Athletics News
TFS alum recalls school life in 1950s
Editor's note: The following is an interview with Frances Sosebee Young, a member of the Tallulah Falls School Class of 1950, conducted by Dr. Judy Forbes during the summer of 2020. Forbes is a member of the TFS Board of Trustees and a grandparent to two current students and one recent alum. Forbes and Young are cousins; they reconnect annually at the family farm in the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley. Young described classes, work assignments, special events and influential individuals, including Mrs. Fitzpatrick, a beloved headmistress.
Frances Sosebee Young enrolled at Tallulah Falls School at age 14. Young started there on a scholarship and attended the school for grades 10 and 11, graduating in 1950 at 16 years old. (High schools at that time ended at grade 11.) Young grew up on a farm in the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley in Georgia.
Young's mother wanted her to go to TFS. A cousin from Atlanta also wanted to attend, so their parents orchestrated it so they would go together. Young says she "loved" the school the entire time she was there. It took her about a month to get used to being there and following the routine, but it was an exceptional time for her.
Residential experience
Young lived in the dorm – Lipscomb Cottage – in an upstairs room. Students lived four to a room with one bath on that level. There was another room for at least four downstairs with a bathroom. She remembers at least two other places in the building for boarding females (one upstairs and one downstairs) and there were two areas referred to as "cubby holes." The cubbies each had room for one bed and Young lived in one of those her senior year.
The dorm's housemother, Mrs. Wicks, lived downstairs and kept a close watch on all of the students in her care. Every girl had to attend study hall each evening in the main living area in a casual setting. During that evening time, each girl had an assigned night to get a bath since there were only a couple of bathrooms in the building. Of course, they could "wash up," but the bath time was assigned so that each student could bathe every couple of days. Those who were not assigned to bathe had free time to visit with one another or the teacher assigned to supervise the study hall (who also lived in the building). Young remembered the other teacher was a young woman who taught other classes or grades and was enjoyable.
When bedtime arrived, the students were supposed to be quiet. Mrs. Wicks called out anyone who was talking or making noise. There was also a teacher named Mrs. Sweat, who lived on the first floor of the dorm. Another teacher lived directly above her on the second floor.
Daily schedule and work program
Both boarding and day students had classes every morning after breakfast. Classes were coed and this was almost the only time (other than meals) where males and females were together.
Classes ended at noon and uniforms were not required.
At lunchtime, day students went home and boarders stayed on for their regular assignments. Day students and boarding students were not close.
Daily mail call was held after the lunch meal was served and eaten. Then students went to the dorm and headed out to various campus job assignments. Each student worked on an assigned task on a six-week rotation. Possible jobs included females helping in the kitchen to prepare food (every meal except lunch), cleaning up during and after a family-style meal. Some female students operated a giant dishwashing machine that had to be loaded, unloaded, and items dried. Young started in the kitchen, working after lunch and running the dishwasher.
In addition to these "jobs," students might take an enrichment class. Mrs. Kenner taught crafts and she had a display of some of the items made in her classes. Younger students worked with her to learn to weave baskets, which were also on display. Older students worked with the weaving looms to make mats and blankets, which involved using the shuttle and paddle to make the weave tight and even. Representatives from the Women's Club and other guests admired the hand-crafted items.
Young distinctly remembers being given the job of "milkmaid." A gentleman referred to as "Uncle Bob" [TFS IT Specialist Casey Barron's great-grandfather], brought the milk in large milk cans over from the school farm and Young's job was to take the milk from him. She was to put it away, or she might churn it for butter. This assignment was appropriate for Young since she grew up on a farm.
At this time, margarine had just come out and Young had to mix the margarine with large packs of yellow coloring to make it and then put it on tables for serving. In collecting the milk, the male students worked in the school dairy barn with Uncle Bob. It is important to remember female and male students were separated, so Young did not know a lot about what the male students did on campus.
Young's favorite job was becoming a "Fitz Girls." Head of school Mrs. Z.I. Fitzpatrick selected three female students for special status. This trio rotated the duties, leaving the dorm after study hall to spend the night at Mrs. Fitzpatrick's house. Only one would spend the night at a time. That girl would prepare and serve breakfast and clean up before going to class. At night, she would leave the bedroom door open so they could hear Mrs. Fitzpatrick if she needed anything. In the morning, Uncle Bob would knock on the wall outside the window to wake them up so he could come in to build a fire in the fireplace. This job was a coveted one because of the freedom and flexibility not afforded other students.
