Hookerton High School - Ho Hi Echoes Yearbook (Hookerton, NC)

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would possibly indicate that the school did not operate continously from its first chartering. In the same edi- tion of the RALEIGH REGISTER there was an article signed by the Trustees: William Pope, R. J. Powell, William Hooker, J. B. Hooker, Charles Edwards, and J. M. Patrick, Students of this Academy will have in their power to obtain the privilege of reading the books of the Pythian Library ... It is deeply regretted, that this Institution has been so long suffered to languish; but it hoped ... its future condition will be flourishing. Again nothing can be found except that in 1819 the General Assembly authorized the Trustees to raise $2000 by holding ,a lottery and in 1827 the Hookerton Library Association was chartered.” Again the institution was chartered in 1334 - had the school failed again? Perhaps this last charter was the turning point. In 1898, C. H. Mebane, Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, featured Hookerton Academy as one of the academies of long standing in his REPORT OF NORTH ' At yj re fit fy ' yc r t rb- r ly o ' ter tc L . ? . a- , . ' Jk 6 . . « ■S’L - - — 89S. i ' ' ' J ( ' j r ' — A y‘ c s h f.y Ac- Ud-C-J- rc -t-c A rt C’ c t . OANACERS : THANKSGIVING DAY Thanksgiving Day in the Dear ole Town of Hooker- ton” was a gala occasion for forty years, beginning in 188 9. Miss Fannie Dixon Albritton known as Aunt Fannie with an aroused, reverent feeling for the motherless and fatherless promoted the idea (which had been -earlier instituted by the Masons) of a Thanks- giving Party for the purpose of raising funds for the Masonic and Methodist Orphanages in Oxford and Raleigh. This humanitarian desire spread throughout the Community with the townsfolk rallying to her idea and developed into both a benevolent and social occasion. All day you could see the young, interested couples and citizens going in and out of the Hookerton Academy preparing for the Famous Thanksgiving Party to be staged that night. From early to late afternoon young people were arriving from neighbor- ing towns and communities to be overnight and week- end guests in die hospitable homes of this village. At the appointed hour from every home in the community, they made their way to the Academy for an evening of real Southern entertainment and en- joyment. It was the dream of every young lady to be the Belle of this Seasonal Gathering. No nightclub or present day cabaret has been more magnetic to every age than the Thanksgiving Party of Yesteryear. Mrs. H. S. Taylor

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IN DEDICATION As time speeds by and new policies develop - education takes on a new face. We, the senior class of 1961 of Hookerton High School, wish to dedicate this - the last edition of Ho - Hi Echoes - to the past days of Hookerton High School; to those teachers and principals who have preceded our present faculty; to all those who preceded us as students; and to those who labored under untold obstacles to further education in this community and throughout Greene County. On the following pages we hope to present, wherever factual data will permit, the history of Hookerton School. We do not wish to overlook any groups, but time, space, and finances will not allow us to feature every group in the story of Hookerton ' s educational institutions. We have tried to feature, wherever possible, the earliest days of the school since this is the least known era to our readers. Those areas where a marked first or beginning can be established, we have chosen to present. The birth of public education in Hookerton Township dates back to the year of 1804. This is prior to the in- corporation of Hookerton as a town, in fact, it only dates 15 years after North Carolina became a state. In that year of 1804, Hymrick Hooker, Thomas Holliday, Jacob Lassiter, Lawerence Carr, John Harper, Silas Lassiter, Samuel Hooker, Frances Kilpatrick, Roderick Powell, Isaac Ward, and Hugh Harper were ap- pointed Trustees of Greene Academy. Greene Academy was erected on an old field near Hooker’s Bridge on Great Contentney! The Old School Square is the block in Hookerton now occupied by the Community Building, the Post Office, business establishments and residences. From old records resurrected by Harry S. Taylor and other members of Jerusalem Lodge No. 95, we know that the above persons whose names are preceded by astericks were early members of that lodge; and further that this group was largely responsible for this early institution. It is known that the building once was owned by the lodge, and that the school rented another area for the lodge in exchange for the use of the lodge meeting area on the second floor. HOOKERTON ' S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL From an article issued by the Board of Trustees, on February 20, 1807, and printed in the RALEIGH REG- ISTER, we know that these gentlemen were successful in establishing this school; The Trustees are happy to announce to the public their satisfaction at the progress of the institution under their former teacher, Mr. A. M. Rogers. We can also conclude that the board advertised for a principal teacher to replace Mr. Rogers. No other document has been found to fill in the period until 1817 when the Institution was given a new charter in order to change the name to Hookerton Academy. This was the year that the town of Hookerton was chartered and incorporated. In the RALEIGH REGISTER of 1817, there is a notice of the Exercises of the Institution, commenced 1st Monday in May under the superintendence of Mr. Austin A. Hersey. Records

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1897 FIRST ROW: Rob Edwards, Fannie Brown Edwards, Will Hooker, Freeman Hooker. SECOND ROW: Paul Kilpatrick, Cleveland Warters, Vera Taylor, Stella Kilpatrick, Mrs. Ida Jordan, Lucille Dixon, Mrs. Annie Dulas Dixon, Julia B. Taylor, Addie Thompson, Lena Warters, Hugh C Lonnie Johnson. THIRD ROW: Effie Grimsley, Alma Kilpatrick Vause, David Dixon, Annie Edwards, Johnnie Nobles, Mary Alice Jordan, Betty Jordan, May Belle Dixon, Will Kilpatrick, Annie Thompson, Milton Moc FOURTH ROW: Ethel Edwards, Will Jordan, Palmette Taylor, Leslie Jordan, Julia H. Taylor, Steven Nobles, Bettie Smith, Mr. W. H. Austin, Teacher; Robbie Johnson (or Will Arnold), Rebecca Moo: Hardy Vause, Mae Smith, Ara Jordan, Julia Jordan. FIFTH ROW: Hayward Edwards, Stella Warters, John Sylivant, Hattie Edwards, Newton Taylor, Ida E ' wards, Errol Dixon, Eva Johnson, Fred Edwards, Luther Kilpatrick. In 1902, Miss Fannie Dixon was teacher principal; in 1903, Miss Emma Palmer, and in 1904-1905 Miss Margaret Smith. Although Miss Mag” only taught in Hookerton for one year, she has continued to live here; she is Hookerton’s oldest citizen, and her home is the oldest dwelling in town. Then in 1905-1906, Mr. R. J. Matlock was principal. This was the beginning of his dedicated car of improving education and educational facilities in Hookerton. At the end of the year, he returned i Trinity College (Duke University) for further study. During his absence in 1906-1907, Mr. Godfrey served as principal. During the summer, preparations were made to expand the school plant. Mr. Matlock secured per mission from the Masons to build an ell on the north side of the building. This addition was used for the music instruction. Mr. Matlock hired Miss Mamie Dailey (Mrs. Newton Taylor) as our first music teacher. The piano purchased at this time is still being used today. It is the Stieff piano used in tl Auditorium in the present building. Also, included in the teaching staff was Miss Irene Sylivant.