College of the Albemarle - Beacon Yearbook (Elizabeth City, NC)

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FIRST IN EDUCATION The first available minutes of the Pasquotank County Schools are dated July 6, 1885, and show S. L. Sheep as secretary and superintendent to the board composed of a chairman and three mem- bers. As of the December 7, 1885, minutes there were 21 white teachers in 20 schools drawing an average s alary of 529.10 per month with an enrollment of 437 boys and 347 girls for 18 weeks of instruction. For 21 1X2 weeks 594 boys and 572 girls attended 19 Negro schools with 29 teachers drawing an average monthly salary of SB27.35. The December 1, 1885, minutes name 20 school dis- tricts each represented by three men. First in Public Education In 1907, according to the r e c o r d s of the Pas- quotank H i s t o r i c a 1 Society, public education in North C arolina began when S. L. Sheep sold the Atlantic Collegiate Institute and became the first l public school superintendent of Pasquotank County. Elizabeth City High School Now there are four county and seven city schools. Consolidation of some of these schools has begun to be considered. Weeksville High School Of these eleven schools, four are the high schools pictured here. P. W. Moore High School Central High School From these high schools Elizabeth City State Teach- ers' College and the College of the Albemarle draw many of their students. 7

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PASQUOTANK COUNTY: First in Private Education In 1705 Charles Griffin s ailed to Pasquotank County from the West Indies. At Symons Creek that year, in what is pr e s um ed t o have been a little one-room school, Griffin became the first schoolmaster of the first s c hoo l in North Carolina. Although this school was public in the sense that anyone could attend, it was privately supported. From 1708 until 1803, little detail is known about education in Pasquotank County except that in 1708 the Rev. Mr. James Adams took Griffin's place, and no facts about school buildings can be verified. Legend says that the original Nixonton Academy building was the courthouse of 1780, moved to its pre sent site on Symons Creek Road. The later Academy, generally considered to have been founded about 1884, probably was a continuation of the old Academy. The Thomas Davis ofthe 1888 report card on the right rowed across Little River at Durant's Neck to attend the Nixonton Academy Where for a fee 01581.20 a typical student could attend the academy for 3 X 4 of a month. -1 1 PASQUOTANK COUNTY PRIVATE SCHOOLS 1705-1905 Later pupils trudged miles through all sorts of weather to attend avariety of private schools--some 1803 Nixonton Academy, Nixonton, N. C. 1809 Newland Academy, Newland, N. C. in the rural areas and others in Elizabeth City. 1820 Elizabeth City Academy, Elizabeth City, N. C. KBoys educated in the Christ Epis copal Church old parish housej 1870 I. M. Tillett School for Boys, Elizabeth City, N. C. -ex 1872 P. W. Melick School, Elizabeth City, N.C. -f A U- 1876 Atlantic Collegiate Institute, Elizabeth City, N. C. Many private schools continued to operate after public e d u c at i o n came into being. For example, these pupils attended Lister School for the 1905-1906 school year.

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First in Communizy College Education Before the 1957 legislative move to give financial aid under the Community C ollege Act Mr. Elton Aydlett suggested to his colleagues of the State Board of Higher Education that Pasquotank County was a possible site for acommunity college. They laughed because it seemed so far from the beaten track. Oncethe actwas passed, however, Mr. George Attix and Mr. Charles G or don began considering in all seriousness the possibilities of such a college in Elizabeth City. Then in November of 1959, with a call from Mr. Roy Simons to Mr. Gordon, Pasquo- tank County was off to another first in education. PORTSMOUTH Frederick 40 Miles MURFREESBORO Chowan 60 Miles ROCKY MOUNT Wesleyan 115 Miles WI LSON Atlantic Christian 120 Miles GREENVILLE East Carolina 110 Miles WILMINGTON ' Wilmington College 210 Miles . NORFOLK Old Dominion 50 Miles ELIZABETH CITY College of the Albmarle B These four men discussed from every angle the problems and prospects of a community college and decided that ?Elizabeth City would be an ideal location, particularly since it was miles from any oth er college. At that point the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce with Mr. Paul Brad- shawas president took the promotion of a college as its major project for 1960, and success seemed possible. By radio, by newspaper advertisements, and by s p e e c h e s to organizations, the official com- mittee KCha.rles Gordon, chairmanj acquainted citizens of Pasquotank County with the advant- ages of having a local college. On February 12, 1960, the committee called a public meeting for persons interested in an area college. Three days later the Pasquotank County Commissioners voted their support.