SCHOOLS OF NEARBY COMMUNITIES
- Big Willow - 1850
- Blantyre - 1911
- Boylston - 18??
- Holly Springs - 1878 & 1902
- Horse Shoe - 1839
- Pleasant Grove - 1905 or earlier
Source for schools, year established:
"Early Buncombe-Henderson County Educational Time Line"
by Bill Barnwell, HCGHS
Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, Journal June 2018
Other sources in the following material may cite different years for the school's beginning year.
From the Educational Time Line:
1883 - 1884 Henderson County School population
3,443 whites and 568 blacks
40 white schools with 1,448 attending
11 black schools with 249 attending
"Early Buncombe-Henderson County Educational Time Line"
by Bill Barnwell, HCGHS
Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, Journal June 2018
Other sources in the following material may cite different years for the school's beginning year.
From the Educational Time Line:
1883 - 1884 Henderson County School population
3,443 whites and 568 blacks
40 white schools with 1,448 attending
11 black schools with 249 attending
- Big Willow - 1850
The school was located on Patterson Road. The original structure was later remodeled into an existing home.
1907 - Big Willow School. Courtesy of Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society. Featured in the Western Carolina Tribune - March 9, 1967, identified incorrectly as 1904. HCGHS info confirms the photo date as 1907, and includes names.
1907 BIG WILLOW SCHOOL
FRONT row, L to R: Julia Morgan, Adger Hamilton, Garret Blythe, Willie Cantrell, Weldon Blythe, Bertha Blythe, Bessie Patterson, Ethel Orr, Nellie Dalton, Hettie Huggins, Armuldia Revis, Martha Orr, Bessie Redden, Emma Cantrell, Ollie Morgain [Morgan?].
SECOND row, L to R: Carrie Patterson, Harvey Hamilton, Matildia Cantrell, Joice Patterson, Sally Blythe, Mary Dalton, Maggie Blythe, Fay Morris, Teachers - Ida Bell Freeman and Charlotte Young, Syntha Dalton, Vane Revis, Manning Morris, George Orr, Ira Hamilton, Coy Orr, Frank Patterson, Strick Dalton, Ernest Blythe.
BACK row, L to R: Charlotte Blythe, Louline Drake, Elizabeth Cantrell (big hat), Lila Mace, Bessie Scott (black hat), Isabella Blythe, Pearl Revis, Della Blythe, Lilly Hamilton, Hubert Morris, Albert Drake, Allard Harding, Henry Hamilton, Joe Cantrell, Hezekiah Drake, Jason Huggins, Rora Blythe, Jesse Pritchard Huggins, Albert Hamilton.
FRONT row, L to R: Julia Morgan, Adger Hamilton, Garret Blythe, Willie Cantrell, Weldon Blythe, Bertha Blythe, Bessie Patterson, Ethel Orr, Nellie Dalton, Hettie Huggins, Armuldia Revis, Martha Orr, Bessie Redden, Emma Cantrell, Ollie Morgain [Morgan?].
SECOND row, L to R: Carrie Patterson, Harvey Hamilton, Matildia Cantrell, Joice Patterson, Sally Blythe, Mary Dalton, Maggie Blythe, Fay Morris, Teachers - Ida Bell Freeman and Charlotte Young, Syntha Dalton, Vane Revis, Manning Morris, George Orr, Ira Hamilton, Coy Orr, Frank Patterson, Strick Dalton, Ernest Blythe.
BACK row, L to R: Charlotte Blythe, Louline Drake, Elizabeth Cantrell (big hat), Lila Mace, Bessie Scott (black hat), Isabella Blythe, Pearl Revis, Della Blythe, Lilly Hamilton, Hubert Morris, Albert Drake, Allard Harding, Henry Hamilton, Joe Cantrell, Hezekiah Drake, Jason Huggins, Rora Blythe, Jesse Pritchard Huggins, Albert Hamilton.
