From
around 1821 to about 1875 children from Laureldale to Drowning
Ford attended school in a one room log building on the bank
of the Laurel river, west of Damascus. This was a subscription
school. Each child was required to pay one dollar per month
on the teacher's salary. For a number of years this school
was in season only about three months during the summer,
because of weather and travel conditions.
Classes
consisted of spelling, geography, and grammar.
It
is believed that in about 1850 a school was established
near the present Wright's Chapel Church. Little is known
about this school except that it was also a subscription
school.
When
"free" schools were established in Washington
County, the old log building west of town was torn down
and replaced with a frame building, and classes were resumed.
In 1900 this building had to be moved back to make room
for the Virginia Carolina Rail Road. It was around this
period of time that Mr. Danid Rhudy taught there. According
to tradition this was truly a segregated school. The boys
and girls were not allowed to sit or play together but had
to use separate sides of the room and the school yard.
This
frame building was later converted into a dwelling and is
presently occupied by Frank Wilson.
Soon
after 1900 a school was started farther west of town where
the Laurel Community Church now stands. Classes were held
there until about 1924. This was also a one room school.
When
its use as a school was discontinued, it was used for a
church for years, and part of it is now in the present Church.
The
first school in town was built in 1898, on a site just south
of the railroad trestle across Beaver Creek. "The Little
Red School House", as it was called, had three rooms
and two teachers. Mr. Jones Baker taught here for a time.
This
building burned in 1901, and for a while classes were held
in the Lutheran Church.
In
1902, a much larger three room school was built near the
Douglas trestle. Mr. Bill Sherer was first principal of
this school. The first graduating class included Mabel and
Gay Keys; Willie Hand; Emma, Betty, and George Mc Cann;
Tom Ramsey; and Herbert Rhea. This school served the town
until 1923, when a new building was completed. Centere Build,
Jan. 1923.
In
1920, interested citizens began to take action to secure
a new school for the town. Mr. C. G. Backer, secretary and
treasurer for Smithport Extract Co., donated the ground
for the school and also for the athletic field. The structure
was named Backer Park. A drive was started to raise funds.
Private donations amounted to about $25,000. The Board of
Supervisors gave $10,000 and the town issued bonds for $25,000.
These donations were more than enough to complete the job.
The
building project was started in 1921. Men from the surrounding
area donated their labor, horses, and wagons to haul the
rock from the river beds for the walls. The construction
became one of the most beautiful and best equipped schools
in the state at that time. The school was completed in 1923.
For several years, the building also served the town as
a community center, where most of the social gatherings
were held.
During
the period of consturction, there was a very active group
of citizens in town known as the Civic League. This group
worked very hard in raising funds and was responsible for
paying off a large amount of the school's debt. The Civic
League continued until the Parent Teachers Association was
organized.
Mr.
Lee Blackwell was the first principal of the new school.
The first class of graduates consisted of the following
students: Mabel Lewis, Mildred Gildersleeve, Margarit Mast,
Lenna Orr, Emma Minton, Etta Waters, Nina Edmonson, Ellen
Wright, Edna Hand, Versa Milsap, Mary Rachel Remine, Jack
Diggs, Buster Hash, John Graybeal, Caroline Balentine, Harace
Balentine, Gerald Lethco. A tuition of $250 per month was
paid by the students when they reached high school. This
was discontinued when the bonds were paid off.
The
school also owned and operated a movie projector where movies
were shown until the theater was built on Laurel Avenue.
In
1951 a new wing was added to the existing structure. This
also was built from river rock and was used for grades one
through three.
In
1964 the high school moved into a new and very modern high
school building which was constructed north of Damascus.
The new school served the Holston District leaving the rock
building in town to serve the elementary grades.
In
1968 a kindergarden was also started serving grades kindergarden
through seven.
We
are very proud of our schools, our teachers, and our town.
