Once Upon a Time in Artemus School

I am encouraged by continued interest in my effort to share memories. It is my sincere hope that when you get the Barbourville Mountain Advocate, you will continue to turn to Memories and find pleasure in reading. I hope it stirs you to pull up your memories so you can relieve your story. And, I hope your memories are sweet.
Many years ago after completing third grade at Boone Height Elementary I transferred to Artemus School starting in fourth grade. The fourth and fifth grade teachers planned a class play to help the school raise money. They decided on the fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. My Aunt Nanny, Mrs. McCormick taught fifth grade. She knew my vivid imagination and thought I would be perfect for a part in the play. She knew being part of the school event would be good for me. She urged me to tryout. To my amazement I was cast as Snow White!
Years ago, before his death, Mr. Philip Fox and I corresponded about my memory of the school play. I expressed my desire to contact anyone that was in the play, or remembered seeing the performance. His daughter Jean, and son Phil Junior were schoolmates. Mr. Fox offered to help by asking teachers he knew from those days if they remembered the play. Time ran out on Mr. Fox with his offer to help locate members. I think he was happy to know that I came by a picture made the evening of the play by Elmer Engle. Mr. Engle, was a well-known photographer from Barbourville. The Adams family was kind enough to send me a tattered photograph of Kenneth and me as Snow White and the Prince. Our families were very close for many reasons. After seeing our young smiling faces I became more determined to continue my search for others in the play.
Sadly, I do not think fairy tales are shared much these days. Magical and idyllic, though unrealistic…..fairy tales gave us hope for goodness. We go to the original story! Seven little dwarfs lived and worked together. They lived in a charming cottage in the woods. They sang hi-o, hi-o it’s off to work we go, daily. Snow White happened upon their cottage, the dwarfs and moved in to care for them. Snow White was very beautiful. There was a jealous, selfish, wicked Queen in the tale. She vainly looked into a magic mirror every day admiring her beauty. She asked, mirror. mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all? We love to hiss and boo at the Queen. We love the soft hearted huntsman the Queen charged with killing Snow White. He could cut out her heart for the wicked Queen. He presented the Queen with a jeweled box. The Queen thought it contained Snow White’s heart. Now, she would be the fairest, most beautiful in the land. The wicked queen realized the huntsman had tricked her. She flung the jeweled box at her mirror, shattering the glass into pieces. The queen working black magic disguised herself as a toothless old woman. She tried to poison Snow White with a wicked brew. She dipped an apple in the poisonous brew. She tricked Snow White into eating a bite. There is so much more to this fairy tale. A lot of symbolism, redeeming values and more. If by chance you don’t know this fairy tale…… find a copy and read it. Share Snow White with a little one!!!
Feeling excited and scared when the curtain came up as I looked out to the audience. My family was sitting on the front row among many strangers with smiling faces. I overcame my fear. I was transformed into Snow White. These many years later, I can recall this excitement as if it were yesterday. I wonder if that moment and time was as special to anyone else in the play? The children in the play I remember are: the Prince - Kenneth Adams. The wicked queen - Francis Vaughn and two of the dwarfs were - Earl Leon Miracle and Pat MacDonald. I cannot recall others.
We spent many hours after school practicing the musical score with Mrs. Evelyn Thomas, the music teacher. Mrs. Thomas was a beloved, devoted teacher, and we did not want to disappoint her. Donations were collected and she was presented with a pearl necklace from the students, staff and families
My hope in sharing this memory of a school play many years ago is to stir memories of your own childhood school days . Do you recall a time when you were in a special event? Or, do you remember a special time in school? If by chance anyone remembers Snow White, and The Seven Dwarfs production in Artemus school many years ago that would be amazing for me to know!
Millie’s Quote for the day: “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale”. Hans Christian Anderson
I know not all feel his words……..but this part is true to me……. Life itself is wonderful.