Schools

Richard Jackson, a 1958 Science Hill High School graduate, permitted me to examine a 1921 Wataugan that he purchased from an antique store. It was a jewel.

The title page acknowledged this annual’s significance: “The Wataugan – Volume 1 – 1921 – Published by the senior class of Johnson City High School.” The book contained 61 pages including 32 pages of ads. One page showed two remarkable photographs: “Science Hill as it WAS” and “Science Hill as it is NOW.” Judging from the slant of “the hill,” the old school appeared to face south toward E. Market.

The new school faced N. Roan and seems to have been snapped before the students began classes there. Material, dirt piles and light snow appear all over the grounds. The 23 faculty members included Mr. D.R. Haworth, superintendent and Miss Lucy Hatcher, principal. Mrs. Will Lusk served as librarian and Miss Maude Hodge was school nurse.

Perhaps the most significant section of the periodical was the “Alumni Association Roll,” listing the names of school graduates between 1894 and 1921. (See complete list of names below.) Oddly enough, the class of 1910 is not shown. Does anyone know why? The class of 1894 had only seven students; the one for 1920 displayed 48.

Several prominent names appeared in the register, including possibly the most recognized alumni, LeRoy Reeves (1894), designer of the Tennessee State flag in 1905. Student Edwin Crouch masterfully penned an essay titled “Happy Valley – The Watauga,” that commences with these carefully chosen picturesque words: “The valley of the beautiful Watuaga, reposing like a vale of cashmere in the midst of green hills and towering mountains half veiled in the purple haze that is born of ‘magnificent distances,’ is one of those charming spots on earth.”

Three students shown in the photos became prominent doctors in Johnson City: Charles Gresham, William G. Preas and Carroll H. Long. The school’s calendar revealed two significant events for Feb. 9, 1921. The Wataugan became the official name for the annual and maroon and gold were adopted as the school colors.

Male students had a choice of four literary societies: Adelphian, Jacksonian, Jeffersonian and Wilsonian. The ladies boasted of seven: Athenian, Lanier, Pocahontas, Utopian, Victorian, Frances E. Willard and Ossolian. As always, the ads were interesting to read, such as this sampling of the 90 displayed in the back pages of the annual:

“The Hanks-Morris Motor Company – Distributors of Cadillac, Oakland and Overland.”

“Fountain Square Furniture Company – Johnson City’s Cheapest Store, At the Sign of the Rocking Chair.”

“East Tennessee Normal School – A school for the education and training of teachers, Expenses very low – Tuition free; Sidney G. Gilbreath, President.”

“The Liberty Theatre – Quality Plays.”

“Masengills – Have you seen the new models of Betty Wales Dresses, which we are showing? They are irresistible.”

“H.M. Smith Co. – You can get there walking, but you will get there quicker and with more ease if you ride a National Bicycle.”

Blanche Crigger laments her graduation from high school with this brief poem: “Turn backward, turn backward. O, Time, in thy flight. To my dear old school days. Just for one night.”

In upcoming columns I will feature sports and additional material from Richard Jackson’s remarkable find.

 

Science Hill High School Alumni

1894-1920 

Class of 1894

Carrie Ball, W.R. King, Gertrude Mitchell, W.H. Gildersleeve, Sue Wood, (Miss) Willie Reeves, LeRoy Reeves. 

Class of 1895

Laura Faucette, Leucretia Eubanks, Raymond P. Reeves. 

Class of 1896

Mary Faucette, Neva Painter, Elizabeth Carr, Frank Mitchell, Earl Jackson, Will Pouder, Mamie Grant and Charlie Biddle. 

Class of 1897

Haskiel H. Dyer, Fred W. Hoss, Josie Lusk, Luster Painter, Sanna Biddle, Frank Gildersleeve, Walter H. Hunter, Will N. Hoss, Ada Wood. 

Class of 1898

Ailene Galloway, Beatrice Reeves, Mamie King, Stanley Reeves. 

Class of 1899

Mattie Bullock, Alice Campbell, Paul B. Carr, Ada Darden, Arthur Erwin, Leola Martin, Jennie Lusk, Will B. Miller, Eva Lusk, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Walter J. Miller, Mamie Hickey, Lillie Painter, Lucy Pouder, Bessie Weaver. 

Class of 1900

Almanda Boucher, Bessie Ball, Maxie Cox, Ethel Cloyd, Lillian D’Armond, Winifred Grant, Lula Hunter, Gordon Henderson, J. Foster Hoss, Clarence King, Mable Jackson, Joe T. Matson, Haynes Miller, Helen Mumpower, James A. Pouder, May Reeves, Carrie Snyder. 

Class of 1901

Will E. Hatcher, Bessie Painter, Lowry Cary, Vest Cross, Ethel Smith, Jessie Dulaney, Edward M.S. Crumley, Mabel Davidson, Maude Lust, Lucy Hatcher, Ethel Beals, Eva Lyle, Lizzie Mitchell, Roxie Slaughter, Mack Smith. 

Class of 1902

Charles Bullock, Jennie Austin, Lena Barton, James Beals, Olga Boyd, Walter Brown, Ella Burrow, Kate Carr, Regina Eiseman, Nellie Gammon, Grace Hart, Lora Hickey, Walter Hodges, Pearl Lyle, Maggie Martin, Ira Matson, Harry D. Miller, Nora Miller, Bob Mitchell, Virgil Slaughter, Nellie Wade, Graham Wilbourne, John Wood. 

