Friends from Columbia area high schools, celebrated with old and new friends at the Dark Horseman reunion June 2 at The Mousetrap in Columbia.
Last Friday, June 2, the Dark Horseman Club, a high school fraternity established in 1932 and alive and well into the 80s … not sure when it laid down … was the subject of an all classes, all schools “HOMECOMING.” Yours truly was the class of ’59, Dreher. The club branched out over the years to A.C. Flora and several other area schools including Hammond and Lower Richland.
The intent of the homecoming was to provide an opportunity for all Horsemen attending to catch up with the lives and families of both Horsemen members and friends of Horsemen, as well as to meet Horsemen members who came before them and/or after them.
Horsemen, friends of Horsemen, friends of The Mouse Trap, and friends of JUSTUS were invited to join in the festivities at The Mousetrap and perhaps see friends they hadn’t seen in many years.
The “Trap” was packed with people inside and outside, estimated to be around 125 strong, or more; the old Horseman insignia was present everywhere as Robert Turnbull passed out insignia window decals, imprinted “dew” rags, plastic cups with the insignia and last Friday’s date imprinted.
Former member of the dark horsemen, Carl Ellsworth, holds the official scrapbook of the Dark Horseman Club that started in 1933. Ellsworth was a member at A.C. Flora in 1963 and 64. On his left hand you can see the official Horseman ring he still wears today.
There were also many T-shirts and golf shirts imprinted with the horseman insignia being worn by members. Dark Horseman Marvin Brown (Dreher ’64)brought with him the one-and-only Dark Horseman Scrapbook with lots of good information and pictures enclosed. Marvin has been “resurrecting” the scrapbook and has it looking good.
The staff at The Mouse Trap helped make this event a big success. The dining area was arranged to maximize seating. The Mouse Trap elected to go with a special menu to get the orders out quickly. Some choices were the ever popular Mouse Trap Burger and the ever-ever popular BLT Salad. They increased the staff in all areas. Owners Bill Jerry and Andy Jerry … Andy was a Dark Horseman himself … and all the staff made sure it was a very memorable evening.
Robert Turnbull passes out the dew rag with the horseman logo and displays the proper way to wear it.
The dynamic duo JUSTUS played favorites from the ’50s into the ’70s. Justus, (Marion Brown and Bill Miles) were joined by Heart ’n Soul drummer Doug Neal, with relief from drummer/ vocalist Frank Macaulay.
It was noted that JUSTUS plays at The Mouse Trap once each month, usually the first Friday.
The crowd began arriving around 5:30 and continued building for a couple more hours.
Special thanks to Bobby Foster, Robert Turnbull, Judy Duke, Robert Brutschy, and others for helping find e-mail addresses while arranging this event.
Two of the oldest Horseman attendees were Stewart Blume and Joe Berry, both from the Dreher class of 1949. We were pleased they could be with us.
One thing has undeniably not changed, from the first Horseman meeting in 1932 … to The Homecoming last Friday … wherever there are Horseman members present, there is a party going on. The sentiment seemed to be that “we should do this again” … maybe this coming December!
Justus members Bill Miles (third), vocal and guitar; and Marion Brown (fourth), vocal and guitar are joined by Doug Neal (far left) and Frank Macaulay, drummers, at the Dark Horseman reunion at The Mousetrap June 2, 2017. Pictured behind them (1957) are Weems Baskins, Bill Jerry (owner of The Mousetrap), and Eddie Beall, former USC football players. Baskins and Beall were Horsemen at Dreher High School.
STAY TUNED.
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