USA > Virginia > Rockingham County > Rockingham County > A history of Rockingham County, Virginia > Part 23
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Bridgewater Graded and High School
1
Waterman School. (Page 304)
Harrisonburg High School. Site of Old Academy, used as Confederate Hospital
McGaheysville Graded and High School
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Mr. Richard Mauzy, who went to Salyards' school in Mc- Gaheysville, thinks he opened it in 1838. After a year or so Salyards became temporarily insane; but in December, 1840, and January and February, 1841, he was advertising the re- sumption of his school at McGaheysville.
Mr. Mauzy supplies the following list of early McGaheys- ville teachers:
George Mauzy, about 1830-31.
Miss Jeanetta Conrad, about 1832-33.
Charles Buck, 1833-35.
David Howard, 1836.
Mr. -- Lamb, 1836-37.
Joseph Salyards, 1838-39, etc.
Salyards probably taught at New Market from about 1845 to 1855; from about 1857 to 1860 he was principal of Rock- ingham Male Academy, located on W. Market Street, Harrisonburg, in a building that now forms part of the resi- dence of James Kavanaugh. Academy Street marks the place. From 1859 or 1860, for two or three years, he was principal of Pleasant Grove Academy, located on the Valley Pike, two miles south of Mt. Crawford. Before me are notices of this school in the Southern Musical Advocate of July and August, 1860, and the Rockingham Register of Aug. 3, 1860, and Oct. 4, 1861. In 1860 P. S. Roller, J. R. Keagy, and D. Ross were proprietors of Pleasant Grove Academy; and Sal- yards was spoken of as "one of the oldest and best teachers in the Valley." The branches taught included languages, lit- erature, and mathematics. Mr. S. T. Shank, writing in the Harrisonburg Daily News of February 27, 1911, says that Sal- yards was assisted at Pleasant Grove in 1860-61 by his son.
In August, 1862, Salyards was in charge of Cedar Grove Seminary, near Broadway; and in 1864 he was at Rosendale, on Smith's Creek. The old stone house at Rosendale ("Smith Creek Seminary") in which he taught is still standing. From Rosendale, according to Mr. Thos. L. Wil- liamson, he went to Luray, thence returning to New Market, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Elon O.
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A HISTORY OF
Henkel says he went to Woodstock from Luray, coming to New Market in July, 1870.
One of Salyards' advanced pupils at Rosendale was a young man who was blind, but who, in spite of misfortune, has, like his master, achieved distinction. The following par- agraphs from his pen are a special contribution to this work.
The writer is glad of the opportunity of paying a grate- ful tribute of reverent respect to the memory of Joseph Salyards. He was a man of the common people. In early life he developed an extraordinary taste for the higher learn- ing, and, without masters or schools, made himself familiar with the ancient languages to such a degree that he read Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Sanscrit with the ease and fluency of a master, and not merely the text books in those languages, but their literature with critical discrimination and judg- ment. He also read and wrote in all the modern languages that had a literature. Besides his wonderful linguistic accom- plishments, he was the most profound scholar in mathematics, science, philosophy, history, and literature that Rockingham ever produced, and perhaps the State of Virginia.
He was not appreciated in his day at his true value. He would have adorned any chair in any school or college. The drawback in his life was his own consent to live in the hum- ble sphere to which he had been born, and he never made any effort to rise above it, so far as the writer knows. In early life he was fond of attending the country dances, and not always as careful to avoid the social cup as he should have been. It is said that he lost an eye in consequence of an attempt to go to such a frolic on a dark night, possibly in not perfect command of himself, by striking his face against a fence stake, inflicting an injury which destroyed an eye. With one good eye, which was happily preserved, he learned more than most people, and was at the time at which the writer knew him a perfectly temperate man of most digni- fied bearing. He spoke elegantly, wrote with a facile pen, and would have commanded attention in any company. He enjoyed the friendship and high respect of the best men in
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
the valley of Virginia; was known most favorably by John Baldwin, A. H. H. Stuart, and Hugh Sheffy of Staunton, and the prominent men all along the beautiful valley. The acquaintance was not very profitable to him in social life; but they loved and honored him.
During the war between the States I was sent to his little school at Rosendale, on Smith Creek, in the northern edge of Rockingham County, where I found a rare opportunity of prosecuting my studies in the more advanced learning, which could not at that time have been found anywhere else. He was tenderly kind to my infirmity, which made me dependent on the eyes of others, giving me all the encouragement in his vast field of wisdom and learning.
