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Sandra Waldrop Doolittle > Memories from Jordan High School Memories from Jordan High School by Sandra Waldrop Doolittle
The cannons they have in the naval museum are small and not at all what I remember. I have been told that these are the cannons that were in front of JVHS for many years. But, I remember them being much larger. I can't remember when the cannons were placed at Jordan, why or who gave them to us. I remember my older sisters talking about the cannons, they attended Jordan in the late 1940s and the cannons had been there for a while. I do remember there was a cannon, that sat in the front yard of an old house on Hamilton Road not far from what is now Rose Hill fish restaurant. The restaurant was also across the street on Hamilton Road, and the Peabody Apartments. which is now a vacant lot. This cannon was smaller than I remembered, but when you are older and looking back everything was smaller. Does anyone remember what happen to the cannons? When they came to JVHS to live and why was it given to JVHS and who gave it? Everyone I asked about the cannons would rub their chin and have a blank look on their face. This is when I know I'm not the only one that doesn't know where they are.
Just curious and wanting to know if anyone else remembers what happen to the Cannons that once sat in front of Jordan High School? 1905 - Sandra maiden name Waldrop Muscogee County, Georgia Above is a message I sent out a couple of years ago and here are a few of the answers. RED JACKET FACTS The chronicle of the original gun is deeply interwoven with the culture and traditions of Columbus. Organized in 1835 the Columbus Guards saw action in the Indian uprising of 1836, the war with Mexico in 1846, and the War Between the States in 1861. Full size fireable replica of the Red Jacket Cannon guards the entrance of the pub
Later that same year a steamboat found the "RED JACKET" entangled in its anchor. The gun ended up in New York City. As luck would have it, Capt. Tom Blanchard saw a newspaper article telling of a celebration and describing the gun. Lamar Chapel arranged for the purchase and return of the gun to Columbus in 1884. The "RED JACKET" stood vigil at the old library and the Courthouse for many years and even gave its name to the Jordan Vocational High School Mascot (hence the name Jordan Red Jackets). In 1930 some "Good Old Boys" (most likely inebriated) stole the "RED JACKET" took it to the river and attempted to fire it. The gun exploded but unfortunately none of them was injured or killed. Alva Smith, of the Columbus Historical Society, found the pieces and stuck them together. In 1996, William Gantt produced a full-sized drawing of the gun from measurements taken from it. He commissioned the Breitling Arms company of Demo polis, Alabama to build a full size, fireable replica of the "RED JACKET" for THE CANNON BREWPUB. The gun was first proved on July 29, 1998 one hundred and thirty years after the original. The original "RED JACKET" is displayed in the Iron Works museum room. The Red Jacket is the signature gun of the Brewpub. MORE RED JACKET FACTS
I can remember walking up 34th street and meeting Gere Faye Jones Taylor at 11th Ave and walking on up the hill crossing 12th avenue and going straight into the Jordan High School doors passing thru the cannons going into the front doors. We hardly notice them, but yet, when it was time to meet , everyone would meet at the cannons. We girls would sit under them and talk about the boys and the boys would walk on top of them. The cannons were a great place to meet or be picked up by our parents. One of the best answers I received about the missing cannons was that guns were not allowed on school's ground now days so the cannons were removed . You would have to see the size of these cannons to enjoy this remark. Now if you could have turned them towards the Principal's office that might have been a different story. These cannons were large enough to hold the Cheerleaders Francis Austin, Wynell Hall, Harold Grandberry, Joy Bullard, Kenneth Burgess, Carol Bacon and Gwen Bullard. The seven of them were spread out and still had plenty of room. This is why I knew the smaller "Red Jacket" cannon wasn't what we were looking for. Ron Rollins , who is a writer for Columbus Georgia OnLine with his "Ins and Outs of Harris County and my daughter Jan Doolittle Page who has the "Mystery Picture" on Columbus Georgia On Line, and I put our heads together. We started with the Columbus Civil War Naval Museum and sure enough there was one of the cannons sitting in front of the Museum and the other cannon was down by the Chattahoochee River. Both of the girls were in their positions , one watching the people who were going in and out of the Museum and the other was guarding the River. They were still in charge and on duty just as they were when they were in charge of the students at JVHS.
