THE EARLY SCHOOLS OF THE TENTH CIVIL DISTRICT OF
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE
Information furnished by committee members,
interviews of knowledgeable residents, and written
by Carmine Jackson and Fred Nance
The first school at Versailles, of which there is present knowledge, stood on the southeast corner of the Nance property about one-half mile south of the crossroads in Versailles on the north side of the road, now known as the Longview Pike, where the Nance farm joins the Bill Williams-Willie Floyd Williams land. That part of the Nance land is still referred to as the School House lot.
This school building followed the type of that day: a one-room log structure with puncheon floor and puncheon seats, no desks provided. Puncheon was a log split lengthwise down the middle with the flat side uppermost for the floor and the seats. On occasion hogs would congregate under the floor and tear the floor up because the thickness of the nogs prevented nailing down. The windows were openings without glass, by means of wooden shutters hinged on the outside. Heat was from an open wood-burning fireplace, if heated at all. No artificial light was provided daylight the only source.
There was no form of school transportation and no school lunch program; all children walked to school, sometimes for two miles or more, carrying lunch from home. The school day usually began at eight o'clock in the morning and lasted until four o'clock in the afternoon with one hour off at noon recess. For the most part these early schools were in session only three or four months during the year at a time when the older boys were not needed at home to work in the fields. Lin case the school was in session at the time cotton was ready to be picked by hand, school would be suspended in order that the children could help with the harvest.
Writing paper was scarce and expensive. Instead of tablets made of paper, thin pieces of gray slate, each one set in a wooden frame to prevent breaking, were used. A small round slate pencils was used; these marks could be rubbed out with a piece of cloth, ir the hand, and the same slate used over and over.
Great stress was put on teaching the three R's, reading, writing and arithmetic, and also on instilling a strict code of morals in the pupils. Teaching beginners to read was slow and laborious. A large chart was used on which were pictures of interest to small children and the letters of the alphabet; instead of teaching the child words by sight, he was taught to spell them. As the child became able to read, only the famous McGuffey Readers were used. At the end of each section, a list of words was given for study of spelling and meaning; also a moral was printed emphasizing the lesson taught in that particular story. Writing was taught by means of copies set by the teacher for each pupil to trace then imitate. Arithmetic was thought to be the most basic need for the future life with much time devoted to mental arithmetic, especially addition, subtraction, and the multiplication tables.
The daily session was opened by the whole school singing religious and folk songs, reading from the Bible, prayer, and a talk on manners and moral behavior by the teacher.
Discipline was very strict. There seemed to be an unwritten law that if a child received a whipping at school for misconduct, another whipping was waiting for hem when he returned home. If a child could not be controlled at school, after the teacher consulted with the parents, he was expelled.
One morning Kitty Virginia (born 1852) came to school wearing a dress which the teacher, who, at that time, was Kitty Virginia's older brother, Francis Jackson, the Third, thought was too short for modesty. He had Kitty Virginia seclude herself, pull out the stitches which held the hem in place, smooth the hem down, and spend the rest of the day embarrassed but modest.
Another local man known to have taught the Versailles School was Otho Nance (born 1866). About 1885-1886 this school was consumed by fire. On the morning after the fire, the children who had attended Versailles School, walked to Concord School.
The Concord School
Concord School stood on a building site near the present Concord Methodist Church. This land had been given by Charles Blackman (Kit) Farris, a Methodist Circuit Rider and Dr J.O. Sharber, for the purpose of building a Church and school. A very large, two-story log structure was erected with the first floor to be used for a school and the upper floor for a Church. Later a lean-to was added on the east side of the building for the small children. Schools were not graded; the small children were known as primary; the larger and more advanced pupils were known as secondary. The course of study and method of procedure at all the early schools in the Tenth District followed the same plan as that of the Versailles School with variations with different teachers.
It is a confirmed fact that in 1871 Professor Finney was teaching the Concord School. Professor Finney had married Abbey Dawson of Lebanon, Tennessee. They made their home near Concord in the house now owned and occupied by Mrs Neeley Manning and her son Charles. Emma Dawson, the fifteen-year-old sister of Mrs Fenney, came to stay with Professor and Mrs Finney and attended the Concord School. Emma Dawson's beauty and winsome ways captured the heart of Nathan Robert Jackson and they were married 29 Jan 1873. (These facts came from Maira Jackson Garrett, daughter of Emma Dawson and Nathan Robert Jackson.)
