3. Undated news clipping, likely from the Tyler Morning Telegraph or Courier-Times, in a scrapbook kept by Carroll and Mildred Evans of news coverage of the explosion and aftermath.
4. Information from the cutline of a picture of the Smoot brothers, London Museum and Tea Room; Anna (Smoot) Brannon, interview by the authors over several telephone calls in August 2010.
5. Details in this segment derived from Henry McLemore’s March 20, 1937, dispatch about the funerals.
6. Copies of receipts for train tickets Davidson purchased are on file at the London Museum and Tea Room, New London, TX.
Chapter 27. Reckoning
1. Unless otherwise noted, the information in this chapter was obtained from the Military Court of Inquiry Report. Military Court of Inquiry Report, 123–26.
2. Biographical information collected by the University of Texas Chemistry Library, Austin, TX, http://www.lib.utexas.edu/chem/history/schoch.pdf (accessed spring 2011).
3. Tom Reynolds, United Press dispatch, March 21, 1937.
4. Texas Inspection Bureau, “Report of the High School Explosion and the Disaster of London, Texas” (Austin, TX, March 27, 1937).
5. Robert M. Hayes, “Lest London Forget, Brief Service Slated March 20 to Mark Blast’s Anniversary,” Dallas Morning News, March 13, 1938.
Chapter 28. Lament
1. Bright, New London 1937, 64–67.
2. Robert Nieman, “Impossible. It Can’t Be Dale May York,” Overton Press, undated newspaper clipping, London Museum and Tea Room, New London, TX.
3. Cronkite, Reporter’s Life, 65–66.
4. Associated Press dispatch, March 20, 1937.
5. Shaw family interviews and correspondence with the authors.
6. Gumbert, The Day a Generation Died.
7. McLemore, “Today’s Sports Parade.”
Chapter 29. Amazing Grace
1. “French Tots Send Aid To New London,” Associated Press, reprinted by the Overton Press, March 1996 as souvenir edition for the London Museum and Tea Room.
2. Wire dispatch summary of foreign response to the disaster, March 22, 1937, reprinted in the Overton Press, March 11, 1987.
3. Clipping in the Evans’s scrapbook without headline or byline, Herald-Examiner (Chicago), March 20, 1937.
4. New London explosion anniversary edition, Overton Press, March 21, 1985, contains brief with comment that Dr. George Hamm, then president of the University of Texas at Tyler, was a student in the North Dakota school when the principal asked students to pray for the children in the Texas disaster.
5. Newspaper clip in Evans’s scrapbook, no headline, Dallas Times-Herald, March 19, 1937.
6. Jackson, Living Lessons, 61.
7. Miscellaneous news clipping in the Evans’s scrapbook.
8. Ibid.
9. Clark and Halbouty, Last Boom, 257.
10. The film of John Lumpkin Jr.’s funeral is on file at the London Museum and Tea Room.
11. Jackson, Living Lessons, photo cutline in unnumbered picture section; the John Lumpkin story is on file at the London Museum and Tea Room.
12. Wire Service reports, March 19, 1937, on remarks of the chaplin of the U.S. House of Representatives concerning New London disaster.
13. Carolyn Jones, speech given to the Texas House of Representatives, March 25, 1937. Speech can be found online at Lessons of the 1937 Texas School Explosion, “Set Aside a Special Day Each Year as a Memorial,” blog entry by Ellie Goldberg, March 12, 2010, http://lessonsofthe1937texasschoolexplosion.blogspot.com/2010/02/set-aside-special-day-each-year-as.html.
14. The story of Elbert Box and Louise McAdam is on file at the London Museum and Tea Room.
15. United Press dispatch, “Child Pleads With Legislature For Safety In Schools,” March 25, 1936, reprinted by the Overton Press as a souvenir newspaper for the London Museum and Tea Room.
16. Carolyn Jones, March 25, 1937 speech; Dawson Duncan, “Public Not Aware of Peril In Use of Gas, Expert Says,” Dallas Morning News, March 26, 1937.
17. Bright, New London 1937, 63, 68.
18. “Three-Day Quest.”
Chapter 30. Survivors Assembly, March 29
1. The soft-spoken lines “He is dead” or “She was killed” were repeated time and again as the roll was called, according to Bess Stephenson, “Pupils Troop Back through Chill Air to London School and Their Studies,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 30, 1937.
2. “New London Band Was To Play Here,” Overton Press, article reprinted for special edition marking 60th anniversary of the explosion, March 1997, 7.
3. “Kilgore Music Festival To Be Dedicated to Henderson Band,” Kilgore Daily News, March 23, 1937.
