection.
January 22nd 2004
Laura Nelson Boles
San Antonio, Texas
I was attending London School and had just left the gym and was about to board the bus when I heard the explosion. I turned around and saw the devastation. At my young age, it left memories I will never forget. I was a campus survivor!
December 12 2003
Margie (Gilstrap) Johnson
New London, Texas
My Paternal Grandmother, Earline Bailey Barberee was in the school explosion. She was not injured because she had, as she told us "made a dart to the outhouse" only moments before the explosion. Her cousin, Claude Kilgore was killed in the explosion. My Maternal Grandfather worked many years for Delta Drilling company & he & many of his coworkers helped in the clean up. There is a picture on this website of some kids going to Sunday school on a school bus. I think the girl 8th from the left might be my grandmother, although I'm not positive. She would have been 13 at the time of the explosion. If anyone has a yearbook with her picture, I would love to see it!
I also remember a story she told when we visited the graveyard where many of the victims were buried. She said that (maybe her cousin) a boy's arm had been torn off in the explosion & later found & buried next to him. I don't know how true that was, maybe a small town rumor? Anyway, my grandmother &grandfather eventually returned to New London & my dad even went to school there as a boy.
November 12th 2003
Gina Latham
Grand Saline, TX
My mother's Aunt Inez whose maiden name was Chance married Johnny. I had just heard of them as Aunt Inez and Uncle Johnny. My mother was suppose to enroll in school there but she moved in with another relative. But both of my mothers cousins which were Aunt Inez and Uncle Johnny's daughters died in the explosion, but I don't know there names. If any one has any information please email me at nostresstoday@aol.com
October 23rd 2003
Darlene
California
My dad, Alf Shaw, was the handsome devil who ran the hamburger stand at the New London School both before and after the explosion.
He was the nephew of W.C. Shaw, the superintendent of London Schools, and he lost 3 first cousins in the disaster.
Daddy knew almost every child in the school by name, and like many others, would never talk about the events of that day.
The year after the explosion, my mom, Ann Parish Shaw, came to the school to be the kindergarten teacher. She taught there from 1939-1941.
Years later, when I was a child, I remember my parents playing lots of bridge with Felton Waggoner, principal of the grammar school,and his wife, who by then lived in Deer Park, while we lived in nearby Pasadena.
If anyone out there remembers my dad, I'd love to hear your stories.
My mom is 89 now,lives in Houston, and is still perking right along. We would love to hear from any of Miss Parish's students!
BTW, I have a Londona yearbook from 1936. It may contain pictures of students other than the ones on this website, and of survivors.
October 8th 2003
Marjorie Shaw
Grew up in Pasadena, Tx; now living in Dallas
Travelteach@Prodigy.net
My mother, Ruby Barber, was in the school explosion. She was 16. She broke her back in 5 places. She lost a brother Ollie. Ruby was supposed to be in typing class with her sister, Helen, that day, but since Helen stayed home that day, Ruby went to Study Hall instead...everyone in the typing class was killed. Her cousin Burton Barber was in the shop where the explosion happened, but survived, his brother Arden did not. Most of our family is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. My mother has learned a great deal from your web site.
August 26th 2003
Reba Miller
Tyler, Texas
I went to New London from the early 50's to 1959. My dad was a pumper for Delta Drilling out of Kilgore and we were transferred to Louisiana. I started Kindergarten there and I think my teachers name was Ms. Morris. One of the articles I read here mentioned Mollie Ward. My family lived just down the hill from her and her family. She had 2 daughters, Judy and Joanne. When the bluebonnets bloomed in the spring, my Mom would take my brother and sister and me to the monument and take pictures with the blue bonnets in the background. The pictures were in black and white. Going to school there memories where everywhere of the disaster. I haven't been back in a while but plan on coming home soon. Thank you for your wonderful website, brought back alot of memories of that special time of my life in a small town of New London.
August 28th 2003
Sandra Bishop Satcher
Ruston, Louisiana
I was born in 1935, so have no memory of the explosion. However, when I was in high school, about 1951, I worked for a few months as a soda jerk at the High School Drug owned by Charlie McConnico.