Other teachers who are know to have taught Concord School: Clara Jackson, Flora Jackson, John Frank Kimmins, Susie Steagall, Lillie Kerr, Mr Harrell, Ellen Brown, Fannie Giles, Mary Marlin. Belle Marlin, and Dora Rooker.
Subscription Schools
At this point in time, the public schools of Tenth District left much to be desired, especially with only a four month session during the year. Parents who wanted better educational opportunities for their children would sometimes organize a subscription school. A competent teach would be engaged, without county or state aid, a monthly tuition fee for each child could be agreed on, and the subscription school was in session. Richard Garrett attended such a school at Concord and Maira Jackson Garrett attended on at Rockvale.
Woodlawn Academy
(Garrett School)
Soon after Thomas Washington Garrett returned home from serving in the Confederate Army, he gave a site and trees from his farm for the purpose of building a school. This school was located hear the Garrett home, about two miles south of Versailles on the west side of the road, which is now known as the Longview Pike. The men of the community cut and hauled the trees to the Versailles Sawmill and were used by the carpenters in building a large one-room structure. A painted sign placed above the door proudly proclaimed this to be Woodlawn Academy. The remains of this building may be seen today (1982) though no longer standing proudly and known only as the Garrett School.
By word of mouth from two pupils who attended Woodlawn Academy (Holt and Herbert Garrett, grandsons of Thomas Washington Garrett) we have definite information.
Among the first teachers in this school were Elisabeth Garrett Dyer, Alice Garrett Poplin, and John Lee poplin, two daughters and a son-in-law of Thomas W Garrett. Others known to have taught there are: Sallie Sutton, Monroe Crick, Susie Steagall, Lena Crick, Tommy Irvin, Eula Maxwell, Willie Newby, Lillard Martin, Eula Lamb, Olive martin, Bess Maxwell.
Many of teachers found room and board in the Garrett home near by. The monthly charge was ten dollars, which paid for breakfast, a box lunch at school, hot supper, a comfortable room and bed, and a wood fire when needed.
Although Woodlawn Academy and many other small schools were crude and poorly equipped, the quality of instruction and the earnest desire of teachers and pupils did much to compensate for this deficiency. Holt Garrett remembers that he studied Lippincoft's Physiology for three years, Books I, II, III. He also studied the Dictionary by pronouncing, spelling, and learning the meaning of words suited to the age of the child; and, of course, he studied reading, arithmetic, penmanship. The more advanced pupils studied algebra, geometry, rhetoric and physics.
By this time, iron heating stoves and manufactured seats and desks were standard equipment in school rooms. Each seat and desk was built to accommodate two pupils. In the upper right hand corner of each desk was a round hole into which a glass ink well, with a hinged metal cover, could be placed. Fountain pens and ball point pens had not been invented, but instead of the old quill pen, a wooden pen staff was used, into the end of which a steel pen point could be inserted. A groove across the back of the desk held pens and pencils in place.
Much time and practice was devoted to teach penmanship. The Spencerian method of writing became popular. Instead of writing with the hand and finger movement, the large muscle on the underside of the forearm was placed flat on the desk and, with much practice, the hand and arm could be trained to move in unison on this muscle to form the letters. A model alphabet, made with white letters on a black background or a model copy at the top of various pages in individual copy books were kept for the pupils that t hey could have perfect models to imitate.
The Taylor School
For the convenience of children who lived in the Mt Pleasant-Puckett Store area and must walk to school, N.R. Taylor, son of Vincent Taylor, gave a site for a school near the Mt Pleasant Church. This building was erected on the right side of the road as one leaves the Church going west toward Puckett Store. The ground on which this building stood later became part of the farm of John and Kittie Taylor Powers.
The first teacher in Taylor School was Monroe Crick. Others who taught were Fannie Giles, Mary Etta Pinkerton, Sammie Read, Eula Lamb, Horace Reid and Perry Williamson, who later became a prominent teacher in Woodbury and Murfreesboro.
Two pupils known to have attended Taylor School are Ben Cothran (1888) and Arthur Powers (1897).
