Tag: Sugar Grove School

Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention at Highlands Park

March 17, 2025March 22, 2025 Admin 8 Comments

The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention first began in the early 70s and was hosted by the Sugar Grove Fire Department. This event was set up on the ball field at Sugar Grove School for a number of years and featured musical entertainment from all around. At one point, Bonnie Raitt performed in Sugar Grove prior to becoming widely known and going mainstream. This has been confirmed by at least 3 individuals who were in attendance. She was also confirmed in the area as close as Galax during that same time. The Fire Department provided food and drinks at this time and benefited from the proceeds. At some point during the 1970s, this event was moved to a new location owned by the Medley Family at Cedar Springs. It is not completely clear why the event had a change of venue but several have suggested it was because upgrades were offered at the new location to accommodate more people and more popular performers. Additionally, alcohol and a broader variety of concessions could be brought in at a location off school property. This location became known as Highlands Park and from that point forward, the event was then known as The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention at Highlands Park. This venue consisted of a covered stage area, lighting, sound equipment and a more professional entertainment setting that was better equipped to accommodate performers as well as the audience. This event routinely drew at least a thousand or more people and became very popular. The Sugar Grove Fire Department continued to cater the event providing food and drinks as a fundraiser for their organization and the event grew steadily until the summer of 1977. (Photo of original shirt contributed by Michael Osborne) July 1977 Incident at the Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention was in full swing on a hot summer July weekend, more than one thousand people were in attendance according to Smyth County News. A disturbance was noted mid-day between two individuals who were arguing but that seemed to subside without further incident. The musical entertainment continued into the evening. Just after 11 PM, a single gunshot suddenly rang out. Everything suddenly came to a screeching halt. Chaos ensued as attendees became aware that someone had been shot among them. The newspaper confirmed this along with the following information: “A Smyth County man was shot in the face Saturday night as he sat in front of the band box at the fiddlers convention.” The article goes on to identify the victim as Charles Peake, 34, of Sugar Grove and reads “Witnesses said a man walked up behind Peake, stuck a pistol in his mouth and puled the trigger.” Peake escaped certain death from the gunshot when he jerked his head causing the bullet to pass through his lip and exit out the side of his face. Miraculously no one else was hit or harmed. He was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released. Witnesses confirmed the man identified as the shooter was the same man who had been seen arguing with Peake earlier in the day. Both men were initially arrested in relation to the incident. Noel Bain Johnson was charged with “unlawfully and felonously using a firearm in the commission of a felony” according to the Smyth County News and Smyth County Sheriff’s Department. Johnson was picked up by Smyth County Sheriff’s Department, and booked at 9:45 PM Sunday July 10th and was released on $25,000 bond. Common Law Order Book 23, Page 477 available at the Smyth County Courthouse reflects a jury indictment as follows: “Noel Bain Johnson- using a pistol in attempt to murder- a True Bill.” and ” Malicious wounding – a True Bill” signed and entered by Judge J. Aubrey Matthews, August 23, 1977. This marked the end of an era and series of entertainment events for Sugar Grove. Other Little Stories and Interesting Things The day after the event, the Millers would all go to Highlands Park and take along some neighborhood kids and black trash bags to pick up trash and clean the grounds. They earned money for every full bag of trash collected. If you have additional details to add to this topic, please use the Contact page and let us know! Articles are always open for updates and additional content, photos or information.

