We have looked at the Blue Ridge Institute that was begun in Vesta by Professor G. W. Owens and the Friends Blue Ridge Academy founded in Ararat by the Quakers. This week, we will look at the Blue Ridge Mission School established in 1916 in Buffalo Ridge.
According to the late historian Virginia Ware, the school was supported by the Virginia Baptists and especially by the Blue Ridge Baptist Association. The first principal was Mr. W. W. Townsend and the first student to register for high school (as a day student) was Minnie Akers (Burnett). Minnie was the daughter of Charlie and Laura Wright Akers, the paternal granddaughter of Samuel and Loucinda Ross Akers, and the maternal granddaughter of Columbus and Elizabeth Morrison Wright. Many local students attended the boarding school, plus students from all over Virginia.
I thought it would be fun to examine some Virginia newspapers for articles related to the Blue Ridge Mission School; I discovered the school and students were vibrant and active members of the community…
From the Altavista Journal, 18th December 1924, “Altavista High opened her basketball season by barely defeating the Blue Ridge Mission School of Stuart by the close score of 16 to 15, here Friday night. The visitors clearly outclassed the locals in passing in the first half, and they were counting more from the field than the locals did in this period, the period ending Blue Ridge 13, Altavista 9…”
From the Altavista Journal, 11th June 1925, “Dr. and Mrs. W. O. Smith, Mrs. F. M. Peerman, and Miss Louise Vaughan, motored to Blue Ridge Mission School near Stuart Sunday, returning Monday. They were accompanied by Miss Mamie Smith, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Smith. Miss Mamie is a member of the faculty of the above-named institution.”
From The Buchanan News, 16th December 1926, “Miss Ruby Comper who teaches English and Latin at the Blue Ridge Mission School, will arrive home Friday to spend the Christmas holidays.”
From the Virginia Union Farmer, 8th June 1928, “Rev. W. T. Henderson attended the graduating exercises held at Averett College, Danville, last Monday night. His daughter, Virginia, graduated that night and will return there shortly to take a course in the summer school. She has accepted a position at the Blue Ridge Mission School in Stuart.”
From the Bedford Bulletin, 6th of June 1929, “Miss Ola Wright, who has been teaching at the Blue Ridge Mission School is spending her vacation with friends and relatives in Vinton, Roanoke, and Bedford.”
From the Floyd Press, 8th June 1933, “Commencement exercises began at the Blue Ridge Mission School with a sermon to the graduating class by Dr. E. A. McDowell, pastor of the Vinton Baptist church, Sunday night, May 28th, in Sycamore Church. Commencement proper was held in Sycamore Church on Tuesday night, May 30, at eight o’clock. The graduating class consisted of seventeen members, ten boys and seven girls. Florence Agee was Salutatorian and Kenneth Dyches Valedictorian. In addition to their addresses, Dr. George T. Waite, executive secretary of the Virginia Baptist Board of Missions and Education delivered a strong address on ‘The Things That Make for Success.’ The graduates were as follows: Iva Ross, Juanita Ross, Lillian Wright, Grace Pace, Dot Conner, Florence Agee, Vergie Gusler, Hobert Gusler, Woodrow Wood, Kenneth Dyches, Woodrow Pilson, Jetter Doss, Luther Martin, Hugh Pendleton, Clyde Conner, George Turner, and Tyler Thomas. After the diplomas were handed to the graduates, medals were delivered as follows: Scholarship, Kenneth Dyches; Reading, Winifred Cox; Declamation, Kenneth Dyches, Orthography, Lillian Wright; and Bible, Kenneth Dyches. A prize consisting of a beautiful Bible was presented to Cecil Belcher for the second highest mark in Bible study. Awards were made as follows: Certificates of Merit (on honor roll each month of session) Anna Ogburn, Christine Pilson, Dorothy Hopkins, Christine Morrison, Mae Hopkins, Anita Hopkins, Josephine Morrison, Alver Ogburn, Dorothy Baliles, and Judith Craddock. Neither absent nor tardy, Dovalee Ross, Alver Ogburn, and Effie Pilson. Honor Roll For May. First Grade:—Mae Hopkins, Glenn Wood, Irene Pilson. Second Grade:—Anita Hopkins, Josephine Morrison. Third Grade:—Alver Ogburn, Clay Wood, Dorothy Mae Baliles, Gladys Pilson. Fourth Grade:— Anna Ogburn, Christine Pilson, William Catron. Fifth Grade:— Christine Morrison, Dorothy Hopkins, Barbara Blackard, Ralph Turner, Warren Wright, Frank Walker. Eighth Grade :— Howard Pilson. Ninth Grade:— Cecil Belcher, Judith Craddock. Tenth Grade:— Frances Pilson.
