Batesville author Mark Rorie has produced the third in the series of the Polk Bayou Kids books. “The Polk Bayou Kids and the Ghosts of West Elementary School” is a wonderful combination of actual historical events woven with the imagination of the author. Luke Davis, the author’s stepson, and his four friends, Kendra Kelley, Greyson Wyatt, Chase Baker and Emma Langston follow Kristi, Luke’s dog, on a two day romp along Polk Bayou that you will never forget.
In this book, readers will learn fascinating facts about the International Order of the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Batesville Lodge number Four’s Orphanage, built in 1898, that stood for thirty years on the exact spot where West Elementary School now stands. When the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) razed the Home in 1938-39, they reused many of the building materials from the orphanage to build West Elementary School. Most noticeable is the stone foundation that you can clearly see in the circa 1900 photograph that is neatly tucked inside the back cover of each book. On one side of this insert is the haunting ca. 1900 photo of the I.O.O.F. Orphanage with the orphans and their prized band situated out front. On the opposite side of the insert is a full-color current-day photo of West Elementary School with all of the students and faculty as well as the band in roughly the same position as the ca. 1900 photo.
This story begins in December of 1929 with the closing of the Home because of the Stock Market crash in October of that same year and ends eighty years later on Main Street, Halloween night. In between there are seven chapters that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes. Kristi steals the show in this book with her voracious appetite and penchant for playing her own little tricks on her human pawns. You will meet the actual ghosts, at least in Mr. Rorie’s world, of West Elementary School and believe it or not you will not even be the least bit scared.
Then, just when you think it’s over, Mr. Rorie hits you with even more facts and history about the I.O.O.F. organization. Several pages that include in-their-own-words ghost stories from Dr. Gary Coots, the current principal at West Elementary School, and Tommy Elms, a former janitor at West. In addition, Dr. Robert (Bob) Slaughter and his wife Mary share their true life story about Clarence, a poltergeist that to this day resides in their home in Batesville.
Mae, the main ghost in this story is named after Mr. Rorie’s grandmother Della Mae Johnson to whom the book is dedicated. Additional characters are actual classmates of the Polk Bayou Kids and they include: Teairra D. McClinton, William Briylus, Nikki Blanchard, Brock Newman, Leighton Leddy, Preston Thompson, Nathan Howard, Antron Ramey, Maci Allen, Tristen Driver, Lauren Kuykendall, Jennifer Garcia Hernandez, Sarah Frisbee, Denver Worley, Allen Stewart, Ally Lambert, Katelynn Middleton, Teva Kvern, Haili Williams, Anna Beth Conditt, Norma Sanchez, Alexis Medley, Kyler Dickey, Trey Wann, Spencer Cruthis, Nate Robbins, Paden Cannon, Kameron Osbourne, and Ashdon Allen.
“The Polk Bayou Kids and the Ghosts of West Elementary School” along with the authors first book, “The Polk Bayou Kids and the Search for Civil War Gold” and his second book “The Polk Bayou Kids and the Secrets of the White River Monster” are available at Paper Chase Book Store, Batesville Printing Company, Elizabeth’s Restaurant and many other soon to be announced locations. Book signings are planned at West Elementary School and The Old Independence Regional Museum.
Mr. Rorie’s next book will be a continuation of the ghost story and will include many more historical references to the I.O.O.F. Home and additional ghost stories about West Elementary School. The title is “The Polk Bayou Kids and the Cave of a Thousand Toys.” Publishing date is scheduled of course for Halloween of 2011.
