Jukin’ and Jivin’ at The Hop!
West Elmore County Historical Society rocks around the clock

From left Carol Majors, Sharon Perry, Joan Respress, Donna Bazzel, Rick Samsal, Rainy Terrell, Frances Crews and Sharon Callan all graduated in 1969 from Stanhope Elmore High School.
Photos courtesy of George’s Photography

By ELIZABETH ROY

Elmore County residents came out to jump, jive and wail at the first historical society sock hop.  Lights were dimmed and disco balls were lit, putting everybody into a party mood.  Beach balls and hula hoops lay scattered on the floor, beckoning the attendees to join in the fun  The music, decorations and ambiance took people back to the days of golden oldies and floats.  
Sharon Callan, a member of the West Elmore County Historical Society, along with her sister Deborah Gilliam, president of the society put together the sock hop as a way to raise money.
“This community means a lot to me, and I want to help keep it that way,” Callan said. “I cannot stand to see a home that has been built with their hands with bricks that had been made with their hands, torn down.”
Though the hour grew late, the dancers did not stop.  From looking at the faces of all the dancers at the sock hop, one could tell that they felt as if they had traveled back in time.  Michael J. Mears was the Deejay. that kept the dancers twisting the night away, by singing many of the songs himself.  To aid the society, Mears sold some of his own CDs with half of the profits going directly to the society.  He mixed up the night with music, trivia and karaoke to the delight of the singers in attendance.  George Wendt, of George’s photography, also came out to support the cause.  
Ten percent of the profits made from the pictures he took went to the society as well.  In the back corner Wendt had set up a backdrop of an old fashioned diner, and posed people around a glass table with high end chairs. 
Both Gilliam and Callan were happy that people came out to support them, but they would have liked to have seen more.  “(The residents of Elmore County) should support the West Elmore County Historical Society, especially the ones that are older to the community,”  said Gilliam.
“There are so many new people moving into Millbrook, we would love for them to learn the history,” she said.
Organizers hope that support will grow, as more people who are residents of the area learn to appreciate the rich, cultural past that envelopes the community.