If someone approached you and asked if you could remember back 78 years to the year 1930, to the fall of that year, when you were a Senior at Fair Park High School on Greenwood Road in Shreveport, LA, could you actually remember any of the details?
Edith Bailey Barisas, the President of Fair Park's first graduating class in 1931, was asked that very question and at 93 years young she was ever so happy to share her experiences just like those memories were yesterday instead of yesteryear.
I had the great pleasure of talking to Ms. Edith and asking her a few questions about her experiences at Fair Park High School and some questions about life in general. Bill Scott, creator of our 1961 class web site, came across folks who knew Ms. Edith and inquired if we could interview her about her days at Fair Park High.
We were given permission to do so and Bill asked if I would make the call and do the write up of the discussion. I was happy to do so and even more excited to talk to Ms. Edith about her life experiences.
I contacted Ms. Edith by telephone on a cool October day and after talking to her for over an hour I knew she had to be a former English teacher. Her sharp wit was extremely admirable, and her words were impeccable, soft, and assuring.
Ms. Edith recalled that her first job was at 14 years of age and she worked at the Woolworth Department Store. She loved her job working the candy counter. Money was a big factor in those days and Ms. Edith was so happy for her big pay check of $1.50 for working 8 hours on Saturdays. To her, she was doing well and had money in her pocket. Never mind the hours she had to put in for the pay.
That was during the Great Depression. Even with the scare of today's job market in the year 2008, Ms. Edith recalls what a real depression was like in those difficult years around 1930 to 1932. She said that unless you lived in those days you would not really know what the word "Depression" really means.
Many of the young men who went to Fair Park with Ms. Edith did not graduate because they had to leave school to find work to help support their families. She remembers those hard times, yet she clearly recalls the good times from those years as well.
Ms. Edith's last trip to a Fair Park class reunion was in 1991 when she and her husband, Mr. Bernard Barisas, attended her 60th class reunion in Shreveport. There were quite a few that attended the reunion and a good time was had by everyone.
While in town, she and Mr. Bernard got to tour Centenary College where she went to college. She also graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge with her Masters Degree in English in 1936.
Ms. Edith shared a story that she considers funny now, but it wasn't funny at the time. She spent the summer after her senior year at Fair Park working before she headed to college in the fall. When college started she had saved $27.00 for her tuition and school books. She was really excited about having that much money saved for college.
Ms. Edith recalls that in her senior year at Fair Park the Principal was Mr. Ward, a very nice man. Mr. Alberson became the Principal after Mr. Ward and Mr. Herron became the Vice Principal. Ms. Edith recalled that Mr. Alberson lived east of the school. One day his house caught fire. He not only lost his home that day, but he also lost his wife in the fire. That was a very emotional time for everyone at the school, and a situation that Ms. Edith will never forget.
Ms. Edith and her husband Mr. Bernard taught school at Fair Park during the years 1939-1941. She taught English and Mr. Bernard taught Industrial Arts. She remembers that she and another teacher at Fair Park, Mr. Charles Ravenna, climbed the stairs together every day to get to their third floor classrooms in "The Penthouse" area of the school. Mr. Ravenna taught in the classroom across the hall from Ms. Edith and during class changes they always enjoyed chatting with each other. Mr. Ravenna later became an Assistant Principal at Byrd High School.
Ms. Edith has tried to keep in contact with a few friends from Fair Park during the past 78 years. Ms. Sally Hargrove was a good friend for years, and Sally's husband was Woody Hargrove. He was the Commercial Arts teacher at Fair Park for a time, but later opened an insurance company with his son Bill Hargrove. Their business was very successful for many years. Ms. Edith's last visit with Ms. Sally was in Shreveport in 1997.
There is another class member that Ms. Edith remembers very well. Her name is Hazel Daniels. As far as Ms. Edith remembers, Ms. Daniels is still living and should be in her 90's also. She never married and was a music teacher all her life. The last Ms. Edith heard, Ms. Daniels was in a nursing home in Shreveport.
Ms. Edith was married for many, many years to Mr. Bernard Barisas and they were blessed to have a son who is a chemistry professor at Colorado State University. Her daughter-in-law is also a professor at the same university. So as you can see the family has had a long line of teachers. Ms. Edith also has 3 grandchildren of whom she is very proud.
Ms. Edith and her husband traveled our beautiful country for many years after they retired. However, in 1995 tragedy struck this kind lady's life. A drunk driver crashed into the car Ms. Edith was driving and Mr. Bernard was killed. Some of the twinkle in Ms. Edith eyes left her when she lost her dear husband and companion after all those beautiful years together.
After talking to Ms. Edith that amazing hour and jotting down some of the above facts (of which I hope I have the dates correct and excuse me if I don't) I believe that Ms. Edith is younger in mind and body than I am at the age of 65. I can tell you for a fact that not only is she a smart and classy lady, but has that little wit about her that I so admire. She has so many qualities that I can only pray I will attain in the years to come. Ms. Edith even apologized to me for not remembering more of the details from 78 years ago and her memories of Fair Park High School.
What an amazing lady to have a conversation with at this time in my life. My only regret was not being able to sit across the table from Ms. Edith and listen to this truly elegant lady tell about her life and her memories of Fair Park High School.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY in March 2009 to Ms. Edith on her 94th birthday. May you have many more happy and healthy birthdays to come. Another year of memories for you to remember and pass on.
Our Alma Mater Fair Park High School and the First Class President, Ms. Edith Bailey Barisas. How great was that telephone conversation. One I will not soon forget!
Many thanks to Bill Scott for giving me the opportunity to listen to the voice of yesteryear tell about her life and our school, Fair Park High School, some 78 years later. Amazing !!! It was really hard to write this story. I can't find enough eloquent words to describe this uniquely beautiful soul.
MS. EDITH BAILEY BARISAS. God Bless Her Always!
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