Cooperative Living October 2016 - 35

The
Community of
Stickleyville
Community snapshots (clockwise, from upper left): residents are blessed with a volunteer fire department; the Stickleyville School
Community Center Association group; historic Blue Springs Church; the Stickleyville Community-in-Action board, which seeks to provide
wholesome activities and opportunities to enhance quality of life.
of the building at a cost of $374,021.
During the 2008-2009 school term, the
library and computer lab were housed in
this space with the dining room relocated
in the former library. The school was
complemented with a large playground
and playing field and an outdoor pavilion
built by members of Stickleyville
Community-in-Action, Inc.
The Lee County Board of Education
closed the school the summer of 2012,
after the school term had ended. A farewell
party, initiated by Principal Mary Ruth
Laster and sponsored through the
generosity of family and friends, was held
for students, faculty and staff so they could
say goodbye. It was a sad day for everyone.
The " hub " of the community was gone.
COMMUNITY COMPONENTS
Over the years, Stickleyville was blessed
with country stores spread throughout the
community. Most people had to walk, and
having these stores nearby made life easier.
Some of the store owners who provided
this convenience were Bob Tomlinson,
Rhea Rasnic, Lewis Robinette, James Stout,
Tyler Mullins, Walter Young, Lelia Stidham
and Howard Edwards.
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Children were always happy to carry
heavy sacks home because they were given
a piece of stick candy as a reward. Feed
sacks, which came in a variety of printed
material, were used to make dresses for
young girls and shirts for boys. Most food
was raised at home and usually only
staples were purchased. These included
items such as sugar, coffee, kerosene (coal
oil), matches, tobacco, OCB cigarette
papers, and an occasional battery for the
radio, to name a few. Patrons traded eggs,
herbs such as lobelia (Indian tobacco),
ginseng and catnip, and possum and
polecat hides for goods.
One might catch a game of checkers
going on around a potbellied stove or a
Stickleyville Communityin-Action,
Inc. (S.C.I.A.),
was organized in 1998 to
serve the people
of Stickleyville.
game of Rook in the back of the store.
During World War II, war-rationing
stamps were awarded to families to
purchase needed goods. The community
had three grist mills that were owned by
Samp Sage, Lewis Robinette and Bill
Lawson for grinding corn and wheat for
cornmeal and flour.
Stickleyville Community-in-Action, Inc.
(S.C.I.A.), was organized in 1998 to serve
the people of Stickleyville by providing
wholesome activities and opportunities to
enhance the quality of life of its residents.
The organization contributes morally and
financially in supporting the community
of Stickleyville while serving as a voice for
its residents. The group also continues the
tradition of Rook playing by sponsoring
monthly tournaments with players coming
from several states.
Stickleyville School Community Center
Association (SSCCA) was organized in
2013 to preserve the school and its
memories and holds meals each month as
a fund-raiser. It also rents the school for
family reunions, meetings and events.
Some of SSCCA's other activities include a
Haunted House on Saturdays in October
and a Christmas Bazaar and yard sales. 
October 2016 | Cooperative Living | 33

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Cooperative Living October 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living October 2016