More than 200 gather for Nell Holcomb 50th anniversary celebration

When the Nell Holcomb School District opened its doors Aug. 29, 1960, Peggy Barks was one of the first six teachers there. She had been a teacher at Iona School, one of the six tiny rural schools that were consolidated to form the new district.

Though she moved into a new, modern facility, the teaching really didn't change that much, she said.

"The kids had the same parents, the same values, the same behaviors," Barks said. "They were just fantastic."

Barks was one of the more than 200 guests who gathered Sunday afternoon in the school gymnasium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the district.

Barks, who later went on to teach at Lorimier and Mae Green schools in Cape Girardeau before retiring in 1990, had eight students in the final year at Iona School, teaching all eight grades. At Nell Holcomb, she only had to teach the fifth and sixth grades but had about 45 students in the class.

Though the teaching remained much the same as it had been at Iona, some of the conveniences at the new school were appreciated.

"It was nice to have a bathroom that was inside," Barks said, and running water was also a welcome change. Drinking water at Iona came from a cistern.

Former Nell Holcomb students and teachers reminisced about their days at the school and the relationships they formed there.

An open house gave visitors an opportunity to look at district memorabilia, including some from the rural schools that were consolidated to form the Nell Holcomb district. School registry books, class photos, news clippings and other items stirred up conversations about visitors' days at the school.

After the open house period, Nell Holcomb superintendent Darryl Pannier welcomed guests to a special program. Principal Mary Boeller introduced Dr. John Holcomb, who spoke about his aunt, Nell Holcomb, whose name is on the building.

John Holcomb told about the time when she had a fourth-grade boy who not only was being disruptive in class but was underachieving. Nell Holcomb decided to hold the boy back a year.

"That boy happened to be her brother, who was my father," he said.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, gave a presentation on the history of the district.

When voters in the district were called upon to vote on a tax increase to finance the $150,000 bond to build the school, supporters pointed to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite in selling the idea to voters, Nickell said.

The new school was needed, backers of the bond issue said, in order to provide the best education possible for students "so they can compete in these days of Sputniks and moon rockets."

Nickell paid tribute to Nell Holcomb, saying, "This school is appropriately named for an individual who cared and who inspired."

Pertinent Address:

6547 Highway 177, Cape Girardeau, MO