Holt's school was the originator of the "Field Day", Mr. Wright Perry supervised the first one. "Field Day's" as they were called were held once a year, and was the day when all the country schools in the area met at a specified school to compete for inexpensive prizes. Games were set up for different age groups. Concessions were sold at these outings and the profits went to the schools to purchase athletic equipment. Although the concessions were limited, they usually included home-made ice cream, candy, iced down soft drinks, chewing gum etc. Some of the schools that participated in the "Field Day" events were: Dunlap, Earls, Mt. Airy, Pittmans, Rinda, Coats, Shafter and Meridian. Earls School was the last to host the event in the early 1937-38. Jessie Campbell was principal of Earls School and supervised the final contests. 

The games played were common, old fashion and simple, they were games like potato sack race, eating an apple tied to a string, picking apples from a tub of water with the mouth, the wheel barrow race and others. Main events were the double-header baseball games. 

A little grove of trees in front of Holt's School was a place where ice cream suppers were held as well as the selling of "Field Day" concessions.  It was also the place where R.E. Ellis, Weakley County Agent picked to make mattresses in 1941, when there was a surplus of cotton. Everyone in the community arrived to learn how to sew, pack and make their own bed mattress. It was a lot of fun, but most of all, it gave everyone a chance to visit while acquiring a much needed bed piece. Lots of families did not own a mattress at all, instead slept on shuck beds (a sack filled with corn shucks). Each mattress consisted of 42 pounds of cotton, ticking and thread that was furnished free. There were helpers always on hand to help supervise your work to insure that you would get a quality product for your labor. 

The summer season was full of fun, games and good entertainment for all ages, but things were a little different in the winter. Holt's School like all other country schools had some kind of Christmas program and an occasional play or cake walk. The crowds were much smaller in winter, but the thought of seeing Santa Claus in person was the
biggest thrill of all to the kids. 

The County Health Doctor and his nurse came around once a year, giving a series of shots and tests. Probably the high part of their visit was the little blue ribbon the children received after being vaccinated for smallpox.   R.E. Ellis, Weakley County Agent visited all the schools once a year to solicit 4-H Club members and discuss activities. A Coca-Cola representative would occasionally pay the country schools a visit giving all the students a bright red Coca-Cola pencil that was treasured highly.  Bro. Perkins always visited just before Christmas to give all the kids some sort of Christmas card. And  occasionally but rarely we were visited by the County School Superintendent. 

During World War II, commodities were passed out to school kids by the government. Such items as grapefruit, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, prunes, raisins, apples, oranges, tangerines, and dried California peaches were some of the items given in equal shares to the kids. Sometimes milk, candy and Peter Paul's Activated Charcoal Gum was included with the commodities. Just before winter we received free bottles of 666 Chill Tonic good for malaria. There was a bitter taste present when the kids first saw the bottles. Some threw theirs away before they reached home. 

Submitted by John Holt