Parts of Canton stayed water-logged for a while in 1964.
In this video excerpt from the WSB-TV archive (used here with permission), the television crew visits Canton on March 1. The footage is concentrated on the area around the Sandy Hook retail stores, which are located between the Etowah River and the railroad tracks at the south of downtown Canton. (Check out a map of the area)
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The video opens on a car leaving downtown Canton, crossing over the bridge and heading toward the North Canton intersection (where the YMCA, Walgreen’s and CVS are now). The houses surrounded by flood water are homes that used to be part of the mill houses, but by 1964, some of them were rental houses. These houses were next to the Etowah River (with present-day Heritage Park on the other side of the river for reference).
Video courtesy: WSB Newsfilm collection, reel WSBN1153, 31:06/39:31, 0, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga.
It’s 1957: The 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Canton Elementary have moved into the old Canton High School building now that the new high school, Cherokee, has opened. They hang out on the front steps, goof off by the gym and have downtown Canton as their unofficial campus.
The video opens on the steps of the school, and then films students exiting the old gym. At about a minute in, the students play a game of baseball in Brown Park (across from the current City Hall, the old First Baptist Church). Then more scenes of students outside the school — including some girls who have traded skirts for shorts after school. A few shots of Main Street (including in front of the movie theater) end the video.
The video originated from 8mm film that was shot by Richard Gray’s family when he was a student at the school and originally shared with The Canton Times site. The old school building was used as school administrative offices and now houses city of Canton offices.
The 1958 Canton Elementary School football team was made up of this fearsome gridiron gang of 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Because there were so few youth teams back then, the school’s team divided itself into “red” and “yellow” teams to play against each other.
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On one of the last days of school in 1976, student Lanny C. Lathem didn’t know he was capturing something rare on film.
He thought he was just capturing some end-of-the-year moments at Cherokee High School, but the footage now offers a fascinating look at the school, the students and even the landscape of the surrounding Canton area.
See what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in Lathem’s YouTube video below:
A version of this post was originally published March 26, 2014.
Here are the original comments that appeared on the 2014 post (and add your new comments below)
Carolyn Peacock Kidd says: March 27, 2014 at 9:04 am Fabulous video. I graduated in 1965 so my memories may be slightly different. One vivid memory was about our principal, mr. Jordan. His big rule was ‘no gum’. If caught chewing gum or some other minor infraction,your punishment was to pull the wild onions that grew by the thousands outside the classrooms. He would give the poor soul a giant screw driver and they were sent out into the blazing heat and in full view of their friends they attacked the onions. Since we had no cooling system, the smell of onions pervaded all classrooms in the spring and early summer.
Canton Rewind says: March 27, 2014 at 9:55 am Thanks for the memory, Carolyn! I can’t imagine pulling wild onions as punishment in schools today but maybe Mr. Jordan was onto something!
Penny says: March 27, 2014 at 3:28 pm Thanks for the memories…
Canton Rewind says: March 28, 2014 at 8:06 am Thank you for reading, Penny!
Brenda Barton says: March 27, 2014 at 11:20 pm I like Carolyn have some different memories, I graduated in 1965 also. I will never forget Mr. Higginbotham, making me stand in the hall until I could act like a lady, because I was waving at my fella, Jerry Johnson, across the hall, I will never forget that. I even had to walk up the hall, because Mr. Sams came down the hall, I ducked into the restroom and walked back down the hall, whew close call. After that I didn’t wave anymore.
Canton Rewind says: March 28, 2014 at 8:10 am Brenda, What would CHS students think today of getting in trouble for that! It’s amazing what memories stick in our heads. Thanks for sharing.
Stephen Sams says: March 28, 2014 at 12:08 pm Mr. Sams is my Dad and he was the assistant principal at the time and I remember the students were scared to death of him. It’s wild to look back on those times and realize how long ago that was and how much has changed since. Thanks for video!
Canton Rewind says: March 28, 2014 at 9:44 pm Wild indeed, Stephen! Thanks for reading
MICHELL FRONEBARGER says: March 28, 2014 at 1:22 pm I WAS A CHS GRAD IN WHAT????1980- LIGHTYEARS AGO, THIS MADE ALL THOSE MEMORIES COME BACK. THANKS.