A very pleasant older gentleman (can't remember his name) used to come in for coffee, ice cream, etc. I commented to Charlie one day, "Mr. (?) frequently talks about his wife, but she never comes with him." Charlie responded, "She never will. They had three children, and all were killed in the explosion. She's been in the Rusk State Hospital (for the insane) ever since, and probably always will be."
August 24 2003
Don Nix
San Antonio, TX now....grew up in New London
My mother Mary Ann Burkett Jordan was an 8 year old that had just performed in a school play in the gym. She and her mother left early to go to her dance lessons. She told us they missed the explosion by 3 min. Her dad thought they had died and when they showed up at a local store later that afternoon he was white with shock. Recently my mom, sister and daughter visited the school. It was very moving. The impact on that small community must have been devastating! I told my daughter that if she every doubted that God had purpose for our lives we just needed to look at this and see His soverign hand.
July 15th 2003
Pamela Bettis
Andrews, TX
My Grandfather and his brother skipped school that day. My grandfather was Robert Lee Williams Sr. It was his brothers birthday that day so they decided to skip they were playing on a hill close to the school when it happend, I have no records of what grade he was in as he died before I was born.
July 5th 2003
Robert Lee Williams III
Houston, Texas
robriver2@hotmail.com
My grandmother was in the 11th grade that day. Her name was Ruby Virginia Mitchell. she never went back to that school again. she later went on to be a nurse. My uncle and my aunt said she never spoke of the event. I can't say as I blame her. although I do wish I knew more about what happened to her that day. I am 30 yrs old, I try to tell my children the story and how lucky we are she lived that day because none of us would be here. she had 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, my dad had 5 boys, my uncle had no children, and my aunt had 2 girls.If any of the survivors remember her I would like to know. my mother used to stop at the memorial sometimes on the way to my maternal grandmothers house in Carlisle, Texas. later renamed price Texas.
July 5th 2003
Scott D Jones
Kilgore, Texas
My dad, Alton Beard was in the library browsing through a war book when the explosion happened. He jumped out the window, becoming aware of what had happened and began looking for his two sisters (Helen & Marie Beard). He reflects back on it from time to time. Interesting note...Since he is a fiddler, he made a homemade fiddle case that I have in my possession now which he lined with burgendy velvet that was from the London High School Auditorium curtain. George Alton Beard will be 83 on His next birthday, God willing.
June 30th 2003
Dennis Alton Beard
Houston, TX
This is a very nice tribute to those lost in this tragedy. My family lost several members (Shaws)in this explosion. It was particularly devestating to one of my uncles I never had a chance to meet. My Grandmother and my father tell me that he felt personally the loss since he was superintendant of schools at the time. He was never the same after the explosion according to them.
June 26th 2003
Marshall Bryant
Orange, Texas
My great grandfather who was quite elderly at the time went to the explosion and served coffee for the Salvation Army. My mother talked about it she said they had beds all up and down the hallways at Mother Francis, which had just opened.
June 23rd 2003
D Marshall
Tyler, TX
My grandad, Will Barton lived in Overton at the time and helped to carry out victims. I also had distant cousins who died in the explosion. I have visited the site and it is hard to imagine the magnitude of this. There is a nice museum across the street from the new school filled with pictures and stories.
December 29th 2001
Eric Barton
San Jose, CA
As I sit and think about that day, March 18,1937 so many years ago, I wonder how many of the kids got up as usual, getting ready for just another day at school. How many of those children had plans for the inter-scholastic meet in Henderson the very next day? But today who was planning on skipping their chores and maybe going hunting with a pal, or hoping mother would have a warm plate of cookies sitting on the table when thay got home? The wonders I have are endless.
How many would have stayed in the area after graduation to become pillars of the community? Farmers or ranchers, doctors or workers in the oilfields? Marrying a sweetheart from school, going on to raise a family, kids, later grandkids?
Or going off to join the military, to fight in WW2? How many would have returned safely from the war? The possibilities are endless of what might have happened had that explosion never occurred so many years ago.
I wonder.
[name withheld by request]