Henderson County Heritage, Vol. II, p144
Courtesy of Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society
Courtesy of Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society
The chalk board reads "May 6th, 1921." Note the pot bellied stove between the desks and the pump organ on the raised floor at the front of the room.
- Blantyre School - 1911
The school was located on King Road near Blantyre Baptist Church.
The following notes are excerpts from " The Sylvan Valley News, " compiled & contributed by Earleen Orr
Deed for school property from Mr. & Mrs. Charles Baldwin, Book 31, p. 19-20. On August 12, 1910 , Chas. F. Baldwin and Lillian S. Baldwin of Transylvania County and State of North Carolina donated 1 95/100 acres to W. W. Zachary, Edwin Poor, and M. W. Garren, County Board of Education of Transylvania County, North Carolina for $1.00.
Blantyre School - June 23, 1911
" The new graded school at this place (Blantyre) is nearing completion. The next thing is a good teacher. We see no cause why we should not emerge from the miry clay of ignorance to the plains of wisdom and knowledge."
Blantyre School - July 7, 1911
"The new school building at Blantyre, erected byT. C. Holtzclaw, is finished with the exception of painting and seats. This is said to be one of the best school houses in the county, and is another evidence of what local taxation can do."
Blantyre School - August 4, 1911
"The teachers for the coming school year will be Miss Louise Laughter and Miss Myrtle Clayton."
The following notes are excerpts from " The Sylvan Valley News, " compiled & contributed by Earleen Orr
Deed for school property from Mr. & Mrs. Charles Baldwin, Book 31, p. 19-20. On August 12, 1910 , Chas. F. Baldwin and Lillian S. Baldwin of Transylvania County and State of North Carolina donated 1 95/100 acres to W. W. Zachary, Edwin Poor, and M. W. Garren, County Board of Education of Transylvania County, North Carolina for $1.00.
Blantyre School - June 23, 1911
" The new graded school at this place (Blantyre) is nearing completion. The next thing is a good teacher. We see no cause why we should not emerge from the miry clay of ignorance to the plains of wisdom and knowledge."
Blantyre School - July 7, 1911
"The new school building at Blantyre, erected byT. C. Holtzclaw, is finished with the exception of painting and seats. This is said to be one of the best school houses in the county, and is another evidence of what local taxation can do."
Blantyre School - August 4, 1911
"The teachers for the coming school year will be Miss Louise Laughter and Miss Myrtle Clayton."
Illustration of typical one room, country school.
In search of a photo of the old Blantyre School.
In search of a photo of the old Blantyre School.
- Boylston School - 18??
The school was located next to Boylston Baptist Church Cemetery, at Banning Road and Hwy 280.
- Holly Springs Union Chapel & School - 1878
Read more from the Board of Trustees.
The site of the School / Chapel is across the road from the Town of Mills River and on the line of the Etowah/ Horse Shoe and Mills River Fire Districts. This building is still standing today.
- Horse Shoe School - 1839
Located behind the current Horse Shoe 1st Baptist Church. When the school was torn down, the bell went to the Johnson family and was later donated to Cummings United Methodist Church.
More info at hendersonheritage.com
Illustration of typical one room, country school.
In search of a photo of the old Horse Shoe School.
In search of a photo of the old Horse Shoe School.
- Pleasant Grove School - 1905 or earlier
The school was located on Pleasant Grove Church Road past the current cemetery. The one room school was painted red.
This photo shows the building In later years. In 19??, Creed Banks purchased the property with the former school building, removed the floor, and used the structure as a hog house. "The Heritage of Henderson County, North Carolina, Vol 1, 1985," pub. H C Genealogical & Historical Society
Courtesy of Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society
Pleasant Grove School, Class of 1917. Courtesy of Kathy Hamilton Briggs
Bottom row, third from right: Dewey Hamilton, born 1908. Note that a number of the children do not have shoes.
Sources for this page: Etowah Committee of Henderson County Education History Initiative,
Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, hendersonheritage.com.
Thank you to everyone who has provided material on the schools.
Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, hendersonheritage.com.
Thank you to everyone who has provided material on the schools.