In a stone house, which had in ante-bellum days been a still house, on the beautiful estate of the late George Rosen- berger, within a stone's throw of his hospitable home, where I lived for a year or two, Mr. Salyards taught a school com- posed of the sons and daughters of the surrounding farmers, in the earlier grades, as we would say now. The venerable teacher found time in that school of sixty or more "scholars" to hear me work out my problems in the advanced courses in which I was so busy. I had for my companion a young friend who took the same courses with me, and we enjoyed much of the great teacher's time, both out of school and in the hours of the day's work. We often went to his little log house in the field, only a few hundred yards from Mr. Rosenberger's residence, where, surrounded by his children and their mother, much younger than himself, we enjoyed his elegant conversation, and the treasures of his splendid library, a sur- prise in such surroundings. He referred to his books with the readiness of one who had them entirely at his command. No time was ever lost in finding the most abstruse references. He seemed with almost an instinctive precision to turn to just what we wanted. I feel that I owe any success I may be thought to have achieved in the course of my life to his instruction and inspiration.
After nearly fifty years, I recall with wonder and aston-
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ishment, that he told me with his own lips, that he had had in early life an ambition to write a literary degree after his name, and had sought from the University of Virginia the privilege of standing for examination with a view to such degree; but his request was declined. A finer general scholar, of more varied learning than any one of the faculty, he had to be denied the distinction because, doubtless, of some iron- bound rule of the institution. In later life, however, that institution honored itself not less than him, in bestowing a degree without examination.3
This backwoods philosopher for many years frequently contributed to the local press, and is still remembered doubt- less by some of the older newspaper people; his articles hav- ing appeared in both prose and verse on a great variety of subjects; and possibly also he may have written for some of the magazines. About 1874 he gave to the world a poem of which it was not worthy, and did not appreciate, for it still lingers on the shelves of the publishers, if indeed it is not out of print. "Idothea" is almost an epic, and received a most flattering review from a great English review by a dis- tinguished author of high literary note. My memory is at fault as to the name of the English reviewer. It had also flat- tering notice from several sources in this country. A. W. Kercheval and the writer reviewed it for the publishers, who issued a pamphlet to advertise the book; but it was all in vain. The rich descriptions of local scenery and personages of note in his community, and the deep philosophy of the work make it a treasure in itself, which may some day, to a more appre- ciative auditory, bring it into favor and general knowledge. Prof. Salyards, in the last years of his useful life, occupied a chair in the Polytechnic Institute at new Market.
H. H. JOHNSON,
Senior Teacher, Blind Department, School for the Deaf and Blind, Romney, W. Va.
3. This is a mistake. Prof. Johnson probably had in mind the degree conferred by Roanoke College. The University of Virginia has never conferred a degree except for residence work.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Mr. S. H. W. Byrd of Bridgewater informs me that a number of the old citizens of his town and vicinity were pupils at an old school house that formerly stood at St. Michael's Church.
In August, 1840, Chas. Viquesney, a native of France, was advertising a night school at Harrisonburg, to teach French; the said school to be conducted during the coming winter. At the same time Julius Hesse was giving notice of a writing school; and Henry Brown was announcing a "School for Females" to open September 1: both in Harrisonburg. On February 22, 1841, the Bridgewater debating society cele- brated Washington's birth, with the Harrisonburg band in attendance. In 1844, as I am informed by Rev. A. Poe Boude, Wm. W. Littell was running a school in Dayton-the only 9-months school in Rockingham at that time. Among his pupils were A. P. Boude, Danl. Smith, and John Green Smith; the Smiths being sons of Judge Danl. Smith. The same year (1844) Wm. C. Jennings was preparing to open a school in Harrisonburg, April 29.
In 1851 an Act was passed incorporating Rockingham Male and Female Seminary, to be established in or near Har- risonburg. The trustees were Wm. Kiger, Thomas D. Bell, Robt. Grattan, and ten others named. In 1854 Rockingham Male Seminary was in charge of R. W. Thurmond, principal. In September of the same year Miss Harriet Bear was pre- paring to open a school for young ladies in one of the base- ment rooms of Andrew Chapel (Hbg.). About 1856 the "Academy" near Broadway, first in charge of James Wright, was erected.
