Regardless of the weather, the teacher arrived at the school between 8 & 8:15 each morning. Bad weather was no excuse for lack of attendance.
School opened at 9:00 when the teacher rang her hand held schoolbell. Monday morning was "memory day" whether it be a poem, Bible verse or just a wise saying.
Then they got down to business with their "three R's", reading, riting, rithmetic. There was a 15 minute recess break which was welcomed by all.
Dinner hour began at 12:00. Pupils cleared their desks and dinner pails were brought from the shelves in the back. One hour was allowed for eating and playing games.
Promply at 4:00 pm school was dismissed. The pupils then went home to help with farm and household chores before they gathered around the table for the evening meal.
The first one room schools were plain and made of logs. They had windows on each side and a front door. On one of the shelves inside the entrance to the door was a bucket of water. A dipper was kept in the bucket and all the pupils used it. Later, the water bucket was replaced with a stone lined jar or an insulated water cooler. Each pupil was then asked to bring their own cup.
A large wood or coal stove was located in the center of the room for heating and perhaps cooking a big pot of beans for all to enjoy for lunch that day.
Individual School History:
Accident School was located on Stoney River road 2 miles South of Rt 50 and 1 1/4 mile NW of Bismarck. The school opened about 1900 and remained in operation until 1939 when it consolidated with Mt Storm School.
Aronhalt School-located a distance North of Rt 50 on top of Stoney River Hill. It operated there from 1850 until 1865.
Baker-located off Knobley Road near what is now Thorn Run Inn and opened in the late 1860's. In 1927 a new building was built for the Baker School. After 1937 the pupils transferred to Maysville Elemetary School.
Bayard Elemetary- A one or two room school used from 1875-1894 then a 4 room structure was used. Located along Buffalo Creek.
Bayard High- In 1922 Bayard High School was built. Closed in 1967 when pupils were transferred to the new Union High School.
Benstein (Smith)- Located on Jordan Run near the Weimer farm. The school was built in or before 1870. When the Eureka School was built the Benstein was abandoned and pupils were transferred to Eureka.
Bergdoll- This school was located 1 1/2 mile South of Rough Run near the road leading to Deep Spring. School was discontinued here from 1933-1947 and pupils attended the Sinks School. Then the pupils were moved back to the original site in 1947 and continued there until 1963 when it was permnately closed and pupils transferred to Dorcas. This was the last one room school to operate in Grant County.
Brake- The first Brake School was located near the present day North Mill Creek Baptist Church and was probably built before the Civil War. It was a log building and was known as the Bergdoll School. This school burned about 1880 and a new school was constructed behind where is now the Brake Church on North Mill Creek Road. When it opened at this location the name was changed from Bergdoll to Brake School. The school burned in 1899. A new building was built on the same site. This school continued for the next 50 yrs. In 1950 the school closed and pupils were transferred to Dorcas.
Brookside- In 1923 a temporary building for a school was located on the Stonestreet Farm. By the next year a building was constructed nearby. The school was located on Jordan Run Road about 3 miles South of Streby near Wolf Run.
Brushy Mountain- This school was located near the headwaters of Deep Run between Brushy Mt and North Mt 3 miles north of the Pendleton Co line on Rt 220. In 1935 the school was closed and the pupils were transferred to Deep Run School.
Brushy Run- This school was located on Pattersons Creek Road beside the Mt Carmel Church. It was built about 1870 and closed in 1933 when pupils were transferred to Petersburg. The original building is still standing today.
Burgess- located at Streby on the John Burgess farm 1 1/2 mile west of the Jordan Run Road. It remained in operation till being replaced by the Streby School in 1883.
Burgett- This school was built about 1884 on the George Harman property near the Petersburg Fish Hatchery. The school was closed in 1949.
Buzzard's Glory- This school was located on Rt 93 from Scherr going towards Keyser. Turn left onto a road called Rat Tail just across the bridge. The school was torn down about 1915.
Centennial- This school was located on the west side of Knobley Road near the Samuel Babb home. It was built in 1876 and was later sold to be converted into a residence and sometime later burned. A new school was then erected on the road that leads from Greenland Gap to the Patterson Creek Road. In 1929 the building was moved a short distance above Falls on the east side of the road. The school closed in 1934/35 and the building was sold to the Church of God. It was used as a church until they purchased the Falls Methodist Church.The pupils were transferred to Maysville after the closeing of Centennial.
Conrad-This school had 2 locations in the Smoke Holes. The 1st location was on the west side of the South Branch of the Potomac River between Shook's Gap & Blue Rock. It opended in 1920 at the first site and operated until 1930. The building was then moved to the other side of the river and continued for five years.
Corner- located in the community of Corner now known as Cabins. It was probably built near the time of the Civil War. About 1880 another building was constructed at the road intersection. This one room school was used for about 35 years. In 1914 a new one-room school was built nearby. In 1922 another room was added. It closed in 1938 and pupils were transferred to Petersburg.
Crane's Nest- (Dutch Hill) Located about 4 miles off Jordan Run Road from Rt 42 on the Stoney River Dam Road. Sometime after 1866 a building was erected and in 1890 the school was moved t oa new building on the right side of the road. This building was replaced in 1930. The scool closed in 1950 and pupils were transferred to Maysville.
Crites- Located at Spring Run. Operated from 1914-1950 when pupils were transferred to Dorcas.
Deep Run- Located 2 miles south of Rt 4 on the eastern side of the Smoke Hole Road. It operated from 1933-1939 and pupils were transferred to Petersburg.
Deep Spring- On South Fork Mt between the Hardy and Pendleton County lines about 3 miles south of Rough Run. This school was built about 1869/70 and closed in 1933.