Class of 1903

Bertha Burgess, Nell Carr, Ollie Crowell, Bessie Chinouth, Marion Friberg, Robert Gammon, Mabel Gildersleeve, Mary Gildersleeve, Jennie Hatcher, Floyd Henderson, Marion Johnson, Sadye Malone, Guy Sabin, Mrs. Horace Burleson (no maiden name shown). 

Class of 1904

Faye Whiteside, Thompsie Baxter, Anna Bell Beasley, Lena Hunt, Mary Willie Broyles, Mary Lyle, Hattie Hunter, Golden Wilbourne, Mary Evans, Nat G. Taylor, Elmer Beals, Ralph Cargille, Loyall Sitton, George Gildersleeve. 

Class of 1905

Ella Russell, Faw Broyles, Claire Fulton, Lonnie W. McCown, Maude Beasley, Cecil Donnelly, Una V. Templin, Fred King. 

Class of 1906

Roscoe A. Long, Leone Wagner, Mary Nell Beasley, Bonita Cloyd, Hazel Goode, Nora Hartsell, Ora Keys, Margaret Kegley, Georgia Seaver, Sarah Cordelia Tomlinson. 

Class of 1907

Edith Barton, Ethel Barton, Mary Agnes Berry, Ruby Baxter, Henry Carriger, Margaret Culler, Lucy Carr, Eva Fulton, Kathleen Gaunt, Mary Hardin, Rhea Hunter, Dimple Mettetal, Walter Martin, Fa N. Matson, Bonnie Murray, Pansy Painter, Glennie Pence, Lucy Sitton, Guy O. Seaver, Bess Slaughter. 

Class of 1908

Nellie Strain, Ralph Preas, Kate Gilmer, Alfred Gaunt, Ruth Lyle, Ward Friberg, Pearly Cloyd, Hubert Templin, Ina Bayless, Cleveland B. Coe, Julia Mettetal, Edith Tally, David T. Miller, Nettie Wallin, Chester Allen, James Buck, Issac Faw. 

Class of 1909

John I. Hale, Will Barton, Emily Miller, Florence Dickey, Worley Harr, Ruby Hodges, Sarah Broyles, Edith Campbell, Loren E. Long, Nell Crouch, Katherine Wilson, Gladys Berry, May Tomlinson, Lucile Martin, Inda Houtz, Herbert Athey. 

Class of 1910

(No names listed.) 

Class of 1911

Mary Alicd Barton, Fannie Rhea Dosser, Margaret Dosser, Ida Deam Campbell, Violet Fontaine, Kate Lundy, Elizabeth Jones, Mary Long, Fred Peoples, Mattie Strain, Lois Peoples, Florence Sitton, Margaret Woodruff . 

Class of 1912

Loftus Murrell, Edna Daniel, Hugh F.M. Hoss, Elizabeth Reeves, James Hardin, Susie Remine, Burr Harrison, Kathryn Peoples, Hallie Wolf. 

Class of 1913

Grace Boring, Eleanor Brading, Earl Cloyd, Mary Nell Dosser, Paul Emmert, Prentice Fulton, Marion Bowman, Mamie Bryant, Elberta Cox, Byron Eiseman, Eleanor Exum, Henley Gilbreath, Marie Hannah, Hattie Hunt, Edgar Lyle, Harry Mitchell, W.A. Richardson, Mabel Sutton, Maude Tomlinson, Isabel Wade, Lee Harr, Hubert King, Sara McCown, Samma Slaughter, Gunnar J. Teilman, Pell Vance, Maurice Wilson. 

Class of 1914

Frank Baxter, Whitney W. Buck, Reba Cannon, James Carter, Carrie Lee Cox, Hilda Evans, Nell Hyder, Charlie Lyle, Martha Mahoney, Margaret Moore, Bruce Preas, Kate Remine, Clyde Smith, Bessie Snyder, Nell Swingle, Melvia Taylor, Ellen Bowman, Ida Campbell, Leland Caldwell, Reba Collette, Andrea Daniels, Rivers Huddle, Edwin Long, Mary Gertrude Lyle, Roy Moore, Mary Dean Preas, Ruth Robbins, Arthur Moss, Miller Smith, Frank L. St. John, Mary Taylor. 

Class of 1915

Helen Vance, Frances Byrd, Mattie Bolton, Louise Thomas, Edward Brading, Alfred Carr, Thomas Matson, Louise St. John, Robert Miller, Guy L. Smith, Mary Fulton, Cameleon Allison, Morris Cooper, Edna Vance, Stella Barlow, Earl Fields, Guy Williams, Agnes Dyer, William Thompson, Crumley Ervin, Irene Browning, John Parsons, Draxie Liebe, Nell Brown, Loren Estes, Williams Matthews, Christine Burleson, Orville Martin, Luke Hunt, Margaret Lyle, Martha Good, Robert Dosser, Nellie Hunter, Max Lusk, Arthur Watson, Elizabeth Cass, Howard Clark, David Wilson, Katherine Sells, Sam Smith, Hazel Dinkle, Irma Cooper, Ruth Banner, Earl Hotalen, Bryan Woodruff, Evelyn Armbrust, Harris Wofford. 

