Harold Emery

Birth:  

Family Information: Husband of Mary Emery.

Father of Louise Emery.

Description:  

Pre-Colony History:  

Home in Colony: In 1934 the family moved into the old Synoground house.  

Job in Colony: In July 1934 the regular crew at the print shop included: Lloyd Potter, Harold and Mary Emery, Ben Low, Roy MacDonald, Anna Loutrel, George Leevey, Afton Lewis, Howard Stansbury, Mr. Ranft and Irene Hewitt.

Esther Allen, Mrs. Weatherwax and Bertha Richter helped out on the "Colonist" and "Democrat" days, plus both DeForest and Marvin Sanford could be seen there a good share of the time.

In August 1935 he worked late into the night, along with Billick and Bauer to get the "Democrat" out with some special effects to the front page. Dave Rice, night watchman at the print shop, said that he was the one who'd worked, trying to make enough coffee to keep up with their appetites.

In November 1935 he volunteered for extra evening work at the crate factory in order to fill an urgent order. Other volunteers included: Director Eugene Carl, Industrial Foreman Chet Page, Willie Brown, Mr. Jernberg and his son, Elmer, Sylvester, Arlene and Mrs. Watson.

In May 1936 he, along with Mrs. Minnie Hewitt and Charlotte, Mrs. Bondell Banta, Mrs. White, Mrs. Hardy, Ed Mansfield and Ed and Ida Cole helped prepare for the first reception of the summer season that was held in the Roof Garden.

In 1937 was editor of the Llano Colonist; also served as a colony school principal and teacher. 

Other Info: On May Day, 1935, some dissatisfied colonists -- most of them younger members who had not yet earned their right to vote on colony decisions -- held a meeting while Pickett was out of town and elected a new Board of Directors that didn't include George Pickett. Doc Williams, an on-again / off-again colonist from the early years in California, was elected President; Eugene Carl, a new member who'd only been at the colony about three months -- he was still a probationer and consequently didn't even have voting rights in colony matters, was elected Executive Director; and Walter Robison, also a recent arrival, was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Pickett and his supporters fought the action in the Vernon Parish courts, but even though the courts ruled the new board was not legal, they also refused to name Pickett's board as the legal directors, so the disagreements within the colony only continued to escalate.

Read the Court Judgment dated September 6, 1935.

In order to claim that an official board had been properly elected after the court judgment had been handed down, the new board and leaders held another election. They advertised for former colonists to send in their proxies and adopted a rule permitting all resident members who had been at the colony more than sixty days to vote in the election, provided too few proxies were received to hold a regular stock holders' meeting.

In October 1935 he was nominated to be on the self-proclaimed "legal" Board of Directors, along with (in order of nomination), Robert K. Williams, E.D. Carl, Lester Caves, Crockett Campbell, John Szpila, Charles Lawrence, Chester Peecher, E.O. Joynes, Chester Page, Horace Cronk, George Hullinger, Walter Robison, "Chauncey" DuProz, Mrs. Olive Lentz, Mrs. Mabel Busick, Lionel Crossland, Charles Derleth, J.H. "Dad" Ribbing and Cy Horney.

As expected, less than one fourth the required stock was represented at the Stockholders' meeting, so the colonists proceeded with the election of a new board of directors as planned. Those selected were: Robert K. Williams, E.C. Carl, Lester Caves, Crockett Campbell, Harold Emery, Chester Peecher, E.O. Joynes, Charles Lawrence, and Chester Page. Runners up were Mrs. Mabel Busick, Horace Cronk and John Szpila.

This new board tried to make improvements to colony life, but after the first year, finances were in such a state that the court appointed a receiver to help them straighten out their affairs. Two different receivers tried to calm the colonists and persuade them to work together, but this proved fruitless.

In June 1936 Carl resigned from his postion as the Receiver's representative and resident manager. Harold Emery was selected by the Receiver to fill the position. That same month he spoke at one of the theater productions, telling of some of the progress that had been made and touching upon plans that were under contemplation.

In September 1936 Eugene Carl again "took up the duties [of being the colony manager] under the receiver."

In June, 1937, as disaster loomed, some control was returned to Pickett when he was asked to be, first the Farm Superintendent, then the Ice Plant Manager, and finally in control of all colony industries. Unfortunately, it was too late; within months the receiver petitioned the court for permission to sell the land and soon began to divide the property into smaller lots which were sold at auction for much less than their actual value.

In February 1936, he, along with Mr. Joynes and Eugene Carl, took the civil service examination for postmaster at Leesville, LA.

Post-Colony History: On June 19, 1937 the Emery family offered a farewell to the colony when they entered into the Saturday evening performance at the theater -- Harold read "If", Kipling's concept of what constitutes a man, and Lindsay's "Gospel of Beauty". Afterwards, little Louise came on with sweeping skirt and recited an interesting poem about "Giants," for which her mother Mary furnished the music.  

Death:  

Sources: "Llano Colonist": July 7, 1934, September 8, 1934, August 10, 1935, October 12, 1935, November 2, 1935, February 29, 1936, May 30, 1936, June 6, 1936, June 20, 1936, October 24, 1936, July 3, 1937