USA > North Carolina > Randolph County > Why Not, North Carolina : a history of the Why Not Academy, the Why Not Memorial Association, the Why Not community, and the Fair Grove Methodist Church > Part 3
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serve as Christian missionaries. They spent a year and a half in language school before moving to Nagoya, where he was superin- tendant of a boys' school until their return to the United States in August, 1927.
Both the Fair Grove Methodist Church and the Why Not Academy were instrumental in sending out ministers, teachers and successful businessmen and women from the Why Not community into the wider world. Among the ministers I remember, in addition to Clyde Auman, are: Ben Williams, T. A. Spencer, W. L. Maness, Charles Spencer, John Russell, and Frank Morgan. James Auman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Auman, also was a member of this church in his youth.
One organ and two pianos have been purchased during the life of the Fair Grove church.
Pianists I recall were: Mrs. Etta Auman Austin, Mrs. Ethel Biggs Trogdon (daughter of the Reverend
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G. H. Biggs), Mrs. Mabel Stuart Cox, Mrs. Mary Lilly Marshall, Marjorie Alexander, and Dorothy Lilly Brown.
MARRIAGES
One of the early marriages in Fair Grove Methodist Protes-
tant Church was Milton Filmore Vuncannon to Miss Cora Juanita King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. King, on November 7, 1901. On October 19, 1904, Martin McNeill and Miss May Spencer were united in marriage. Ross Cox married Miss Etta King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. King, on April 27, 1905.
Because of rain and flooded creeks, the marriage of Dr. John W. Austin to Miss Etta Jane Auman, scheduled to take place at the Fair Grove Church on June 9, 1913, took place instead at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Auman, the bride's parents.
METHODS USED IN LIGHTING THE CHURCH
Candles were first used in lighting the church. Then kerosene lamps were carried from the homes to provide even better light for church and prayer meetings at night. Later, brackets were fastened to the walls and lamps placed thereon. Then, when Charles B. Auman was a student at Elon College, he had a chance to
buy an oil-burning brass chandelier from the college. This was installed near the center of the ceiling of the church, and is intact to this day. Later, a kerosene hanging lamp with shade was purchased to supplement the light over the pulpit.
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When Aladdin lamps became popular in the homes, they were often taken to the church to give brighter light for special meetings at night. Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Cox donated a
Delco light plant. Emory Slack volunteered to furnish the wiring needed, and Euclid Auman did the electrical work. This method of lighting was used until electricity became available in rural areas in the 1930s.
CHURCH PLACED IN DIFFERENT CIRCUITS
The Grove Methodist Church was one of eight churches comprising the Love Joy Methodist Protestant Circuit. The
churches were paired as follows: Fair Grove and Pleasant Hill, Mt. Gilead and Melton Grove, Flag Spring and New Hope, Macedonia and Love Joy. One pastor took care of the eight churches.
Each pair of churches had preaching once a month on the same Sunday, one being at 11:00 a. m. and the other at 3:00 p. m. The method of travel used by the pastor was horse and buggy. Every six months the time of services would alternate, giving each church a morning service six times a year.
Later, churches were changed from one circuit to another, and the circuit the Fair Grove Church was on was called the Flag Spring circuit for a time. Then Flag Spring was added to Rich- land, and then it was called the Why Not Circuit.
When Seagrove Methodist Church (about one and one-half miles to the north) was built, and Fair Grove Church no longer held regular services, the circuit became known as the Seagrove circuit.
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THE CHURCH BELL
The old bell, which hangs in the belfry and is still operated by a rope suspended from the vestibule of the church, has been heard throughout the community many, many times in its call to Sunday School and worship services. The tolling of this bell at the approach of a funeral procession to the grounds of this historic church and cemetery is a quaint custom which has been followed for years.
OLD AND NEW CEMETERY
A Cemetery was first located on the grounds adjacent to the church. Among the people buried there are Martin Auman, 1873; Elisha Yow, 1880; Mrs. A. L. Yow, 1886; and Jane Tucker, 1887. Due to a high watertable, the decision was made to start a new cemetery. Alfred L. Yow gave five-sixteenths of an acre of
of slightly elevated land located about one hundred yards north
The first burial in this new cemetery was a child the church. Later, the Missionary Society bought one- from the Yow family.
third of an acre from Mr. and Mrs. Philmore Graves, whose land bordered a part of the cemetery. In 1933, Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Cole gave one-third of an acre of adjoining land, which made the cemetery lot about square.