Cedar Springs, Sugar Grove

We Are The Maple Leafs: 70+ years of yearbooks

November 17, 2024 Admin No Comments

The Sugar Grove School yearbooks are more than just annual reflections of school life; they are a window into the past, offering a snapshot of the community, the students, and the evolving culture of the region. Now, thanks to the digital collection available on Archive.org, these yearbooks are preserved and accessible for generations to come. Covering more than seven decades of history, this collection includes the nearly complete Sugar Grove High School yearbooks from 1949 to 1969, and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of the school, its alumni, or the wider Smyth County area. The digital collection, which spans from 1949 to the present day, is a treasure trove of memories, showcasing not only the changes in the student body but also in the school’s academic and extracurricular activities. Through these yearbooks, you can trace the evolution of Sugar Grove High School, Middle School and Elementary School Grades—how fashion, social dynamics, and even the physical school buildings changed over time. The yearbooks contain candid photos, class portraits, sports team pictures, and more, each telling a story of youth, growth, and the passage of time. But the collection goes beyond the yearbooks themselves. A variety of supplemental materials are also available for browsing, including the “Gathering of the Maple Leafs,” a special publication from the 1990 reunion that brings together the memories and stories of former students, Maple Leaf Murmurs, The Buzzer and more! This reunion publication offers a deeper look into the lives of those who once walked the halls of Sugar Grove, sharing their experiences and reflections as they reconnect with their school days as well as a treasure trove of other data pertaining mostly to the high school. Other related materials, such as Dr. Mauck’s History of Education of Smyth County Schools, also form part of this rich collection, providing context and historical background for those interested in the educational history of the area. The digitization of these materials ensures that the stories and memories contained within them will not be lost to time. Whether you are an alum looking to relive memories of your high school years, a researcher interested in the history of education, or a local history enthusiast, this collection offers a valuable resource. It allows visitors to explore the full breadth of Sugar Grove School’s history, from its earliest days to the present, and offers a unique opportunity to engage with the past in a way that is both convenient and immersive. You can access the entire digital collection through Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/@regionalgirl. With each yearbook and document available for browsing, it is a fascinating journey through more than 70 years of local history and school tradition. The Sugar Grove School Yearbooks Collection is more than just a series of images; it is a living history of the students, teachers, and community that shaped the school and its legacy. Whether you are revisiting fond memories or discovering the past for the first time, this collection is a vital part of preserving the history of Sugar Grove School and the people who made it what it is today. The Sugar Grove School yearbooks collection is a vibrant testament to the rich history of the school and its community, but it’s far from complete. We’re constantly working to expand this digital archive, and we need your help! If you have old school newsletters, photos, or other memorabilia that hasn’t yet been digitized, we would love to include them in the collection. Your contributions can make a huge difference in preserving the stories, memories, and history of Sugar Grove School for future generations. By sharing your items, you help enrich the archive and ensure that the experiences of past students, teachers, and community members are not forgotten. Whether it’s a snapshot of a long-lost event, a class photo from years ago, or any other piece of school history, we want to hear from you! To contribute, simply visit our Contact page and get in touch. Together, we can make sure that the legacy of Sugar Grove School lives on for years to come. If you are an alumni of Sugar Grove School, please consider joining the group here. All members verified.

Communities, Education, Resources, Sugar Grove, Sugar Grove School, Teas, Uncategorized

Green and White or Purple and Gold

October 28, 2024 Admin No Comments

If you’ve spotted the purple and gold shirts from a few years ago at Sugar Grove School or maybe noticed an old yearbook and found yourself questioning why they aren’t in the traditional green and white, you’re not alone. This article explores the intriguing story behind how the school’s colors shifted from purple and gold to green and white, along with some fascinating details along the way. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sugar Grove High School underwent a significant change in its colors. Various theories circulate about when and why this transition occurred. One alumni from the early 1960s recalls that a mistake in ordering new uniforms led to the unexpected color change. Apparently, someone either ordered the wrong color or the company shipped the wrong color, prompting the school to adopt the new colors since they were unable to return the uniforms. This color switch was such a notable event yet it remained largely overlooked for over 50 years, with very few individuals aware of its origins. The 1963 yearbook provides visual evidence of this transition, showcasing both purple and gold uniforms alongside the new green and white ones. For example, the Junior Varsity basketball team sported purple and gold, while the Varsity team donned green and white. Today, it’s rare to find anyone who remembers the original colors or the existence of those purple and gold uniforms. Despite extensive archives maintained by the Sugar Grove School Alumni Group, there are no mentions of the new uniform purchase or any official announcements regarding the color change. It seemed to happen without much fanfare. Another version of the story suggests that Wallace Hutton, a teacher and basketball coach, played a role in officially changing the school colors during the early 1960s. Additionally, one alumni noted that a vote on the color change took place in the spring of 1960, although the reasons for the shift remain unclear. These accounts remain unverified, and alumni with either purple or green letters have shared insights, yet no one seems to pinpoint the exact timing of the transition. Interestingly, none have recounted personal experiences from the period of change or described having a say in the decision. The school’s logo, featuring a maple leaf, has remained consistent over the years. Initially, a crest was used, but the name “Sugar Grove Maple Leafs” has been in place for as long as records show. Some speculate that the color change was motivated by the natural green of maple leaves, with similar reasoning for incorporating gold due to the autumn hues. Yearbooks from 1949 to 1953 prominently featured purple and gold covers, while the first green and white cover appeared in 1961. This trend continued until 1969 when the high school consolidated, leading to a shift in yearbook design. After this consolidation, yearbooks transitioned from hardcovers to a variety of softcover designs, none of which were green and white until 1994, when a green and white theme reemerged. In a nod to its history, Sugar Grove School offered purple and gold shirts during the 2018-2019 school year. If you have additional information about the school colors or related stories that weren’t covered here, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share in the comments. For those interested in delving deeper into the school’s history, consider purchasing my book, The History of Sugar Grove School. It features a collection of photos and is a concise yet informative read. If interested, please use the contact form and let me know. Alumni can reconnect with old friends in the Sugar Grove School Alumni Group on Facebook, where you’ll also find digitized copies of yearbooks from 1949 to the present.