4. J. W. Harris, “21 London Blast Victims Still in East Texas Hospitals,” Henderson Daily News, April 18, 1937.
5. Ledell Dorsey’s father would not force her to return to school in New London, although he had her enroll in a different school. Later she told him that going to any school filled her with dread, and he allowed her to drop out and get a job. Ledell (Dorsey) Carpenter, interview by the authors, June 10, 2010.
6. Geneva Stovall, “New London Blast—March 18, 1937: Death of a Generation,” Texarkana Gazette, March 18, 2010. Geneva Stovall is the daughter of Geneva Elrod, who survived the explosion.
7. Breakdown of numbers killed in each class in the London Museum and Tea Room.
8. Charlotte Heldenbrand, “Sixth-Grade Class One of Hardest Hit,” Overton Press, March 12, 2009.
Chapter 31. Reunion
1. Hayes, “Lest London Forget.”
2. Pete Gilpin, “Day of Doom,” Houston Chronicle Rotogravure Magazine, March 18, 1956.
3. Joe Davenport, “Man Says He Caused New London Blast; Loosened Gas Pipes, He Claims,” Tyler Courier-Times, July 18, 1961.
4. Felix McKnight, copy without title of story written for the Associated Press for release July 19, 1961, in McKnight’s personal files, made available to the authors by his daughter, Joan (McKnight) McIlyar.
5. Davenport, “Man Says He Caused New London Blast.”
6. “First Lie Test Fails In New London Case,” United Press International, Dallas Morning News, July 19, 1961.
7. Davenport, “Man Says He Caused New London Blast.”
8. Associated Press and United Press International dispatches, July 20, 1961.
9. Douglass, “Kiwanian Broadcasts London, Texas, Tragedy.”
10. Elbert Box file, London Museum and Tea Room.
11. Robert M. Hayes, “London Would Forget School Disaster,” Dallas Morning News, March 16, 1947.
12. Heldenbrand, “Family Torn,” 2009.
13. Hayes, “Lest London Forget.”
14. Both McLemore of the United Press and McKnight of the Associated Press used the “richest-poorest” approach in their different stories on the tragedy, just as both wire services used a similar line that March 18, 1937 was the day “a generation died.”
15. “Ex-reporter dies in Florida,” Dallas Morning News, June 24, 1968, United Press International obituary.
16. Gumbert, The Day a Generation Died.
Chapter 32. A Final Word
1. “Tiny Autograph Booklet Tells of Broken Lives,” Henderson Daily News, March 19, 1937.
Selected Bibliography
Books
Bright, Lorine Zylks. New London 1937: One Woman’s Memory of Orange and Green. Wichita Falls, TX: Nortex Press, 1977.
Clark, James A., and Michel T. Halbouty. The Last Boom. New York: Random House, 1972.
Cronkite, Walter. A Reporter’s Life. New York: Alfired A. Knopf, 1996.
Farmer, Garland R. The Realm of Rusk County. Henderson, TX: Henderson Times, 1951.
Henderson, Texas City Directory—1935–36. Springfield, MO: Interstate Directory, 1936.
Horan, James D. The Desperate Years: A Pictorial History of the Thirties. New York: Crown Publishers, 1962.
Huston, Cleburne. Towering Texan: A Biography of Thomas J. Rusk. Waco, TX: Texian Press, 1971.
Jack, William T. Gaston High School, Joinerville, Texas, and a Boy Named Billy Jack. Campbell, TX: J &; N Press, 1989.
Jackson, Robert L. Living Lessons from the New London Explosion. Nashville, TN: Parthenon Press, 1938.
Knowles, Ruth Sheldon. The Greatest Gamblers: The Epic of American Oil Exploration. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1978.
Lambert, Paul F., and Kenny A. Franks, eds. Voices from the Oil Fields. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1984.
Londona. (The first New London High School annual.) New London, TX, 1935.
Londona. (The second New London High School annual.) New London, TX, 1936.
McClendon, Sarah. Mr. President, Mr. President! My Fifty Years of Covering the White House. With Jules Minton. Los Angeles, CA: General Publishing Group, 1996.
———. My Eight Presidents. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978.
McDonald, C. C. Medicine in Our Town. Fort Worth, TX: Branch-Smith, 1975.
McElvaine, Robert S. The Great Depression: America, 1929–1941. New York: Times Books, 1984.
McKay, Seth S., and Odie B. Faulk. Texas after Spindletop: The Saga of Texas— 1901–1965. Austin: Steck-Vaughn, 1965.