Class of 1916

Ethel Riddell, Harry Faw, Edith Bolton, Earl Buchanan, Ernest Hodge, Leone Brown, Fitzhugh Wallace, Ruth McCorkle, Hannah Doak, Edith Clark, Clarence L. Miller, Reeves Hays, William Mitchell, Vance Jones, James Earnest. 

Class of 1917

Ruth Barlow, Melville Smith, Tera Harshbarger, Alta Boring, Floyd Lockett, Yetta Hecht, Margaret McCown, Elizabeth Moore, Oliver Robertson, Pauline Tindell, Ben Conner, Mildred Wade, Maurice Caldwell, Georgia Pierce, Virgie Chitwood, James B. Humphreys, Ivah Baker, Mildred Nicholson, Paul Keys, Margaret White, H.C. Hart, Barbara Haire, Edith Baxter, Theodore Daniels, Ruth Allison, Anne Huddle, Nancy Weaver, Lorna Whiteside, Louise Cox, James Remine, Bess Remine, Blanch Wood, Buford Conner, Georgia Taylor, Carl Young, Helen Swan. 

Class of 1918

Hattie Remine, K. Harshbarger, Hattie Tilson, Mary Shaffer, Dean Tainter, Vivian Nelson, Elsie Artz, Gertrude McCorkle, Margie Hunt, Estelle Snyder, Clyde McCall, Josephine Taylor, Mary Kyle, Bruce Lacy, Charlotte Matthews, Gertrude Hunter, Glen Hunter, Beulah Snyder, Mary Parrott, Spencer Leonard, Emma Louise Painter, Sophia Blair, Thelma Houston, Carmel King, Edith Lyle, Byron Garvin, Hattie Cox, Ada Evans, Paul Preas, Blanch Range, Helen McLeod, Ira Williams, Ernest Kite. 

Class of 1919

Selma Bowman, Martha Carr, Carl Fields, Lucille Hartsook, Francis Miller, Sebra Cooper, Lester Keller, Anna Kate Culton, Cora Mae Crockett, Jaffa Gump, Don Gray, Nell Hanna, Margaret Hutchins, Howard Imboden, Lamonte Laher, Edith Mausbach, Aucil Barron, Evangeline Hartsook, Louise Nelson, Elizabeth Fisher, Ida Adams, Anna Baum, Rosa Baum, Kate Britton, Selma Browning, Paul Cox, Mary Emmert, Mary Ewalt Grace Estes, Edith Gilmer, Elbert Hardin, Leila Hart, Ogarita Keebler, Lorenia Moore, Helen Seaver, Kathryn Sells, Georgia Williams, Mary Lockett, Rosalie Buck, Elizabeth Martin, Ida Cox. 

Class of 1920

Ruby Anderson, Fred Artz, Martha Bowman, Edith Campbell, Lest Leonard, Valerie Shipley, Edith Brown. Roy Lukk, Jessie Daniels, Juliet Hunter, Delno Diddle, Vera Chitwood, Sadie Freeman, William Whistman, Arthur Mae Smalling, Edna Dickey, Walden Shell, Helen Williams, Winnie Woodruff, Harry Fisher, Helen Lusk, Kathleen Martin, William Bailey, Leone Lacey, Rubie Haire, Eugene McSpadden, Claire Anderson, Elizabeth Parsons, William Erwin, Della Spencer, Ellen Moss, Andrew Martin, Zelma Keebler, Margaret Hayes, Theodore McCown, Mabel Dickson, Georgia Matthews, Robert Jobe, Cora Smith, Helen Faulk, William Hart, Ella Ross, Lena Gregory, Bert Wetherby, Mary Louise Miller, Mable Robertson, Arch Spencer, Ina Williams. 

Class of 1921

Edwin Crouch, (Miss) Gordon Grubbs, Walter Smith, Martha Goode, William Roper, Belle Lyle, Albert Tipton, Jesse Masengill, Charlie Crouch, Sara Crigger, Victor Crouch, Ruby Sharp, Eugene Hunter, Ethel Chaffin, Ernest Thomas, Selma Luntsford, William Keen, Florence Stout, William Starritt, Kathryne Rangely, Leslie Hart, Lelia Hughes, Frank Clark, Mary McLeod, Robert London, Robert Brown, Mattie Weems, Charles Gresham, Ina Shafer, Ethel DeArmond, Helen Stapleton, Jack Lust, Loretta Pearce, James Bayless, Mina Medford, Stanley Brading, Bennie Artz, Elsie Hyder, Gladys Cox.  

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John Anderson, a former student at Training School (now called University High), mailed me a copy of The Trumpet, a 1959 underground publication that he and other students produced. Although the short-lived 4-page periodical received a strong endorsement from “The Student Union,” the newspaper caused John and two other students to be expelled from school:

John indicated that they graduated in 1960, which was before the student protest era, but we indeed did lead a protest over the name, Training School. As noted by The Trumpet: “Why are all schools in this area mentioned in ‘High School, USA’ and Training School isn’t? Science Hill and Elizabethton are mentioned in the first verse! If they put our name in the song, people would think that they were singing about a reform school. Support the movement to change the name of Training School.”

The reference to “High School, USA” was a popular song in 1959 with separate versions featuring high schools all over the country. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard chart. The periodical’s style of nearly a half-century ago was low tech with the main front-page title stenciled, subtitles hand printed and the text banged out on a manual typewriter.