Communities, Sugar Grove, Sugar Grove School, Uncategorized

Ghost Stories: A Late Evening Encounter

July 16, 2024July 16, 2024 Admin No Comments

In the fall of 2014, I had recently started exploring my interest in documenting community history. My efforts included digitizing yearbooks and visiting the historic James Cemetery next to the school to practice indexing graves, especially the documenting of those with missing or unknown markers. At that time, I lived adjacent to the school, making it easy to walk over through a gap in the fence. I was also volunteering at the school library, assisting with a highly successful student reading and literacy program. This program required extensive behind-the-scenes preparation to be effective. I would often work with the librarian after 5 PM, sometimes staying until 7 or 8 PM to complete various tasks. On this particular evening, we had a few extra tasks that included setting up the book fair. As I arrived at the school that evening, the only people present were the principal and the librarian. After settling in and completing some tasks, I was asked to make copies of a flyer advertising the book fair. The principal and librarian remained in the library, working on organizing and setting up. It was between 5 and 6 PM, and though it was starting to get dark, it was not yet completely dark outside. The hallway lights were off, and the only illumination came from an Aquafina vending machine near the end of the hall, with additional light coming through the entry door from an outside light. Expecting nothing unusual, I took the flyer and walked down the hallway from the library, past closed classrooms and the office. As I turned to enter the workroom at the bottom of the stairs, I heard it—giggling. It was the same sound I had previously documented in the accounts of others who had experienced what is believed to be a paranormal event. I stopped immediately and took stock of my surroundings. The library door had closed behind me, and there was no sound of talking. The giggling resembled the garbled, mechanical laughter of a Chatty Cathy doll. I decided the sound likely came from the direction of one of the rooms towards the cafeteria. The vending machine’s blue-white glow would have revealed anyone crossing in front of it. I left my papers on the copy machine in the workroom and slowly walked down the hallway towards the vending machine to investigate. As I passed the main entry door, the boys’ restroom, and the classrooms, I felt certain that the little ghost girl I had heard about was manifesting that evening. The classroom doors were closed and locked, and peering inside confirmed that the rooms were empty and quiet. At the end of the hallway, I checked the exit door and the door to the cafeteria serving line. Both were closed and locked, with no lights on and nothing unusual occurring. To ensure nothing else was causing the sound, I randomly pressed some buttons on the vending machine. Nothing happened. I returned to the workroom to make my copies. As I walked back up the hallway, I noted my shadow cast by the vending machine’s light. I pondered whether people truly found the school creepy when dark and empty, while recalling my father’s explanations for various noises, such as water hammer or steam pipes during his time as a custodian in the 70s and 80s. On my way back to the workroom, I checked the gym doors, which were unlocked and uneventful. When I was nearly back to the workroom, I quietly said aloud, “I know who you are and I heard that.” At that moment, the vending machine flickered. I made my copies and returned to the library, where the principal and librarian were still working around a table. Neither had left the room or made any sounds that could have reached the workroom. We finished updating the reading program and I taped up the flyers around the school. Nothing further occurred, and we all left together, locking up the school before I walked home. Additional Accounts of the Little Ghost Girl **April 21, 2017:** I spoke with retired teacher Maxine Reedy, who had taught at Sugar Grove School for nearly 40 years and was now 82 years old. Our conversation took place at Wharf Hill UMC’s fellowship hall after my grandfather’s graveside service. Mrs. Reedy had been involved with some other church ladies in putting on the meal for the family, and we discussed various topics, including my father’s then recent college graduation among other things. I took the opportunity to ask about the little ghost girl at the school. Her expression revealed she did in fact know something about this topic. She confirmed had heard her herself. Unlike other accounts, Mrs. Reedy described hearing laughter evolve into a recognizable melody, “Ring Around The Rosie,” before returning to playful laughter and then abruptly stopping. When I asked if this was the only time she had heard humming, she said that most of the time it was just giggles. She remembered hearing about the ghost activity as early as the mid-70s but noted that people spoke more openly about it in the 90s. Some believed in the ghost, while others sought logical explanations and refused to attribute any of this to paranormal activity. Research & Facts as They Relate to Paranormal Activity – The school was vacant during a fire in December 1935. The custodian, Roy Fulton, was the only person known to be there, checking the boilers at the time of the fire that burned the school down. Blizzard conditions were documented in the newspaper causing the Marion Fire Brigade not to be able to get to Sugar Grove to put out the fire efficiently.– There have been no documented deaths at the school or on the property.– Various accounts of paranormal activity began emerging in the late 70s or early 80s.– Most accounts are consistently descriptions of giggles or sightings of a little girl, around 6-8 years old, appearing in classrooms and then vanishing.– The James Cemetery adjacent to…