During the years now under consideration, Joseph Funk, at Mountain Valley (Singer's Glen), was conducting a school to which a number of young men came from various parts of the country. It is probable that he was teaching at his home as early as 1825 or 1830; and his school was continued by his sons for a number of years after the civil war. In the South- ern Musical Advocate of July, 1859, he and his sons were ad- vertising their school-offering to teach not only music, but
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A HISTORY OF
also grammar, elocution, and the art of teaching music. Board and music tuition cost $9 a month; instruction in grammar and elocution raised the total cost to $10 a month.
On the first Monday in September, 1860, Rockingham Male Academy, in Harrisonburg, reopened under the princi- palship of John W. Taylor. Thos. D. Bell was secretary of
the board of trustees. Mathematics, natural science, Latin, Greek, French, etc., were offered. On the first Wednesday of September, 1861, the third session of Rockingham Female Institute, in Harrisonburg, began, with J. Mark Wilson principal.
The early days of Reconstruction were fruitful in schools as well as in marriages. In the fall of 1866 the following schools were announced:
Harrisonburg.
Female Institute, P. M. Custer, principal.
Male Academy, E. H. Scott, principal. School for Children, Miss Alice Houck.
Miss Mollie McQuaide.
Miss Fannie Lowman. 4
Miss Carrie Harrison.
School for Young Ladies, Rev. A. Poe Boude. Conrad's Store.
4. Fannie Lowman was born at or near Rushville in 1840 or 1841, and died in Harrisonburg in November, 1909. In spite of lameness, poor health, and few pecuniary advantages she gained an education in good schools: in Georgetown and Staunton; in the Valley Normal at Bridge- water, the School of Methods at Charlottesville, and elsewhere: and for more than 30 years she was a teacher-two years in Texas, the remainder in Virginia. Some of her first earnings went to aid a younger sister, who also became a teacher. For several years before her death she was en- titled to a teacher's pension, but she preferred a meager salary with the work she loved. With characteristic altruism, it was her wish that the very few dollars she left at death be devoted to others rather than to her- self .or her memory. On learning these facts the Rockingham County Teachers Association undertook to mark her grave, in order that her own small balance might not be thus consumed, but might go to benefit the living. The fund for a monument is growing, and her colleagues and old pupils are embracing a privilege in honoring her.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Classical School, W. K. Jennings. Linville Creek.
Classical School, John D. Pennybacker.5 Lacey Springs.
Classical School, John W. Taylor.6
Professor Taylor did not, perhaps, designate his as a classical school, but it seems to have been similar to the oth- ers that were thus called.
In 1866 there was a Rockingham County teachers' asso- ciation, H. Handy being secretary.
The first regular session of Harrisonburg Female Insti- tute, A. Poe Boude principal, Mary L. Attkisson teacher of French and music, was advertised to open February 18, 1867, in the basement of the "E. M. Church on the hill."
In April, 1867, B. A. Hawkins opened the first session of Keezletown Academy. In October following B. A. Hawkins and W. T. Brett were principals of Pleasant Grove Academy; at the same time P. M. Custer was principal of Rockingham Female Institute, and B. F. Wade was principal of Rocking- ham Male Academy, the last named two schools being at Harrisonburg. In this same year (1867) John H. Moore had a large school at Beaver Creek.
In 1868 W. S. Kennedy was advertising a classical school to open September 1, in the town hall at Bridgewater, to
5. John Dyer Pennybacker (1833-1904) was a son of Sen. I. S. Penny- backer, and a brother of J. Ed. Pennybacker (1844-1912). His wife was Elizabeth Lincoln (1827-1905).
6. John W. Taylor was born 76 years ago on the west bank of the Shenandoah River, in East Rockingham, opposite what is now the town of Shenandoah. His father was Zachary Taylor (Scotch-Irish) and his mother Nancy Eppard (German). Winning early education under scant advantages, he taught a school at East Point when 18 or 19. Continuing his studies at Richmond College, Randolph-Macon, and other schools, he received the A. M. degree at Randolph-Macon in 1860. The next session he was principal of the male academy in Harrisonburg. In 1865 he opened his school at Lacey Springs, where he has taught almost continuously to the present. His wife was Virginia C. Lincoln, a daughter of Jacob Lincoln, of Rockingham.
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continue 10 months. At the same time J. H. Turner and G. W. Holland were principals of Rockingham Male Academy, and P. M. Custer7 of Rockingham Female Institute. The buildings of the last, which stood on the site of the present Harrisonburg Main Street School, had been erected a few years before the war; during the war they were used as a hospital by the Confederates. (See page 153).