When memorial services became an annual event, flowers from yards and fields would be taken to the church, and when the morning service was over, all would march to the cemetery in a
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group. with flowers in hand, making certain that there were enough flowers so no grave would be left bare. The service would be continued in the cemetery by singing and prayer while the
graves were being decorated. Now many find it advantageous to place flowers on the graves in the early hours on Memorial Day. Considering the fact that many graves were being added to the cemetery and that larger crowds were attending the memorial services, it was decided to name the first Sunday in May as annual Memorial Day. Later the date was moved ahead to the third Sunday in May.
MINISTERS SERVING FROM 1859-1947
1859
. Zachary Lineberry (Mt. Moriah)
J. W. Heath 1866.
1870-72
W. C. Kennett
W. C. Hanner 1873
1875
. Henry Lewallen
1882-84
W. C. Kennett
1885-87
James Dean
1888-90 T. F. McCulloch
A. R. Hanner 1891-92
1893-95
J. H. Stowe
J. H. Betts 1896
1897-99
N. M. Modlin
1899-1901
W. D. Fogleman
1902
W. C. Lassiter
1904 G. H. Biggs
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1905-09.
J. A. Ledbetter
J. H. Stowe 1910-14.
no minister supplied 1915.
1916-17
W.
F. Ashburn
W. M. Pike 1918-19
1920-24 J. W. Hulin
1925-26 D. S. Garner
1927
J. B. Trogdon
1928.
D. S. Garner
1929.
J. B. Trogdon
1930
H, Neese
1933-35 G. L. Reynolds
1936-39. .E. G. Cowan
1940-47.
Reverends Trollinger, Forrester,
Hornbuckle, Ridenhour, Johnson, Ferree, and Cochran.
As far as my memory serves me, the following persons were among those remaining on the membership list of the Fair Grove Church when it was officially closed by the Methodist Church: Minnie s. Stuart, Stuart,
Charles E. Verne S. Stuart, Mary Stuart, Vern Ann Stuart Joyce, Clayton Monroe, Lucinda Latham Luck, Conie S. Lowdermilk, Boyd King, Pearl Lilly, J. D. Lilly, Dorothy Lilly Brown, Lloyd Cagle, and Mrs. Margaret Cagle and daughter. Most of these people joined some other church in the community.
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WHY NOT ACADEMY
PROF. JAMES P. BOROUGHS Principal, Why Not Academy 1892-1898
PROF. GEORGE F. GARNER Principal, Why Not Academy and Business Institute 1899 - 1913
CHAPTER THREE:
HISTORY OF
WHY NOT ACADEMY
Academies played a central role in the American education system in the nineteenth-century. Public schools, with few ex- ceptions, only operated during the winter months and provided little more than a basic background in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Academies were private schools that offered what we today term a secondary education. They prepared students for college, a career in business, or other white-collar jobs.
In Randolph county, a few academies opened before the Civil War offering educational opportunities mainly for the children of the wealthier citizens. Several more were founded in the years after Reconstruction, and they played a central role in preparing area citizens from all walks of life to be leaders in the new industrial America that was developing rapidly after 1880.
A few private or "subscription" schools opened in the Why
Not area after Reconstruction. Around 1870, C. L. Spencer, and later, Calvin McNeill and Mrs. Mary Ellen Lowdermilk Yow taught at what was called the Cox School House east of Why Not. J. P. Boroughs, Martitia Yow, Mrs. Jennie Hancock, and J. W. Trogdon held subscription schools during the summers over the years.
North Carolina established a public school system in 1840. public schools closed during Reconstruction. Upon re- The
38
opening, they were grossly underfunded until after 1900, when Progressive Era politicians established a modern public school system in the state.
The earliest public school teachers in the Why Not area after the war were the Reverends E. G. and W. R. Lowdermilk; both were graduates of Yadkin College who taught in the early 1880s. On a date in the 1880s that has been lost to memory, the local public school house burned down, and the school term was finished in a house near the residence of M. C. Auman. A new school house was built near the home of Jefferson Auman. J. R. Miller, Nixon Lucas, Martin Cagle, W. P. Lawrence, and Nancy Macon taught at this school during the late 1880s and the early 1890s.