The First Rockvale School
When Frank Carlton built and opened the first store in the new village of Rockvale (1884-1886), he gave a site on the east side of his home place for a church, which became the Rockvale Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He also gave a site directly across the road for a school.
At that time, three reputable men of the community had been chosen to be in full charge of the local school. Frank Christopher, Frank Carlton, and Frank Jackson (known as the three Frank) had been chosen as the body of School Directors.
An old photograph shows this school building to gave been of sawed planks, painted white, two storied high, with two porches, and louvered window blinds at the glass windows. There were four or five rooms with as many teachers. A very large room, which served as an auditorium, study hall, class room, and office for the principal had a stage built across one end and equipped with a curtain that could be raised and lowered. There was great community pride and cooperation in this new school. The students, parents and teachers spoke of it as Rockvale High School.
Mr John Woodfin, Sr of Murfreesboro, who later became an undertaker, served as a principal.
Dr Sidney B Smith, a University of the South graduate, son of James Madison Smith, who lived two miles northeast of Rockvale, on a farm opposite the entrance to the Thompson Road, also taught there.
During 1896, Robert L Hayes was principal, assisted by Susie Steagall, Lula Whitehead, Sallie Sutton, and Repsie Turner (music teacher). An exact copy of the program presented at this school on the evening of 23 Dec 1896 is shown here:
A Little Nonsense Now and Then
Is Relished by the Best of Men
......................................................................
Programmee for Concert,
Rockvale High School
December 23 1896
_____________________________________________
Curtain up at 6:30.
1 Opening Song
2 Recitations...................................................{Lela Carlton, Janie Jackson, Bascomb Hendrix
3 Railway Matinee........................................................................................................Dialogue
4 Recitations....................................{Evie Joe Christopher, Josie Rowland. Annie May Hendrix
5 Song.............................................................................................................."Tardy Scholar"
6 Changed Housewife...................................................................................................Dialogue
7 Recitations...................................................{Frank Hale Jackson, Fannie Neal, Mamie Lftton
8 B ng's Family............................................................................................................Dialogue
9 Contest for Prize.............................................................................................Six Young Men
10 The Way To Freedom................................................................................................Dialogue
11 Recitations..........................................{Beulah Carlton, Bessie Stem, Nannie Lee Christopher
12 Song..........................................................................................................The Fatal Wedding
13 "Debatin' S'city".......................................................................................................Dialogue
14 Recitations.........................................................{Samuel Rowland, Sallie Stem, Susie Steatall
15 Bones at the Solree....................................................................................................Dialogue
16 Recitations..................................................{Ernest Fleming, Minnie Rowland, Kate Rowland
17 Boarding School Accomplishments............................................................................Dialogue
18 Song, Parady on "Just Tell Them Tat You Saw Me".........................................George Waller
19 Recitations............................................{Ruth Jenkins, Allie Whitehead, Fannie Belle Hendrix
20 "De Trolley
Car".....................................................................................................Recitation
21 Way to Windham.......................................................................................................Dialogue
22 Sermon, Charles W Arnold.
23 Delivery of Gold Medals.
24 Happy Uncle Tom, Dialogue.
25 Wooten Talking Through His Hat.
26 Musical, Monstrosities, Hayes Brothers.
Music for the occasion by the Versailles String Band and several solos rendered by Dr. Joe Q. Logan and Hayes Brothers
Robert L Hayes, Prin.
The school was making excellent progress, when, one day at noon, fire consumed the entire structure. The building was a total loss.
The three Franks were no longer physically able to direct the affairs of the school. A small two-room, unpainted building was erected but gon were the former pride and enthusiasm. Those who taught in the two-room structure were: Mary McNeil, Tommie Reynolds, Frances Batey, Kate Love, Arzo Batts, Carl Reagan, Locie Webb, Cora Bain, Lula Whitehead, Fannie Robertson.
The Jackson Ridge School
The Jackson Ridge School was located about two miles northwest of Versailles on the now Jackson Ridge Road (The Franklin Dirt Road) adjacent to the G.W. Burns-Ivey Phillips Burns farm and southeast of their log home. The school building stood near the road; a frame building which measured approximately 30 X 48 feet, with large windows. The flag on the Versailles Knob could be seen flying from this school location until after the Windrow tornado in 1913.