Olien, Roger M., and Diana Davids Olien. Life in the Oil Fields. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1986.
———. Wildcatters: Texas Independent Oilmen. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1984.
Rundell, Walter, Jr. Early Texas Oil: A Photographic History, 1866–1936. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1977.
Rusk County Historical Commission. Rusk County History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing, 1982.
Smith, Gene. The Shattered Dream: Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression. New York: William Morrow, 1970.
Steen, Ralph W. The Texas Story. Austin: Steck, 1948.
Terrace, Vincent. Radio’s Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs, 1930–1960. New York: A. S. Barnes, 1981.
Webb, Walter Prescott, ed. The Handbook of Texas. Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1952.
Wecter, Dixon. The Age of the Great Depression, 1929–1941. New York: Macmillan, 1948.
Winfrey, Dorman. A History of Rusk County, Texas. Waco, TX: Texian Press, 1961.
Journals, Reports, and Manuscripts
Evans, Mildred. “The Life and Times of Carroll and Mildred Evans.” Compiled by Kevin C. Evans. Unpublished manuscript, 1986.
Frei, Carolyn (Jones). Poems and unpublished memoir.
Heaberlin, Nadine Thompson, and Sam J. Heaberlin, comps. “Ancestors and Descendants of Alvin A. and Bonnie Freeman Thompson.” Unpublished manuscript, 1989.
Military Court of Inquiry Report, New London school explosion, March 23, 1937, Texas State Archives, Austin, TX.
Rosamond, Joanne, and Walter Fields, comps. “The Gaston Story.” Unpublished manuscript, West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District, New London, TX, May 1989.
———. “The London Story.” Unpublished manuscript, West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District, New London, TX, March 1989.
Texas Inspection Bureau. “Report of the High School Explosion and the Disaster of London, Texas.” Austin, TX, March 27, 1937.
Tyler Life, March 1985.
U.S. Bureau of Mines. “Explosion in School Building, New London, Texas, March 18, 1937.” Federal report, serial 3365, December 1937.
Film and Video
Cronkite, Walter. Interview by KHOU-TV, Houston, TX, March 1987.
“Dances of the World.” Film of PTA meeting, New London School, March 18, 1937, London Museum, New London, TX.
The Day a Generation Died, directed by Jerry Gumbert, KLTV-TV, Tyler, TX, March 1987.
Lumpkin, John. Film of John Lumpkin Jr. Funeral. London Museum, New London, TX.
New London disaster. King Features newsreel. 1937.
New London disaster. Universal newsreel. 1937.
Newspapers
The authors relied on information from dozens of newspapers and three major wire services that provided real-time accounts of the New London school explosion and its aftermath. Although journalists at the scene made a few glaring mistakes, the news coverage as a whole was correct, insightful, and vivid. This book could not have been written with as much historically accurate detail without those sources, including the following: Henderson Daily News, Overton Press, Kilgore Daily News, Kilgore Herald, Tyler Courier-Times, Tyler Morning Telegraph, Rusk County News, Longview Morning-Journal, Longview News, Shreveport Journal, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Daily Times-Herald (which later became the Dallas Times Herald, dropping Daily and the hyphen), Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Houston Post, Daily Oklahoman, New York Times, and Herald-Examiner (Chicago).