In 1892, a group of Why Not citizens, who wanted to insure that area children would enjoy better educational opportunities, founded Why Not Academy. On October 20, 1892, James A. King and wife L. J. King donated two and one-half acres to the board of trustees of the academy. On the same day, Alfred L. You and wife Sarah Yow donated one and one-half acres to the trustees, making in all a four acre tract on which to locate the new Why Not Academy . The trustees included J. H. Spencer, E. E. McNeill, John F. Chisholm, M. A. Cagle, and T. W. Lawrence. Later, J. A. King replaced John F. Chisholm as a trustee.
A handsome two-story school house was constructed, with two rooms above and two below. Why Not Academy opened in August, 1893, with Professor James P. Boroughs as headmaster. On April 16, 1896, Professor Boroughs bought Why Not Academy from the trustees for $311. In 1900, Boroughs was elected Register of Deeds for Randolph County. He sold the academy to Professor
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G. F. Garner in 1903 for $595. Garner had been in charge of the Commercial and Penning Department for several years. He renamed the school Why Not Academy and Business Institute.
Why Not Academy was both a public school and a private
school. During the late fall and winter months, when the public
schools were in session, the county paid tuition and other
expenses for all area elementary students to attend school. At the same time, tuition paying private students could take ad-
vanced courses on the intermediate and secondary level . The remainder of the year, the academy taught intermediate and high school level courses for a fee to anyone who wanted to attend and could afford the tuition.
Most of the students attending Why Not Academy came from Randolph and neighboring Chatham, Moore, Guilford, Davidson, and Montgomery counties. But a few students came from more distant places. The students boarded at the homes of local residents.
Board cost from $7 to $8 per month, and rooms rented from fifty cents to $1.50 per month. There was a dormitory available to male students under Professor Garner's administration.
Why Not Academy was coeducational, but relations between the genders were strickly regulated. A partition divided male and female students in each classroom, the professor sitting at front-center where he could supervise both groups at once. Boys and girls could speak to each other, in class and out, only by permission.
Religion was an important part of life at the academy. Each started with a reading of the scriptures and prayer. All day
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students were expected to attend church on Sunday. Fair Grove Methodist Church, it should be remembered, was located directly across the road from the academy. But students did not have to attend it; they were free to attend any church in the area.
Discipline was strict. Demerits and whippings (administered impartially to both sexes) were meted out to anyone who broke the rules. Classes were held between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. A11
students were expected to be in their rooms studying by 7:00 pm during the week. Parties and courting during evening and night hours were breaches of discipline.
But not all was work and no play. Physical education was a required part of the curriculum for both genders. The boys had a baseball team. And organized, lively debates between students on selected issues were a regular feature of academic life.
Commencement exercises at Why Not Academy were major events in the annual life cycle of the community. People came from miles around to attend them. Lacy Harper wrote in 1985 of his student days at the academy :
I well remember the commencements as being the greatest
event of the year in that area. And well do I remember the two story frame academy building with its wide front porch. This porch served as a stage for the commencement exercises. Student speaking contests, a featured speaker, a brass band -- all were staged on this porch. My sister won a gold metal in one of the speaking contests.
A brush arbor placed in front of the porch just for the occasion made a nice cool shade for the audience.
Those were the days before Coca Cola. But refreshments could be found such as lemonade for five cents a glass and a saucer of ice cream for ten cents.
Mr. Harper added: "Families living in the Why Not community at that time [around 1910] were Professor Garner, who lived near the academy, the Slacks, who operated a general store, Charlie
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Stuart, Martin Cagle, the Aumans, and the Garners."
Professors Boroughs and Garner were admired and respected by
their students and by the people in the community. Professor Garner died in 1913. After his death, Alma Lassiter, Burgess Leonard, a Mr. Hogan, and Tula Morris ran the academy. In 1916 Why Not Academy burned to the ground. Tula Morris continued classes about one-half mile east of Why Not. Her school was called "Keeling College" by her students.
For two years, classes were held in a building
located beside the old plank road route a few hundred feet west of the old academy site. . The teachers there were Katie Bell Cagle, Minnie S. Stuart, Ada Monroe Burgess, and Mae King. Then a
school was built in Seagrove near where the Christian public
When that Church now stands. Nora Lawrence was the teacher.
school burned down, classes were held in a store building near the old Seagrove Lumber Company. Ronie Yow and Mabel Stuart Cox taught there. The next school was located on the old plank road south of the old Page toll house site. After another fire, the present-day Seagrove schoolhouse was built.