The newspaper paid homage to Mr. George Finchum, a tall flattop haircut teacher who was described as being an excellent educator and who understood the problems of teenagers. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to school “inmates.”

The publication then became divisive over news that school officials had cancelled the senior class’s trip to Washington: “Was the collecting of dues for the Washington trip and a few smaller projects fair if the Washington trip was to be taken away? We do not believe so!” The newspaper language became even stronger: “Did the “high and mighty” faculty (and I use that term loosely) have the total authority to forbid this trip? We do not believe so!” Students strongly disagreed with the stated reason for the trip’s cancellation being that a week spent in class would have more educational value.

On a more positive note, Training School trounced Washington College 76 to 43 in its first encounter of the season. The “B” Team won 41 to 21. The Trumpet put in a plug for attendance at area basketball games: “Training School has its first home game tonight, Nov. 13 against Sulphur Springs. Nov. 17, 20 and 24 finds the Jr. Bucs going to Erwin, Loudon and Holston, respectively. The defending District II champs return home again on the 27thplaying Hancock. Most all other schools have already started their season with the exception of Science Hill who is still getting over its football loss to Kingsport.”

The Trumpet repeated a “humorous, although not so factual story” from an earlier school newspaper, “Frosted Freshman” written by Mary Crumley. The training facility was allegedly taken over by students following a protest for their being given so many pop quizzes. Student Lee Smith summarily replaced Mr. John Arrants.

“After we were expelled,” said John, “our dads appealed to President Dossett of ETSC to let us back in school. Our punishment was that we had to go before the entire Training School student body and apologize.” The protesters got their wish in 1963 when ETSC acquired university status and changed the name of the high school to University High School. The ill-fated Trumpet had prevailed. 

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In 1966, I was a senior at the University of Tennessee in the era of slide rules, large heavy simplistic desktop calculators and no PCs. Computers were relatively slow oversized machines, driven by stacks of labor consuming keypunched cards.

As I made my daily pilgrimage early each morning from Old Melrose Hall to “The Hill,” I began seeing posters advertising “Operation Match,” a university-sponsored computer dating service, developed by a group of Harvard University students. The much-ballyhooed happening was to be held on Saturday, February 19 in the old gym, featuring a band known as The True Tones. I hastily concluded that this evening would be one of definite delight or absolute annoyance for daring participants, dismissing any thought of my involvement.

My dorm buddy, Terry Thompson, desired to participate and wanted me to do the same. He surmised that it would be fun to let a computer select our ideal dates. He further reasoned that if we took this venture seriously, we just might be meeting our future brides. I was not so sure. After insistent prodding, Terry persuaded me to give it a try. The two of us walked to the Student Center and enrolled in the program.

We were given an eight-page questionnaire containing 105 rather personal questions, ranging from absolute requirements to semantic preferences. The instructions emphasized that questions be answered accurately and spontaneously. I received mild heartburn when I read this sentence in the questionnaire: “It should be stressed that a match between individuals cannot be guaranteed because of the possibility of an uneven number of boys and girls participating in the project, or a possibility of extremes not finding a match.”

When the big evening arrived, Terry and I agreed that the one with the best-matched date would pay the other a dollar as a consolation gesture. The long awaited shindig began at 7:30 pm with the first order of business being to match individuals. This activity was carried out with surprising speed and efficiency. I held my breath as I was introduced to Janet, a petite nice looking brunette from West Tennessee; Terry’s mate was a very attractive blond.

The social event was then kicked off, lasting from 8:00 until midnight. Regrettably, Janet and I promptly realized that we had little in common. Surprisingly, there was a “grievance table” where students could literally swap incompatible dates. I was too dignified for that action; Janet showed no indication of dumping me either. We were now committed to four hours of absolute annoyance.

We mutually agreed to leave the crowded noisy gym and drive to Shoney’s “Big Boy” drive-in restaurant on Kingston Pike. We sat in my “sooped up” 1960 solid red Chevrolet Corvair, listened to the radio and talked for quite a while. Admittedly, we became somewhat more attuned to one another.

After returning Janet to her campus dorm, I went back to Old Melrose Hall. Upon approaching my room, I spotted Terry sitting alone in a chair just outside my door with his head down and holding up a dollar bill in one hand. Without uttering a word, I snatched my solace offering from his loose grip and abruptly went into my room. My first and last computer-dating venture was history.

Four years later, I married my perfect mate, a pretty redhead, accomplishing it without the aid of an imprudent computer. It has been a journey of absolute delight.

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I plan to occasionally focus my Yesteryear spotlight on some individual and indicate why he or she deserves such an accolade. My first offering is Miss Gordon Grubbs, one of my two sixth grade teachers at Henry Johnson School during 1954-55. Miss Grubbs taught geography, one of my least favorite subjects.

This stately lady devised an ingenious scheme for getting her students to better appreciate the class. She announced the formation of the Super Sticker Stamp Club, a weekly voluntary gathering that met after school in her classroom. This teacher astutely coupled our need to learn about the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface with our enjoyment of a hobby that included the swapping of postage stamps from all over the world. Those students who did not have stamp albums quickly acquired one so they could partake in the exciting world of philately. 

