As our community celebrates Peabody’s 100th anniversary here at the end of the 2010-2011 school year, three moms of Peabody students reflect on the school’s past, present, and future.

Peabody Past
By Lisa Lumb

Peabody Elementary has been an anchor for the neighborhood since 1910 when the current building at 2086 Young was constructed. Parts of this fast growing streetcar suburb had only recently been included in the city limits in 1909. However, growth continued, and by 1918 portable classroom additions were needed for all the extra children flocking to the school.

Through the years the school has been a focal point for CY. It was a temporary shelter and hospital for flood victims in 1937. School attendance peaked in the 50s when the school also had its own band and orchestra. In the last decades of the 20th century, its fortunes waned. With the problem of white flight, these decades saw school numbers decline, though there have always been some local children attending the school every year.

An attempt to close the school by the Board of Education in 1983 was quickly shelved by the protests of older CY residents; most of them school alumni themselves. Many of these same residents had worked to place the school on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, which precipitated some large-scale renovations of the school. These advocates kept working to designate the school as optional in 1989. Clearly the school is a beloved institution for neighborhood residents who have worked hard to improve and support the school through the years.

Our family’s own experience with Peabody has been very good. All three of our sons attended the school (from 1997 to 2010), and they received an excellent education from compassionate, caring staff. My oldest son is a freshman at UTK, my middle son is an 11th grader at White Station High School, and my youngest son just entered White Station Middle School this year. Their Peabody experience prepared them well to make the jump to other good optional schools in the MCS system.

Peabody Present
By Mandy Grisham

At this 100th anniversary milestone, Peabody has many charming qualities to boast about. The 330 preschool through 5th grade students study in large classrooms with low student/teacher ratios. At a time when standardized testing seems to take attention away from the fun of learning, Peabody students are receiving a well-rounded education that isn’t found at every school in our nation these days. Students participate in art, Orff music, PE, and library for one hour a week with experienced, certified, caring teachers. An energetic team of Russian language teachers is providing thirty minutes of classroom Russian lessons for every student, every day.

The international studies focus that makes Peabody a unique optional school allows teachers to use the countries they study throughout the year as a thematic unit through which many other concepts are taught. In kindergarten the focus all year is the United States. When they began learning to count money during math, they also studied the presidents and landmarks represented on each coin. My child could have created a documentary on the topic; he was so enthralled! And this creative learning through international studies happens at each grade level with Kenya, France, Mexico, and Russia. The fifth graders study Japan, which has been particularly meaningful in light of the tragic earthquakes and tsunami. Students were moved by the disaster to take on the mission of raising funds for the Red Cross to benefit Japan relief.

Of course, the technology students use today could never have been fathomed a century ago. Today students learn on computers in their classroom or in the computer lab at least once a day, and every teacher uses SmartBoard technology, one of the most advanced pieces of equipment in classrooms today. Teachers are writing grants for digital recorders to help students gain confidence as early readers and iPads to bring the world to their fingertips.

After school students have the option to join a wide variety of extra-curricular activities such as: art or folk art club, chess club, baseball or soccer club, Beta club, Dance Ensemble, choir, strings, spirit squad, majorettes, drummers, science club, computer club, Peabody Press, crafty kids club, Russian club, and international cooking.

And parents of Peabody students are continually stepping out and showing support by volunteering as room parents, becoming PTA members, participating in fundraisers, and speaking at Career Day. This year parents have created a “Friends of Peabody” Facebook page and Twitter account (@PeabodyFriends) to communicate goings-on at the school. Peabody is a great example of the success students can have when teachers, administrators, parents, businesses, and community members all partner together for the education of an amazing group of kids.

Peabody Future
By Ginger Spickler

As wonderful as the school is now, I think that all Peabody stakeholders would agree that enjoying a great today doesn’t preclude dreaming of an even better tomorrow. In that spirit, here is what I see for Peabody’s future.

