Caption above reads: Under picture on left

The Pine Knot Church of Christ Singing School pose song books in hand. The year the photo was made is not known. 

Pictured from left to right: 

Front row: Jim Miles, Gus Hyde, Telfair Pillow, E. Miles, Clyde Herren, --- Miles, (first name unknown)

Second row:, Dave Treadaway, Jack Hyde, Cephas Higgins, Lewis Cline, Louis Hyde, Orlie Miles, Frank Hyde, Ed McClure, unknown,

Third row: Elmira Hyde, unknown, unknown, Eula Higgins, Beaulah Pillow, Dona Higgins, Sabie Higgins, Eva Lou Hyde, Pearl Pillow, Becky Hyde, Dovie Parkinson, on the lap of her mother.

Fourth row: Lula Greenway, Mary Hyde, Ruth Bass, Lydia Higgins, Floy Cline, Clarissa Ford, Claudia Pillow, Verdie Higgins, unknown, unknown ,unknown, Mollie Hyde. 

Back row: Lewis Webb, Jim Sims, Ray Paul, Jim Eddings, Walter Hyde, Clannie Johns, Zara Cline, Louis Treadway and Lewis Lemons The names of others in the row are not known.

Caption under picture on right :

James Hyde was said to be the first preacher at Pine Knot Church of Christ , in 1841. He was born Nov. 11, 1822 in South Carolina and died May 23, 1882. In Greene Co. Their daughter married John W. Pillow and that couple's son married Ruth Bass . Their daughter Dora Pillow Hunter submitted this photo.

Students at Pine Knot School which was located across the road from Pine Knot Church of Christ , pause for a photo in 1915 .

 Pictured are, from left Buford Greenway , Hettie Sims, Henry Woodson , Emma Hopper, Orvil Woodson , Delphia Greenway, Ostell Greenway , Mildred Cleveland, Onnis Herren , Flossie Higgins , and Rupell "Cotton" Greenway. 

Second row Ollie Roswell , Jess Herren who is holding his hand to show off a new ring. Madeline Layton , Burl Layton, Myrtle Herren Moreheith, Earl Herren , Bessie Woodson , Clyde Herren , and Ezra Sims. 

Third row Viola Greenway Herren, Iva Herren , Bertha Bass Thompson , Dodd Layton, Maddie Hall McMillion, Sidney Herren , Ethel Layton Butle, Henry Bass. 

Back row Al Herron , board member Ezra Woodson teacher Arthur Pillow , board member Auss Herren and Ivy Butler.

Pine Knot Church of Christ will mark its 150th anniversary next Sunday with an annual homecoming . Dora Pillow Hunter , great- granddaughter of the church's first preacher . James Hyde has written about what the church was like when she was a young girl in the 1930's Hunter's father , the late County Judge Arthur Pillow , taught at the Pine Knot School which was across the road from the church .

The church , originally built on the north side of the road , changed locations to the south side and later moved back to the north side of the road, where it now stands , Hunter said.

Hyde began preaching at the church in 1841 when he was about 20 years old , according to Hunter's article . He would sometimes preach barefooted on the dirt floor , the article notes.

Other historical information about the church preacher , Phillip Swindle , states that it is the oldest church congregation west of the Mississippi River.

Hyde and his wife , Sarah a Cherokee Indian are both buried in the old cemetery. located northwest of the present cemetery Hunter's article states.

During the time the church was located on the south side of the road , an old oak tree on the north side of the road served as a pre-service gathering place for the men . A portion of Hunter's article follows:

"There was a big oak tree next to the school and the men would stand under it until the first song was sung , then they would come into the building . The older men sat on the west side and their wives sat on on the east side while the younger couples sat in the middle . In the winter , there was a stove that burned wood that sat right in front of the pulpit and when the fire would burn down someone would go up front and shake the grates and put in more wood .

"In the summer we would have to dodge wasps and bees. Fans were provided by the funeral homes and at one time by my dad. Bathrooms (?) were out in the woods behind the building until my dad had an outhouse built.

"Since nearly all of the members were related, it was fun to go to church and be invited home to dinner with someone .

"Evening worship didn't start until late because everyone had to get their chores done, feeding cattle , chickens , etc... Everyone liked to sing and sometimes there would be different song leaders that would lead as many songs that he wanted to. When a preacher wasn't there for the worship there would be singing , prayer , a talk or just Bible reading by a member."

Eva Lou Cole , formerly Eva Lou Hyde , said that during that time, church sales were held only on Sunday mornings , and they didn't often need to hire a preacher to conduct the service. Many members of the congregation were preachers themselve , she said.

Cole , 89 has attended the church "on and off" for her entire life , she said and remembers hearing her parents talk about the first church building, a log building.

Hunter recalled in her article that the late 1920's and 30's were a "difficult time" for her parents and older siblings , but the younger ones didn't know any better so we had a good time."

Information in the account supplied by Swindle notes that the church's doors were padlocked due to a flu epidemic in 1918 . But that didn't stop the members of the church from the shade of and old oak tree , probably the same one Hunter referred to in her article.

Services were also interrupted in 1927 due to flooded roads the information notes.

Accounts of the number of church buildings differ - some say three and some say four . The present building was completed in 1968 and has a seating capacity of 300 people . Its construction cost was $18, 160.54 according to information provided by Swindle .

Hunter notes in her article that she wishes everyone could be reared around relatives and worship together as she and her family did , citing a stability she believes isn't present today.