USA > Georgia > Greene County > History of Greene County, Georgia, 1786-1886 > Part 19
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Schools were established at Bethany, Smyrna-Siloam, Pub- lic Square, Bairds, Woodville, Scull Shoals, Liberty, Ridge Grove, Oakland, Walkers and many other places soon after 1800; and many private schools were conducted in the homes of wealthy farmers throughout the county. Between 1880 and 1920, neighborhood schools sprang up in all parts of the county and continued to function until good roads and motor- buses made consolidated schools possible. The process of break- ing up neighborhood schools and transporting the children to more commodious and better equipped schools, brought about
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many community feuds; but when they began to realize that it meant better school advantages for their children, opposi- tion to the plan soon died out.
Union Point has had a splendid public school system for many years and ranks second in enrollment. Greensboro, Union Point, Siloam, Woodville, and White Plains all have modern public school buldings, while all of the schools in the county have been enlarged and improved. The enrollment of the white schools of the county is as follows: Greensboro, 414; Union Point, 331; White Plains, 128; Siloam, 121; Woodville, 140; Penfield, 97; Greshamville, 159; Meadow Crest, 38; Veazey, 41; Cedar Grove, 40; Beuna Vista, 17; Wrayswood, 20; Sibley, 31; Greene county children living near the county line, and going to school in adjoining counties, 22; making a total enrollment of 1599 white pupils in the county. (In 1945)
COLORED SCHOOLS
The names, locations, and number of pupils enrolled in the colored schools of Greene County in 1947 are as follows :
Greensboro, 159; Union Point, 84; White Plains, 49; Siloam, 71; Woodville, 46; Spring Creek, 17; Mt. Pleasant, 21; Macedonia, 30; Oak Grove, 20; Antioch, 28; Hutchison Grove, 26; Little Creek, 35; East Over, 70; Rock Hill, 17; Pierce's Chapel, 23; St. Mary's 21; Finley's Chapel, 41; Mt. Olive, 15; Wrayswood, 20; Walnut Grove, 26; Copelan's Grove, 30; Brown's Chapel, 24; Public Square, 25; Boswell's Chapel, 22; Flat Rock, 20; Penfield, 32; Parson's, 10; Pine Grove, 12; Mt. Calvary, 17; Wrightsville, 31; County Line, 18 ; Thompson's Grove, 17; Bethabara, 5 ; Andrew's Grove, 25; Caldwell's Grove, 33; Moore's Grove, 18; New Bethel, 62; Randle's Grove, 16; St. Paul, 31; Springfield, 23; Sander's Chap'1, 15. The above figures represent the average attendance, makes at total of 1221, but the total enrollment is 1661.
From the above, it will be noted that the colored schools have not been consolidated. However, there are a number of buses that transport the more advanced pupils to the various High schools for colored pupils. (1947) (End)
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The Bulletin of the University of Georgia gives the record of the accredited schools of the State, the number of High- School graduates entering Georgia Colleges, and their per- centages made in their Freshman year. The following table is from the Greensboro High School, and covers a period of ten years :
Graduates entering College 107; 7 per cent A 39 percent B, 37 per cent C, 14 per cent D, 3 per cent E & F.
This is truly a remarkable record and is excelled by one school only in the State, and that is, the Girls High School of Atlanta. That school has a record of only 2 per cen. failures.
The Union Point High School is also on the accredited list and has a fine record, however, this school has not been on the list long, and shows only 7 pupils entering Colleges.
The first unit of the present school system of Greensboro was built in 1908, and the marble tablet in the wall just to the right of the entrance reads as follows : J. H. Gheesling, Mayor ; Alderman, T. B. Rice, B. F. McWhorther, J. B. Park. E. G. Pennington, J. H. McWhorter, Clerk; Architects, C. G. Gads- den, Sayer & Co., Contractors, John F. Grandy & Son.
The second unit, which is now the Grammar School, was built in 1925, and the marble tablet in the walls gives this in- formation : John S. Callaway, Mayor; Aldermen; W. H. Childs, Dr. J. F. Hunter, T. H. McGibbony, F. A. Perkins, C. E. Robinson, J. G. Oliver. Superintendent of Schools, C. C. Wills.
The Union Point Public School building was erected soon after the first unit of the Greensboro High School was erected 1908 or 1909, and was built along the same lines as the Greensboro building, and I think, by the same architect and contractor. Both Siloam and White Plains erected new brick school buildings soon after Greensboro and Union Point; and Woodville erected a new modern brick school building in 1933.
