Crewe High School - Railroader Yearbook (Crewe, VA)

Page 10 text:

The Home Economics Cottage has been in use for classes since September, 1938. The next building to appear on the campus of Crewe High School, as it is now called, was a home economics cottage which was completed in 1938. About ten years later, the industrial arts building, a one-story cinder- block building, was completed and put into use in the 1947-48 school term. By the 1949-50 term, the number of high school stu¬ dents in both Crewe and Burkeville had dwindled to such an extent that plans had to be laid for the consolidation of the Crewe and Burkeville high schools. Then, too, the system became a 12-year program, thus calling for the retention of more students in the school system. With consolidation in view, a one-story cinder-block, mod- ernly equipped agriculture building was annexed to the industrial arts building. It was ready for use by the fall of 1953. Also, a new cafeteria was started to replace the outgrown basement cafeteria. This brick, one-story building faces Tyler Street and is connected to the main building by a breezeway, however, the new cafeteria was not ready for use until November 1, 1953.

Page 9 text:

In Crewe scriptions and a contribution of $2300 from the town council. This frame building was dedicated on August 24, 1897; and the school instituted a thoroughly graded course. For several years eight grades and three years of high school were taught. In order to accommodate the high school de¬ partment, a brick building, which faces Tyler Street and is still in use, was erected in 1907. (This was the year that Jennings ' Ordinary school closed due to poor average attendance; and the children were brought to Crewe by wagon.) When the fourth year of high school was added, the eighth grade was dropped. The first four-year high school class was graduated in 1910, making the Class of 1959 the fiftieth to graduate from the four-year high school course. In 1920, the frame building, which housed the seven grades, burned. Rooms were rented in avail- able places throughout the business part of town. Immediately, additional lots were secured adjoin¬ ing the original brick building. This building was completed and ready for occupancy for the fall term of 1922. Halls connecting the two brick structures still in use give the appearance of one building. Until August 30, 1922, the Crewe Public School had been under the supervision of a Winningham district school board; on that date a deed was drawn up transferring this property to the Notto¬ way County School Board. This aerial view shows how the Tyler Street build¬ ing and the new brick building were made to appear as one. This picture was taken shortly after the present brick struct¬ ure was com¬ pleted. Black-stockinged youths line up to march in their new, brick school. The Tyler Street building today is considered just another part of the main building.

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Burkeville Brought Many Rich Traditions Into The Consolidation Unlike Crewe school, Burkeville school has occupied many sites and has had several names. Its first building, a log house, built in the early 1870 ' s and located on the Danville highway about a mile north of the underpass, was destroyed by a cyclone. The second build¬ ing used as a school stood on the present site of the Burkeville water tank; the next, a two- room log house built in 1883, stood where the J. S. Hardaway home now stands. Next, The Hall , (no longer standing) was used as a school. From there, the school was moved to a three- room frame building located on the exact spot of the present Presbyterian Manse. Inspired by the efforts of Miss Edna Horner, the principal in 1905-1906, a group of pub¬ lic-spirited citizens made plans to acquire the present site of the Burkeville school. The side of the present school has an interesting history. About 1893 a tall Baptist min¬ ister with a high silk hat and a tenor voice, Mr. Cridlin by name, bought what was then known as the Burke Hotel. This hotel had been built in 1854 and stood where the home economics cottage is situated. It had been used as headquarters for the armies of both Lee and Grant dur¬ ing the Civil War and as a hospital for both armies. Mr. Cridlin conducted the Southside Fe¬ male Institute and used the present Graham ' s Hotel for classrooms. He built the house which Mrs. Margaret Priddy now owns. Colonel Burke gave the land for the street where the present Colonial Trail Highway is built; the Southern Railroad is built on the old stage coach road. Mrs. Longyear from Brookline, Mass., in May 1906, bought the property and later gave it to the town for a school site. The school was then called Longyear High School. The buildings included in the Longyear High School consisted of the Administration buildings and classrooms, two main dormitories, the President ' s residence and small buildings on about seven acres of land. It is significant that this school was the first in Virginia to offer an agricultural course. Colonel T. Gilbert Wood of Virginia Polytechnic Institute was made principal and head of the Agriculture Department and Miss Charlotte Stoakley, director of school gardens. At this time, also. Miss Edna Horner was made head of the sewing and home economics division. This or¬ ganization made the school the first rural high school in Virginia to offer courses in vocational education. In addition to the practical arts, music was taught by Miss Jane Alley. During Mr. Green ' s administration (1917-28) the name of the school was changed to Burkeville High School. In 1922 the high school building was built. The dormitory was then used as a home for teachers and for boarding students. In 1937, the historic dormitory was torn down and the Home Ec. cottage was built on its site.