Beth Page

[school site & community] Beth Page was a school in the Melviney area. The area around vthe school was known as the Beth Page community. The area of Beth Page was located a few miles south and west of Athena. Beth Page School was made of logs. It did not have a well and a "spring" was dug and from this the students and teachers were able to have water to drink. Water was dipped with a gourd or tin cup to quench the thirst. Beth Page did not have a chimney and on cold days the benches were moved around a fire made of light wood limbs.

John Joseph Parker was interested in the education of his children and other children in the community. He hired Mr. Will Cash to teach at the Beth Page School for his first teaching job and boarded him at his home during the school year. John and his family lived in the Salem - Lake Joe area of Taylor County.

The following is from a newspaper article about John Lynn: Lynn was born on Melviney Creek, March 18, 1892. Lynn said there was a school in the Melviney area known as Beth Page School.

Article written by W. T. Cash - Beth Page was then a very complex community. The man with whom I boarded owned the first real copper whiskey still I ever saw (I have only seen one since); and there were I think at least two others within a radius of two and one-half miles of the school house. During the eight months I was there (I taught two four month terms) some of the more rowdy persons of the community shot into at least 2 houses. 2 men who shall be nameless went one night into the home of a citizen and attempted what may be mildly called an insult upon his wife and grown daughter and cut him, severly though not danderously with their pocket-knifes. One young man, I was told, gave a Winchester rifle to another of his acquaintance to buy his friendship.

And there was said to be two or three men who, like Solomon supported lady friends. Yet in spite of all that went on I am sure I heard more religious testimonies than in any other year of my life.

Looking backward, Beth Page neighborhood seems very similar to the one in Kentucky of which I read many years ago telling what a Kentuckian said to a New Yorker.