Peabody as a community center. Nationwide there is a growing trend toward thinking of school buildings not just as centers of learning from morning until early afternoon, but as community hubs that have something to offer all neighborhood residents well after the school staff heads home. Why should classrooms or the aptly named “cafetorium” sit empty in the evenings when they could be utilized for various community meetings; classes on health, finances, or parenting; and academic or artistic enrichment for adults and children alike? Not only would it be a more efficient use of a great neighborhood facility, but it could potentially enhance Peabody students’ readiness to learn by supporting their families more holistically.

Peabody as a bridge between two communities. Some may hear talk of Peabody being a neighborhood school and think the neighborhood being referred to is Cooper-Young. In fact, CY is one of two neighborhoods that are zoned for Peabody. The other is Rozelle-Annesdale – a lower-income, more heavily African-American neighborhood and a strong community in its own right. While Rozelle-Annesdale has in recent years sent its children mainly to Peabody and Cooper-Young has not, that is beginning to change as more CY families choose the school their kids can walk to. If trends continue, Peabody has the possibility of becoming one of the more diverse neighborhood schools in the city – a vibrant racial and socioeconomic mix of children (and the adults who love them) who all have much to gain from growing and learning with one another.

Peabody as an equalizer. Above all, my greatest dream for Peabody is that through the hard work of teachers, administrators, community members, parents, and the students themselves, Peabody would find a way to close the persistent achievement gap that is present in most every school in the nation between economically disadvantaged students and those with more resources. Peabody is already doing better on this score than the district and even the state as a whole, and I know from regular conversations with Peabody’s staff that it is something they have in their sights everyday. But that vision can’t stop with them. As a parent and community member, I must fight for a great education for every child like I do for my own son. It’s easy to say and hard to do, I know. But ultimately, it’s up to all of us to make Peabody a model of student success so that on Peabody’s 200th anniversary our city, nation, and world will have been changed for the better by those who have walked through its doors.

By Aaron James

Southern Longleaf, Pitch, or Old Growth are all synonyms for the very popular Heart Pine. Given the name because of the high content of heartwood, Heart Pine is different from other pine species due to its tight ring pattern and unique amber color.

The history of Heart Pine began in the Old South where, prior to the colonial era, virgin forests covered much of the coastal plain for thousands of years. Spanning from Virginia to central Florida and westward along the Gulf as far as Texas, the Heart Pine forest was the most extensive, contiguous ecosystem in North America. The woods were so thick, that a squirrel could travel the entire expanse without ever touching the ground. Today, only about five percent of the original 90 million acres remain.

After Heart Pine seeds germinate, new seedlings may grow no more than an inch tall in their first ten years. They devote most of their energy to producing an extensive root system. Once past the “grass” stage, however, they can grow to heights of 175 feet and take150-400 years to mature.

Because of its unique beauty and strength, Heart Pine was used in most early, Southern homes for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry. Because of its tremendous, structural strength, it was also used extensively in larger construction. From the large industrial buildings in Chicago and Boston to the textile mills throughout the South, Heart Pine played a key role in building the Industrial Revolution. The keel of the U.S.S. Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” was made from a single timber of Heart Pine. Due to wood shortages in Europe, large quantities were also exported during much of the Nineteenth century.

The original Heart Pine range was dramatically reduced as a result of extensive logging and clear-cutting to make way for agriculture, “soft” pine plantations, urban development, and suppression of the fires needed for seedling germination. Introducing the feral hog into Jamestown, which fed on the seedlings, also played a key role in the demise. By the turn of the last century, nearly all the old Heart Pine forests were gone, and over thirty plant and animal species associated the ecosystem have become threatened or endangered.

This sample was found in a construction dumpster on the 1400 block of Peabody in front of a house that was built in 1925. Itwas undoubtedly used as a primary floor-framing member. This 2 5/8 inches thick slab contains sixty-five growth rings with a running average of fifteen rings per inch perpendicular to the growth pattern. By measuring the length and rise of the arc of a median ring, I was able to calculate that this piece was cut approximately 11 3/4 inches from the heart, making the tree a minimum of 225 years old when harvested. Deducting this from the age of the house means that the seedling that eventually grew into this sample germinated in 1700 or earlier! To bring out the natural beauty of the wood, I gave it a light sanding (not enough to remove the historic sawmill cut marks or evidence of its use as a framing member) and a single coat of water-based sealer.