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HISTORY OF THE WHITE PLAINS (GA.) SCHOOL (By Miss Helen Kilpatrick )
Note: The following History of the White Plains School was written by Miss Helen Kilpatrick and read at the Centennial Celebration that was observed in the present White Plains School Building in May, 1933. It was preserved by Mrs. Paul Jernigan, of White Plains, and copied by T. B. Rice, Historian for Greene County, at the request of Dr. William H. Kilpatrick, brother of the author, and a former student of this historic school.
"The earliest known record of the White Plains School is a deed for four acres of land, lying in the county of Greene and adjoining the Baptist Church lot, given by Richard Baugh of Hancock County to the trustees of the White Plains Aca- demy June 14, 1833. The trustees named are, Walker Lewis, Miles Young, Michael Eley, Joshua Caldwell, Robt. H. Mapp and Zacheus Wright. The witnesses to the deed were, Zebu- lun Wright, James Mapp and S. Johnson. The deed was re- corded in Greensboro June 14, 1834.
Nearly a year later, on Dec. 19, 1834 an act to incorpor- ate the White Plains Academy in the county of Greene, and to appoint trustees for the same was passed by the Legislature, as follows :
"AN ACT to incorporate the White Plains Academy, in the county of Greene, and appoint trustees for the same."
Sec. 5 And be it further enacted, That the academy in the county of Greene, now known as the White Plains, shall hereafter be known and styled by that name; and that Walker Lewis, Miles Young, Samuel Jones, Zacheus Wright, Zebulon Wright, Edward D. Alfriend, John Bonner, and Hugh Moore, and their successors in office, be, and are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "The Trustees of the White Plains Academy, in the
county of Greene; and as such shall be capable and liable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and shall be authorized to make such by-laws and regulations as may be necessary for the govern- ment of said academy, provided such by-laws and regulations are not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State; and for that purpose may have and use a common seal, appoint such officers as they may think proper, and remove from office for improper con- duct or neglect of duty."
Sec. 6 And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall be capable of accepting and bring invested with all manner of property, real and personal, all donations, grants, privileges, and immunities whatso- ever, which may belong to said institution, or may hereafter be con-
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veyed or, transfered to them or their successors in office, to have and to hold the same for the proper use, benefit, and behoof of said academy."
Sec. 7 And be it further enacted, That when any vacancy may happen by refusal of any of. said trustees to act, or by death, resignation, or otherwise of the trustees of said academy; the survivors, or majority of them, shall fill the same in such manner as may be pointed out in the by-laws and regulations of the trustees aforesaid."
(Signed) Thomas Glascock, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Jesse Wood, President of the Senate.
Assented to, 19th December, 1834. Wilson Lumpkin, Governor.
These two are the only early records of our school known and its history other than given in these papers have been hand- ed down by the founders of the school and others living at that time to their children, and by them to later generations.
Much of the information here given was gathered by the late Loyd Barrett who was principal of the school in 1927- 8-9.
A few words regarding the founders, whom they were and where they lived may be of interest. Richard Baugh, of Han- cock County, who donated the land for the school, built and lived in the house on the Greensboro-Sparta highway, known as the old Copeland home, now owned and occupied by Mr. Perry Edwards. Michael Eley lived at the Sam Marchman place and the Baptist Church records show that he was ordained a deacon in that church in 1829.
Joshua Caldwell, according to the old minutes was a mem- ber of the White Plains Baptist Church from 1831 to 1835. Nothing more is known of him.
We do not know exactly who Robert Mapp was. He was probably the father of the late Jasper Mapp and Mrs. Rebec- ca Mapp Hilsman, but as the family Bible and one other re- cord give him as Housand Mapp, he cannot be positively iden- tified as Robin H. Mapp.
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The other three trustees mentioned in the deed were also trustees appointed the next year by the Legislature. They were Walker Lewis, Miles Young and Zacheus Wright. Walk- er Lewis came from Virginia in the year 1800 and was the founder of the well known Lewis family of Greene County. Among his descendents have been many of the most prominent citizens of the county, including the late Judge Henry T. Lewis and his brother Judge Graham Lewis. He lived in what is known as the Walker Lewis house, which is still standing on the farm which he settled and cultivated for sixty years and now owned by his grandson Judge Graham Lewis. He died in 1860 and is buried in the Lewis grave yard nearby.