Our first order of business was to choose club officers. I became president, probably because of my reasonably large stamp collection, obtained primarily from Pat’s Trading Post on Spring Street. Miss Grubbs asked me if I understood Robert’s Rules of Order. For some strange reason, I responded in the affirmative, although I knew nothing of Robert or his orderly rules. After I attempted to convene my first club get-together, the first order of business quickly became for me to learn the proper way to conduct a meeting.

Our club’s setting became spontaneous and laid-back, nothing like our geography class. Everything was relaxed and informal – talking softly without permission, wandering around the room at will and making short impromptu presentations.

Miss Grubbs wisely and discreetly maintained a list of discussion questions to keep the meeting moving at a reasonable pace: What is your largest (or smallest) stamp? What is your prettiest (or ugliest) stamp? “What country represents a place you would like to visit? Show us a stamp from a country that you have visited. What country do you know the least about? This process evoked numerous responses from students as we hovered around each other in somewhat of a “show and tell” format. This was absolutely more enjoyable than sitting through a stiff geography class.

The Super Sticker Stamp Club afforded us time at the end for trading stamps. Our teacher basically turned the meeting over to us at this point. On one special occasion, Miss Grubbs had each of us give her a self-addressed envelope with our name and the school’s Market Street address on it. Shortly, the envelopes returned to us via U.S. mail, containing a new twenty-cent “special delivery” stamp, postmarked as a “First Day of Issue.”

A Young Miss Gordon Grubbs, A First Day of Issue She Acquired for Her Students

A regular three-cent Jefferson stamp was also affixed to it postmarked “9 am; October 13, 1954; Boston, Mass.” Our selfless teacher spent her own money on her students. Inside my envelope was a letter that read: “Dear Robert: This ‘First Day Cover’ of the new Special Delivery stamp is a little gift from me to each member of the ‘Super Sticker Stamp Club’ … Very sincerely … Miss Grubbs.” It was dated October 4, 1954.

Today, I cannot drive by that old W. Market Street  building without thinking about a gifted teacher with a creative imagination that transformed a potentially jaded subject into a pleasurable interactive learning experience.  

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The 53 seniors in Junior High School’s 1934 Civics class provided the information used in today’s column. The source is an impressive 25-page typewritten student project, “Know Our City,” part of the Pat Watson Collection at ETSU’s Archives of Appalachia.

The information is organized into four main sections – Historical Background, Beginnings of our City, Johnson City Today, A Forward Look – and 23 subsections. Also included are four hand-sketched illustrations: Henry Johnson, Main Street, Mayne Williams Public Library and Junior High School – drawn by three students.

Student artist shows what Main Street looked like in 1934 (viewed west to east)

The section titled “Education in Johnson City” begins: “The Johnson City public school system originated in 1864 when a log school house was built on Rome Hill (renamed Roan Hill).” The report went on to say that in 1866 the school was moved down upon Brush Creek near the old Camp Ground (W. Watauga). This building originally consisted of hewn logs, but was later weather boarded.

Two years later, a school building was erected on a hill at the newest Munsey Memorial Methodist Church annex on Roan Street. It became known as Science Hill (Male and Female Institute). This facility partially paid for by private subscriptions contained two classrooms downstairs and a large hall upstairs. Two more rooms were added in 1902.

About 1890, the school system was organized into a graded system with Science Hill School, Lusk School (SE corner of Roan and Watauga) and Langston High School. That same year, General John T. Wilder donated land for Martha Wilder School (on E. Myrtle Street), named in honor of his wife. Also that year, a four-room brick building was erected on a lot donated by Mrs. J. Allen Smith of Knoxville and named Columbus Powell in honor of her father. Two rooms were added in 1904 and four more plus a two-room basement in 1913.

About 1915, the old Science Hill School house was razed and a big new one was built in its location. Additions were made in 1921 and again in 1930. West Side School became a reality in 1907 followed by South Side in 1918, Junior High and North Side in 1922 and Keystone and Pine Grove in 1923. In 1930, new buildings were erected at Columbus Powell, Martha Wilder and West Side schools. 

By 1934, the student report showed attendance at five black schools: Langston High (74), Langston Elementary (106), Dunbar (293), Douglas (86) and Roan Hill (35). Attendance at the 10 white ones were Science Hill (577), Junior High (1023), West Side (725), North Side (628), Columbus Powell (538), Martha Wilder (530), Keystone (415), South Side (381), Pine Grove (113) and Training School (272).

The handling of 5796 students required the services of 177 workers. That year 125 students graduated and the yearly per student cost was estimated to be $45. An organization known as the School Improvement Association held its first meeting in the downtown Christian Church by Miss Virginia Moore in 1910. This group soon became known as the Parent-Teachers Association with Mrs. L.D. Gump serving as president of the Martha Wilder PTA. Her counterpart at Columbus Power was Mrs. Harry W. Lyle.

Hats off to the 53 Junior High School Civic Class students for issuing this impressive document 72 years ago that helped preserve this area’s rich history. We are indebted to you. I will flaunt more of their extraordinary research in future columns.

  

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Kate Watson and Mack Houston have warm feelings for Cave Springs School that stood near Milligan College between 1909 and 1955. During the 1930s, both individuals attended this eight grade two-story wooden institute alongside Buffalo Creek, east of a bridge on State Route 359 (Okolona Road).

