Danville-Neel School holds Pioneer Day in spite of rain

Rain and a forecast of possible severe weather later in the day forced a change in plans but didn’t stop Danville-Neel Elementary students from celebrating their annual Pioneer Day on Tues., Nov. 22.

“We had everything going as planned both inside and outside of the school for about an hour,” said Principal Glen Lang. “Then the rain came and we had to shut down the outdoor events and move everything inside.

“We also had to move back the serving time for our Thanksgiving meal because of the decision to close school at noon due to the possibility of severe weather. But that didn’t stop students from making the most of the activities we had going on inside and for everyone to enjoy a great dinner.”

“This is by far our biggest meal of the year,” said Vicky Sanford, lunchroom manager. “We’ll feed about 800 to 1,000 people. That’s twice the number we usually serve.

Danville–Neel Elementary School‘s lunchroom workers and volunteers fed an estimated 1,000 students, parents and grandparents as part of a Pioneer Day observance on Nov. 22, the day before school closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. This photo was made as people moved through the buffet line at 10:45 a.m. | Clif Knight

“Shady Grove Baptist Church provides volunteers to help with the serving and clean-up,” she pointed out, “and we also have family members of the staff pitch in. That really helps a lot.”

The meal featured roasted turkey, cornbread dressing and homemade yeast rolls. It also included green beans, sweet potato casserole, cream-ed potatoes, tossed salad and cake.

Volunteers also manned hands-on demonstrations for the students.

Outdoor activities in-cluded campfire with fried fritter samples, lard rendering, pony rides and tractor and trailer rides. Indoor activities included soap making, quilting, corn shuck doll making, churning milk and line dancing.

Danville-Neel fourth graders get a lesson in line dancing from Hartselle Medical Center’s High Steppers at the school’s Pioneer Day observance on Nov. 22. Members of the dance team are Edna Vines, Ernest Lee, Terrie Hill, Glenda Hembree, Billie Ward, and Willadean Garrison. | Clif Knight