Miracle in the Mountains, inspiring story of Martha Berry's crusade for the mountain people of the South

by Harnett T. Kane, Inez Henry (Collaborator)

Martha Berry's Crusade for the mountain Pople of the South. She was born to plantation wealth, but 'rose' above that to help the poor.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Harnett Thomas Kane was a journalist and author of books about the American South. A 1931 graduate of Tulane University, he was a longtime reporters for the New Orleans Item, and he wrote travel articles and book reviews for a variety of publications.

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book from the first page. It shows how one person can change the lives of many.

[Amy Lindberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure this would be a fascinating story in a different writer's hands. This book was recommended to me, so I forced myself to finish it. There's a lot that probably could be very interesting.

The most frustrating bits for me as a reader:

1- We are regularly told that Martha Berry tells stories (to potential financial backers) until her hearers both laugh and cry. Yet we don't actually get to hear any stories that are funny and only a few that are specifically moving. It would have been marvelous to have a transcript from any of these meetings, or at least some attempt to actually make the reader laugh.

2- The first chapter especially has a lot of awkward "Lost Cause" reframing of the Civil War. There are hints of this ideology throughout the whole book.

3- The style in general reads like a 50s-era upper-elementary instructional primer. Dreadfully dull to read. It also seems to assume that we have a general knowledge of the school's existence. Perhaps it WAS written for local school children to read about this neighboring school campus.

4- The "dialect" in dialogue feels condescending and is generally unnecessary.

5- In general this book leaves a lot of broad questions about the school unanswered. If Martha Berry was the central force driving everything, how did they manage when she was away? The whole atmosphere would have left many opportunities for abuse - how did they protect children from such abuse? What did the average student do after graduation? How far away did the children's families live from the school? Why keep expanding at one location rather than launch similar schools in other regions?

I don't really understand why this person recommended this book to me.

[Regina Rainwater]

Miracle in the Mountains by Harnett T Kane with Inez Henry is exceptional. The inspiring story of Miss Martha Berry and her crusade for the mountain people of North West Georgia and later father into the surrounding areas. With a heart full of compassion, inspiration from her Father Captain Tom Berry and their many trips into the heart of these areas. Miss Martha's personnel witnessing of the hardships of these brave strong people and how education of basic reading and writing would broaden their learning and transferring this learning to their hands to grow out of their plight. Instead of marrying her fiancée from Virginia she chose "her boys" and the School. Miss Berry's courage, dedication to what 'could be' for these people she overcame all the obstacles.
The 'Book' is an inspiration for all who read. I live in Rome, GA. My great Aunt Joy attended Berry, my Uncle Buck attended the boys campus. Should we have more people who believed 'skin in the game' would transform more lives instead of welfare 'that robs the soul of esteem and worth' and believe in them until they believe in themselves "I can only imagine" what our world would be today.
As I walk among the towering trees, gaze upon the Spires and the Beauty of the Berry College Campus I am in awe of the vision Miss Berry had one day at a time 'the humble beginnings'. It is the School the Students built, knowing they were the Bridge Builders for the future. As a native Roman the privilege to grow up with this as a part of my Heritage is a gift. Regina

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue to the 2002 reprint of this book contains a highly important perspective for readers this book, which was originally published in 1956. The book was written in a somewhat fictionalized/novelized form as opposed to a strictly factual work of history. So while the book contains some great anecdotes about Martha Berry’s personality and lifelong dedication to the success of the school(s), there are factual inaccuracies and some problematic treatments of the “mountain people” Martha Berry sought to reach. Approaching the book with those issues in mind, I was still able to garner an appreciation for Martha Berry’s dedication to her students and the incredible network of support she developed in order to expand and sustain the school. I look forward to reading more recent studies that place her work in the context of her time and contemporaneous efforts.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father was one of Martha Berry's boys and had the unique experience of running a foot race with Henry Ford on campus! Henry Ford, a major benefactor to the school, was in his sixties and visiting Berry when my father, who was 14 years old, went streaking past Miss Berry and Mr. Ford, on his way to class. (One of my father's jobs was to fire a coal furnace between classes, which was on the other side of the campus, without being locked out of the classroom for being late! (That had happened before.) Consequently, he had become a very fast runner! Mr. Ford stopped my father and challenged him to a race on the spot and, of couse, my much younger and very fit father beat him easily. So then Mr. Ford asked for a rematch to the top of an adjacent hill. My father agreed, Miss Berry gave him a stern glare, and sadly my father "slipped" this time and Mr. Ford won! HAHA

[Sheila Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this story of Berry's beginnings.

[Mako · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the founder of Berry College (started out as a school for children). This is a great biography and it is so inspiring. To know the humble beginnings of Barry College and how it came about made me want to go to school there. This book is a testament that one person can change the world. Highly recommended if you can get your hands on a copy!

[Herb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inspiring story of Martha Berry, who almost single-handedly revolutionized education for the mountain people of Georgia at the turn of the twentieth century. A great read!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hadn't heard of Martha Berry before reading this book. Very inspiring.

[Jasonlylescampbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is fine but not great. Feels 50s. What is great is Martha Berry's story. Seeing someone fighting so hard for education and for poor mountain people ... getting attention from Carnegie and Roosevelt.