For some of the visitors to the London Museum Tea Room and Gift Shop, it's a sympathy telegram on the wall sent from Adolf Hitler that brings them inside.
It sits there next to the one sent from Eleanor Roosevelt after the London School exploded on March 18, 1937.
Click the image above for an audio slideshow in the survivors own words.
Click the image above to see a video on London history.
It's written in German and addressed to President Franklin Roosevelt.
"On the occasion of the terrible explosion at New London, Texas, which took so many young lives, I want to assure your excellency of my and the German people's sincere sympathy."
"We have people who come in here just to see this telegram," said John Davidson, docent at the museum.
Along with the telegrams are more dramatic remembrances of that day, including a pair of small boy's pants with faded blood stains. The wearer did not survive the explosion.
Behind a sheet of Plexiglas sits a piece of faded notebook paper with some mathematics lessons. A jagged pencil mark sits in the middle of the paper where Juanita Gipson's pencil jerked at the moment of the explosion.
The museum also has information about the history of New London, and how it grew up around the oil boom of East Texas in the 1930s.
"Oil companies like Humble Oil, Tidewater, Gulf and Phillips came here and brought workers," said Davidson.
Photos of old gas pumps showed gas prices at 14 cents per gallon, and shopkeepers stand behind the counters of well-stocked stores.
Mixed in with the history and tragedy of the explosion are some glimpses of the way life used to be in New London.
A re-creation of an old beauty shop complete with an antique permanent wave machine and old hair dryer sits in one corner.
A vintage soda fountain with bar stools from the era sits in another.
The London Museum sits in the back of what used to be the old Hi School Drug store owned by Charlie McConnico in the 1930s. At the time of the explosion he served lunch to the London School students every day.
Now called the Tea Room, the restaurant serves plate lunches and sandwiches to about 25 to 35 kids a day from the West Rusk Junior and Senior High School across the street, said Miles Toler, director of the museum.
The soda fountain is the old-fashioned kind, where they add syrup and carbonated water together to make soft drinks.
"We get a lot of school tours, Sunday school classes and other groups," said Toler, who said the museum sees about 2,000 visitors per year.
For John Davidson, the museum helps keep the memory alive of a sister he never got to meet.
His sister Ardyth Davidson, a high school student, died in the explosion three years before he was born. A photo of her with the school softball team was on the wall.
Davidson's parents, Madge and Earl Davidson would not talk about her after the tragedy.
"Everything I was able to learn about her was from people who had known her before her death," he said.
Thank you first for the articles about the anniversy of New London. When I lived in Longview in 65 I met a gentlman who was the manager of an apartment I lived in. He was a student at New London. He told me the day of the explosion was his birthday and he did not want to go to school. So he hid under the porch all day. He then told me when the school blew up he saw his mother running out of the house very upset. His name is Roy Tilly. I still think about Roy when I hear about New London.Thanks
This year’s reunion was extremely great, and very well
organized! I would like to thank “EVERYONE” who had a part in the
organizing, presenting the programs, and to all the exes and
others that came to share in the memories of our loved ones
who gave their lives that we in the future could live in a
safer enviroment by having ‘gas’ that smells.
I’m sorry for the saddness for the surviors.I know everything God has a purpose for.That because of it may have saved many other lives.I have three beautiful children and can’t even imagine that happening.I have shared this story with them and their hearts go out to the surviors.I’ve told them you never know what may happen enjoy everyday with anyone that you love like it’s your last.My prayers are with all of the ones on that horrible day!
I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the four different activities for the 70th Anniversary of the London School Explosion last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am amazed at the warmth and sincere appreciation of the survivors. It was an honor to be with them and to just listen to their stories and rememberences of that fateful day that changed so many lives. Thanks to everyone that attended and especially to everyone who organized and planned the four activities. See all of you in 2009.
What interesting recollections of that very horrific explosion that happened years ago. I am very glad that all have found closure. I am very glad Bill Thompson has accepted the fact that it wasn’t his fault at all, but can relate to how it could have had that effect on him. Blessings to all and I know that thru it all, In God we still trust.
I was 2 years old at the time of the explosion living in New Summerfield,Texas. Your stories cover a very tragic time in the lives of many people, not only in London, but in the many surrounding communities that were, and are, their neighbors. The stories are a good history lesson and reflect a great way of life in the East Texas community. People caring for their neighbors in 1937 and today. That’s just the way they are.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Janet Lurker
March 18, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Thank you first for the articles about the anniversy of New London. When I lived in Longview in 65 I met a gentlman who was the manager of an apartment I lived in. He was a student at New London. He told me the day of the explosion was his birthday and he did not want to go to school. So he hid under the porch all day. He then told me when the school blew up he saw his mother running out of the house very upset. His name is Roy Tilly. I still think about Roy when I hear about New London.Thanks
By Betty Stone Lyon (1960)
March 19, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
This year’s reunion was extremely great, and very well organized! I would like to thank “EVERYONE” who had a part in the organizing, presenting the programs, and to all the exes and others that came to share in the memories of our loved ones who gave their lives that we in the future could live in a safer enviroment by having ‘gas’ that smells.
By Cindy Hutchison
March 19, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry for the saddness for the surviors.I know everything God has a purpose for.That because of it may have saved many other lives.I have three beautiful children and can’t even imagine that happening.I have shared this story with them and their hearts go out to the surviors.I’ve told them you never know what may happen enjoy everyday with anyone that you love like it’s your last.My prayers are with all of the ones on that horrible day!
By Jim Ross
March 19, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the four different activities for the 70th Anniversary of the London School Explosion last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am amazed at the warmth and sincere appreciation of the survivors. It was an honor to be with them and to just listen to their stories and rememberences of that fateful day that changed so many lives. Thanks to everyone that attended and especially to everyone who organized and planned the four activities. See all of you in 2009.
By Kaye
March 21, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
I had a science teacher/coach in middle school named James Motley. He was a survivor of the New London explosion. Wondered if he was still alive.
By Feby
March 21, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
What interesting recollections of that very horrific explosion that happened years ago. I am very glad that all have found closure. I am very glad Bill Thompson has accepted the fact that it wasn’t his fault at all, but can relate to how it could have had that effect on him. Blessings to all and I know that thru it all, In God we still trust.
By Ken Dickson
March 25, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
I was 2 years old at the time of the explosion living in New Summerfield,Texas. Your stories cover a very tragic time in the lives of many people, not only in London, but in the many surrounding communities that were, and are, their neighbors. The stories are a good history lesson and reflect a great way of life in the East Texas community. People caring for their neighbors in 1937 and today. That’s just the way they are.