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Page 9 text:
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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
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Page 10 text:
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league of seventy fi ve members. They put up the woven wire fence about the grounds and made many fancy impr ov ement s» The dedicatory exercises of the Amelia High School were held on iVIarch 24, 1911 » Amohg those tailing part on the program were Governor W.H. Mann, Hon, J, D Eggleston, and 0. L« Shev make , the State School Examiner, The year 1915 was a great one in this history. It saw an enrollment of 177, The faculty consisted of eight members and the senior class had as its members Edna Hindle, John Hindle and Clinton Wa-rriner. Thes‘ were the first graduates of the high school. That year also saw the first annual fittingly called The Alpha , come from the press. The commencement of 1915 v as a notable event. One of the Principal speakers at this occasion v as Hon, R.E.Byrd, On the last night of commencement Dr, P.S, Southall expressed in behalf of the people of Amelia his regrets at having Mr, Harris resign as Principal, Dur ing the three years Hr, Harris had organized and graded the school, improved the grounds,, organized senior and Junior leagues and put in a manual training shop. His point was good strong discipline, W.W. Barnhart was Principal for the session 1915-14 He kept up the work that had been started, encouraged athletics, debating and more school spirit in the community. Through his influence the school was made an accredited high school. This was made possible by each patron paying a tuition, thus enabling the school to run nine months. Then came a time v hen the school principals remained only a short time, Robert Terrell was Principal for the session 1914-15, He was followed by Mr. Long for 1915-16, Then G.C, Outland was Principal for two years. During this period the school was ms.king progress, for in 1917 there were 231 on roll and the graduates numbered ten. It was at the commencement of 1917 that Principal G,G, Outland estimated that the cost of educational training each session per scholar was an average ol $20, The present Superintendent, W. R, Wriggle swor th , delivered the diplomas at this commencement this being his first seesion as Divisioi Superintendent, since he succeeded C, B, Bowry, who died in 1916, Tilliam Willis became Principal in 1918 and served for two years. He was followed by Rev. S T,Habel, who was Principal one year. Mr, Habel increased the number of volumes in the library, and kept the school on the accredited list. Miss Ida Trosvig, now a member of the William and Mary faculty, was Principal for Miree years, following Mr. Habel, Miss Trosvig re-graded the school and recognized discipline as of primaiy importance. Her debating teams won honors. The faculty still numbered eight, but every available space was being used to seat the children and the teachers were heavily loaded. The auditorium v as arranged for classrooms. All plays and commencQ:nent exercises were held down town in the hall. Again the citizens of Amelia saw a need for more room. School truckf were bringing children from many parts of the county and there must be a place to accommodate them, J, G. Jefferson, Jr,, then chairman of the school board,, worked diligently in securing a new building. In 1925 private subscriptions amounting to $7,500 were secured. More money v as borrov ed and v hen school opened that fall under Miss Alice Roane the nev building was well under v q.y. In January of 1926 the high school department moved across the street leaving the first building to the grades. There were eleven members of the faculty then and the enrollment was 330, The new building was quite modern. The auditorium, seating 500, v as a delight to the friends and patrols of the school. There were six classrooms.
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