Rocks and Razorbacks documentary brings about many happy memories from St. Andrew’s and Middleton High Schools
Nostalgia. The definition provided on Dictionary.com is a lovely one: “a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.”
This definition captures exactly the sentiment expressed by Chelsea Reid, Associate Professor of Psychology at the College of Charleston, in an interview with Tim Fennell for his Rocks and Razorbacks documentary project. Her research primarily focuses on how nostalgia helps maintain social connection. This is also one of the perspectives Fennell explores in the documentary.
When Fennell learned that the building that had originally housed Middleton High School and, more recently, C.E. Williams Middle School was to be demolished, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. As a documentary filmmaker, it was time to get this on film. And his efforts have unleashed a tsunami of nostalgia among many alumni of Middleton High School and St. Andrew’s Parish High School.
This tsunami is currently being captured on his Rocks and Razorbacks YouTube channel, where he teases the community with interviews he collects along the way toward film production. Podcast 001 features St. Andrews Parish HS Principal Jimmy Golden.
Currently, there are 19 videos to enjoy featuring interviews that include Barbara Gilchrist, Linda Fox Irwin, and the St Andrew’s Parish High School Class of 1959 reunion, Middleton High School Class of 1980, and even one with me talking about Mr. Hester’s scrapbooks that are in the loving care of the College of Charleston Special Collections.
Sidebar update: Because of Fennell’s work, the third missing scrapbook of Mr. Hester’s has been found and is now with the other two at Special Collections. It has taken about 13 years to find it – perseverance paid off!
When West Of Free Press approached me almost 15 years ago to compose the “West Ashley Flashback” column for the community I couldn’t have imagined the information, stories, photographs, and beautiful community memories that we would come to share. Yes, a tsunami of nostalgia. I experience it in every interview with the lovely people I meet.
So, tune in to Fennell’s Rocks and Razorbacks channel. www.youtube.com/@RocksandRazorbacksPodcast
Maybe a wave of nostalgia will roll over you and you will contact Donna at westashleybook@gmail.com with a fun community story.
