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Thirty-two members of the 1953 graduating class of Huntingdon High School, Mr. C.H.Pudor and Mr. and Mrs. E.M.Thompson embarked on a Southern Trip in a Greyhound bus driven by Mr. L.L.Phillips of Parsons. Master David Thompson, class mascot, accompanied the group. Velma Brandon Cooper and Doris McKinney chose not to go on the trip. The bus left the high school building at 5:15 a.m. on Monday, May 11. Laura Lee Barnes found that she had forgotten her camera. We waited by the Colonial Tea Room for her to go home and get it. At 5:30, we left Huntingdon's city limits somewhat gay and sleepy at the same time. Jackson, Tennessee, was the first town through which we passed, followed by Henderson and Selmer, where we had our first stop. Corinth was the first town we visited after crossing the Mississippi state line. We ate our picnic lunch on the side of the highway near a little stone church on the southern side of Meridian. We stopped at Laurel, Mississippi, as another rest stop. The day was cloudy and fine for travelling; some rain fell, but not enough to dampen the spirits of the graduates. One of the highlights of the trip to New Orleans was Lake Ponchartrain, our first sight of salt water. We crossed this lake, which empties into the Gulf, over a five-mile long bridge. At 6:45 p.m. we reached the Colonial Hotel Courts on Airline Highway, New Orleans, Louisiana. After our rooms were assigned, an hour was consumed in unpacking and dressing for dinner. We boarded our bus and drove to the Southern Tavern Restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we went by bus to Canal Street. Everyone enjoyed window shopping while our bus was being serviced. About twelve o'clock, we again boarded our bus and went to the Morning Call Coffee Shop, in the heart of the French Quarter, where we were served coffee and doughnuts. Both the coffee and the "square" doughnuts were prepared differently from the way we fix them at home, so everyone enjoyed a new experience in eating. About one o'clock, thirty-two tired young folk entered their cabins and quickly fell asleep. On Tuesday morning, the group took a guided tour of New Orleans. We saw Sophie Newcomb College, Tulane University, and several of the forty-one John McDonough Public Schools; Sugar Bowl Stadium was also a great interest to us. The French Quarter we saw on foot -- the St. Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo were two interesting places visited by us. It seemed very unusual for the tombs to be built above the ground -- yes, we visited a cemetery. In years past, the drainage system in the city was so poor that one would find water about six inches under the soil. The deeper you dug, the more water you found. If a body was buried underground one day, by the next morning, it would have been pushed to the surface by the water. The people found that by building family tombs, that this problem could be met and money saved. Today, 90 percent of the people are buried above the ground. Because of better drainage facilities, underground burial is now possible and ten percent of the people are buried underground. Our lunch was eaten in town. The USS President broke down the day before, so we were not able to take a trip around the harbor. This was a great disappointment to everyone. The afternoon was spent downtown. The highlight of the trip to New Orleans was a visit to the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel. Here we ate dinner and had our picture made with Wayne King, who is currently starring there; and enjoyed the floor show. Several members of the class enjoyed dancing. We reached Colonial Courts about 4 a.m. Very quickly, all of our lights were out and everyone slept for a few hours. Wednesday morning, we left the Colonial Courts headed for Biloxi. The group ate breakfast in Gentilly, a New Orleans suburb, at the Katz and Bestoff Drug Store, Walgreen Drug Store, and A and G Restaurant. After an enjoyable and typically southern meal, we again headed for Biloxi. Spanish moss fascinates everyone who sees it. We saw one tree near the highway with some of its lower branches covered with the moss. The boys divested these branches of part of their burden, so now each one who wanted any, has some Spanish moss. Another stop made before noon was a visit to a snake farm. Here we say alligators, giant anteaters, a python several type of monkeys, and such snakes as diamond back rattlers, an India hooded cobra, water moccasins, and several type of lizard. The group agreed that mosquitoes grew quite large in this section of the country. In Gulfport, we ate dinner at Angelo's Place. This restaurant, with two trees growing in it, is famous for its Italian spaghetti and its sea food. This was a very delicious meal. About three o'clock, we reached the Riviera Hotel in Biloxi. We quickly changed into our swim suits and went by bus about a mile down the highway to the beach. Those who could not swim had the thrill of wading in the Gulf of Mexico. So long as we stayed with a group of our own crowd, we had the evening free for dinner and a show or window shopping. Bedtime was 10 p.m., because we had to rise at 4 a.m., to go deep-sea fishing. We ate breakfast en masse at the Bungalow Restaurant. On the boat, the "Aunt Jenny", we set out towards Ship Island -- off which we fished. As usual, some fishermen has better luck than others. For many, this was their first fishing trip and they were delighted when they caught their first fish. Mavis Barnes brought in the first fish, a sea trout; Nancy Hilliard caught the first crab. In about an hour and a half after dropping anchor, Mr. Seasickness arrived in full dress. About a half-dozen girls became sea sick. They were put ashore on Ship Island to wait for the others. Bruce Chandler caught a young hammer-head shark, Billy Joy Laster caught more fish than anyone else -- 15. In all, we caught 102 fish, the shark and about five crab. Our lunch on Thursday was a picnic on Ship Island. Everyone had plenty to eat and there was some food left to eat going home. We saw a large ocean-going freighter as it headed for the docks at Gulfport. The afternoon was spent swimming and playing on the beach. Thursday night, most of the class went to a movie after dinner. On Friday morning after breakfast, we started home at 9 a.m. Of course, we regretted that our fun-filled week was over and we were to part forever. But we looked forward to going home and being able to relax for a few weeks before beginning a new course in life. Nancy Hilliard |