Saturday, November 22, 2008

School Days

Harold attended the one-room Joe Mullins School, located on Meade Creek, north of Pound, between Edwards Gap and Red Onion Mountain. Here, in a white-painted building with a small bell tower, a class of some 42 children attended grades one through seven. (He is shown at left with Wanda and Kenneth, around 1935.)

In 1934-35, their teacher was the young and free-spirited Edith Maxwell, who killed her domineering father in July 1935. His death, which she avowed was in self-defense, touched off a media circus across the nation. Because women were not allowed to serve on juries at that time in Wise County, Edith's cause was picked up by women's groups who argued she could not get a fair trial without a jury of her peers. She was convicted, but later pardoned, for her father's death.

In her autobiography, Edith later said that the Mullins School was not a choice assignment despite its short distance from her home in Pound. Nevertheless, she fondly recalled her days at what she called the "tarpaper shack" where, in addition to teaching the three Rs, she would frequently hold pie suppers to raise money for school supplies. However, students of Miss Maxwell recalled she was not particularly dedicated, in that she took visitors at the little schoolhouse throughout the day and called for recess abruptly whenever a car drove up. Harold remembered the 21-year-old "Miss Edith" as just plain mean.

Although Pound did have a small four-room high school at the time, Harold went on to attend high school in Dickenson Memorial High School in Clintwood, VA. He was a member of the debating club there, and graduated in 1943. Harold enlisted in the Army, and as a reward got to leave high school early but with a full diploma. He had a six-month break before reporting for service.

Below, Harold is shown with his debating club. He is in the front row, second from left.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Childhood

Edward Harold Meade was the oldest of five children born to Thurston and Belle (Fleming) Meade. In his youth, he was known as "Harold" or "Shorty" to friends and family.

Thurston and Belle were married in Wise County, VA on August 7, 1924. Thurston was a coal miner and a preacher, and Belle stayed at home with the family until the death of her husband.

Their children were:
1. Edward Harold Meade, b. 25-May-1925, Pound, VA; d. 17-Dec-2007, Baraboo, WI.
2. Wanda Marie Meade, b. 20-Jan-1927, Jenkins, KY.
3. Kenneth Ray Meade, b. 28-May-1932, Pound, VA; died 9-Dec-2007, Pound, VA.
4. Jerry Lee Meade, b. 1937
5. Larry Meade, b. 20-Oct-1942, Pound, VA.