Interestingly enough, even though these girls were most trusted, Mrs. Wicks would stand at the dorm's front door and watch the student as she walked to Mrs. Fitzpatrick's home in the evening and would not stop watching until the student entered the house. Students were strictly observed.
There was also a laundry building where Young remembered younger students (maybe middle school age) working and doing the laundry for everyone while the older female students attended craft classes. Small children were charged with picking up any paper, trash or debris they found on the campus grounds.
Classes and teachers
Young remembers her teachers and classes fondly. The teachers were caring, personable and just wonderful. Without exception, they were all very qualified.
Young's favorites included:
Mrs. Fitzpatrick was much loved and revered by all of her charges. She cared for them all as if they were her children. Young stayed in touch with Mrs. Fitzpatrick long after graduation. Mrs. Fitz was instrumental in helping Young to earn the Lamar Trotti Scholarship, which she used to attend the University of Georgia. Lamar Trotti was the director of the movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain."
Miss Mary Griggs of Demorest taught mathematics. She taught geometry and other math classes. Miss Griggs was a master teacher who knew how to help students enjoy math. Although Young majored in home economics in college, she taught fifth and sixth grades for 38 years and her students benefited from Young's time in Griggs' class. Griggs went on to become the head of the mathematics department at Piedmont College.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hallford (Nell), also of Demorest, were influential as well. Mrs. Hallford taught English. Young says Mrs. Hallford was challenging and excellent. Young did not have classes with Mr. Hallford, but he was very personable and everyone knew him and liked him. He would greet everyone with "Hello, hello, hello!" Mr. Hallford was elected Habersham County Schools Superintendent of Schools in 1956. In 1958, he passed away unexpectedly and Mrs. Hallford assumed his duties as superintendent. The voters of Habersham County re-elected her for two additional four-year terms. The Hallfords and their children were a respected family of educators in Habersham County.
The female students admired a young female home economics teacher who was tall and willowy. Young recalls she made a long green taffeta dress in the class; the teacher inspired Young to major in home economics. Young and all the girls made their white dresses in that class for graduation from TFS.
There was a very well-liked young male teacher who also lived in the male dorm. Young could not recall his name.
Young did not take chemistry or foreign language classes and she is not sure if the classes were offered at TFS during that era. Young does recall taking a physics class. The home economics teacher was often found in the kitchen, helping with food preparation. Located where the Willet Building Conference Room is today, the former dining hall featured an adjacent prep area behind the fireplace. Those preparing the meal would put butter and condiments on a large table in that area, and the students assigned as servers would carry them to the tables which lined the dining area. The doors on either side of the fireplace allowed for entering and exiting the kitchen area.
Other activities
Young shared she thought the different experiences available at TFS were among the school program's best offerings. The school provided opportunities that children might not have gotten at other schools and broadened cultural horizons.
During Young's time at TFS, there were no sports programs of any sort.
On Sunday mornings, all boarding students got dressed and worshiped at the Tallulah Falls Methodist Church. On Saturdays, when the weather was nice, a teacher would accompany boarding students to downtown Tallulah Falls to go to the store and walk around the town. Students often walked to the lake area, but no one was allowed to get in the water.
Young does remember the students would sometimes go to the former dining hall (Willet Building) downstairs and have strictly supervised circle dancing for both male and female students. There was also a senior prom, but few other dances. A male teacher came in and offered piano lessons to any interested student.
There were no extravagant trips for students, but Young does recall fondly a day trip all the students took by bus to the Great Smoky Mountains.
While she was a Fitz' Girl, Young accompanied Mrs. Fitzpatrick to the King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island for a conference of some sort. Young made a speech about the future and what kind of person she hoped to be. She remembers her mother made her new clothes so she would be ready to go. They were driven to St. Simons by one of the senior boys. Just as the school assigned females to help Mrs. Fitzpatrick, some of the senior boys also had special assignments, such as driving Mrs. Fitzpatrick as needed.
The school had a unique way of recognizing students. Young remembers receiving a large box of chewing gum in the mail. A company had awarded each of the TFS students some chewing gum, and it was her turn to be recognized. This kind of thing happened from time to time as little ways to reward the efforts of students. She also remembers receiving a cash prize for writing a paper about the American Red Cross.
Young summed up the TFS experience as "a place of opportunities and experiences." TFS did not put up with any foolishness, but the school provided a place where students could grow and learn without forgetting their roots. You were there to learn.