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Mr.
& Mrs. Charles
Craft, adult leaders
began working with the
group of students in
1954. Known as "Charlie
and Chris", they were
always there to assist
in plans for all
activities. Only
students from Sabina
School were permitted to
join in the 'fun' every
Thursday evening. A
'self supportive' group,
made it possible for
them to hire bands for
special dances, parties
decorations for the
occasions. Meetings were
held in the Auditorium
of the Municipal
Building in downtown
Sabina. Weekly dues of
25 cents each were paid
to enter. Rules were
implemented by 'The
Crafts', and everyone
respected them for such.
Meetings began the first
of every school year,
and ended at the end of
that year, closing for
the summer. Farewell
Dances were held for the
year's Senior Class,
being a 'formal affair',
hiring the Dick Kellough
Band from Wilmington,
Ohio.
Dancing
was not the only past
time for the 'teens'.
There was shuffle board,
bad mitten, ping pong
tables, their 'own' Juke
Box and soft drink
machine. Playing cards
was another form of
entertainment. Most of
all it was a place
everyone could meet,
talk, have fun and a
good time with their
friends.
At
the end of each school
year, Officers were
electedfor the next
year. The officers were
in charge of planning
activities, with the
supervision of Mr. and
Mrs. Craft. Several
other parents came to
help during certain
activities, such a the
dances or Special
Parties, such as
Christmas Dance,
Valentine's Day Dance,
and the Senior Farewell
Dances.
The
following "Teens" were
elected as the "First
Officers of the Teen
Club for the school year
1954-55. [This is
from the Sabina Hi Life,
furnished by Terry
Richards.]
President: Harold Dean
[Sonny] Laymon;
1st V. Pres. Bill
Stewart; 2nd V. Pres.
Janet /Briggs]
Arehart; 3rd V. Pres.
Dale Stewart; Secretary
Norma Jean [Van
Pelt] Smith; Ass't
Sec. David Allen;
Treasurer Gwen Fraley;
News Reporter Nancy
/Bowers] Foster;
Program Chairman Connie
[Craft] Vance;
Decorating Chairman
Elaine Geary; Fixture
Committee Bill Wead,
John Locke, Arnold
Rittenhouse; Music
Committee Miss Lois
Darst, music teacher and
Nancy Crane; Attendance
Committee Gaynell Fraley
and Loretta
/Blankenship]
Rittenhouse; and
"Sergeant At Arms..
Ronnie Woodruff.
Only
Sabina High School
students were allowed to
go, unless, they were
bringing a guest. And,
no one older than a
Senior was allowed to
come weekly.
Norma Jean (VanPelt)
Smith, Elaine (Geary)
Wilson-Queen, Harold
Dean "Sonny" Laymon -
King, & Dennis
Rankin at SHS Teen Club
Dance around
1954-55
This
article includes some
'memories' from SHS
Alumni members who were
contacted and sent their
'Memories'.
Joann
[Wilson] Pence:
Kingwood, TX. Class of
1956... "I will
always remember the fun
we all had at the Teen
Club, Mr. & Mrs.
Craft were wonderful
people. One person
stands out in my mind
for his dancing-Harold
Dean Laymon. He was such
a great dancer, every
girl wanted to dance
with him. He could dance
to any kind of music! He
was from the Class of
1955."
Kay
[VanPelt]
Watkins: NC. Class of
1965... "What I
remember most about Mr.
& Mrs. Craft is
their love of young
people. They were hosts
ofa 4H co-ed BBQ Club
about 1964, of which,
was great fun for the
dozen or so of us who
participated. Most of
the 'good eats' were at
their home and we all
enjoyed their
hospitality and the
company of our
classmates."
Norma
Jean [VanPelt]
Smith: FL, Class of
1955... "I was an
Attendant for a
Christmas Dance, Elaine
[Geary] Wilson
was Queen, Harold Dean
Laymon was King, Denny
Rankin was runner-up for
King." A picture was
sent by Norma Jean, and
is included in this
article.
Charlene
[Shoop]
Schaefer: Colorado
Springs, CO., Class of
1959... "On Saturday
morning, February 3,
1959, we were decorating
for a Soc Hop, that was
when we heard about
Buddy Holly's plane
crash. Mrs. Wildman was
with us and she told me
she would never trust
airplanes! And, 1 can
always remember her
driving her 'Cadillac!
I, also, remember all of
those 'Flashlight
Dances' on Thursday
nights."
Janet
Stackhouse Bentley:
Antioch, TN. Class of
1957... "One of my
very favorite things to
do every Thursday
evening... and, dancing
to the "Bunny Hop"! Such
wonderful memories!"
Connie
Craft Vance ...
"Charles and Christine
Craft, my dad and mom,
were always willing and
able to oversee the Teen
Club every Thursday
night at the city
building. They enjoyed
being with the kids,
planning dances and
activities. My brother,
Cork, and I loved them
dearly."
Submitted
by: Joyce
[Shoemaker]
Smith, Connie
[Craft] Vance
and Terry Richards in a
combined effort to
provide information
about the SHS Teen Club
years. Picture of Mr.
& Mrs. Charles Craft
taken July 1965 provided
by daughter, Connie
[Craft] Vance.
A
special thank you to
Terry Richard, since he
had the Sabina Hi Life's
and some pictures of the
years after 1958.
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