In 1870 there were at least ten schools for the white children in Harrisonburg.8 In the fall of 1871 the Harrison- burg graded school was organized, under the new public school system, and Rev. J. S. Loose was elected principal. In 1871 a classical school was opened in Bridgewater, with John H. Barb principal, Richard Halstead intermediate teacher, and Frank Stover primary teacher.9 In 1872 S. C. Lindsay opened a classical and mathematical school in Harris- onburg, in September, to run till June of the next year.
In 1873 a boarding and day school for young ladies was opened in the home of Rev. W. G. Campbell, his niece and two daughters being teachers. In 1877 the house on Camp- bell Street, Harrisonburg, now Shaffer's boarding house, was built for a school by the Misses Campbell. As late as 1892 Miss S. L. Campbell was conducting the school. Later mem- bers of the family had charge of Westminster School in Rich- mond.
In 1874 and 1875 B. L. Hodge was principal of McGaheys- ville Male and Female Academy. The session ran 9 months, and classical as well as English instruction was offered.
At Dayton, in 1875, A. Paul Funkhouser and other pro- gressive leaders in the United Brethren Church founded Shenandoah Seminary, which has grown into the well known Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music. As in-
7. Rev. P. M. Custer died in Alabama in 1890, aged 70. For particu- lars regarding Rockingham Female Institute, I am obliged to Mr. L. H. Ott.
8. Rockingham Register, June 30, 1870.
This information was given by Mr. S. H. W. Byrd.
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Campus Scene, Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, Dayton, Va. (Pages 296, 297)
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
dicated in the name, music has been much encouraged in the policy of this school. The institution has really inherited the musical traditions and tendencies that so long distinguished the school of Joseph Funk & Sons at Singer's Glen. Since its organization it has grown in favor and popularity at home and abroad, particularly in the Southern States, from all of which a large number of students come annually. It aims to supply the best of instruction by modern methods at lowest possible cost. It exalts the moral above the merely intellectual.
To the older buildings, two new brick structures have re- cently been added: (1) Howe Memorial Building (1899), occupied exclusively by the School of Music; (2) the Admin- istration Building (1909), four stories, containing laboratories, class-rooms, studios, offices, etc. Separate dormitories are provided for ladies and gentlemen. Reading rooms, literary societies, a Y. M. C. A., a Y. W. C. A., special lectures and entertainments, etc., supplement the work of the class-rooms and chapel. The students publish a handsomely illustrated annual, "The Zynodoa," and maintain athletic organizations. The enrolment for 1911-12 was 259. J. H. Ruebush is gen- eral manager; J. N. Garber is president of the board of trustees. The board of control is composed of J. H. Ruebush, C. A. Funkhouser, G. P. Hott, and A. S. Hammack. The fac- ulty comprises 17 regular members.
In March, 1876, State Supt. W. H. Ruffner visited Har- risonburg and made two addresses on education in the court- house. The specific purpose of his visit (he had been invited by the town council) was the erection of a public school building. In November, 1878, Supt. Ruffner was in Har- risonburg attending a teachers' institute. On October 30, 1879, Judge Kenney wrote in his diary: "The new brick school house for the free school is about finished. Cost $5000." It was used for the session of 1879-80, Clarence H. Urner of New Market being principal of the school. This building is now used for the grades in the Main Street school. The trustees under whose direction it was built were J. L. Avis, G. O. Conrad, and G. F. Compton.
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Harrisonburg in 1878-9 had a Shakespeare Club. Traces of the same club, or another like it, were found just twenty years later.
In 1878 and thereabouts North Mountain Academy, near Chrisman, J. W. Jones being principal, was attracting a good deal of attention.
In 1878 there came to Rockingham a man who probably did more than any other to commend the public schools to general favor, to stir up school spirit, and to inspire his pupils with a desire for higher learning. This was A. C. Kimler. From 1878 to 1881 he taught at River Bank; from 1881 to 1889, at McGaheysville. It was at the latter place he did his great work for Rockingham. Says Mr. Richard Mauzy: "He estab- lished Oak Hill Academy, and was a successful teacher."
During his eight years at McGaheysville Professor Kim- ler sent students to Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke, Franklin and Marshall, Nashville Normal School, the Univer- sity of Virginia, West Point, Richmond Medical College, and Baltimore Dental College. He received letters commending their work from Dr. Smith of Randolph-Macon, Dr. Venable of the University of Virginia, and others. Among those he sent out were the following, many of whom are well known to-day:
William Yancey, Harrisonburg, deceased.
