Greetings!  Though over fifty years have passed since arriving at the Bonny Oaks School, there has never been a day gone by that many pleasant memories have not come to mind.  Among one of the greatest pleasures Mrs. Adamson and I have are the memories and contact we had with you during those years.  As an alumni, I am sure you too can recall your experiences there - hopefully, many of which are happy memories that will serve to override the initial trauma of your young lives.  You are always in our hearts!  

With God-given impetus, you are now making your mark upon the world by contributing to society and the Kingdom of God, I trust, in a very meaningful manner.  Despite the fact that there were hundreds of students who lived at Bonny Oaks School, I want you to know that each and every one is individually and constantly held in my heart and mind and prayed for daily.    Today, the Bonny Oaks School no longer exists.  The vast plantation is now covered with offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses and other businesses.  The Chapel still serves as a church, the office building serves as offices for the U.S-Tennessee and Hamilton County agriculture departments and the Director's (Superintendent's) home stands as a bed & breakfast hotel.  Although all the other buildings are now gone, note well:
The original school sign remains prominently set at the entrance of Adamson Circle.

Mrs. Adamson joins me in sending our heart-felt greetings and best wishes
to you and yours.  God Bless You All!

Sincerely,


December 1999
Malcolm Monroe Adamson &
George Fodell Hankins Adamson

Greetings from Ken and Amber Clay
Executive Director 1981 - 1984

Amber and I were houseparents at Hagen Hall, "The Little Boys Building", from 1973 - 1975.  We went to the Florida United Methodist's Children's Home in Enterprise, Florida, for almost a year and then returned to the Little Girls Building on the hill.  Our son, Kenny Clay, was born while we were living there.  Our next assignment was The Big Girls Building next door.  While there, I also became the first Director of Social Services for Bonny Oaks.  Our next move was to live in the basement of the Bonny Oaks Chapel when Mr. Adamson and the Board of Directors appointed me the Assistant to the Superintendent.  The living area was formerly the old coal bin.  We felt kinda like church mice.  Mr. Adamson retired in 1981 and I was appointed the new Administrator of the Bonny Oaks School.  Amber, Kenny and I moved to the Dent House and, believe me, we felt like Jed Clampett moving to Beverly Hills.  After about a year, Amber took a position with the Hamilton County Health Department and is now their Administrator of Data Processing.  When Hamilton County abolished the Bonny Oaks School, I joined Family and Children's Services of Chattanooga, Inc.  My title is the Director of Property Management and Purchasing.
Kenny Clay is now 24 and was married to Amy Brooks this past year at the Bonny Oaks Chapel by Mr. Adamson.  They had their wedding reception in the Dent House.  We have a daughter named Holly Elaine who is now 16 and is attending Central High School.
You may be interested to know that the old scrapbooks, picture albums, paper clippings, history, etc. are located in the Chattanooga Library on the 3rd floor in the Local History section.  Amber and I wanted to share our past and our present with you and want to wish you all the very best!  You were, and still are, very special to us.
May God Bless You and Keep You

  
Mr. and Mrs. William Shelton Keese
Superintendent and "Mother of" Bonny Oaks

Keese Hall Plaque        
Inscription reads:  Keese Hall - Dedicated to Wm. S. & Lucy Beall Keese in recognition of their devoted services to The Bonny Oaks School.
1925 - 1945

       
Mrs. Keese Chapel Plaque - Located in foyer of the Chapel
Inscription reads:  Dedicated to Mrs. W. S. Keese In recognition of her zeal and unselfish
labor.  Her Dream Came True.  Because each child is an immortal soul.
Which lives while the year's of eternity roll.  A house of God, whose presence they feel,
As they meet and sing and in prayer shall kneel.
My Dream
1926

    
The Chapel Stained Glass - Located on wall behind the pulpit in the Chapel
Inscription:
In Loving Mem'y of Billy Boy
William Shelton Keese III
*July 15th 1933 - Aug 10th 1939


  Dr. Keese was an extraordinary man!

Obituary Excerpt: "Bonny Oaks, since its establishment in 1897, had been considered a home for delinquent boys and girls.  Under the leadership of Dr. Keese and his first wife, it soon came to be regarded as a home for dependent children from broken homes who had no other place to go.  It was a matter of great pride to Dr. Keese that so many of Bonny Oaks alumni have done so well in life."