By Leslie Thompson

In 2003, I spent my Thanksgiving holiday in Memphis. This was not my first trip to the Bluff City. I had visited once as a child, but the only thing I can recall from that trip is a hazy memory of the “Jungle Room” at Graceland. On my second trip, I spent the majority of a summer as a sullen teenager on the University of Memphis campus, where I saw very little of the actual city. Even if I had been given the opportunity to explore all I wanted, I still would have preferred to sit by myself in a dorm room while listening to The Smiths on my Sony Discman. I had not yet learned how to appreciate this city and what it has to offer.

On this third trip, I came with my husband. He grew up in Memphis and was eager to show me around, so we drove down the massive tree-lined Parkways, and he showed me Overton Park. At sunset, we sat by the Mississippi, and we followed it with a dinner of Rendezvous ribs. I saw the city from the rooftop of the Peabody, and, afterward, I saw our faces lit from the neon signs on Beale. We drove through Victorian Village, and then he showed me the sprawling mansions of East Memphis.

Back in Midtown, he said we were going to Cooper-Young, a name that sounded so bizarre to me. At the time, I thought “Cooper Young” was a person, but I quickly figured it out when I found myself driving down Cooper Street. Before arriving at our intersection destination, I can remember looking up and seeing something so curious and appealing. “What is that?” I asked in wonder as I pointed up above at what I would later learn to call the Trestle. The image of the backlit miniature row of houses hanging high and proudly over Cooper was unforgettable. At the time, I had no idea who put it there or why, but it spoke to me. I saw it as the loveliest of welcome mats dangling from the sky.

At home, I would recall our trip to Memphis over and over in my head, where the sweet scent of barbecue, the grand images of Southern mansions, and the whirling current of the Mississippi would shuffle at random, all backed by a soundtrack of blues. But the image of the Trestle and the quaint, but vibrant, neighborhood that sat behind it proved to be the most poignant of my memories. I had never seen such a public display of art before. Perhaps larger cities that I had not yet visited would have something like this—New York, Chicago, San Francisco, these are the cities I imagined to be able to have and to afford such things. Little did I know then that I would call Cooper-Young my home just two years later.

Since moving here, I have learned a lot about our neighborhood and its Trestle. One would not know it by looking at it now, but Cooper-Young was a struggling neighborhood in the 60’s and 70’s, when families found little reason to stay here, fleeing to newer neighborhoods to the east. Even when people started moving back in the 80’s and 90’s, the place was still often regarded as an unsafe eyesore. Looking to revamp the neighborhood’s image, the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA) applied for a grant to revive the abandoned and graffiti-covered train trestle on Cooper, which serves as a gateway to the area. With help from the Urban Art Commission, a Memphis metalsmith, Jill Turman, was selected to create her idea of twelve metal replicas of buildings in the neighborhood. The art installation was dedicated in 2000, and the trestle immediately became an icon of the spirited people, celebrated architecture, and lively businesses of the Cooper-Young community.

Although the Trestle is owned by the CYCA, this art is public. The Trestle is for you and for me and for everyone else to enjoy. It is not just a part of Cooper-Young; it is a part of Memphis. Figuratively speaking, we all own it, but who pays for it?

Any piece of art left out to deal with the elements will need repairs from time to time, and unfortunately vandalism is still a recurring problem in 2010. The cost of the insurance for the Trestle alone is huge. And besides the Trestle, the CYCA provides for many other things in our community we often take for granted. Those pretty Yvonne Bobo ginkgo leaf bike racks were not free. The equipment used for neighborhood clean-ups comes with a monetary cost. The $50 that each of our block captains receive to give the annual National Night Out Parties does not fall from the sky. The gallons upon gallons of paint needed to cover the ceaseless graffiti in Cooper-Young come with a charge. And the pending crosswalk art will not create itself. Simply put, keeping our neighborhood this awesome is costly, so the annual Art for Art’s Sake Auction was started by the CYCA in 2003 to help out with the heavy burden of paying for such maintenance and care.