C. N. Wyant, school principal in Pennsylvania.
Dr. J. B. Rush, Woodstock, Va.
R. H. Sheppe, teacher and educator, deceased.
Rev. J. P. Harner, Middlebrook, Va.
C. C. Herring, editor; Harrisonburg. Rev. Melville Killian.
H. W. Bertram, lawyer and editor; Harrisonburg.
Floyd W. Weaver, county clerk, Luray, Va.
J. H. Bader, educator; McGaheysville. Rev. John Life.
Fayette Hedrick, McGaheysville.
Luther Hopkins, McGaheysville.
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C. L. Lambert, Little Rock, Ark. 10
Bridgewater College dates its beginnings from 1880, when D. C. Flory, assisted by J. R. Shipman, opened a nor- mal and collegiate institute at Spring Creek. In 1882 the school was located at Bridgewater, where it has since gained wide recognition. It was chartered as a college in 1889. On December 31 of this year the main building burned, but others have taken its place until to-day there are 7 buildings; two frame, five brick. These include a gymnasium and a central heating plant. One of the benefactors of the school was W. B. Yount, who was president from 1892 to 1910. The institution represents especially the educational interests of the Church of the Brethren, and is co-educational. Work is offered leading to the degrees of B. A., M. A., Th. B., etc. The library contains over 10,000 volumes.
The students conduct three literary societies, the Vic- torian, the Virginia Lee, and the Acme; and publish a monthly magazine, founded in 1896, the Philomathean Monthly. A student civic league and other organizations are also main- tained. The enrolment during the session of 1911-12 was 184.
John S. Flory is president of the college; Hiram G. Miller is president of the board of trustees. The faculty consists of 17 regular members, with a number of assistants. An active alumni association has been in existence since 1899. Grad- uates of the institution have taken high rank at the univer- sities, and a large number have entered the Gospel ministry.
At Mt. Clinton, in 1890, a 2-room graded school, offering some high-school work, was built up into a 4-year high-school, and named West Central Academy. It continued in this character till 1902. I. S. Wampler, now fiscal secretary of the alumni association of Peabody College, Nashville, was principal; and among the other teachers were C. J. Heatwole,
10. Abram C. Kimler graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1878. After leaving McGaheysville he went to New Market, Va .; thence to Shepherdstown, W. Va., where he was principal of the State Normal College for several years. At present he is principal of the Waynesboro (Va.) High School, and he is still sending students up higher.
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L. R. Dinges (now studying in Germany), D. I. Suter, M. A. Good, and D. B. Wampler. The largest enrolment in high school classes at any time was 170. Public and private funds were combined for maintenance. Graduates entered Washington and Lee, the University of Virginia, and other colleges. The summer normal institutes were a special feature. About 1897 it was ascertained that 65% of all the teachers in Rockingham had at some time been students of this school.
In 1896 Rockingham Military Academy, at Mt. Crawford, was opened under the principalship of Otey C. Hulvey. From the beginning of the second session until the suspension of the school in 1901, Capt. F.A. Byerly, now a prominent teacher in West Virginia, was principal and commandant. The school occupied a handsome three-story building just west of the Valley Pike, at the northeast end of Mt. Crawford. For some time, prior to his connection with the R. M. A., Capt. Byerly had conducted Sunnyside School for Girls at Pleasant Valley.
A Rockingham County historical society was organized in 1898-9. A committee, made up of Maj. George Chrisman, James B. Stephenson, and F. A. Byerly, drew up a constitu- tion and by-laws. Gen. John E. Roller was elected presi- dent. There were 16 vice-presidents, an executive committee, a library committee, a committee on Confederate soldiers, and a reception committee. The society was given the use of a room in the courthouse; but in spite of this official recognition, the rich field at hand, and the need of a strong organization to preserve our historical materials, interest in the organiza- tion soon fell to a low ebb. A revival of spirit will doubtless come at some time in the future, when many golden oppor- tunities have passed forever. Rockingham County needs a historical society; but such a society to live must have the sympathy of many people.
It is a common misimpression that our present public school system in Virginia is altogether a product of Reconstruction- that we had no free schools before the war. As a matter of fact, there were legislative provisions in Virginia as early as 1780-perhaps earlier-for the establishment of free schools;
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