Morrison Cove High School - Pine Crest Yearbook (Martinsburg, PA)

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Spring of 1896 his parents moved out of Morrison Cove. No parental home or school of higher education to return to in the Cove, found him in a state of bewilderment. Under these adverse con- ditions was born the urge to some day return to his native community and found a permanent school of advanced education for the people of the Cove. He knew that his dc-sire meant many years of educational preparation, much hardship and a real struggle financially. He willingly made the sacrifice. Summer of 1896 found him with his parents on a rented farm near Hollidaysburg, Pa. Here he help- ed with the farm work-worked part time in a drug store in Hollidaysburg, earning money to help his home people and pay his summer school tuition in Professor Stewart's Classical School in this same town, His desire for more education took him to Juniata College, School year of 1896-1897. He paid his college expenses by doing janitorial work. He walked to and from Juniata College. Summer of 1897 he again attended Normal School in Hollidaysburg. Autumn of 1897 he taught his first country school in Blair County, at Catfish along the Catfish Mt. Ridge. In orderly succession, summer and winter found him attending Juniata or Grove City college and teaching more Blair County Schools until he left Pennsylvania for Ohio. In 1903 fall term, he entered Ashland College, Ashland, Ohio, as a student and first time College Professor. He used his summer months attending Summer School at Lima College , Lima, Ohio, and continued in Ohio as a college student, professor and minister of the Gospel. June 7,1908, he married Miss Rose M. Summers. Before her marriage, she planned on founding a Music School-he on founding a College in Morrison Cove, Pennsylvania. Hence-the marriage to begin with, had much in common, educationally speaking. His Post-Graduate work toward his Doctorate Degrees was done in Education', and Theology at Chicago University, Chicago, Illinois, and Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He continued preaching, remained as College and Seminary Professor and Dean of Men alternately at Ashland College, and Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio. Elon College, Elon, North Carolina, conferred upon him the Honorary Degree of Dr. of Literature. In June 1917, he returned to Morrison Cove to work out the long cherished dream of his life, name- ly, founding a school of Fine and Vocational Arts in his native community, The sacrifice he made to realize his ideal cannot be expressed in words. Along with a college of Fine and Vocational Arts in Nlorrison Cove, he wanted as an outstanding part of this educational set-up, one of the best free public libraries, with reading and reference rooms for the people of the Cove. Hence, the gift of his private library as a nucleus for a Free Public Library to the school and community. He frequently remarked, If I live to be three-score and ten years old, all I envision as a school and

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Biography 'dward E. Byers 44 Rose S. Byers Ar the dawn of Spring in hforrison Cove, Penn- sylvania, along the Hickory Bottom Road, at the foot of Little Round Top Mountain, near Wood- bury, Pa., a boy was born March 21, 1877- Edward Byersv-by name, His parents, at the time of his birth, over-looked a middle name for their first son and child, Later Everett was selected, h ence--4'EdWard Everett Byersf, This tow-headed child grew and Waxed strong, on the historic Byers section of land, obtained and settled by the Byers ancestors. In those days, rural communities were really 1 isolated. Living in that kind of an enviroment dur- l ing his pre-school years, caused him to be very re- l served and timid. As a little boy starting to country school, these traits were a handicap and brought child grief to the extent that pressure from his home was brought to bear on him to attend school regularly. His first school teacher at Mt, Joyf' country school saw his need and helped this backward boy. This manifested interest was a real blessing to the lad because it instilled in him a genuine love for school and study. In later years he recalled many times with gratitude and deep appreciation the extra help his country school teachers gave him in common school. Summer 1894 he attended Professor K, Ritcheyis Summer Normal School at Woodbury, Pa. and helped Work on the home farm. School year 1894-1895 he returned to country school at 'fMt. joy. In those days money was scarce. Early Spring 1895 he worked as an apprentice in a printing office at Everett, Pa. to have money to attend the Summer Normal School at 1Voodbury, Pa. At the close of this summer session, he took the Teacher's Examination, passed it, and received his first 'l'eacher's Cer- tificate and did his first country school teaching at Mechanics Independent School' in Bedford County, Pa. Here he split wood to heat the school room and did his own janitorial work all for 222.00 per month.

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library will then be a reality. And then at his death, his body be cremated, his ashes put in an urn, and placed in the library. Before his Work was accomplished, God called him suddenly, the fatal accident occuring Within sight of the school he founded and loved. The people Whom he served, did not Want his body cremated. Instead, suggested and requested that he be buried on the school grounds. There, at his grave is a marker, the top and base of which are of the same kind of stone as the original brownstone building, This hallowed spot is surrounded by an iron fence. Edward E. Byers Rose S. Byers