Mrs. Watson’s father, Samuel S. Cole, a renowned educator for 45 years in the Carter County school system, was principal at the grammar school for 17 years. “I started school at age four,” said Kate, “because of my fondness for Mary Buck, the first grade teacher. I graduated from Happy Valley High School at age 16.”

The principal’s daughter supplied several old documents and photos. Property for the new school was purchased in Nov. 1906; classes commenced with the 1909 school year. Cave Springs School served Okolona youngsters, while nearby Silver Lake School was for Milligan youth.

According to Mack: “The schoolhouse had four classrooms, with two grades sharing each one. Each room held between 30 and 40 students. All classes were downstairs; the upstairs was used for storage. The school had three principals over the years – Mr. Cole, Wayne Gourley and C.C. Price. Mary Buck taught grades 1-2; Blanche Gourley, 3-4; Francis Anderson, 5-6; and Samuel Cole, 7-8. Courses included Penmanship, Arithmetic, English, Geography, Reading, Health, American History and Tennessee History. The school provided textbooks for students. Each room had a pot-bellied stove either in the front or center of the room. One student chore was to go outside each morning and carry wood into the classroom.

“Classes were from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break and two 15-minute recess periods. Our only time off was one or two weeks at Christmas. Students brought a lunch box or brown paper bag that often contained jelly biscuits to class each morning. There were no school buses. Most of us walked 2-3 miles each way, some coming from as far away as five miles. That was pretty rough in cold weather. School officials tried to locate a school every three to four miles so kids did not have so far to travel. In the fall, we had apple trees along the way that allowed us to stop for a treat. We crossed creeks, sometimes using sticks to vault across streams. These were fun times.”   

Mack commented on the school’s crude bathroom facilities: “Two heavy rough-hewn oak board “four-seater” outhouses stood near the school, one for boys and another for girls. He related a daily ritual at the school:  Mr. Cole started school each morning by opening a partition between his office and an adjoining classroom. This provided a small auditorium for the whole school to convene. Teachers stood along the back while students sat on the floor down front.

“Mr. Cole read the Bible, led in the Pledge of Allegiance and had prayer. Students then went to their individual classrooms for Bible verse memorization. We each recited one verse every morning. There were strict rules for conduct while at school; cursing, bullying and fighting were strictly forbidden. Students responded to their elders with ‘yes madam,’ ‘no madam,’ ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir.’ Minor infractions meant staying in from recess and writing repetitive sentences on the blackboard; major ones resulted in a trip to the principal’s office for a paddling.”

Mrs. Watson said the school had a code of discipline with the number of licks corresponding to the severity of the infraction. Boys were paddled on their behinds. The Elizabethton Health Department sent a nurse to school once a year to administer shots to all the kids. She always wore a white uniform, typical of that era. 

“The area contained numerous itinerate families working on local farms,” said Mack, “They earned wages of 10 cents an hour. Most were large families and left a big void when they moved on to other work.”

Kate said times were so tough that students occasionally missed classes in order to provide assistance on the family farm. Most of the students were poor. Teachers brought extra food, clothing and personal hygiene items each day for those who were disadvantaged. Students wore patched hand-me-down clothes. Girls wore dresses, usually fabricated by their mother from cow food bags and referred to as “chop” bags.

Mack remembered Mr. Cole dismissing school when snowstorms hit the area. Parents came to school with heavy clothing and escorted their youngsters home. Houston commented about recess activities: “Boys and girls played together. We had dodge ball and baseball using sponge rubber balls. My favorite sport was hitting a small ball with flat boards or bats.”

Kate said she often stood on a hill near the school and watched cars go down the Erwin Highway: “Barely 3-4 cars passed in an hour. It was exciting to see the big Greyhound Bus whiz by on its way to Asheville.”

Mack commented about beautiful Buffalo Creek that ran within 150 yards along the school’s east and north sides. The boys fished for suckers and then dammed the creek to form a swimming hole. The former student added: “We drank water that was cold and delicious from an old spring below the school that came out from under a rock near Buffalo Creek.”

Cave Springs School remained in operation until a devastating fire destroyed it in the early 1940s. It was summarily rebuilt, but later burned a second time. Overheated stove flues were a frequent source of fires.

Cave Springs School closed its textbooks forever in 1955. After sitting idle for seven years, it was razed in 1962 and the property sold at auction. A brick house now stands at the site as a memorial. On April 8, 1997, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted Senate Bill No. 1128 designating the bridge near where the old school stood as the “Samuel S. Cole Memorial Bridge.” The proclamation stated in part: “Professor Cole was a man of high morals and exemplary character and was an instrumental force as an educator in Carter County. He was truly an inspirational leader among his peers.”

To former students like Kate Watson and Mack Houston, the old grammar school still warmly burns, like the old pot-bellied stoves, in their hearts and memories.    

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It is a joy to receive correspondence from those who bring to mind long-deceased unique individuals from yesteryear. Stan Barlow, a former resident of our city who taught at ETSU, Columbia University, City University (New York) and was dean at the University of Minnesota, sent me a note.

The educator responded to my previous Junior High School column, sharing cherished memories of an era long since passed. Mr. Barlow said he received a copy of my article about the old school that was designed by the father of his brother-in-law, Dick Beeson.