Index
Abercrombie, Boyd Anderson, 233
Adams, Earl, 36
Adams, Evelyn Bonnie, 233
Ainsworth, T. Roy, 195
Allman, Almita, 233, 257
Allred, James, 83, 145, 210, 229
Allred, Joe Betsy, 83
Allred, Sam Houston; 83
Ambrose, Mary, 88, 89, 148, 153, 161
Anderson, Allene (Myrtle), 5, 162, 233, 257, 268
Anderson, Billie, 5, 6, 107, 108, 268
Anderson, Lillian, 5, 66, 108, 162, 233, 268
Anderson, Lola, 6, 162
Anderson, Will, 162
Angelina River, 167
Apple, Betty Ruth, 233
Ardmore, Oklahoma, 12, 14, 52, 206
Arnold, Louise, 64–65
Arnold, Wayne Scott, 233
Ashby, Claude, 48
Associated Press (AP), 82, 83, 113, 114, 118, 121, 123–25, 144, 150, 152, 155, 157, 163, 165, 166, 183, 184, 191–95, 221, 223, 247
Austin, Stephen F., 27
Baldwin, Bill, 115, 119, 121, 145, 146
Barber, Arden Leon, 24, 101, 138, 139, 160, 233, 243
Barber, Burton, 24, 101, 138, 160
Barber, Lonnie, 4, 23–24, 68, 138, 160, 233, 243–44
Barber, L. V., 24, 65, 71, 101, 138, 160, 244, 267
Barber, Ollie B., 233
Barber, Pearl, 24, 101, 138, 160
Barnes, Pat McNealy, 179
Barton, Clinton, 65, 267
Barton, Murvin Harland, 233
Battle of San Jacinto, 27
Beard, Alton, 99
Beard, Helen, 6, 64, 67, 99
Beard, Marie, 6, 64, 67, 99, 149
Belew, A. J., 212–13, 215
Belton, Texas, 34, 159
Benny, Jack, 93
Benson, Betty Lou, 241
Benson, William Estel, 241–42
Black Giant (East Texas oil field), 12–18, 20, 43–44, 45–50, 79
labor unrest, 83–84
Blackwell, A. D., 215
Blackwell, Geneva, 78
Bonner, Oneita, 259
Bowie, Jim, 27
Box, Elbert, 161, 180, 209, 228, 243
Boy Scouts, 144, 191–92
Bradford, Daisy, 45, 47
Bratton, W. T., 226
Bright, Darween, (Georgia Lorine “Dar-ween” Hoff) 69, 268
Bright, Lorine Zylks, xii; 68, 69, 230, 268
Bunch, J. H., 5, 57, 58, 68
Bunting, Naoma, 177, 188
Bunting, Sam, 174–75, 180
Busby, Joe, 41
Butler, Lemmie, 8, 30, 63, 100, 171–72, 185, 244
Butler, Mary, 30, 171–72
Byrd, D. H. “Dry Hole,” 46–47
Carney, Mary Priscilla, 262
Carr, Chloe Ann, 70, 97
Carr, Ralph, 97
cenotaph, 226, 239, 240, 251
Cherbourg, France, 225
Childress, William Polk “Billy,” 259
Clair, Charlie, 156
Clark, Delbert Leon, 216
Clayton, Arlene, 240
Clayton, Bobby, 99, 133, 244, 267
Clover, Earl, 215, 216
Coker, Forrest, 234
Coombes, Zachariah Ellis, 210, 212, 214, 215–17
Corrie, Calvin, 72
Couser, Chester, 161
Cox, Bobbie Kate (Bobbie Kate Myers), 46, 52, 79, 244
Cox, Marshall, 46, 52, 79, 136, 157, 159, 244
Cox, Perry Lee, 46, 52, 79, 135, 157, 159, 244
Crawford, C. H., 226
Crim Funeral Home, 178
Crim, Lou Della, 48
Crim, Preston, 102–4, 267
Crockett, Davey, 27
Curlee, Helen, 241–42
Curry, Zana Jo, 6
Daisy Bradford No. 3, 43, 47
Dallas Morning News, 125, 240, 243, 247
Dallas, Texas, 15, 38, 50, 82, 83, 88, 113, 115, 119, 121, 123, 124, 125, 135, 148, 150, 151, 152, 155, 157, 160, 168, 183, 189, 194, 203, 208, 233, 241
Dallas Times-Herald, 168, 169, 241, 247
Damuth, Jane, 261
Davidson, Anna, 17, 172, 176, 208, 234
Davidson, Ardyth, 234, 240
Davidson, Helen, 17, 172, 176, 208, 234
Davidson, John, xii; 240–41, 267, 172–73, 176–77
Davidson, Joseph Wheeler, 11–12, 16–18, 19, 80, 136, 208, 209, 244, 245, 268
Davidson, Joseph Wheeler Jr., 17, 165, 172, 176, 177, 208, 234
Davidson, Marilla, 17, 161, 172, 176, 180, 234, 208, 209, 244–45
Davidson, Mary, 17, 161, 172, 176, 208–9, 244–45
Deer, Dewey, 11, 176
Dees, Elton, 161
Dees, Floy, 193
Dees, Marvin, 110, 131–32, 167, 193, 267
Derrick, Thomas, 11
D’Errico, Albert, 160, 180
Dial, Charles, 234, 245, 267, 269
Dial, J. B., 74
Dial, John, 63, 244
Dial, Travis, 245
Diamond Match Co., 125
Dickenson, Wanda Joyce, 261
Donahue, Jim, 157
Donahue, Jimmie, 178–79
Dorsey, Alice, 235
Dorsey, Ethel, 1, 70, 235, 246
Dorsey, Geneva, 78
Dorsey, Ledell (Ledell Dorsey Carpenter), 104, 129, 235, 267
Downing, J. L., 212
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