William King High School - Midget Yearbook (Abingdon, VA)

Page 12 text:

Pathway of In 1833 it was decided to unite the male and female schools of the town but co-educational was too advanced an idea for the early nineteenth century and the idea failed. The next interesting bit of information which is found about the male academy is about the time of the California Gold Rush at which time the school was conducted as a military institution. The boys wore uni forms and engaged in daily drills. Their uniform consisted of gray cloth coatees with pantaloons of the same material in winter and in summer they wore white linen or cotton and a cap of blue cloth. It is of interesting note that John G. Winniford who for a number of years conducted the Academy was the son of the main contractor of Emory and Henry College and probably the first graduate of that in- stitution. During the Civil War soldiers from Scott County were quartered in the school building and it also served as a hospital for the wounded. By 1872 the academy building, due to neglect and bad usage, had become very dilapidated and new buildings were begun in that year. The corner stone of the Academy was relaid jointly by the Waterman Lodge No. 219 and Abingdon Lodge No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Among those names on the program for July 15, 1872 are many whose grandchildren are today enrolled in William King High School. Marker to the memory of two outstanding teachers at the Academy. 8

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Along the • • • In the fall of the year 1812, the following ad appeared in the ’’Political Prospect, the Abingdon newspaper of that time. ABINGDON ACADEMY The trustees of this institution have the happiness to announce to the friends of Erudition, that the muses are about to pour out their treasures from the Pierian Spring in this Seminary. To the American Youth who thirst for literary requirements, they offer draughts of; LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE Under The REV. THOMAS ERSKINE BIRCH, WHOSE TALENTS as a preceptor have been so universally authenticated that any encomium is unnecessary. In 1824 a contract was let to build a brick academy, to cost $2,000; it was completed in 1827 and was reported to be one of the best school buildings in Western Virginia at the time. The first principal of the Academy in its new location was William Ewing and during his administration the attendance was considerable and the Academy prosperous. 7

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Progress • • • The Academy is described as being located on a high hill in the midst of a splendid grove of poplar, oak and chestnut trees and from this hill one may have a wonderful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. White Top Mountain and the town of Abingdon. There are about eighteen acres of land surrounding the school and it is about one quarter of a mile from town. The brick home near the Academy which was built at the same time the new building was erected in 1872 still stands and at the time of this writing is used by the custodian of the h igh school and the second floor contains a shop for the woodworking classes of the high school. The Male Academy continued until 1904 and at its close, an ending was written to one chapter of education in Abingdon; with a new chapter to start in 1913.