This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, April 10th at 6 pm. Young Avenue Deli will be magically transformed yet again into a bustling, enterprising auction house. $20 at the door, or $15 for CYCA members, will get you inside. For that generous donation, you will receive a fun and spirited evening with some of the coolest people in town, including all of the free beer and wine you can drink. You will find a fast-paced live auction hosted by local comedian and actor Dennis Phillippi, and he might even encourage you to get a little tipsy with the hopes of you being more gracious with the contents of your wallet. And even if you are not drinking, you will be more giving with your money because you will be encouraged to bid for the beautiful artwork donated by some of the best local artists Memphis has to offer. If the larger art pieces are too expensive for your budget, then check out the silent auction tables, where many have scored great pieces of jewelry, pottery, gift baskets, and who knows what else for as little as $5.

For the cost of one night on the town, you can have your night out and do it guilt-free by knowing your money is well spent on something worthy. All you have to do is head south on Cooper Street from Central Avenue to realize this charitable auction truly is for a good cause. Please help us keep Cooper-Young beautiful and inviting by attending this year’s Art for Art’s Sake Auction. Bring your friends, invite your coworkers, or buy someone special a ticket to the event as a gift. Even if you do not live in the neighborhood, remember that it is your Trestle, too

Memories of Libertyland prevail as the park fades into the past

By Aaron James

1976 was a banner year for Memphis. It was the year I officially became a teenager, Elvis played what was to be his final Memphis concert at the Mid-South Coliseum, the Lawler-Dundee feud was at its zenith, and President Ford presided over dedication ceremonies for the new Main Street pedestrian mall downtown. I think there may have been some event of national significance that year too, but I can’t for the life of me recall, because ‘76 was also the year my very own amusement park opened right down the street!

I remember telling my friends, as we anxiously awaited opening day, “Man, I’m going to Libertyland every five bucks I get!” A few years later, my high school sweetheart’s mother bought us a pair of season passes. Every Saturday day was spent playing skee-ball, feigning machismo on the Pippin, and stealing kisses on the Flume Zoom. (Every Saturday night meant dinner with her family at Bill and Jim’s and rockin’ the Back in Black at Summer Skateland, both of which are also now gone, but that’s another story.)

Although I later came to see the writing on the wall, Libertyland closed while I was traveling the country in pursuit of slightly 
more substantial adventures. I was 
1,200 miles away, in a tiny upstate NY hamlet of less than 6,000, when the Pippin was sold. I know this because even their tiny paper ran the story of the two guys who paid $2,500 for what they thought was just a car from Elvis’ favorite roller coaster, flabbergasted to discover they had gotten the whole kit and caboodle. Now that I once again find myself right down the street, the flood of memories vie for my attention as I try to share the following update:

According to information provided by City Councilman Jim Strickland, the work schedule is as follows:

The entire former Libertyland site was to be cleared by 01-15-10.

The youth building, cattle barns, arena, petting zoo, and horticulture building are to be cleared by 03-15-10.

The Pipkin building, swine barn, fair office, and fair shop are also to be cleared by 03-15-10, but as part of a separate contractual phase.

All demolished sites are to receive seed and sod by 04-30-10.

Although graphically included on the phasing map as part of “Package #1” demolition, the old fire station at the corner of Southern and East Parkway was still standing at press time. As you can see in the photo, many of the trees on the former Libertyland site have been saved, although there was no effort to protect the roots from compaction caused by the heavy machinery, which places their continued health in jeopardy. There is no mention in Jim’s information of the Creative Arts Center building, nor is it graphically included on the phasing map. Demolition of the Coliseum is currently on hold, with its long-term fate still uncertain. According to the web site “savethepippin.com”, they currently own the actual Pippin coaster, and how the City proceed with this delicate issue remains to be seen.

For a more complete recounting of the history and demise of Libertyland, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertyland, 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zippin_Pippin,
and http://www.rememberlibertyland.com/.