Author Archives: Palmersville Historical Society

Wesley Chapel School c. 1907

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Shown are students of the Westley Chapel School during the 1907/08 school year.

The school was located on the corner of Hwy 190 and Wesley Chapel Rd., across from Wesley Chapel Methodist Church. This picture was printed in the Dresden Enterprise, submitted by Mrs. Pete Killebrew.

Wesley Chapel school was open from the early 1900s until closing in 1952.

Pictured are:

First Row: Addie Rawls, Avis Crees, Buck Gatewood, Casey Hawks, Mayo Templeton, Gordon Pentecost, Jasper Williams, Loyd Tucker and Noner Tucker.

Second Row: Farrah Rawls, Novella Mansfield, Lois Gatewood, Bessie Williams, Lucille Killebrew, Opal Rafferty, Mattie Williams, Anna Bell Taylor, Evie Gatewood, Hilda Gray Pentecost, Leo Gatewood, Olive Miller, Millie Gatewood, and Hayden Rawls.

Third Row: Ova Tuck, Wayne Kenney, Hobart Westbrook, Newman. Kenney, Carl Killebrew, Vinson Crews, Wayne Gatewood, Braden Tuck, Chestly Mansfield, Gart Mansfield, Anna May Gatewood, and Fain Parker.

Fourth Row: Bud Rawls, Carlis Hawks, Bunice Westbrook, Burnice Killebrew, Hubert Crews, Wayne Peery, Ira Gatewood, Robert Crews, Ora Gatewood, Otis Mansfield, Beulah Gatewood, May Miller, Sallie Laws and Vada Gatewood.

Fifth Row: Bessie Glasgow, Davy Gatewood, Birdie Hnerson, Ela Westbrook, Virgie Glasgow, Lizzie Hicks, Veda Rawls, Willing Glasgow. Teachers Obery Willington and Bart Glasgow.

Back Row: Press Calvert, Champy Rawls, Temple Glasgow and Zelma Killebrew.

Special thanks to Palmersville Tennessee News on Facebook.

Mack’s Grove Baptist Church – 1947

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Mack’s Grove Church is located between Dresden and Palmersville.

Pictured are Virginia Taylor, Beautonne Gatewood Killebrew, Jack Smith, Patsy Elliott, Norma Killebrew, Linda Elliot, Ronald Elliott, Jan Flowers, Freddy Gatewood, Junior Taylor, Jack Peeler, Bert Smith, Nellie Jo Watson, Barton Nichols, Betty Taylor, Sam Gatewood, Gerald Taylor, Sue O’Steen, Virginia Watson, Shirley Brand.
Jackie “Jack” Gatewood, Florance Marie Taylor, Dan Gatewood, Dan Mansfield, Leon O’Steen, Lerlean O’ Steen, Maryenta Elliott, Willie Mae Prince, Hubert Gatewood, Sudie Roberts, Janette Nichols, Fay Westbrooks, Herman Westbrooks. Berlie Smith, Ted Smith, Carlos Taylor, Kenneth Taylor, Elwyn Flowers, Barry Flowers, Durell Peeler, Naomi Flowers, Jessie Roberts, Sara Roberts, Burnis Killebrew, Hollis Prince, Robert “Tincy” Peeler, Joe Pentecost, Bobby Peeler and Roy Ellion.c. 1947

Photo courtesy of Pam (Gatewood) Ziegler of Dresden.

Special thanks to Palmersville Tennessee News on Facebook.

B-17 Crash — Regarding One of the Crew Members

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Floyd, Herb, Garland, and Harry Nincehelser – 1942

We recently received a note from Lynette Wolff, great-niece of Garland Francis Nincehelser, the gunner who died in the crash of the B-17 near Palmersville.

Based on an old newspaper article, we had incorrectly listed his name, and Lynette was kind enough to correct us. We asked if she would provide any other information, and she sent the following about the young man who perished in the crash:

Garland was born November 5, 1916 in Peru, Nebraska to Harry and Nettie Nincehelser. He was the 2nd oldest of 6 children. He and his 3 brothers all fought in WW2. One of his brothers was injured in Italy and received the purple heart.

Garland left behind a wife, Anna, and a 1 year old daughter, Janice. He was 26 when he was killed. He is buried in Auburn, Nebraska at the Sheridan Cemetery.

Lynette also graciously provided the pictures for this article.

Garland (back row, 2nd from L) with his parents, siblings, and a niece and nephew. – 1942

First-hand Account From Inside the Crashed B-17 Flying Fortress

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We were recently contacted by Stephen C. Mullins, son of the radio operator, Sgt. Clyde Mullins, who was on the B-17 that crashed near P’ville. You can read more about the crash here and here. And here is a local TV report on the dedication of the monument to the airmen.

Scroll down to read how Stephen’s father remembered that day.

Stephen provided a the above high-quality photo of the crew with notes his father made about the disposition of each man:

Front Row – L to R:

  • Lt. Leonard J. Morence – Co-Pilot – survived – injured
  • Lt. Harry N. Anderson – Pilot – killed
  • Lt. John A. Stinson Jr. – Navigator – killed
  • Lt. Andrew G. Kohlhof – Bombadier – survived – injured

Back Row L to R

  • S/Sgt. Milton Gersfeld – Engineer – killed
  • Sgt. Clyde Mullins – Radio Operator – survived – uninjured
  • Sgt. Clement J. Funai – 2nd Armorer – killed
  • Sgt. Donald A. Goodner – Assist.-Engineer – killed
  • Sgt. Garland F Nincehelser – Gunner – killed

not shown:

  • Stg. O. R. French – 1st Armorer – killed

Here is what Stephen wrote:

Dad’s account of what happened went like this: The B-17 was in a bad storm. The pilot told the aircrew to get in their egress positions throughout the aircraft, in case they needed to bailout.

The pilot gave-up on trying to fly through the storm, and began circling and trying to climb above the storm. Dad (the radio operator) and the bombadier’s egress position was to lay in the bomb bay. In the event they needed to evacuate the plane, the copilot would open the bomb bay doors, and those two would fall out.

Also in the bomb bay were crates of ammunition and other supplies. As they tried to climb out of the storm, the plane suddenly went into a steep dive. Although the crates in the bomb bay were strapped down, they began to shift and were crushing against dad so hard, he could feel himself starting to pass-out. The sensation of blacking-out seemed so strange to him, he began trying to clinch his fists shut, but couldn’t do so before he went unconscious.

He regained consciousness in midair, and had enough wits about him to pull his ripcord. He remembered floating overtop of a farmhouse, where a lady, with a baby on her hip, was gathering laundry off the clothesline, before the impending storm.

In hearings about the crash, the copilot testified he never opened the bomb bay doors, suggesting the plane may have broken in half near the bomb bay—the likely reason dad and the  bombadier got out of the plane.

1960: Who Is That?

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Sent by a visitor to our site:

Hello, Palmersville Historical Society. My name is Kevin Brewer. I am a history teacher in Big Sandy.

I have here a photograph of my father, J. T. Brewer (second from the right), who died in 2001, representing Big Sandy High School in a basketball tournament award ceremony in 1960.

I am told by my uncle that the player to his right, in the “Pirate” jersey, is a Larry Rawls of Palmersville. [a reader corrected this informatoin — it’s Jerry Rawls]

I thought it might be interesting to see if anyone in Palmersville recognizes him or either of the young women.

Do you recognize the others in the picture?