No record could be found of Miles Young and nothing is known of him.
Zebulon Wright and Wiley Wright were sons of Zebulon Wright. The names of all three of these trustees appear on the roll of the White Plains Methodist Church in 1838 and the records show that they were prominent in church work.
Zebulon Wright lived at the place known as the Alex Smith place, now owned by Mrs. M. E. Sisk of Greensboro.
Zebulon Wright lived on what was latter called the Slack place, near the "Mill Hole" which was the site of Wright's Mill.
Wiley Wright lived a little more than a mile west of White Plains at Wright's Spring in a large house that was burned in the 79's The Wright family graveyard is on this place
The name of Samuel Jones is on the list of members of the Methodist Church in 1838, but does not appear again. He is said to have been a preacher.
Edward D. Alfrend was a well known physician and liv- ed in the Alfriend home which stood near the site of Mr. H. C. Stewart's home.
John Bonner was a large land owner and lived on the place now owned by Mr. Ben O'Rear, in a house which is still standing.
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Of Hugh Moore there is no record, and no one could be found who knew anything about him.
THE BUILDINGS
Nothing certain is known of the first building; Mr. Bar- rett says in a little historical sketch of the school which ap- peared in the school paper Oct. 15, 1927: "The first building stood about one hundred yards in front of the present school. Its doors were opened to pupils in the fall of 1832, the first exhibition being held on June 20, 1833." A thorough search has failed to show where Mr. Barrett obtained this informa- tion. Many of the older attendents of the school now living have been questioned but none know anything of this building. There is a tradition mentioned by a few that the main room of the old Alfrend house was the first used. This was a large room of squared logs stood near the site of Mr. Stewart's barn. It was last owned by Mr. Peter M. Moss and was torn down in 1886. This tradition may be confused with what has been told of Dr. Will Alfrend's office which stood between the Baptist Church and Dr. Alfrend's home now owned by the Cooks. It is said that this building was used for a school house while the second school building was being erected. This office was later moved next to the Masonic Building on Main street and was burned in 1893.
The second building was quite imposing for so small a village as White Plains. It was a large two story building with a chimney at each end and stood where the present tennis court is. It is not known when this building was erected, cer- tainly not earlier than 1835, and not later than 1840, though some say as late as 1848. The minutes of the Baptist Church record that the trustee's were granted the use of the church building in 1865 and 1866 while the school building was under- going repairs and it has often been said that small boys in the 70's slipped out through holes in the floor when the teacher's back was turned. This could hardly be true of a building less than 30 years old.
The old bell, which has been used in all three of the
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buildings bears the inscription "E Force N. York 1835-but this could scarcely have any bearing on the date of the con- struction of the second building. At first there was a partition on the lower floor. The west end was cut off for a music room and library. The other room was used for the smaller chil- dren while the principal and his assistant taught the older pupils upstairs in one large room which was used as an auditorium. The building was heated by a large fire-place on each floor. This second building was used until 1880 when it was torn down and the best of the lumber with new material was used to erect the third building.
The third building was one large room with a stage and stood a little back of the site of the present building. The house was not finished in time for the opening of the spring term in 1880 and a vacant store was used until the building was com- pleted in the early spring. Later there were two wings added one on each side.
In 1917 the school had grown so that there was need of a larger building and better equipment. The funds for the former buildings had been raised by public subscription, but it was out of the question to so raise the amount necessary for a modern building and after much discussion and planning it was decided to deed the school property to the County Board of Education; to incorporate the White Plains School Dis- trict and to vote on a bond issue for a building. The bond elec- tion was carried with only a few dissenting votes, on June 29, 1917 and the following year the present brick building was fin- ished in time for the fall term September 1918.
During the hundred years of its existence the school has had as many as forty-two principals and probably several more. The first principal given on Mr. Barrett's list, was J. L. Thom- as 1832-1833. From 33 to 46 there is a skip. It is not known whether Mr. Thomas continued as principal for these thirteen years, or whether there were other principals. Beginning again with 1846 we have a complete list of principals down to the present. Nothing further is known of Mr. J. L. Thomas but something is remembered of most of the others though many of them were there only one year. Of. Mr. Stewart, who was
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principal in 46 it is said. "He was very strict." In after years when some boy was particularly hard to manage, som one would say, "We need Mr. Stewart behind him."
