Remembering Evergreen - Memories Letters
 

Nannie “Nan” Haydel Lemoine  "Early School Memories"

I was born on August 19, 1931 to Lillian Barron and Logan Haydel. My brother is Wayne Haydel.

When I started school in 1937, we rode to school in a covered wagon.  This covered wagon, driven by Mr. Alcide Chenevert, would take us to the highway where the school bus driven by Elmer “Boulet” Riche’ would pick us up on route to the Evergreen High School. We lived on a dirt road and the school bus could not go down this road, as it would get stuck. There was no gravel on this road.

In the winter it was very cold riding that covered wagon.  Some of my classmates found that was a funny way to get to school, but that didn't matter to me because we were going to school.  Each day was an adventure because we had much to learn and such fun there.

On my first day at school I brought my lunch as did everyone since there were no lunchrooms. Cafeterias came later.  Students were told to put their lunches on the top shelf of the coat rack.  I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but my brother came to me and assured me that my lunch would be there when it was time to eat.  He further reminded me that everyone put their lunch there and that no one was going to eat my lunch. It sure was good to have a big brother to take care of me and provide these assurances.

All of the students had good teachers, like my Aunt Lena Haydel, Mrs. Scott, Miss Sue Goudeau, Miss Oma West, Mrs. Beatrice Scarborough, and Mrs. Jean Tanner. These are just a few of the very caring teachers we had.

This brings to mind how my Aunt Lena Haydel taught and guided me in my early years at Evergreen High School.  As a small child, whenever I misbehaved, I just knew she could fix anything.  At recess, I would get a drink of water at the fountains close to her classroom and go over to her window.  She would always come to the window and ask if I needed anything.  Of course, I usually had a long story to tell.

Most of the time, all she had to do was listen, which was all I needed. After a while, she would tell me I had to take care of my problems and learn not to misbehave.  She instilled in me self-worth, values, and love.

One of the fond memories I have was going down to Mr. Ford Robert’s store at recess.  In those days there were no closed campuses and as long as you were back before the bell rang, it was O.K. to go to the store. 

My grandfather, Walter Haydel, was always at the store at recess time. He would wait for me and always have a bag of Silver Bells to give me.  Now, Mr. Ford would sometimes tell me grandpa had not come that day, but I knew he was there and he’d pop out from behind the counter with my candy.  On days when he was not at the store, he had arranged for Mr. Ford to give me a bag of Silver Bells.  To this day, when I eat Silver Bells, I think of my grandpa.

These were such good days. Life was not so hurried – we had time for each other.

I graduated from EHS in 1948, the last year in which high school students graduated after completion of the eleventh grade.

Submitted December, 2008 by Nannie “Nan” Haydel Lemoine, 1948 EHS graduate
 

Memories Letters
 
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Ruth Dugas Albritton
Jeanette Barron Armand
Mable Bordelon Aymond
Annabelle Jeansonne Blanchard
Cynthia Galland Cappel
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Rox Ann Daigre
Lynn Riche’ David
Dale Ducote
Raymond Ducote
Richard Ducote
Edmond Anthony Dugas
Susan Riche' Earnest
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Anita Ducote Gabriel

Sue B. Goudeau
Darrel Jans
Sharon Pickett Johnson 
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Nannie “Nan” Haydel Lemoine 

Louis Matthews, Jr.

Debbie Riche’ Molan
Patsy Roy Moras
Ollie Bordelon Redmon
Craig Riche’
Larry Jude “Pete” Riche’
Julienne Ducote Spencer
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