The first teachers were Clara Jackson, Julia Lee Burns, John Wilson, Jr., Lula Whitehead, John Lee Poplin, Dr Stephen Duggin, Ada Clark Ramsey, Lillie Mae Carlton Morgan, Gertrude Burns Holton, Minnie Morgan Westbrooks, Ella Harris Mary Morgan Campbell.
From interviews with some of these former pupils, many of the teachers were said to be well-qualified and completely dedicated to their profession and to the children under their care. They were able to inspire their pupils to high achievement -- "To hitch your wagon tp a star."High ideals, good manners, and strict morals were constantly stressed. Good literature, including the Bible and the Classics, were placed in the hands of the students. Many poems, Bible verses, and literary gems were committed to memory. The habit of reading good books was emphasized. Among the older pupils, spelling matches were a regular feature.
To further impress high principles upon the morals of the children, large printed mottoes were placed on the schoolroom walls. ‘Some of these were: "There is a right way, there are many wrong ways" -- "Do right" -- "A good man dies when a boy goes wrong" -- "Think" -- "Think the truth, speak the truth, act the truth".
After the Rockvale Consolidated School was built, the Jackson Ridge School building was bought by Johnny Burns, moved to a location 300 yards west of the Jackson Ridge Store, and converted into a residence. About 1925 it was consumed by fire.
The Rockvale School
(Black)
Before the days of integration, the Rockvale School for colored children stood a short distance back of the present Original Church of God on the right side of Versailles Road about 100 yards south of Rockvale Store. Numbers of majestic cedars surrounded the school and church buildings and lined both sides of the Versailles Road. The school building was a one-room log structure, following the general pattern of that time. The windows were made of glass with wooden shutters hinged on the outside. The seats and desks were bought standard equipment. The heat came from an iron heater in which wood and coal were burned. The children walked to school, often as much as three miles, with no school transportation furnished. Lunch was brought from home. Especial emphasis was placed on reading, spelling, and writing from copies placed on the blackboard. Children were carefully taught good manners and morals. This was a one-teacher school. At different times Susie Mintor, Josie Kimbro, Bertha Franklin and Betty Hendrix were the teachers. This information was furnished by a former pupil, Ethel Batts, who attended this school about 1910-1920.
Rockvale High School
Tennessee was slow in fulfilling the educational needs of its children. J.H. Warf, State Commissioner of Education, points out in his book "Tennessee Education 1780-1962", that the General Assembly had enacted and re-enacted more than once between 1829-1870, the common school law and it became a part of the State Constitution. The law levied taxes for the support of the common school at the local level. However, this law was lax and poorly administered. By 1885, the average minimum and maximum salaries were eighteen to sixty dollars per month, often split, annual term, according to pages 836-877 of Goodspeeds Histories. By comparison with the great depression years some salaries were still only $45-50 per month for an eight month, often split, annual term (32 weeks). Even then some teachers were forced to discount pay warrants because the county had no funds available.
In 1907-1909, the Public School Laws provided revenue for all levels of public education, elementary through college, and authorized bonds for building a normal school in each of the three grand divisions of the state. These schools, intended to train teachers, were located in Johnson City, Murfreesboro and Memphis. On the wave of this new high enthusiasm, neglected county (rural) communities across the state began organizing and planning for this gigantic step forward. This resulted in meetings in rural areas across the state.
The meeting in the Tenth District resulted in capable leadership, organization and direction emerging through J.P. Leathers and others to locate and construct a consolidated school building. The site decided upon was half way between the Villages of Concord and Rockvale. Five acres of land was acquired from the east side of the farm of Joe Manning for $235.00 total. Later, an additional acre was purchased from the same person for $100.00.
A white frame one-story building was erected, consisting of five class rooms, three long porches, a large room with a stage across one end to be used as an auditorium, the principal's office, classroom, and study hall. Later an L-shaped row of stables were built yo house the horses for those riding to school in buggies and wagons.
During the spring of 1909, most of the one-teacher schools in the area closed for the last time. After standing unused for two years, the buildings and site were returned to the former owners and donors.
