|
In 1873 the Summer Shade Institute or Academy was founded by Professor
R. E. Grinstead who built the first School Bldg and directed the Institute for 2
years.
I n 1875 Professor Grinstead sold the School Property to J. W.McD Moore of TN.
Moore a Preacher and Educator , served as Principal untill 1877 when
the property and direction of the School came into the hands of Professor
Taylor.
Mr Taylor was Principal for five years with assistance from Betty Cabel and Miss
Florida Langford. In the fall of 1882 and spring of 1885, Professor Taylor attended
School. in Glasgow KY. During his absence John Hammer served as Principal with
Peter Hammer
and Miss Kizzie Hammer as assistants. How ever , before the School year expired
,Hammer suddenly left the School. Dewey Langford finished the School year.
In the fall of 1883 Professor Taylor returned to the School as Principal and remained
there until 1888 He then moved to Flippen and died a short time later. In 1889
Professor Dewey Langford a brother in Law of Mr Taylors became Principal. Mrs
Ada Langford taught instrumental music.. No College classes were taught, how ever,
after Professor Taylor left the School, in 1890, the Co. purchased the property and it
permanently became District No 23.
In the School year of 1887--1888 the Officials of the Institute were President
Benjamin Shirly,Sr. Secretary, L. P. [ Lank ] Williams. trustees ,Ezekiel Witty, L.
D.
Swope T.S.Howard Jr. R.[Joe] Witty. S. H. Jones William M. [ Jim ] Shive and John
Bender Denham.
When the School was establishd, it was a private institute requring a
tuiton . Those individuals who did not wish to pay the tuition went to NoBob School,
if they lived west of Summer Shade and to Mt Carmel School if they lived east of
Summer Shade. The first School at NoBob was a Log Bldg located on the banks
of
NoBob Creek located near the home of MissTressie Word. The Pupils sat on hand -hewn
log benches. The bldg. had a dirt floor and omly one large window for ventilation..
Later this bldg. was replaced by a frame one built nearby. although the log
bldg. stood untill after the 1920s.
Mt Carmel School was a frame bldg. built one mile east of Summer Shade near the T V A
substation. It was built by Professor R.N. Grinstead in 1872 ,a year before he
established the Institute.His first School was taught there. Later the term of
November to Febuary of 1880 was taught there. by Mrs Maggie Smith. Mt Carmel became a
School for black students in the late 1800s after the Summer Shade Institute was
changed to a public School and support was taken over by the Co. and State.
The tuituion for the Institute was due at the beginning of each term. ,Money was not
refunded, but in the event a pupil had a loss of time ,while in School a due
bill
was issued. It would then be taken in payment of tuition at any later date. Tuition
fees varied from $10.00 per term for Teachers and Scientic courses to $ 7.50 per term
for instrumental music and $5.00 per term for primary and preparatory work.
Since Students came from all over Ky , as well as other States such as Tn Ks Ar to
attend School at the Institute, it was necessary to find a place to stay. A boarding
house located a few yards south of the Campus acommadated about 30 students. It was
later known as the Baldock house. The hall was used mainly for young ladies and
at one time was directed by Mr Hamilton. Prices varied from $1.25 to $2.00 a
week depending on the accommadations. Rooms were available for young men with several
families in town including Mr Lank Williams ,Dr T.S. Howard and Mr Overton Tudor $1.50
a week with every thing furnished.
The course of study for the Institute was divided into four major
divisions. The first division was the primary department, This required a tuition like
the more advanced classes and was designed for the young children who did not wish to
attend either of the public schools. College students preparing to be Teachers were
given a chance to observe the workings of the various methods discussed in .the
Teachers training classes. The second dept was the preparatory department
designed to prepare students for profitable work in the higher grades. emphasis on
careful training in methods of teachings. Subjects to be taught
includes practical and mental arithmetic, algebra, grammar, composition ,geography,
physiology, and U S History. If work in the predatory department was done the teachers
courses could be completed in one year.
Note: I have skipped some of the writings as it appears to be practically same as
above.
In the 1887 and 1888 school catalogue 100 students were listed as attending the
institute. the number of teachers listed were only four. They were A.C.Taylor
principal and teacher of sciences,higher mathematics, and ancient languages, H, D.
Taylor common branches, penmanship, commercial arithmetic, bookkeeping, E. T.
Thomas.algebra, u.s.history. vocal music, and debating. Miss Indie Winston
instrumental music Other teachers in later years at the institute were Johnny Howard
and Mallie or Mollie not sure of spelling.
Graduation exercises was eld in the Summer Shade Methodist Church . The exact number
to graduate is not known but four names that are believed to have graduated with
degrees were Johnny Howard in 1887 Mallie Langford , Miss Ada Jones in 1888 and
possibly Miss Lizzie Denham.
After 1890 the suport of the school was taken over bt the co and states
as a result it became a public grade school. Teachers at the school during this
period were Mr Sam Ray Mr Pangburn Hardin C P [ Sag] Sowles, Miss Laura Crawford, and
Lizzie Tyman In 1924 the old normal school was disconetinued and a high school was
established along with the elemintery school. It operated as a high school until 1948.
the following were principals of the high school. A.T,Goodjion for 2 years
A.A.Page 2 years John Mitchel 1 year H,K. Spear 2 years Ralph Clark 1 year R.A.Palmore
1 year David Montgomery 5 years Glenn Scott 3 years Eva Burton 4 years Alex Downing 1
year Thomas Butler 1 and half years Herbet Anderson 1 and half years Gleen Wax 2
years
In 1949 the school became an elementery school with all eight grades as it is at the
present time. Principals of the school include C H Bean Donald T. Jaggers
Wister Wallace Dimple Branstetter James Depp and Wendell J, Branstetter who is
presently the principal
A number of the teachers who have spent a large portion of their teaching careers in
the Summer Shade system. Those who had taught ten years or more in the Elamentery
school as of 1973 were Vera Page , Edna Rush ,Dimple Branstetter Ruby Wells Susie
Harbison Banstetter Dennis Shirly ,Mary Dell Martin Garry and Edith Branstetter.
There have been 3 school bldg since its establishment. after the two story bldg was
torn down. In 1959 a new brick bldg was built just below the old frame
bldg.
Several prominent people attended the Summer Shade School over the years. These
include Dr C.C.Howard, Dr Lynn Mayfield, Dr Garland Bowman, Dr Gordan Clark,
E.C.Terry an early Metcalf Lawyer , Dr Cecil Bowman, Miss Bess Howard a former Barren
Co Court Clerk, Harry Sadler a well known baskett ball star at
Western KY State Teachers College and Euban Sawyer a Jefferson Co.
Judge.
Traditions do not die and the school is not forgotten as a part of our past.
Taken from an artical Summer Shade School marks 100th anniversery
By Kay Harbison
Back
|