For more detailed look into th daily life and annual operation of the Why Not Academy, a copy of the 1905-1906 school catalog follows:
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WHY NOT ACADEMY
AND
BUSINESS INSTITUTE
1905-1906
WHY NOT
NORTH CAROLINA
RANDOLPH COUNTY
43
ANNUAL CATALOGUE
OF
WHY NOT ACADEMY
AND
BUSINESS INSTITUTE
WHY NOT, N. C.
CO-EDUCATIONAL. NON-SECTARIAN.
1905-1906
FOUNDED 1893
All communication should be addressed to G. F. Garner, Principal Seagrove, R. F. D., No. 1, N. C.
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ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1906-1907
Calendar:
August 14. -- Fall Term Begins.
August 15-18. -- Examinations and Classification.
December 18-20 .-- Fall Term Examinations.
December 21 .-- Fall Term Closes.
December 22-31 .-- Christmas Holidays.
January 1 .-- Spring Term Begins.
May 15-18. -- Spring Term Examinations.
May 23-25. -- Commencement.
Teachers: G. F. Garner, Principal, High School, Commercial, Shorthand and Penning Departments
Primary and Intermediate Departments
*
Music and Art Departments
* To be supplied
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WHY NOT ACADEMY AND BUSINESS INSTITUTE
Historical Sketch.
During the Winter and Spring of 1893 the citizens of this community conceived the idea of building an academy at this place for the purpose of educating their boys and girls at home. With a will and a determination to succeed, they went to work and the building was erected, and the first session of this school was started on the 7th of August, of this same year; with Messrs. J. H. Spenser, E. E. McNeill, J. F. Chisholm (succeeded by J. A. King), M. A. Cagle, and T. W. Lawrence as Trustees.
Prof. J. P. Boroughs was elected the first principal. After
having taught one very successful session he bought out the trustees, and taught continuously until, in the summer of 1900, he was elected Register of Deeds for Randolph county.
of
At this time the present Principal (he having had charge the Commercial and Penning Departments for some time) leased the property and began teaching as Principal in January, 1901. In the early spring of 1903 he purchased the school property from Prof . Boroughs and will continue the school as owner and
Principal. During the summer of 1905 the Academy was
repainted and otherwise repaired, which has added very much to its appearance and convenience.
The school has grown slowly, but steadily, through all these
years; the year just closed being the best in its history, both in enrollment and average attendance, except about two months during the Spring Term, when measles and whooping cough greatly lessened the attendance. A large number of young persons educated here are now holding positions of honor and trust in this and other states.
Location and Advantages.
Why Not Academy and Business Institute is situated in the Southern part of Randolph county, among the hills on the Aberdeen & Asheboro Railroad, one mile from Seagrove station. The location is well adapted for a school. The inhabitants are cultured and refined, and the students associate from day to day with those who have a tendency to inspire them to nobler manhood and womanhood.
There are no bar-rooms in the county, and nothing to detract The land is high and free from malarial influences;
from study.
the water is pure. For healthfulness this section is not surpassed.
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The mail facilities are good. We have a Rural Free Delivery route running from Seagrove by the Academy daily.
Mail arrives at 12 M. and 4:30 P. M. Boarding students can have their mail delivered at the Academy.
Purposes.
It is the purpose of this school to prepare students for entrance to college or university.
Besides preparing students for college, this school gives to that class of boys and girls who may not be able to go to college, a good, practical education, with which to engage in the various business vocations of life.
Recitations and Examinations.
All students in the Literary Department are required to take at least fifteen recitations per week. Oral and written examinations will be held at the close of each quarter. Students must pass a satisfactory examination on the work of each term before being admitted to higher classes, and before credit will
be given for that term's work. A grade of 75 per cent is re- quired to pass on any one study.
Records and Reports.
A careful record of the work and conduct of each student is kept and a report sent to the parent or guardian at the close of each quarter. The design of these reports is to give as full information as possible of the conduct and progress of the student, and to secure the co-operation of parents and guardians in promoting diligence in study and regular attendance on duty.
Physical Culture.
Physical development is as essential as mental growth and all students, when the weather will admit, are required to take out-door exercise. A sound mind cannot exist without a sound body; hence we emphasize the importance of physical culture. All brutal games are prohibited.
The campus has two societies, one for the young ladies and the other for the young gentlemen. The members of these societies have been enthusiastic and their meetings have been interesting and instructive. Students are urged to attach themselves to one of the societies, and the Principal is ever ready to aid and encourage the members in the work of the societies. It is expected that the work of these societies will be better the coming year than in the past.
