Monday, September 7, 2009

Camden on the Ouachita


Camden on the Ouachita
Best team in Arkansas
C-A-M-D-E-N
That's the way you spell it.
Here's the way you yell it.
Camden!! Camden!! Camden!!

Camden High SchoolCamden High School, Camden, Arkansas

I'm heading for Camden on the Ouachita (pronounced Wash-ah-taw) tomorrow for my 45th high school reunion.  I graduated from Camden High School in 1964 with about 100 other eager young people.

Paper MillInternational Paper Company, Camden, Arkansas

Back in the day we had two school districts in a relatively small town of about 14,000.  The other high school was Fairview High School, and we were bitter rivals.  Fairview was in the area of town dominated by an International Paper Company mill, and although the whole town often had an unpleasant odor about it, Fairview smelled worse than the rest of Camden.

Sadly there is no more paper mill and there is no more Camden High School.  A number of years ago, the Camden School District was absorbed by the Fairview School District, and the high school is now called Camden Fairview High School.

But there are still proud graduates of CHS, and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of them Friday night.  After the reunion, I'm sure I'll have more to say and pictures to share.

25 comments:

icandy... said...

Just checking in... the hubby and son are going to Fayetteville for the game on Sept. 19th!!! They are ecstatic!!! Hope all's well!
Go hogs!
Christina

icandy... said...

Hello again, sweet~ I hope that you don't mind... I saw the hog on your sidebar and I copied the picture "bring your game" and put it on facebook for my husband... he loves hog stuff like that! I also attached a link to your blog in acknowledgment~ for the picture. Thank you so much for having such cool stuff on here!!

Robin said...

Have a safe and wonderful time!

{{{HUGS}}}

Robin :o)

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh have fun! And a safe journey too.

Valerie said...

Fun!!! A bit sad that your high school got consolidated, but you're absolutely right that it's the people that make up the school!!!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend,

Val

Unknown said...

On, you Leopards!
On, you Leopards!
Fight on through the night!
We will always cheer for you
Orange, Black, and Whi-i-i-te
On, you Leopards!
On, you Leopards!
Malvern, do or die!
Fight, Leopards, Fight Fight Fight!
Malvern Senior High!
M-M-M-A-L, V-V-E-R-N!
M-A-L-V-E-R-N!

MALVERN LEOPARDS FIGHT!


(to the tune, "On, Wisconsin!")

Take that, Camden!!!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

I cannot wait to hear all abou tit. I know you are going to have a blast!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kathy, have a safe trip and a wonderful reunion! I look forward to "hearing" all about it. laurie

Tonja said...

O how fun! Hope you have a safe trip and loads of fun with your school buddies! Memories! How fun it is to be able to remimisce with those who share those good times with you!

Sarah said...

Kathy, travel safely and have fun at your reunion. ~ Sarah

Joyce said...

Hope this was great fun for you!

Keetha Broyles said...

One of those lovely French spellings of an Indian name!!!

We have Ouabache park here in Indiana - - - the locals INSIST on calling it Oh-bach-ee, but it is, of course, Wabash!!!

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Hope you are having a wonderful time!

nanny said...

I am just catching up on blogs....guess you are in downtown Camden by now! ha
Hope you gave a great reunion!!!

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling long time no comment...I have missed you. Have a wonderful trip, I will check in with you again.

Duchess

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling, have a lovely weekend.

Love, Hugs & Tea
Duchess ♥♥♥

Unknown said...

Hope you had a great time at your reunion. Maybe I will see you in Fayetteville soon. It looks like a pretty weekend for this week's game.

Candy said...

Hope your reunion was joyous. Reconnecting with the past. Learning how others have fared on their journeys.
Hadn't seen you in a while so had to come see how your world is rolling.
BUSY!

Sue said...

Have a wonderful reunion....We are past due for our 40th....so I'm still losing weight in anticipation of one happening in the next few years!! Have fun!!

BVC said...

Cheer for the Old Gold and Black! I may have graduated a Fairview Cardinal, but I will be a Camden Panther until the day I die.

We used "Hail to the Victors" for our fight song, Malvie. It is the one reason I sometimes have a soft spot for Michigan.

Great job, Kathy!

Robin said...

I hope you are doing OK! Haven't seen you in a while and that's NOT YOU!

{{HUGS}}}

Robin :o)

susan said...

Just checking on you..hope your reunion was fun!

Anonymous said...

actually got to watch the razorback game.. and was so impressed with the new offense! however, what in the heck happened to that strong arkansas defense?! so frustrating!!! least it's early in the season.. but the schedule looks daunting. :/

Anonymous said...

I went to Camden HS in 1967-68 (9th grade) & 1968 (fall) (10th grade), then we moved.
If I remember correctly, the school fight song was:

Victory, Victory is our cry,
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y !!
That's the Camden Battle Cry.
Will we win it, we're the best.
Camden Panthers, C-H-S!

Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing.
Michael

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