At our February, Maryann Cason Pope shared with us a wonderful collection of stories and artifacts passed down to her from her grandparents. As a child she would call these stories of her grandparents "So-Tales" and delighted in hearing about "What was going on in their lives". She was always very interested in "...how things used to be" and spent many hours listening intently as her elders recounted experiences of times gone by.
The stories Maryann shared at the meeting this month centered around her grandfather, W. L. Runyan a schoolteacher. He is remembered as a strict and studious man; a firm believer in the importance of education and particularly the study of Latin. His story tells not only of the dedication one must make in order to teach in a rural area like ours, but of the growing and changing social landscape of Clay County over the past two centuries.
 | Her Grandfather W. L. Runyan was born in 1867 (the year after Clay County was established). |
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| W.L. Runyan showing a rare smile here with his wife. |
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| A holiday scene from a bygone era. |
A graduate of Ashland College, W.L. Runyan was certified to teach the second
grade in 1885 and did so for many years throughout Clay County.
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Decades later this engraved invitation to Ashland College is still stunning!
The detail and elegance are astounding! |
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| Some of the most beautiful engraving we'd ever seen! The pictures hardly do it justice! |
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| Note W.L. Runyan listed as offering the Declamation for the evening "Babylon". |
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| Land records pertaining to W.L. Runyan |
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| A slate used in Clay County Schools ca. 1925 |
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Maryann Pope listening as we
share our thoughts on her stories. |
Our regular monthly meetings are always a great place to hear stories of the people, places, and events of Clay County, AL. but Maryann offered us the rare opportunity to touch history first hand. The photographs, slate board, and even an original school bell added greater depth and dimension to the stories she shared. We are truly fortunate to have such a rich history in this community and more-so to have people like Maryann to share it with us. There is no greater feeling than to be taken back through time in a well told story and then be given the chance to hold a piece of that story in your own hands. The past and present come together for us in the Clay County Historical Society to inspire a new and brighter future. We'd love to hear your stories.
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Historical Society members sharing their own
stories of W.L. Runyan and family |
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| All enjoying the treasures of a well told story. |
Don't miss our next regular meeting coming up Monday, March 17th at 6:30pm at the Future Historical Museum of Clay County (just right of City Hall on the square in Ashland, AL.)
