Do you know these boys at Milford Howard’s cabin site?

We love a good mystery, especially one tied to local history. We are hoping readers of The Groundhog can help solve this one.

Postcard of Milford Howard Cabin Site-front

Postcard of Milford Howard Cabin Site-back

A postcard came our way recently featuring a photograph of eight boys at what is believed to be the site of Milford Howard’s cabin where he lived near the Master School following his sale of the Alpine Lodge property.

A local historian determined that the postcard was produced sometime between 1918 and 1930.

The names of the boys are written on the back in pencil. Five of the names are legible and appear to be:

• Odell Yancy
• Clifton Brock
• Homer Brock
• Ishmael Payton
• Arnold Hicks

These names match those of five boys listed as Master School students on page 154 of The Vagabond Dreamer, the Milford Howard biography written by Elizabeth Howard, further strengthens their connection with the Master School.

The boy in the top left of the photograph is identified as a Bailey on the back, but his first name is difficult to decipher. According to the Milford Howard biography, a Mr. and Mrs. Miles Bailey and their seven children operated a sawmill on property adjacent to the Master School. Miles Bailey is said to have provided the pine shingles for the construction of the Master School. The list of students in The Vagabond Dreamer includes an Augustus Bailey, but that does not appear to be the name on this postcard.

Besides young Bailey, there are two other boys unidentified on this postcard.

Do you know the three unidentified boys? Do you have additional information that might shed historical light on the photograph? Please email information to groundhognews@yahoo.com, or write us at:

The Groundhog
P.O. Box 107
Mentone, AL 35984