My Grandfather, Decola Franklin, apparently enjoyed stories too. In the mid to late 1970s he published a series of stories in The Dawson Springs Progress. I am sure at the time he had the same vision for his stories as I do about this blog; and definitely had a larger readership. Nevertheless, aside from family photo albums, a view old reel to reel movies, and of course family stories; his own written tales are some of the only ways that I have come to know him. Decola died in 1978 before I was born. In so many ways over the years I have wanted to know more about this man, so these stories printed in the newspaper were jewels to me. From these stories I picked up that he and I had at least one thing in common; a sense of humor!
My Grandfather was born in December of 1920, the second child of Chesley and Orva Teague Franklin. His older brother died as an infant and he grew up with one sister Wetona. Decola went to school in Nortonville, a community very close to Dawson Springs, until his later high school years; when he attended Dawson Springs High School. He graduated in 1939. Decola received a teaching degree from Lindsey Wilson College in Colombia, Kentucky. When the United States entered World War II he enlisted to serve in the Navy, and spent his time in the service on a Mine Sweeper in the South Pacific and I am told saw quite a bit of action.
After the war he returned to Dawson Springs, he taught at Nortonville High School for a short time, until he joined his father in the family business of running the Chesley Franklin Coal Company and later the Decola Franklin Coal Company. This he did until the early 1970s.
My Grandfather's stories were titled: Characters I have Known. Today I would like to paraphrase one of those stories...I don't think he would mind.
Before Decola was deployed, the Navy sent him to New York City for a period of time. From what I understand; because he had attended college he was eligible to teach training classes, I think that this is where those classes took place. Regardless, the Navy had many sailors staying in the city.
At that time in Dawson Springs the mayor was Mr. Archie Purdy, a successful business man with a daughter, Cecil Mae. Cecil Mae was a few years older than Decola and was working for a modeling agency in New York City. As the story goes she had had pictures published in the likes of Vogue Magazine. Well, Mayor Purdy was going to visit his daughter in New York and he mentioned it to his good friend Chesley(Decola's father) in town. Chesley was delighted with the idea and told Mr. Purdy that he should try to get in touch with his son Decola while he was there. He knew Decola well and quickly agreed that this was a good idea and assured Chesley that he would contact Decola as soon as he got into New York City.
Upon arriving he rang him and invited he and some of his friends out for a nice dinner if they could break away. Excited to see a familiar face Decola accepted the offer. When he rejoined his friends he told them all that the Mayor of his hometown was going to be in New York visiting his daughter, a model, and he had offered to take them all to dinner. Now who could refuse an offer like this?
My Grandfather and his friends met Mayor Purdy and Cecil Mae at the decided time. Mayor Purdy looked very distinguished and Cecil Mae was gorgeous. The two escorted the gentlemen to dinner and they all had a wonderful time.
Eventually the night came to a close and they all bid farewell. As Decola and his buddies were walking away one of them commented that it was really something for the Mayor of his hometown to meet up with him and take him out of his vacation. And especially for his daughter, a model, who must have been very busy, the group was equally impressed that she would make time for him as well.
My Grandfather agreed with a proud smile but admitted later that he never told any of them the size of Dawson Springs.
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