Stories, Sugar Grove School

Ghost Of A Little Girl

June 22, 2024June 25, 2024 Admin

In the heart of Sugar Grove School, where the laughter of children echos, another presence lingers—subtle, yet undeniable. Whispers of a spectral figure, a little girl lost in the labyrinth of time, danced through the hallways and classrooms, leaving shivers in their wake. While some waved away these tales as overactive imagination, others couldn’t deny the unsettled feeling with each passing encounter. Who is she? Where did she come from? Why is she here? One teacher, whose journey at Sugar Grove spanned from 1992 to 2013, bore witness to the ethereal giggles that punctuated the silence of early mornings. As she walked the familiar halls, the laughter of a young girl seemed to echo from perhaps another time or place, teasingly elusive. Though fleeting glimpses and faint echoes were all she could grasp, the presence of the unseen child was undeniable, a lingering mystery in the fabric of the school’s history. Yet, it wasn’t an isolated experience. Another veteran teacher, whose tenure stretched from 1975 to 2020, found herself entangled in the spectral web woven within Sugar Grove’s walls. From distant laughter echoing through empty classrooms to the vivid apparition of a girl with dark braids and a dress from another era, her encounters bordered on the surreal. Each sighting, each incident laughter, added another layer to the enigmatic tale of the little ghost girl. Even those who toiled away in the school’s cafeteria found themselves touched by the inexplicable. One morning, as the steam from the hot food on the line danced in the air as a worker removed a lid, a sudden burst of cold air pierced through the warmth, as if a ghostly breath brushed against her skin. Reviewing camera footage revealed no earthly explanation, leaving the encounter shrouded in mystery but clearly showed the moment when the burst of cold air was felt. Later that day, it was discovered that activity had been on the rise in other parts of the school when one teacher came to the cafeteria and mentioned that several had heard laughter earlier in the day from different classrooms. Perhaps the most compelling testament to the haunting came from the collective voices of those who bore witness to the spectral presence. From the hushed whispers of teachers to the startled gasps of cafeteria workers, the tales wove together into a tapestry of shared experiences, each thread adding depth to the paranormality of Sugar Grove School. As the years passed and the stories multiplied, it became clear that the little ghost girl was more than just a figment of imagination. She was a presence woven into the very fabric of the school, a lingering mystery that defied explanation—a reminder that some mysteries were meant to remain unsolved, echoing through the halls of Sugar Grove for years to come. Additional accounts of The Ghost Girl of Sugar Grove School will be added soon! Check our Stories page for more like this.

Stories, Sugar Grove School