This elementary school, built by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company soon after they opened a factory in Rockmart, is typical of other schools of the era. It is no longer in use. The Rockmart plant of Goodyear Tire & Rubber was responsible, for many years, for the production of the giant balloons used each year in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I’m not sure if it’s there anymore, but there is a picture that was in the old high school band room. The one with the fabulous mustard yellow carpet on the wall. I was lucky enough to attend that school in the late ’90s and have fond memories of looking at a massive photo of that really awesome balloon amongst the packed bleachers! I don’t know why it just occurred to me that Goodyear built the school so of course they would give RHS a balloon! Pretty lucky in hindsight right!
I lived in Rockmart, GA in the early 1950s and remembered walking from the elementary school to a football field to watch a giant balloon being walked from one end of the field to the other. Don’t think I knew at the time that there was even a Macy’s Christmas parade or that Goodyear made the balloons. I lived in the Campbell house near the Baptist Church. Was not allowed to play in the brick yard behind the house. Would have been in the 5th or 6th grade. Fond memories of Rockmart and swimming in the river before going to the little swimming pool.
Wonderful memories, Gail. Thank you for sharing.
Do you still live in Rockmart?