Stan indicated that he once lived at 102 W. Watauga Avenue and later at 705 N. Roan Street: “I could see the windows of (Pearl) Archer's homeroom when I was in the 8th grade and getting ready to walk the two blocks to it. I was a proud graduate of North Side School and in another two years would be running down Roan Street and up the hill of stairs to twin-towered Science Hill, all too often hearing the 8 o'clock tardy bell as I climbed.”

Stan lamented that the three schools he once attended have all been razed, saying that they once seemed eternal to him. Also gone are the two houses where he lived. His sole consolation is that a new North Side School now stands in the location of the former educational building.

Mr. Barlow further stated: “A.E. Sherrod, our Junior High hands-on principal, was a symbol to me. I never lost sight of him. He ran a tight ship, but he knew what he was doing – he was educating – as were most of the teachers who served with him. I remember how, every year in assembly, Mr. Sherrod would read us a poem with the refrain, ‘Just keep a-going?’”

Stan singled out four teachers from that era – Miss (Hettie) Ewalt, (Miss) Mabel Anderson, Mr. (Miller) Bray and Mr. MaGuren. The latter taught band and eventually formed a musical ensemble. “We had orchestra, band, shop, drama and other ‘learning’ with a wonderful mix of kids. Too bad we were not yet integrated, or the mix would have been even richer. I started Junior High in 1936, the year the 'voice' in your article 'graduated' there.  You reminded us that the school opened in 1922, two years before I was born. Regina Eisemann was the first principal. She was a dear friend of our family. I kept in close touch with her throughout her life. Anna Laurie Conley, older sister of my friend John, was Regina's efficient nurse in Johnson City.”

Mr. Barlow penned a personal tribute to Ms. Eisemann in, as he called it, “those magic free verse lines” titled, “While I'm Shaving,” (Swimming Laps, August 2001) that shows homage for his favorite principal. Here is an excerpt: “I helped roll Regina Eisemann, in her wheelchair up the long hill in the snow. She had been school principal. She focused our minds, as we pushed along to our house, from the big hotel where she lived, past the lamp-lit service station, up and over the curbs. She bounced about in the chair like a ball, with flashing eyes and vocabulary. She never talked down to us. Made us think deep.”

Junior High’s first principal died while still in her seventies. Despite her suffering, Stan related that “she was always wide-awake to the world; she loved it.”

Thanks to Stan Barlow, we have been permitted to bring two former Junior High School Principals briefly to center stage and shine the big Yesteryear spotlight on them. Well done, Mr. Sherrod and Ms. Eisemann. 

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I received a handwritten letter from Geneva Feathers, offering some largely forgotten memories of West Side School in 1930.

In her letter, she mentioned two West Side Schools, one having been located at 812 W. Market Street and the other at 349 W. Main Street, the one she attended. Why would Johnson City have two grammar schools with identical names? Let me present some facts in the form of five exhibits to help clarify this enigma.

Exhibit 1 is a large metal plate mounted on the west side of the front doors to the old Henry Johnson School on W. Market Street school that reads: “West Side School – Erected 1930.”

Exhibit 2 is likewise a plate attached to the east side of the same entrance: “Renamed Henry Johnson 1934 – Erected AD 1930.” The school was indeed known as West Side School for those four years. 

Exhibit 3 is a photograph from The Overmountain Press publication, Johnson City – The Way We Were, a reprint of a 1909 compilation by J.O. Lewis, identifying the Main Street school as West End School. This building was most likely situated near what was the west end of town around the turn of the century.

Exhibit 4 is a quote from Mary Nell Rader, a local resident who once attended the Main Street school: “I remember when both schools were called West Side School until one was renamed Henry Johnson School.”

Finally, Exhibit 5 is the interesting letter I received from Mrs. Feathers:

“Your previous column brought back memories for me. My family moved from Erwin to Johnson City in June 1930 and I started at Old West Side School that fall. The school we later knew as Henry Johnson had just been completed and was being used for the first time – it was known then as New West Side. Mrs. W.B. Ellisor, whose husband was mayor of Johnson City, served as principal of both schools. Miss (Mildred) Taylor was teaching at Old West Side even then, but I did not have her for any classes. Miss Ruth Massengill was my homeroom teacher (fifth grade) and I had Miss Bethea for Music. My homeroom teacher in the sixth grade was Miss Mildred Adams. Miss Cora Mae Crockett taught Geography. I had never heard of Davy Crockett then, but I remember her telling us about her ancestor who had gone to Texas to fight (at the Alamo).

“Mr. Judson Carter taught Arithmetic and, although I never knew why, he always had a wooden yardstick with him, which he used as though it were a cane. Miss Frances Long was the music teacher that year. Most of us who lived close enough – for me four blocks – to walk home for lunch did so and we could easily get back within the allotted hour. The school had no lunch room facilities. Students were permitted to go across the street to a mini-grocery run by a Mrs. Laws. She sliced meat from her refrigerated meat case and made sandwiches for the kids. My favorite was boiled ham on a bun for a a nickel and a penny red licorice stick for 'dessert.'”

I believe we can accurately conclude that there were indeed two grammar schools sharing the same designation between 1930 and 1934.

Why did the second school not receive a different name at the onset, instead of four years later? When did West End School become West Side School? Perhaps other Press readers will respond to those two questions. 

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I received a handwritten letter from Geneva Feathers, offering some largely forgotten memories of West Side School in 1930.