From the Franklin News-Post, 8th April 1938, “An Associational Sunday school convention will be held at the Sycamore church on the Blue Ridge Mission School grounds, Tuesday morning, April 12, at 10 o’clock. Superintendents and teachers from all departments of the several Sunday schools in the association are expected to attend and aid in planning for one hundred percent association in organizations, and for enlistment of all available material in the schools now organized. State workers will be present to add their help and encouragement. The members of the Sycamore church, the faculty and pupils of the Blue Ridge Mission School, and the officers of the associational convention extend a cordial invitation to the public.”
Rappahannock Record, 28th August 1930, “Dear Mrs. Marsh, Secretary of the Claybrook-Dunaway Group. I wish to thank you sincerely for your letter in which you tell me of the purpose of your group of societies to give assistance to the Blue Ridge Mission School next session. Please hear my thanks and appreciation to the different societies represented and the individual members thereof for this kind thought of us. You ask about our greatest need and my reply is for money for scholarships. We already have applications from seventeen girls and a number of boys for permission to work their way through school here. A full scholarship of $136.50 pays board and tuition for a full session of nine months. We allow a number of boys and girls to pay one-half of this amount with their service at odd times here, but some benevolent minded person, society, group of societies, or Sunday School must pay the balance in money, This for several reasons: First, because we must have something with which to secure meat and bread, as the little work the children do around this place does not bring in anything of this kind; and second, because we do not have enough work to do to give them full employment; and third, they have but little time to work if they do much in school. I suggest that your group give us a half scholarship for some boy or girl, the beneficiary to pay the balance with his or her work. I always use discretion in dispensing the funds put in my hands for this as in all other purposes. My plan of having each pupil help himself has met the hearty approval of Brother Garland and works well. It makes the pupil more self-reliant and self-respecting when he feels the responsibility to some extent and makes him more appreciative also. I make the above suggestion because the best investment we can make is in a boy or girl. I always have more applicants for aid by worthy, needy pupils than I can take. This is on account of a lack of funds. If, however, you prefer to help in some other way, we have lots of other needs and I shall be glad to write you about them, if you wish it. If you decide to assist a boy or girl as I suggest above, let me know as early as you can and I will assign one to you and let you keep in touch with him or her, as the case may be. Again, thanking you for your desire to help, and trusting that my suggestions will meet with your approval. I am sincerely yours, J. W. H. Dyches.”
Dr. J. W. H. Dyches was the principal of the Blue Ridge Mission School for the last fifteen years of its’ existence and from the evidence of the above letter, was a caring and noble leader of the school. In 1941, Patrick County consolidated all the neighborhood schools and the need for the boarding school dwindled away.
The picture shown above is the entire student body and faculty of the Blue Ridge Mission School in 1926. First row, seated — left to right — Irvin Lawless, Irene Morrison. Edward Pilson, Posie Pilson, Homer Foley. Charles McKenzie, Ophus Foley, John Turner, and Howard Pilson. First row. kneeling — Russell Roy, Moir Pilson, Francis Turner, Eugene Pilson, Roy Pilson, Bertha Pilson, Katherine Lawless. Margaret Lawson, Betsy Ross. Syrus Baliles, Virginia Pilson, Clyde Pilson, Arnold Wright, Clay Morrison. Clara Morrison, Clara Lawless, Dollie McAlexander. Maude Lawless, Judy Lee Turner, Lora Hopkins. Wilma Lawless. Lillian Pilson. and Elbridge Hopkins. Third row, standing — Edith Pilson, Lloyd Sawyers, Harry Foley, Juanita Ross. Edna Foley, Lois Lawless, Aileen Lawless. Noel Morrison. Kenneth Dyer, Raymond Dykes. Iva Ross, and Curtis Bryant. Third row. seated — Roy Bryant, Martha Elgin. Isbella McGary, Ruth Yeats. Betty Coleman, Mary Turner, and Nancy Hopkins. Fourth row seated — Alma Thrift, Eva Dell Dykes, Alice Turner. Carrie Baliles, Rose Thacker. Fifth row — Rebeccah Hedgepath, Rachel Tatum, Zander Foley, Irene Pendelton, Lillie Mae Lawson, Guy Hopkins, Ophus Pilson, Lula Lawson, A. C. Turner. Cecil Akers, and Beatie Lawson. Sixth row, seated on porch — Delma Pendleton, Gordon Pilson, Alvis Wright, Ralph Hagner, Peg Dykes. Dissie Bowers, Mary Sue Williams, Joe Atkins, Louise Coleman, Iva Hash, Lloyd Hopkins. Russell Seevy, Louise Ross, George Turner, Ester Foley. Edith Bryant, Harold Ross. Standing — Mr. Clanton, Noel Weaver, Sarah Jane Williams, Pattie Handy, John Bryant, Blanche Coleman, Dorothy Roy, Garland Dykes, Chester McKenzie. Grace Conner. Back row — Miss Campbell, Miss Comper, Dr. Dykes, Miss Wright. Miss Franklin, Miss King, and Miss Massie.
(Author’s Note: I am sorry that the photograph is not clearer; I copied it from a 98 year old newspaper.) Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