Canton Rewind says: March 28, 2014 at 9:45 pm Michell, no matter when we graduated, there are some things about CHS that always stay the same! Thanks for reading.
Trudy Chester says: March 28, 2014 at 9:22 pm Loved it good times, good friends, good memories. Class of 1976!!!!!
Canton Rewind says: March 28, 2014 at 9:43 pm Thanks for reading/watching, Trudy!
Pam Williams Law says: April 8, 2014 at 9:40 am Great job Lanny, very cool to dedicate it to Grady. I was lucky enough to call Grady one of my best friends a couple of years later. Thank you for the trip down memory lane!
Rick Bailey Class of 1972 says: April 13, 2014 at 4:27 pm Cherokee High School 1968 – 1972 The place that I grew from a child to a young man. The place I met the love of my life, Linda Cannon Bailey, the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen in my life. The first sock hop, the first homecoming game experience, Homecoming parades with the Corvettes overheating while waiting on the hill to begin the parade. America changing in so many ways for the better, music that still moves me today, friendships that have lasted a lifetime, basketball games with the band playing where you felt like you could float to the rim and lay the basketball in, teachers that were supportive, administration that most kids cracked jokes about but they took care of us, warts and all. All the smiles and conversations from class to class. It was Andy’s Mayberry for me.
Canton Rewind says: April 13, 2014 at 6:20 pm Thanks for sharing those memories, Rick!
Connie Miller (Roberts) says: July 24, 2014 at 6:55 pm What a great walk down memory lane. Wonderful times at Cherokee High. Thank you so much for this timeless treasure. Class of 76.
Canton Rewind says: July 24, 2014 at 9:50 pm Thanks for reading, Connie! This video is one of everybody’s favorites.
Jolene Hufstetler Jones says: September 26, 2014 at 11:10 am i graduated 50 years ago this year. I do remember Mr Sams, both Mr and Mrs Mashburn and Miss Mauldin. I will always remember my high school years. Thanks for sharing this video.
Canton Rewind says: October 2, 2014 at 10:21 am A thanks to you, Jolene, for reading and watching!
Wayne Wheeler says: September 28, 2014 at 10:05 am Thank you for sharing this video that brings precious moments to memory. Being from the class of 1974 was a privilege and priceless to me. Making new friends that remain to this day and recalling events that I haven’t thought of till now invoke a greatful heartsfield thank you to all that is CHS.
Canton Rewind says: October 2, 2014 at 10:22 am Thank you for reading, Wayne! It’s a priceless piece of local history
Terry Wilson says: October 30, 2014 at 7:40 pm I personally want to thank you for publishing this walk down memory lane. Now that I live in Hawaii for the past 26 years now I have a new family here and this is just one venue for me to share how and where I grew up and what the lifestyle was like in those “Good old Days”. Thank you for this wondrous feeling I get from watching and ;listening to your video. Bill Johnson says: December 4, 2014 at 10:16 pm What a great trip back in time and Yes, Grady is always remembered. Good friends and a great time to be a warrior….and then an eagle. Jackie Martin (Jordan) says: January 20, 2015 at 2:21 am So very glad to have found this for a little trip down memory lane. Watching Grady I couldn’t help but smile! What treasured memories from those hallways, the picnic tables and our years at CHS. I was a freshman that year and Grady was one of my first new friends.
Led by the marching band, cheerleaders and others in backs of trucks, long stretches of convertibles with homecoming royalty wind their way through Main Street during the 1960 Cherokee High School homecoming parade. In this home movie shared by the Gray family, we get a look into fashion and cars of the time, as well as glimpses of the architecture and businesses along Main Street and how they’ve changed (or not).
The video originated from 8mm film that was shot by Richard Gray’s family. Gray had kept the film for decades and had transferred it over to DVD in the past few years. It was originally shared with The Canton Times.
A version of this post was originally published January 18, 2014.
Canton Rewind 