The following were taken from Memorial Booklet of Lucy Mildred Beall Keese 1959
                                                 


"Please see Charley Camp's tribute to Mrs. Keese in his section of the Photo Album page"

Staff Members in front of Chapel
Front Row, l/r:  Mrs. Artman, Mrs Burger, (?), Mrs. Furman, Mrs Radford, Linda Bowman
Second Row, l/r:  Mrs. Jackson, Ms. Caruthers, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Camp, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Adamson, Mr. Radford
Third Row, l/r: Mr. Hale, Jesse Presley, Pauline Presley, Ken Clay, Amber Clay, Mrs. Rice, Mr. Ferguson, Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. (?), Mrs. Buffington, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Adamson

"Pauline and I planned activities for all the children from 1962 until 1984.  Picture on left was taken in 1962.  We raised our own two children, Greg and Pam, alongside the Bonny Oaks children.   It worked well for us as I was able to attend college in the mornings and work at Bonny Oaks in the afternoons.  After I received my BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Chattanooga in 1965, I worked outside Bonny Oaks as an accountant for some 25 years.  During which time Pauline took over as Activity Director.  She is now in her 18th year of childcare, and works for Family and Children's Services located on some of the old Bonny Oaks property.  During the time Pauline was Activity Director, I continued to coach the boxing teams, drive the bus, and help Pauline in her duties whenever she needed me.  We always tried to encourage the students to do their best at anything they wanted to try.  I was amazed at their skill and courage, especially in boxing.  They gave their all and usually won.  Some were really capable of being in the Olympics, if given the opportunity.
We were able to work and take Greg and Pam with us on all the activities.  Pam sometimes felt like the girls were her "sisters" and was always at the big girls building.  Pam now has three boys, Drew (4), Alec (2) and Trevor (5 months).  Greg is married to Dana and they have three children, Jordan (12), Tyman (6) and Dani (5).  We feel our tenure at Bonny Oaks also provided our children with a well-rounded childhood.  We want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Adamson for being a positive force in our lives.  Also, Ken and Amber Clay, for being dear friends to us.  And to all the Bonny Oaks Alumni: It was a real pleasure being a part of your lives and we wish you and your family only the very best in the future."

Click here to email Jesse and Pauline

Charles W. Camp ("Charley")
Student Activities Director/Summer 1957

"Every child on campus then was special to me.  Our morning swims were great fun!  The evening swims for teens (boys and girls) were a bit much at times, but we always managed to enjoy each other as Family.  I was privileged to teach many of you how to swim.  Also, I even pulled a few of you out of the pool when it was discovered that you couldn't swim a lick!  Ha!  The excursions off campus via the faithful green and white bus were highlights each week!  My summer finale was the ten day camping trip in the Great Smokey Mountains!  Nick was along for Camp Cook duties.  I recall we all ate like kings!  Wow!  What wonderful memories.  Well, Dear Ones, I trust life is good for you and all whom you love.  You were precious to me during the Summer of 1957 and you remain so today.
God Bless You,  Charley
    
Click here to email Charley and/or his Mother, Mrs. Kelly M. Camp"

Mrs. Kelly M. Camp
Dietitian:  1944 - 1954  /  1964 - 1975
Submitted by Charley Camp

"Unfortunately Mother isn't able now to write a note for inclusion here.  However, I know she would want everyone to know that even at 88 years of age, she still thinks kindly and appreciatively of every child/youth who graced the lovely campus we all knew as Home.  Mother was there for two lengthy service terms!  She was retired in the mid-seventies, I think.  During the last employment tour, she resided in the Chapel apartment and it is there where I took my two children to visit their Grandmother.  Both Allison and Chris love Bonny Oaks too!!  The great joy of Mrs. Camp's work experience was to plan the menu, purchase the food items, and then supervise the preparation and serving of every meal.  Mary Ann and I know that her days are numbered now.  She has lived a full life, served well, and is prepared for the end.  Charles"

Mrs. George (Sally) Turner
Deceased- Picture taken in 1963
Beloved Housemother to Big Girls (Junior High and High School)

Mrs. Jean Costello (Deceased)
Little Girls Housemother at Bonny Oaks, 1959
and, 
LIBRARIAN -  Mrs. Costello lovingly made the Photo Albums we are
trying to obtain from the county library.
Picture submitted by daughter, Virginia Costello Richie

Mrs. Costello and Ms. Billie were sisters.



Miss Billie - Bonny Oaks Clinic Nurse (Deceased)
Miss Billie always made us feel special and gave us extra, tender care when we were sick.  She was there for us day or night with medicines and all the jello we wanted to eat.  Sometimes we didn't want to leave the Clinic even after we were all well again.
Picture submitted by niece, Virginia Costello Richie

Mrs. Trazavant L. Crabtree was a mother figure to the boys.  Please read her letter, written July 26, 1944, to the five Kidwell brothers' Mother.   The typed letter was to let their Mother know how summertime was going for the boys at Bonny Oaks.  You will see her love written between the lines of this wonderful letter.  The letter is on the Photo Albums page in the Kidwell Brothers' section.

Mrs. Stowe (Deceased) and family - First & Second Grade Teacher at Bonny Oaks' school on campus

Ann Coulter - Staff Member, Summer Activities Coordinator, Summers 1969-1977
Message:  Although I was a staff member and not a resident at Bonny Oaks, I did a lot of growing up there.  I started volunteering there the summer I was 15 and worked there every summer after until well into graduate school.  I would love to find out more about the students who were there when I was, particularly the "little" and "big" girls, and make contact with them if possible.  I think about them often and wonder how they are doing.  The best way to reach me is through the email address registered here.
Click here to send an email to Ann at ann_coulter@comcast.net