Henry C. Ware, was a resident of White Plains, a mer- chant highly thought of, public spirited, clerk of the Methodist Church.
James Thornton, 1848, was from Union Point, a brother of Rev. Vincent Thornton, pastor of the White Plains Baptist Church in the early 50's.
Richard Asbury, 1849-1850, probably from Greene Coun- ty has been described as "a mighty good man." He was later part owner and president of Monroe Female College, now Bessie Tift College.
O. Pinkerton, of Bairdstown in 1851 was followed by Cyrus Barrow in '52.
In 1850 and 1855 the principal was Isaac D. Moore who later for many years was the faithful physician in White Plains and vicinity.
Between these years, in 1854, the school was taught by James H. Kilpatrick, of Richmond County, who was the next year called as pastor to the White Plains Baptist Church which he served for more than fifty-three years.
1856 came one who is well remembered by some of the oldest ones present, J. D. Mathews. Serving with him in 1858 as co-principal and in 1859 and 1860 alone was Vincent T. Sanford. Mr. Sanford later taught in several nearby towns, Penfield, Crawfordville and Woodville, and was well known throughout the state.
In 1861 the school was taught by Alonzo Howell, a native of White Plains, a former graduate of the school and a gra- duate of Mercer University. He was followed in 1862 by Wil- liam Cooper, a Baptist preacher. In 1863, because of the scar- city of men due to the war, the school had its first woman principal, Mrs. Emma B. Howell, who had earlier taught music in the school.
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In 1864 Mr. Ellington, of whom nothing more is known, was principal.
In 1865, Dr. J. M. Howell who had returned from three years of service in the Confederate Army, was elected prin- cipal and taught through this year and the next when he re- signed and moved away.
In 1867 came Redmond Forrester who was principal through 1870. Mr. Forrester was very popular and is still remembered and spoken of by many of the older citizens of White Plains.
In 1871 Dr. Howell again was elected principal and held the position until 1880 when he was appointed County School Commissioner for two terms in succession of four years each. He was then ineligible to hold the position of Principal and his wife Mrs. Emma B. Howell was made principal a second time. In 1887, the school observed the first Georgia Arbor Day, and the large oaks in front of the building were planted. A number of trees were set out but only those of Dr. Howell, Will M. Grant, J. Howell Mapp, William Heard Kilpatrick, Charles Sterling Jernigan and John Pardee lived. It seems fitting that Dr. Howell's tree should have out grown the others, and it stands today as a memorial to him who spent so many of his best years in the service of the school. During the twenty years of Dr. Howell's connection with the school and for many years after, Mrs. Howell served as music teacher, and while it would be impossible to mention all the music teachers who taught dur- ing the hundred years of the school's existence, Mrs. Howell's music and her school entertainments held so large a part in the life of the school and its pupils, that this history would be incom- plete without some mention of her as music teacher.
In 1889 J. E. Purks, a former pupil and brother of our present County School Superintendent was principal. He showed the same energy in his teaching at White Plains that has charac- terized his work throughout his career and has made him well known over the state.
After four years Mr. Purks resigned to be followed by H. H. Little of Sparta in 1893. 1894-1895 the principal was
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A. A. Rose. 1895-1896 W. S. Johns, of Social Circle, was prin- cipal. He is now deputy-governor of the Federal Reserve Bank, of Atlanta. 1896-1897 W. F. Perry was principal. The school was graded for the first time this year.
1877-1898-W. F. Glenn was principal. 1898-1900-Guy Overton of Union Point was principal. 1900-1902 M. H. Moore, of White Plains, a former pupil and son of Dr. I. D. Moore a former principal, was principal. 1903-1906, J. E. Wright; 1906-1907 R. T. Adderhold; 1907-1909 T. W. Mc- Whorter; 1909-1910 J. E. Wright was second time principal ; 1910-1911 W. J. Noyes; 1911-1912 Horace Sandifer; 1912- 1914 O. A. Davis; 1914-1915 S. J. Bowman; 1915-1917 J. W. Boyd; 1917-1918 there were three principals Mr. Fulmer who taught a short time and resigned to be followed by a Mr. Burns who stayed only a short time. The year was finish- ed by Rev. N. A. White, pastor of the Methodist Church.
