Words escape me this morning. The fires in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains National Park are heavy in my heart. A recent post here highlighted Gatlinburg. Libbie, the Ring Ching Roadshow car, and her driver Daphney made a stop in Gatlinburg. They visited Arrowmont, the wonderful arts and crafts school which had its beginnings as the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School, and they made an appearance at Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, the school named in honor of the fraternity’s early efforts at educating the local children.
A view of Gatlinburg as it looked to May Lansfield Keller in the early 1910s.
Two Facebook friends have been keeping me posted about the situation at Arrowmont and Pi Beta Phi Elementary. According to Bill May, Executive Director (Extraordinaire, in my book!), all the buildings with the exception of Hughes Hall and the Wild Wing, named for Pi Beta Phi’s former Grand President, Marianne Reid Wild, survived the fires. I, along with other Pi Phi officers who were at Officers’ Workshop that year, were at the groundbreaking of Hughes Hall. I had many conversations with old friends on the porch. On the second floor, the only quilt square I ever completed, on behalf of the Southern Illinois Alumnae Club, was displayed on a quilt made by Pi Phi alumnae clubs and chapters.
Another Pi Phi friend who has connections on the ground, has stated that Pi Beta Phi Elementary is safe, despite media reports to the contrary. She said, “the building still stands with only cosmetic damage to the very back due to the heat from the fire.” She knows and I believe her. I remember the first night I met her during a reception in the library of Pi Beta Phi Elementary School when she was not yet a Pi Phi. Although it seems quaint to say, I am grateful to say that we share the wine and silver blue, and that she is a dear Pi Phi sister brings tears to my eyes right now.
Photo of Pi Beta Phi Elementary added noon CST 11/29/2016, taken earlier this morning by someone on the scene in Gatlinburg.
I am grateful to the firefighters who worked ceaselessly to keep the buildings and people safe. Knowing the spirit of the people in Gatlinburg, they will take stock of the situation, make plans, get to work, and make life normal again. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
And on this Giving Tuesday, I ask that you visit http://www.arrowmont.org/ and make a donation. Or send a check to Arrowmont, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory.
