This week, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 1949 list of schools and teachers in Patrick County. I started school in 1971 and several of these dedicated teachers were still working, including Edith Anglin, Hazel Hawks, and Carrie Rangeley.
Miss Vergie Thompson was the elementary school supervisor, Miss Carr Leach was the visiting teacher, and J.V. Law was the division superintendent for Patrick County schools in 1949.
Teachers at the Meadows of Dan school were Curtis F. Prillaman; Dorn O. Spangler; Eloise N. Shelor; Alice T. Thomas; Frances P. Underwood; Evelyn Terry; Kathleen Sowers; Nelson Thomas; Howard Underwood; Fanny B. Anderson; Elizabeth V. Cock; Lucy E. Bowman; Pauline W. Cock; Crystal Cruise; Alice Shelor; and Wilma Egas.
In the first half of the 20th century and earlier, it was common for teachers to board with families in the community they served. Wilma Egas boarded with my great-grandparents, Herman and Nannie Wood Hall, and this grew into a lifelong friendship between them.
Blue Ridge School teachers were C. W. Woodruff; Garland T. Beyerle; Harry A. Epperson; C. W. Spencer; Fred W. Brent; Charles C. Fultz; Lola G. Weatherman; Nannie W. Puckett; Claudine Jarrell; Ala Dean Smith; Aladean Slate; Katie Hiatt; Era Epperson; Ethel Wilson; Grace Pedigo; Agnes King; Mrs. D. C. White; and Alma Clark.
School teachers at Red Bank School were Francis Turner; Ruth C. Merkey; Mamie Collins; Ilene M. Cooke; Mrs. Paul Waller; Frances Taylor; Annice Collins; Virginia B. Mitchell; and Helen W. Anderson.
Hardin Reynolds Memorial School teachers were D. J. Horne; James W. Price; Sallie C. Via; Bill Ehmann; Elizabeth Clark; Mildred H. Huddle; Mable T. Grogan; N. C. Terry; W. H. Anthony; Mary Ann Patterson; Pearl Brown; Mrs. Ben Cooper; Mamie Zentmeyer; Lila Brady; Eva Sheppard; Frances K. Reynolds; Maude Tudor; and Ione Hagen.
School teachers at Stuart High School were R. P. Via; James E. Tate; A. E. Williams; J. Guy Davis; Priscilla Sherwood; Ethylene Fulcher; Estelle R. Moore; Edward R. Kairis; Gertrude H. Hopkins; Margaret Hazelwood; Mildred H. Hopkins; Elva R. Powell; and Edith B. Anglin.
The teachers at Stuart Elementary School were Mrs. Cora Joyce; Vera B. Newman; Carrie D. Rangeley; Mabel B. Norris; Vera Shelton; Burton M. McCready; Mabel Griggs, Mabel Joyce; Audrey Davis; Kathryn Taylor; Martha E. Ross; Hazel Hawks; and Minnie Mae Fain. Teachers at the African American school in Stuart were Clarence Staplefoot and Mattie B. Alexander.
Woolwine teachers were N. P. Stockner; Algie L. Spencer; C. B. Hopkins; Gertrude Weaver; Beulah Thomas; Noel Weaver; James F. Hall; Betty Sue Clements; Beatrice L. Wood; Beatrice Foley; Ovilla Rakes; Pearl Thomas; Orea Rakes; Vergie Ross; Nellie P. Harbour; and Elva Bowling.
Patrick Springs School teachers were James E. Hodges and Eunice M. Wood, and the Central Academy School teachers were Virginia H. Dobyns and Elsie Gilbert. Mary B. Cummings and Vergie Tuggle taught at the Anthony School and Lucy T. Worley and Eva E. Wood taught at the Lone Ivy School. The Ross School teachers were Ora H. Thomas, Hazel B. Harbour, and Eulalia Martin and the Via School teachers were Alice T. Wright and Annie Foley. Lewis Webb and Laura Small taught at the Indian Knob School.
Heidelbach School teachers were Effie P. Brammer and Ruth Myers; and the following schools only had one teacher! Free Union-Katherine Fain; Brown-Judy Bowman; Wilson-Mary Ella Foley; Pendleton-Earl Woodward; Pine Grove-Mattie T. Young; Big A-Zula Hanby; Mountain View-Frances Terry; Dodson School-Mrs. O. K. Ridinger; Cross Roads-Ethel B. Brim; Red Hollow-Elizabeth Barker; West Liberty-Eva Spencer; Willis Gap-Agnes Doretha France; and Stella School-Edna H. Hagwood.
I hope readers recognized some of their schoolteachers’ names and it (hopefully) brought back some good memories! Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