In 1918, the school elected a woman principal, Mrs. Estelle Wright (wife of a former principal, J. E. Wright) who had before served as assistant. She managed the school very effi- ciently and successfully for five years at the end of which time she resigned and was followed in 1923-1924 by Luther C. Still, of Conyers. 1924-1925 Raymond E. Walker; 1925-1926 J. Groves Colbert. In 1926 Loyd Barrett, of Sparta, was elected principal three years and was greatly loved by his teachers and pupils. It was he who was first interested in the history of the school and planned the celebration of its hundredth anniversary.
In 1929 Mr. Barrett resigned and was followed by our present efficient principal, Mr. F. S. Cherry who has just been re-elected after serving four years. (1934)
TRADITIONS
Several traditions connected with the school which are often mentioned should receive some notice. First, the right of the school to use water from the spring now owned by Mr. H. C. Stewart. This is a very persistant tradition and there is probably foundation for it, but there is no mention made of it in any deed on record that has been found. The spring
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is very near the line of the original school lot and it may pos- sibly have been on the lot.
Second; The majority of the trustees must be Baptists because, according to agreement, more money was subscribed for the school by Baptists. There is no mention of this in any record, but the fact that it was absent until the school property was deeded to the County Board of Education would seem proof that the tradition is based on fact.
Many have asked when the school's name changed from the White Plains Academy to Dawson Institute in honor of Judge William C. Dawson of Greensboro, Ga., as early as 1858 when the Baptist Church minutes record that the trus- tees of Dawson Institute asked permission to extend a string of palings on the church lot so as to inclose the school lot. There is, however, no record that the name was ever legally changed until the County Board of Education took over the property in 1917 when it was changed to the White Plains District School, legally the White Plains Public School, but usually called White Plains Junior High.
It is an interesting fact that after one hundred years several of the founders are still represented in our school by their descendants. Our County School Superintendent, Mr. W. A. Purks, is a descendent of Zebulon Wright, Mr. T. C. Moore, a member of the present board of trustees is a des- cendent of Michael Eley.
There are a number of pupils in school who are descendents of these founders and I take pleasure in presenting these chil- dren to the audience, Margery Moore, the great, great, great grand-daughter of Richard Baugh, who gave the land upon which these buildings described have stood. She is also a great, great, great granddaughter of Michael Eley. Other des- cendents of Michael Eley are Callie Eley, and Florrie Eley great, great, great grand-daughters and J. W. Eley, Jr. great, great, great grandson. Hugh Moore, Thomas Darby are great, great, great, grandsons.
Nits, Edna, Mary, Keith and Billy Marchman are great, great, great grandchildren of Zebulon Wright while Mary
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Louise King, Edna King, Allen King and Chase Tappan are descendents of three of the original. trustees; Walker Lewis, Zebulon Wright and Zacheus Wright.
I now have the pleasure of presenting the oldest living person who attended the White Plains School, Mr. T. J. March- man (Uncle Fox Marchman of Siloam, age 91, and the young- est pupil in school at present Mr. Marchman's great, great nephew, Billy Marchman, age 6.
A LONG FORGOTTEN BENEFACTOR OF POOR CHILDREN (By T. B. Rice)
On April 20, 1865, Gwyn Allison, an old bachelor, the son of a Revolutionary soldier and a first cousion of President Andrew Jackson, realizing that his end was near, called in his lawyer and dictated his will.
Fortune had smiled on him and his fertile acres had yield- ed bountiful crops the proceeds of which had netted him around $35,000.00 His brothers were likewise successful farmers. That he was interestered in the welfare of the poor children of Greene County, is evidenced by his will, a paragraph from which appears on the tablet that was erected over his grave that had remained unmarked for seventy-five years. It reads as follows :
GWYN ALLISON DIED IN 1865
HE EDUCATED POOR CHILDREN
"I give and bequeath to the Inferior Court of Greene County twenty thousand dollars the interest on which is to be used for the education of poor chil- dren belonging to Greene county; but no part of the principal is to be used for that purpose."
That he was loyal to the Southern Confederacy there can be no doubt. The inventory of his estate reveals the contents of his lock-box.
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In gold
$ 496.75 284.95
In silver
In bills of the following banks.
The Bank of the State of Ga.
3355.00
Georgia Railroad Bank
2115.00
Peoples Bank of South Carolina
100.00
Mechanics Bank of Augusta
260.00
Augusta Ins. & Banking Co.
20.00
Marine Bank, Savannah, Ga.
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