Religious Influences.
The school opens each day with devotional exercises conducted by the Principal or by some one appointed by him. All students are required to attend the morning exercises of the school and to attend Sunday School and church services.
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There are four churches within easy reach of the school, the Methodist Protestant, Bapist, Christian and Methodist Episcopal.
Library.
A free Rural Library was established in 1902, and has been suplemented by the addition of a number of volumes recently. We hope to add many more volumes in the near future. All students have free access to the library for research, under proper rules and regulations. Students have derived much benefit from the reading of the books in the library during the past year.
Commercial Department.
In this department we teach Spelling and
Defining; Book- keeping, single and double entry; Commercial
Law; Commercial Arithmetic; Grammar and Correspondence; Punctuation; Plain
Penmanship; Banking; Business Practice, etc.
Penmanship Department.
This department embraces Rapid Writing, Ornamental Penmanship; Pen Flourishing; Pen Drawing; Black-board Writing; Specimen work for framing, etc.
Shorthand and Typewriting.
In this department we teach the Perin Universial Phonogra- phy, and give practice work on the Remington Typewriter. Diplo- mas will be given in the Shorthand Department to students writing as many as one hundred words per minute. In the Typewriting Department a speed of sixty words per minute is required.
The Principal is a graduate of one of the leading Business colleges of the country, and has had several years' experience in teaching these various branches.
Time Required.
Our motto is to be equal to the best.
We have no short course, but a thorough, complete, and practical course in each department. The time required to complete either the Commercial, Penmanship, Shorthand, or Typewriting course depends upon the previous education and aptness of the student. The average time is from four to six months. Time for literary course is four years.
Literary Course.
Primary Department: Holmes' First, Second, and Third Readers; Number Work, Primary Arithmetic; Primary Geography; Spelling; Writing; Supplementary Reading; and drawing.
Intermediate Department: Holmes' Fourth Reader; Intermediate Artithmetic; Intermediate Geography; Language Lessons; Spelling; Writing; Physiology and Hygiene; U. S. History (beginning) ; Manual Geography, begun; N. C. History; English Grammar, begun;
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Civil Government; Drawing; Elements of Agriculture, etc.
High School Department: Arithmetic completed; U. S. History completed; English Grammar and Composition; Geography, completed; English History; General History; Algebra; Rhetoric; English Classics; Physics; Latin; American Literature, etc.
Text Books.
We teach the books adopted for use in the Public Schools of the State. Higher Branches: Mathematics, Robinson, Wentworth; Latin, Bingham, Collar and Daniel, Allen and Greenough; English History, Montgomery; General History, Myers; Physics, Steele; Commercial, Williams and Rogers; Shorthand, Perin, etc.
Discipline.
It is the object of the principal to make the discipline uniform, kind, but firm. Every student is taught the right and is required to do the right. We expect to make the type of our school high with respect to morality, and we will not be bothered with mean and vicious pupils. Any student willfully violating the rules of school, or whose influence is known to be injurious
to the morals and scholarship of his fellow students will be dismissed in dishonor.
Students entering the school must agree to observe the following requirements: 1. To apply themselves diligently to their studies during study hours at night and during school hours in the day, when not on recitation. 2.
To be prompt at meals and all school exercises and recitations. 3. Not to write or pass notes, or communicate by word, sign or otherwise during school hours. 4. Not to use profane or indecent language. 5. Not to use tobacco in any form in or around any building or on the school grounds. If any students persist in using it
elsewhere, their standing will thereby be lowered and so entered on their records.
6. Not to use any intoxicating drink or narcotic drug of any kind, except in case of dangerous sickness or prescribed by a physician. 7. Not to mark, cut, or in any way deface school property, trees or grounds. The student is required to pay for damage done to property by him.
8. Not to play cards or any game of chance, nor to indulge
in any conduct, in or out of school, known to be damaging to the students or to the interest of the school. 9. Young men are not allowed to make calls on young ladies,
and young ladies are not allowed to have young gentlemen visitors, except by permission' of parents or guardians and Principal.
10. Every student is required to be at his home or boarding place from 7 o'clock at night until 8 o'clock in the morning.
11. No student will be allowed to leave the school or his or her boarding place, except by permission of the Principal. Boarding students who go home on Friday evenings are excused to
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