Talk:Odell School, North Carolina

Latest comment: 15 years ago by PastorMatt

Folks,

I have put some of the things I remember Grandma (Gertrude) Smith telling me about the community. There is more to tell, but I'm not sure that stuff about the "Tulin Telephone Company", the fire at the Odell School Gymnasium, "Nightingale Nursing Home" or the spirited competition between "Dub's Store" and "Tom's Store" are the stuff that ought to be written about in an encyclopedia article. If there's some consensus about it, I'll be glad to write further.

I lived in the community until 1995, when I was called into the ministry, moved away from my home on Odell School Road and became simply a "loving admirer" of Odell Community. I just found this article today, and thought I would put my "two cents worth" into it.

Someone with a little more recent history on the area ought to write about Red Irvin's newspaper cartoons lampooning (Concord's Mayor) Bernie Edwards and (utilities manager) Don Howell over their attempts to seize land and build the Coddle Creek Reservoir, and how one vote of the County Commissioners to purchase Carl Overcash's land put a stop to it.

Also, the tiffs over Airport construction should be written about. Speak up, folks. I don't know it all.

Later.... PastorMatt 05:21, 27 October 2007 (UTC) Matt Smith, NCHS 1976 Now living in Eden, NCReply


Well Folks,

Finally I've had time to put a few more things into this article. One glaring omission I left out of my original contributions . . . and I must beg forgiveness of my brother and my daddy for this . . . I didn't mention Odell Fire Department. So, you can read some of the good things I can say about those fine folks here. My personal experience with OVFD was not the happiest time of my life, so my apologies for letting my bias show.

Also, you'll find the Tulin Telephone Exchange fleshed out now. I realize that I don't remember which Johnson family actually owned the telephone exchange. Anyone who does know, please edit my work. Next time I come home, I might just visit Bobby Isenhour, current owner of the Tulin Boarding House, for more information.

Anyhow, hope Christmas was good to all of you and keep my former pew warm at Gilwood. Jean and I might make it back there sometime.

Later . . . . PastorMatt (talk) —Preceding undated comment was added at 06:30, 3 January 2009 (UTC).Reply