Amelia High School - Amelian Yearbook (Amelia, VA)

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D E D I GATED T O JUDGE J. G. JEFFERSON, Jr. A Friend of the School and an Honored Citizen

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AIvIELIA SCHOOL HISTORY (Note: Tile follov in history of the Amelia schools was written by Mrs H. E Jackson, and appeared in the Amelia County Gazette April 16, 1937.) As we think of Amelia’s two hundredth anniversary, we like to think over her school history. Private schools v ere in existence most of this period and the public schools of the village of Amelia go back only a comparatively few years of this two hundred period The first public school of the village was held in the old hotel an taught by E Benjamin Tuttle He began his work about 1871 . He was a most excellent teacher and possessed vast information. He taught all subjects, offering a good course in Latin, Algebra and Geometry About 1881 the first public school building in Amelia was erected, located in v iiat is nov knov n as Prank Lynn’s dwelling. This was a frame building of one room, costing about $650.00. Mr Tuttle taught in this building until liie spring of 1884. Rev. l Ir. Darnell, a presbyterian minister, was the first county superintendent of schools. His salary was about $300.00 per year. Hodij Meade was the next superintendent, serving about ten years In the fall of 1884, Rev. S. 0. Southall became Principal. A lady taught the primary department in her own home During this period Mr. Tucker was superintendent The next teacher was Mr William Meade, who was the only teacher for two years Richard A Irving, an excellent teacher, was his success or At that time, Rev. J. L. T. Holland, a Christian minister, v as Sup er int enden t About 1890, ’’Bob’ Mason became teacher It was not long before it became necessary to build a second room, Mrs. Sallie Wootton was appointed to help . Mason and the two v orked together for many years. Many of the most prominent Amelia people can tell of the days spent in Mr. Mason’s school Mr Jeffries followed and then T.¥. White became Principal, Because of the size of tiie school now, two teachers were employed, in addition to Mr, White One of the teachers used any available rented room dowm town for her vjork. When Mr, Plank became Principal the crowded conditions v ere worse. In the session of 1909-10, Superintendent C.W. Bowry told Mr. Plank that he must put in some high school subjects The people saw a need for a larger building. Even though the children realized the need, too, they were sorry to give up the ’’Pink College”, the name given to the first building because of the color after a white coat of paint ’.vas put over a red coa t In 1910 David Hindle and Dr. P.S. Southall, members of the School Board, became much interested in erecting a high school, 7ith the help of the citizens of Amelia this became possible, and that Pali the doors of the brick building were opened. The cost of the building was $10,000 The enrollment that year was seventy Prof J. D. Harris, now Principal of Bellevue school in Richmona , was the first Principal. The other members of the faculty that first year were Miss Mary Byrd Taylor, Miss Jane Irving, Mrs Sallie Wootton, Miss Courtney Taylor. The patrons worked courage ously d ur ing that year. The patrons had a most active