The new Rockvale Consolidated High School began its first term, 10 Sept 1910 to 5 May 1911. The curriculum included eight grammar grades and two years of High School. Professor F.W. Bowling was Principal assisted by Margaret and Ida Holt, both from Haley, Tennessee, Irene Hudson from Verona, Kentucky, Lula Whitehead, Rockvale, and Jim Webb, Janitor.
It would be hard to over-emphasize the pride felt in the community in this new school. The members of the faculty were well-qualified and devoted to their profession. They were required to live in the community and to take an active part in many phases of community life. Their work has been likened to that of a missionary and the fruit of their labor is still felt.
The first class to graduate was composed of Eula Lamb and Lillard Martin. Members of the second class were Maira Jackson, Magnus Puckett, Olive Martin, and Pearl Adcock. The third class: Joel Rowland, Blanche Lamb, Nannie Carlton, Lois Ralston, Jimmie Manier, Era Steel and Oden Williams. Professor Bowling was Principal for three years, succeeded by Flint Spears.
About 1911, Lem Lamb converted a two-horse wagon into a covered wagon with seats, and drove a school route, at his own expense, from Puckett Store to Versailles across to the Rockvale Consolidated School. For a fee of $2.00 per month, a child could ride to and from school. This may have been the first school bus in Tennessee. At times the larger children would push the wagon to assist the team up muddy hills.
In 1927 the Rockvale School was made a full four-year high school. The present building replaced the first frame building in the summer of that year. The four year high school produced 45 graduating classes during its tenure from 1927-1972. The size of the classes were quite small compared to present consolidated school, Riverdale and Oakland, in the Murfreesboro area, along with Eagleville High School, which has fo far survive, and Smyrna, and with expanded school bus service began serving the entire county. At this time the Rockvale School was returned to elementary status. Desegration pressures played a part in the decision to build larger units.
Rockvale High School Principals were: F.M. Bowling, Flint Spear, Elmer Downum, E.D. Coffman, Neal Elrod, John Zumbro, Raymond McElroy, R.C. Landis, J.E. McCrary, T.S. Givan, W.S. Donnell, W.M. Woods, A.C. Barrett, James Campbell, Henry Nance, Earl Barnes, John S Smith, Clifton Nichols, Howell Buss, W.R. Romine, Harry Puckett, Leland (Blue) Windrow, John Hicks, John Greer, Cline Hanna, and William Eris Read.
There were three Ellen Ransom College scholarship recipients, one each for 1930, 1931. 1932.
The Rockvale teacher with the longest tenure os Vera Covington, who was a member of the elementary school faculty from 1938 to 1975. Eris Read was principal for 20 years ending when the high school was discontinued.
A majority of the members of the 45 graduating classes went immediately to the labor market and pursued further education on the job or through skilled trade training, or in business for themselves. But these appear no less successful to their chosen work than those who obtained advanced degrees did in theirs. Many notable alumni exist including those who received college undergraduate degrees, Masters and Doctors degrees. The school athletic teams, both boys and girls, won more than their share of inter-school contests for a small high school of usually less than 100 enrollment, on a county, district, regional and state levels.
The necessity to limit volumes prevents the listing of all graduates of the High School, so the use of the Alpha and Omega method substitutes. The first four-year Rockvale High School graduates (1928) were: Floyd Frasier, Zelma Jackson, Fred Nance, Louise Prater, William Steagall, Alf Taylor, Pearl Woodson, Robert Scott, Allen Miller, and Ada West. The last four-year Rockvale High School graduates (1972) were: Audry Michelle Alcorn, Crystal M'lissa Burns, Andrew Bernard Chaney, Leonard Crawford, Jr., Betty J Davis, Fred Wilson Frazier, Orlando E Jordan, Robert J Jordan, Brenda J King. William S Lamb, Lucy Moseley, Bruce Pinkerton, Audry Romans, Homer H Sharber, Doris Smith, Thomas F Underwood, Kathy C Williams, Betty K Wilson, Andrew B Wilson.
There are many notable alumni: The Honorable Whitney Stegall, former Legislator and currently Chancellor for this District; Fannie Belle Hendrix Cheek, the mother of Mrs Buford Ellington,; Dr B.F. Smotherman, a graduate of the class of 1939, who is a prominent North Carolina Methodist Minister; Thomas Whitworth, a member of the class of 1962, became a nationally know specialist in the area of premature children.
Rockvale Schools