The Kirkpatricks: Coming Home
Ethel Kirkpatrick
Ethel Kirkpatrick went to the Spring Creek School all 12 years and returned to teach at the school. She played a big part in the school renovation and is a proud member of the Spring Creek community.
Rhett Kirkpatrick
Rhett Kirkpatrick is the husband of Ethel Kirkpatrick and brother of Johnny. He attended the Spring Creek School and currently lives in the Spring Creek area. In his free time, he enjoys riding his motorcycle around Madison County and volunteering at the fire department. He and Ethel have lived many places, but in the end came home to live in Spring Creek.
Johnny Kirkpatrick
Johnny Kirkpatrick was a student at the Spring Creek School. When he was 17, he did an exchange semester in Chile where he studied for half a year. After traveling the world, Johnny came back home to Spring Creek. He is now an active community member.
Ethel was a devoted teacher at the Spring Creek School. She says what she misses most about teaching are the kids. Some of Ethel’s students have gone on to be educators and community members that have been impactful in the lives of PAGE girls.
Johnny Kirkpatrick graduated from Spring Creek in 1972. He has fond memories of “raisin’ cane” with his classmates. He was even voted “wittiest” of his class.
This is a letter printed in the Spring Creek School yearbook in 1976, the year the school closed. After that, students went to the consolidated county high school. This letter expresses the sadness the community felt when the closed, but it also shows the pride that the community had in being from Spring Creek.
There are many old photos lining the hallway of the Spring Creek Community Center. People donated family photos and pictures of different graduating classes. Ethel Kirkpatrick started the photo project. People like to look at these photos during the annual school reunions.
On the outside of the building, you can see this sign for Dave’s 209 Restaurant. Notice the motorcycle on it. The restaurant is a popular stop for people riding their motorcycles along Highway 209, a windy road known as “the rattler.”
Listen to the Kirkpatrick Family's Spring Creek School memories, captured by PAGE girls:
Ethel Kirkpatrick shares a fond memory about a former student.
Johnny Kirkpatrick talks about being an exchange student in Chile when he was in high school.
Ethel and Johnny talk about the impact that school consolidation had on their community.
The Spring Creek Community Center holds school reunions every July. Ethel and Johnny tell us about them.
Madison County has beautiful roads, like Highway 209 “The Rattler”, that are great for riding motorcycles. Rhett and Ethel remember some of their motorcycle adventures.