It will take another story as to what these Ladies have been thru. They have been under the water for years, then sent around to live many places they were painted and pounded on and sent to a place call home for many years. Then they were to be hauled off again to God only knows where. But when we found them they were happy in their new home more beautiful than ever and a special glow. They have in my opinion found their place to live among the others who were built and served during their time. While others were making History these Ladies were cast aside. But the Ladies would have served the South with all their mite if only they could have. I will have to talk to my friend Ron Rollins and see if he will write story of what the JVHS cannons went thru from the time they were built , and follow the steps they went thru before they went down into the water and what he has to say about how they were found what year and who found them. Ron knows the history of these two ladies. I can only tell you the JVHS cannons are apart of my teenage years . These ladies are forever in my memories along with many special memories of Jordan Vocation High School. One of my special memories of JVHS is singing this hundreds of times. The JVHS Alma Mater With the Carmine and JVHS RED JACKET STORIES While searching for the JVHS cannons I found many interesting stories. To start with, Mr. G. Gunby Jordan donated the original tract of land and ten thousand dollars. In 1906 Columbus Industrial High School became the first school in the nation vocation and academic courses in a public school system. JVHS after opening in 1937, a year later 1938, the auditorium and gymnasium were completed. The football team was known as the "Buzzing Bees", Their uniforms were maroon and white . Story goes, the new uniforms must have brought the team luck because for the first time in 13 years the red jackets defeated their arch rival Columbus High School. In 1957 as JVHS continued to grow classes were meeting in an old cleaner's building on the corner of 33rd street and Howanrd Ave. JVHS was expanding and seniors attended school from 8:30 to 2:56 and freshmen and sophomores attended from 9:10 to 3:52. JVHS enrollment of 2,300 came in 1964. The class of 1965 had the distinction of being the largest graduating class in the city with 666 . One of my classes were in the building across the street from JVHS that used to be a Cleaners and when the bell rung my next class was in the huts in back of JVHS near Woodlawn Drive. That was quite a walk, then my next class was on second floor after stoping by my locker on first floor. Dont forget in the mist of all this we had Physical Education. I also found that JVHS is the oldest Vocational High School in North America. When a female student graduated from JVHS and a husband wasn't available at the time she could always get a typing, shorthand or bookkeeping job until "Mr Right" came along. The male students, , story goes, a good many of them became policemen. Stories also goes if you were ever pulled over for speeding and while he was writing the ticket, just roll down the window and whistle the JVHS Alma Mater, worked every time. Ralph and Jan Wiggins Wyrosdick , and John McGlaun met and attended the 100th celebration of Columbus Industrial High School. For those who were not able to attend it was very moving. To see how the ones who have taken over is using the building and it's active and being kept alive. The Jordan High Band marched over from JVHS . There was a crowd that attended some students and teachers. There looked like a crown from the nineteen forties attending and knowing one another. My two older sisters Juanita Waldrop Hirsch and Norma Waldrop Heid would have enjoyed the gathering of old friends. Juanita pasted away in 2002 and Norma this past Feb. Both had many friends at Columbus Junior High and Jordan High School. Columbus Junior High School, 1112 29th Street, 100 years of Public Education, March 23, 2006. Mayor Bob Paydesheff was late for a funeral but came long enough to give his comments for the City of Columbus. Comments also was given from the Central Office by Dr. John Phillips, Superintendent of Muscogee County Schools. Dedication of the Alumni Walk and Courtyard , by Mr. J. Marvin Mills., ASC Partner in Education. Others were Mr. Gene Avery, Mr. James Woodland, Mrs. Leslie Robertson also Mr. Allen Levi was the Musical guest. The closing was given by Mr. Sanders Denham and then the invited guests were asked to join them for a reception following the program in room 204, the new Library. Tommy Champion , a friend of ours was sitting down when we walked in, I was wondering why he was there, an ole Columbus High School boy. like him was really out of his territory. Then Tommy told me he was there because his mother had graduated from Columbus Junior High School in 1935 we found her brick outside in the Courtyard with Askew written on it and class of 1935. I was pleased I was able to share this moment with Tommy he lost his mother not to long ago and this moment was special to him. We were told in advanced to meet at JVHS and the former students would walk over to the old Columbus Junior High School together. But when the four of us met at JVHS there wasn't anyone there. So there we were with jeans and tennis shoes and it was starting to rain. When we walked in the former Columbus Junior High School and sat down Jan and I saw then others were dressed in their Sunday cloths. So here Jan, Ralph, John and I (Butch McVey was there also )are sitting there in front of the G. Gumby Jordan family. I wanted so badly to turn around and tell them, I really do have better cloths. But other than that, the cake was beautiful the punch was very good and the students there were great. Thank you for letting me share my memories with you. Sandra Waldrop Doolittle
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I remember those cannons being large enough so that the cheerleaders could stand on them and one person could sit and stretch their legs out while they had their picture made.
These are the same cannons that were painted Columbus High School colors in the mid 1940s. In return Jordan High School painted on the front of the building (Columbus High School) JVHS in tar and this wasn't removed until the fire at Columbus High School when boys (?) set Columbus High School on fire with air plane fuel.
In 1861, Laura Beecher (cousin to Harriet Beecher Stowe) purchased the salute gun now known as the "RED JACKET". It was presented to the Columbus Guards in honor of her nephew Lieutenant W. G. Clemons. The name it seems comes from the red jackets that were worn by the Columbus Guards. The unit served as honor guard to Jefferson Davis on his trip to Montgomery for his inaugural. The "RED JACKET" was taken along and used to fire the first salutes to the new president. At the fall of Columbus to General Wilson in 1865 it was thrown in the river.
This is a good story about the Red Jacket cannon, most interesting, but still not the missing cannons., I'm looking for. Still a mystery I asked Jim Hunter, who also attended JVHS, and he said, "We had cannons?", "no ", just kidding, But he did have to think for a minute or two. Jim couldn't remember anymore than I could. what had happen to them, even if we ever knew I didn't really trust Jim anyway, he stood me up once and until this day he tells me he still has the receipt where he paid a week's salary for this car that night. Yeah, Yeah , Yeah. But again there was no answer to where the missing cannons were.
It is my prayer that the people in Columbus will go down and visit with the cannons and not forget them. These cannons were built to kill, but as the story goes they were never taken into battle. Instead they were taken and placed where they were loved by all who attended JVHS.