Spelling Bees An Important Part of Our School’s History.

It’s always interesting to read about the old school days and the activities that everyone always looked forward to. One of these events were the Spelling Bees or Spelling Contests that the schools had each year. 

The National Spelling Bee was launched by the Louisville Courier Journal in 1925.  With competitions, cash prizes, and a trip to the nation's capital, the Spelling Bee hoped to stimulate "general interest among pupils in a dull subject."   

The usual procedure was that teams would be picked by two students, if they thought you were a good speller you would be the first one picked, (what a proud feeling to be picked among the first), and then so on down the line. But just like life, what you expect to happen sometimes wouldn’t happen. For one Friday you might do great, not miss a word, and be on top of the world, everybody’s hero. The next week, you would be the first picked for the team, but as luck would have it - you would miss the very first word. Down you would go, downcast with shame and hard looks from your team. But there was always next week for another chance.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press let’s read about some true winners of the old Spelling Bees.

Feb. 22, 1929 - William A. Hoover is Bee Champion.

William A. Hoover of the Forest Grove School was winner of the Crittenden County Spelling contest held Saturday in the graded school auditorium.

William is thirteen years old and is in the seventh grade. AT the close of the Forest Grove school last Friday he was promoted to the eight grade.

Mrs. Fred Gilbert, who is teacher at Forest Grove, has been William’s teacher for the past four years. During that time, Mrs. Gilbert says, William has been an “A: student in every particular.

Parents of the spelling bee winner are Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hoover, who live about two and a half miles from the school near Bells Mines.

Feb. 27, 1931 – C. E. Springs Is County's Best School Speller

Charles Edward Springs, 12 year old student at the Hebron two room school, was winner last Saturday of the Crittenden County spelling contest and will receive as his reward a free trip to Louisville in April to take part with the best spellers of the other counties in the state in the Courier-Journal spelling bee.

Braxton McDonald and Miss Edna Vivian Vaughan are teachers at Hebron and both of them coached the winner in his spelling. 

Jan 22, 1932 – Annie M. Conger Wins Spelling Bee.

Annie Mae Conger, a sister of Wilma Conger, last year's Crittenden County Spelling contest, was the winner of this year spelling contest.

The correct spelling of "mislaid," missed by Estelle Rankin, after four and one-half hours of spelling, won for Annie Mae the title of the best speller in the Crittenden County Schools for 1932. Geneva Wright of Marion took third place.

Annie Mae attends school at Brown, where she receives her spelling instruction from Miss Blondell Boucher. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Conger, who feel rightfully proud of being the parents of two spelling champions.

Estelle Rankin, who took second place, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wathen Rankin. She is a student of Mrs. Stella Simpkins at Frances. The third winner attend the eighth grade in Marion and is taught by Miss Mabel Minner. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wright.

Twenty-six students were competitors in the spelling bee despite the bad weather Saturday. Superintendent Hadden estimates that with favorable weather between thirty-five and forty would have taken part. There are only fifty schools in the county. Some of the school represented were on the outermost edges of the county.

Spelling contestants by schools are as follows: Geneva Wright, Marion; Helen Stallions, Pleasant Grove; Annie Mae Conger, Brown; Geneva Tabor, Mexico; Beulah Mae Stubblefield, Owen; Mary Sullenger, Irma; Ruth Johnson, Oak Hall; Della Brahser, Caldwell Springs; Hilda Beard, Crayne; Reba Bealmear, White Hall; Belda M. Hughes, Oak Grove; Leatha Boyd, Odessa; Blance Watson, Hebron; Estelle Rankin, Frances; Wilb ur Beard, Chapel Hill; Eugene Watson, Blooming Rose; Ebbie Worley, Belmont; Elba Walker, Sisco's Chapel; Glendal Hunt, Pleasant Hill; James Kemper, Midway; Wilbur Brantley, Mattoon; George Winders, Dam 50 Christine Hodge, Forest Grove; Imogene Clark, Bethel; Vivian Paris, Heath.

Dictionaries were mailed Wednesday to each one who entered the bee as gifts of the Marion Kiwanis Club. Inscribed on the fly leaf are the names of the Kiwanis members.

Annie Mae Conger, as county champion will be given a free trip to Louisville in April to take part in the Courier-Journal spelling bee, where she will compete with students from practically every county in the state. She will be accompanied by her teacher Miss Blondell Boucher.

Pronouncers for the contests were Miss Edna Vivian Vaughan and B. L. Turner. Judges were Dr. James F. Price, Miss Rebecca Moore and Herbert Foster.