Fellow Bertie-web subscribers: There's a newly published book available for anyone wanting to learn more about one of the small community high schools of Bertie County during the second quarter of the 1900's. The 250-plus-page "History and Memories of Roxobel-Kelford High School, Roxobel, NC, 1926-1952--Remembrances of People and Events" begins with a brief look at the early communities and schools of Roxobel and Kelford, then turns to construction of the consolidated R-K High School in 1926, and proceeds on through the last graduating class there in 1952. (Even though all 11 and then 12 grades attended the school, it was generally referred to as RKHS until the h.s. students were tranferred to the former Lewiston-Woodville HS in the fall of 1952.) The intervening years encompassed the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War; and the book tells the stories of the students, teachers, and the school itself during that period. The story is interwoven with statistics from the High School Principals' Annual Reports, including an appendix listing names of graduates and teachers, subjects studied, and general information about the high school each year from 1930-1952. The official proceedings of the Bertie County Board of Education through those years contained a wealth of pertinent facts and figures as well. Most interesting, though, are the remembrances of the students themselves, both about their school days and their military experiences afterward. Sources have been carefully documented with endnotes. There are class and individual pictures, as we were then and as we've been photographed at recent reunions. Another appendix pays tribute to many now-deceased schoolmates, giving a brief summary of their life since schooldays. The last appendix contains reproductions of the deeds on the school property from 1926 until the present time. Here are a few of the e-mail comments received from former RKHS'ers who've ordered the book (these are actual; there's no embellishment to their words): -- 12/21/01: "I'm sure I'm far down the list of those who have told you what an outstanding job you did on creating, authoring and distributing the History and Memories of Roxobel-Kelford High School. I received my copy in yesterday's mail and immediately sat down and started reading. I can only imagine the hours and days you spent in tracking down the facts and information you gathered. It's clear it was a labor of love since no one would put that kind of effort and time into a project of that magnitude just for the fun of it!" -- 12/22/01: ..."I RECEIVED MY COPY TODAY AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN....YOU HAVE CREATED A MASTERPIECE, IT IS SO EASY TO READ...THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE" -- 12/29/01: "Received your historical writing of R-K. So far I'm finding it hard to put it down. Such history you have compiled." --12/29/01: "We received the R-K book on Christmas Eve and (my husband) couldn't wait to look at it. He read it from cover to cover before I had a chance to even get a glimpse.... You did a fantastic job and I know all the alumni are very appreciative of the time and labor you put into the book. I just wish we had one like it in (my school). There are so many memories. 'Thank you' is not enough." . -- 1/06/02: "My aunt gave me your book for Christmas. I couldn't have been given a better present. Thank you for all the work that you put into researching and collecting all of that information. It has helped me so much to better understand how my father and aunts grew up and tells me so much about their friends and area families. ...Thank you again for your wonderful book. The former students of Roxobel-Kelford High School and their descendants owe you a great debt of gratitude." .... --1/07/02: "Just finished reading your book. It is fantastic!!!!!" Copies of the book are $20 (payable to me by check or money order) and can be ordered by mail addressed to: Edith Vick Farris 8527 Minerva Court Vienna, VA 22182-5046 The price includes mailing. Please be sure to include the full address to which the book(s) should be sent. Feel free to contact me by e-mail or call me at (703) 573-4051 if you have questions. Edie Farris