From the graduates of Engelhard High School

The first public high school in Engelhard was a wooden structure constructed in 1884. In 1923, it was replaced with a two-story brick building on the main highway of the village. The school existed until it was consolidated into Mattamuskeet High School in 1964.

There had never been an Engelhard High School reunion until Sept. 20 of this year when the Class of 1959 sponsored a reunion for graduates and alums who had attended at least a year in grades nine through 12 at the school. The Class of 1959 has held a reunion every five years. When the class elected officers in their senior year in high school, everyone was told that these were officers for life. Walter Baum was elected president so last spring when he began to talk to classmates about a 55th reunion, a decision was made to sponsor a reunion for all who had attended high school there. President Baum appointed a committee of Vice-President Tommy Etheridge and Treasurer R. S. Spencer, Jr. to plan the reunion along with Judy Tomlinson who served as secretary and Mary Ann Gibbs who served as member-at-large.

The group met weekly for four months to plan the reunion. The largest challenge was to create a database of names and addresses of those who would be invited to the reunion. Eventually there were 305 living members whose addresses were obtained and only 8 members who could not be located. Letters were mailed and the reunion was set for Sept. 20 at Mattamuskeet High School cafeteria from 11 a.m. until 2p.m. Over 150 alums and guests attended with Agnes Etheridge, age 99, being the oldest. Alumni attended from Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia and all sections of North Carolina.

President Baum opened the meeting by ringing a school bell and welcomed the group. John Cox, a teacher at Mattamuskeet, spoke on activities at Mattamuskeet Early College High School. Spencer, Jr. introduced M. C. McKinney of Charlotte who had preached the class’s baccalaureate sermon in 1959 to give the invocation and blessing for the event. Martelle’s Restaurant of Engelhard catered a buffet, which featured fried shrimp, baked chicken, and barbecue with assorted vegetables, salads, and desserts. The reunion committee and some friends provided pone breads for the group to enjoy.

A short program followed the meal. President Baum recognized George O’Neal and wife Molly. Mr. O’Neal who taught agriculture at the school in the 1950s. Another teacher present was R. S. Spencer, Jr. who taught the final year at Engelhard before moving on to Mattamuskeet to teach 12 more years. Clare Baum and John Cox read some class reunion poems submitted by Thelma Cuthrell Fowler of Roanoke Rapids who was unable to attend. Then Clare Baum reached into a bag and pulled out No. 14, an Engelhard Green Hornets basketball uniform, worn by R. S. Spencer, Jr. in 1957 when the players had to buy their own uniforms. Spencer informed the group that he could still get the jersey on, which caused him to realize how discomforting a girdle must be for a woman. He also commented that he could get the skimpy green pants on as well – but only up to his knees. Baum led the group in discussing events in their school days long ago. Tomlinson, Tommy Etheridge, and Mary Ann Gibbs drew names for the door prizes provided by local merchants and organizations.

The group was reminded of a school memorabilia table set up by Tomlinson and a model of Engelhard High School built by Jessie Harold Gibbs of the Class of 1961. Spencer, Jr. had a sales table featuring publications by the Hyde County Historical & Genealogical Society and also merchandise with Engelhard on it.

The Class of 1959 asked the Class of 1963 to sponsor the next reunion and Carolyn Marshall Dunbar responded that her class would plan the next one.

President Baum rang the school bell to signal the end of the meeting and encouraged guests to linger and visit with others they had not seen for many years. The audience then departed with smiles on their faces to show how much they had enjoyed attending the first-ever Engelhard High School reunion.