In her letter, she mentioned two West Side Schools, one having been located at 812 W. Market Street and the other at 349 W. Main Street, the one she attended. Why would Johnson City have two grammar schools with identical names? Let me present some facts in the form of five exhibits to help clarify this enigma.

Exhibit 1 is a large metal plate mounted on the west side of the front doors to the old Henry Johnson School on W. Market Street school that reads: “West Side School – Erected 1930.”

Exhibit 2 is likewise a plate attached to the east side of the same entrance: “Renamed Henry Johnson 1934 – Erected AD 1930.” The school was indeed known as West Side School for those four years. 

Exhibit 3 is a photograph from The Overmountain Press publication, Johnson City – The Way We Were, a reprint of a 1909 compilation by J.O. Lewis, identifying the Main Street school as West End School. This building was most likely situated near what was the west end of town around the turn of the century.

Exhibit 4 is a quote from Mary Nell Rader, a local resident who once attended the Main Street school: “I remember when both schools were called West Side School until one was renamed Henry Johnson School.”

Finally, Exhibit 5 is the interesting letter I received from Mrs. Feathers:

“Your previous column brought back memories for me. My family moved from Erwin to Johnson City in June 1930 and I started at Old West Side School that fall. The school we later knew as Henry Johnson had just been completed and was being used for the first time – it was known then as New West Side. Mrs. W.B. Ellisor, whose husband was mayor of Johnson City, served as principal of both schools. Miss (Mildred) Taylor was teaching at Old West Side even then, but I did not have her for any classes. Miss Ruth Massengill was my homeroom teacher (fifth grade) and I had Miss Bethea for Music. My homeroom teacher in the sixth grade was Miss Mildred Adams. Miss Cora Mae Crockett taught Geography. I had never heard of Davy Crockett then, but I remember her telling us about her ancestor who had gone to Texas to fight (at the Alamo).

“Mr. Judson Carter taught Arithmetic and, although I never knew why, he always had a wooden yardstick with him, which he used as though it were a cane. Miss Frances Long was the music teacher that year. Most of us who lived close enough – for me four blocks – to walk home for lunch did so and we could easily get back within the allotted hour. The school had no lunch room facilities. Students were permitted to go across the street to a mini-grocery run by a Mrs. Laws. She sliced meat from her refrigerated meat case and made sandwiches for the kids. My favorite was boiled ham on a bun for a a nickel and a penny red licorice stick for 'dessert.'”

I believe we can accurately conclude that there were indeed two grammar schools sharing the same designation between 1930 and 1934.

Why did the second school not receive a different name at the onset, instead of four years later? When did West End School become West Side School? Perhaps other Press readers will respond to those two questions. 

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 A familiar scene from The Wizard of Oz depicts Dorothy and her three curious cohorts being escorted in a carriage pulled by a “horse of a different color,” the stately critter changing coloring with each view. From my five years at Henry Johnson School during the early 1950s, I recall another unusual steed that “galloped” through school bookstores all across this country.

The animal was the famous Blue Horse trademark of Atlanta’s Montag Brothers' Paper Company, a 40-year enterprise established soon after the Great Depression. The corporation quickly found its niche with the younger crowd by launching a clever awards marketing promotion to boost sluggish sales.

Our Market Street school sold the Blue Horse product line and other supplies in a small store adjacent to the principal’s office near the front door. A table was positioned across the supply room door where a school employee manned the store each morning before classes began. This allowed the attendant to dispense supplies through the door without allowing student access into the room.

I was familiar with the Blue Horse notebook loose-leaf filler packs from my previous year’s attendance in the first grade at West Side School. The paper sold for a nickel a pack and contained about 25 5-hole punched sheets, allowing it to be conveniently placed in either 2 or 3 ringed binders. Each pack was enclosed in a small wrapper with the familiar Blue Horse head icon in the middle. These trademarks were then clipped, saved and later redeemed for prizes.

Literally millions of Blue Horse heads were exchanged for cash and prizes, making Montag one of the largest paper companies in the industry by 1950. An old Montage Brothers’ wrapper from the spring of 1953 shows, “50,000 Prizes For All You Lucky Boys And Girls.” Products costing 5 cents counted as one trademark, while 10-cent items yielded two. Participants were instructed to fasten the clippings in bundles of 50 or 100 before mailing them.

Students sending in 20 Blue Horse heads received a souvenir beanie cap containing the company logo; all other prizes required a minimum of 30 heads. Youngsters did not actually choose prizes; the number of heads mailed to the company determined the relative value of the reward. Contest rules required that labels be submitted by June 15 each year, making it easier for the corporation to tabulate results, award prizes and formulate plans for the next year’s campaign.

The top prize was a Horse Head brand bicycle given to the 425 students sending in the most emblems. In addition, there were 375 table model radios, 550 footballs, 550 zipper notebook cases, 1250 surprise awards, 20,000 bonus prizes and 26,850 other prizes – totaling 50,000.

A significant advantage to this unique sales promotion was that students and schools were concurrently rewarded. Cash was offered to the 167 schools whose students sent in the most trademarks. Prize money included $100 for first, $50 for second, $40 for third, $25 for fourth, and $5 for fifth. The total money dispersed nationwide by the company was $2025.

About 1970, the Montag Brothers’ once-famed azure four-legged creature was escorted on a one-way trip to a glue factory. Today, the only trace of the hoofed animal is a large Atlanta building still referred to as … The Blue Horse.   

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