Marion Co TOC
Homepage
What's New?
Awards
Cemeteries
Census Records
Courthouse Info
Family Genealogies
Heritage Society
Society's Newsletters
History + more
Marion History-book
Maps
Marion Co Timeline
Marriages
Mt Meadow Massacre
Newspapers
Obits
Photo Gallery
Post Office History
Queries
Resources
Reunions
Townships
Transcribed Records
Trip to Yellville?
Helpful Links
Contact -
Jeana
Graphics by Rhio
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Early Education & Schools - prior to 1930
By: Mary Martin
Pages: 410-431
The young people of Marion County who enjoy the advantages of the public schools of today can hardly realize the difficulties of acquiring an education in the early days of its organization. Many of the early settlers were from Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and other states. When they came here, they brought their educational ideas with them. Their ideas were not sufficient. They needed funds to help form and support their schools.
The county contains 646 square miles and when it was formed in 1836 few people lived here. However, as early as 1829 the Arkansas legislature had passed its first law concerning public school.1 It authorized the appointment of township trustees, the rent of each sixteenth section; this rental was to be applied to the support of schools in the township. Land at that time was plentiful and it was not always a very profitable rental. The amount received was not sufficient to support the schools. In order to hold schools it was necessary to hold subscription schools. These schools could benefit only the children of the families who could pay the amount required to pay the teachers' salary. The teacher was often hired through favoritism and was sometimes very incompetent.
In 1843 the state legislature passed a law to establish a system of public schools.2 This system had some very good points but lacked a good money basis to support the schools. To compensate this instead of the rental of the sixteenth section, Commissioners were created in each township to sell it. The money was entrusted to a group of three who were authorized to build houses and hire teachers. With the sparsely settled communities of Marion County, there was still a deficiency of funds and the people who were able to pay to attend were expected to do so.
About 1848 a church was organized at Pleasant Ridge. A long building was erected on a piece of land just west of where the present building is now. This building served as a church and a school and was heated by two fireplaces-one at each end.
As time went on, public education was slowly coming to the front. Between 1846 and 1860 several academies were established in Arkansas. Two of them were incorporated in Marion County. The first one was Bluff (Page 411 Top Photo: Rea Valley School, 1929) Springs Academy on January 18, 1855, and the second one was the Crooked Creek Male Academy on February 4, 1859.3 These academies, like many others, were short-lived.
After the Civil War, on March 11, 1867, Act No. 125 was approved to establish a seminary in Yellville.4 It was named "Yellville Male and Female Seminary." The following people were appointed as trustees: A. S. Layton, James H. Berry, H. Fee, B. Milum, G. W. Jobe, James Wickersham, J. C. Wilson, A. J. Noe, John Allen, B. F. Joy, B, W. Weast, John Estes, Sr., and Eli Dodson.
A seminary may well be described as a place of higher learning and now is often a private secondary school. Some seminaries were set up for training for church work only.
The building in Yellville was built by the Methodists and was made of red brick. It was located in the west part of town. An advertisement of the Yellville Collegiate Institute carried a picture of the building and the following script:
(Page 412 Top Map showling location of schoolsEight Departments Primary, Grammar School, Academics, Commercial, Normal, Music, Art, Elocution
Three Terms of Three Months Each
Strong courses in English, Literature, History, Mathematics,
Science, Latin, Greek, German, Spanish, Pedagogy, School
Management, Psychology, Bible, Business
Elective System, Complete Faculty of Specialists, Several
Free Scholarships, Attractive Catalogue Free.
Address
S. R. Twitty, Principal
This building that first housed the academy later was used for the Yellville school. It was used until Yellville and Summit consolidated and built on the present site in 1924.
The location of the first public schools in Marion County was dependent primarily on the families involved. When a neighborhood contained enough children to warrant the establishment of a school, the parents would agree on a near central point, cooperate with their work and erect a building. These buildings were usually made of logs, chinked (or daubed) with mud. One opening was left for a door, one opening at one end for a fireplace, and a third opening for a window. If sash and glass could he obtained, a real window would be put in the opening. Otherwise, it would be covered with oiled paper. The floors were sometimes made of split logs but more often the floor was just a plain dirt floor. The furniture was made by splitting small logs then using a drawing knife to smooth the split side. The logs were put on legs by boring holes and driving strong pegs in them. Thoughtful parents would make the seats of different heights so little ones could be seated comfortably with their feet touching the floor. Others made (Page 412 Top Photo: Yellville Summit High School) the seats all the same height. The desk in the room was made of a wide board resting on pegs driven into one of the logs. There the pupils would take turns at their writing lessons.
These neighborhoods were sparsely settled and often meant that some of the children had to walk long distances to school. As the population increased, new districts were often formed by annexing land from two or more adjacent districts or by simply dividing a large district into two smaller ones.
When the new districts were created, the people improved the type of buildings by using hewed logs and puncheon floors. Cast iron stoves took the place of the fireplaces. As time went on some districts used lumber to make frame buildings. There was an increased number of windows but they were usually narrow. Along with the frame buildings came the homemade seats and double desks for pupils and a table for the teacher. These were still rather crude but what an improvement over the split log seats.
According to early history of the schools the pupils obtained and used whatever books they could acquire. About the only book with which the children were supplied was Webster's spelling book-the old "blue-back"- still remembered by the oldsters of the county. Other books were McGuffey's and Wilson's readers, Ray's series of Arithmetic, Olney's and Mitchell's geographies. Then by the early teens in 1900 such books as Barnes history, Silver-Burdett arithmetics, Young and Field's Literary readers were among those in use in the county. In 1917 legislation was enacted that authorized uniform elementary school textbooks.
The early teachers knew how to make quill pens from feathers and ink from oak balls (galls) or pokeberries. These, of course, had to have a preservative added to prevent fermentation. Writing paper was scarce-once used it was gone. The slate is well remembered by many. It was in use for several years and had it not been for the awareness of something called "sanitation" it would probably have been used longer. The slate could have been erased in a sanitary way. However, it seemed handier to spit on the slate and rub it off with the sleeve.
(Page 414 Top Photo: Antiock School)
As the "spittin" on the slate era went out, more paper became available. Two of the most popular brands were Big Chief and Fifty-Fifty. Big Chief had longer sheets of paper and was the most economical. Most families bought it because of economic conditions. The Fifty-Fifty was a stronger, smoother paper. After it had served its purpose of preparation of lessons and they had been checked by the teacher, it made good sturdy spit balls for the mischief-makers. Red cedar penny pencils were the most popular for writing. The eraser was glued in at the top. The glue was not very strong and before long the erasing had to be done by holding the small eraser between the forefinger and thumb. The pencil had to last as long as possible.
Many parents and grandparents of today can vividly recall the mode of dress in the early school days. It certainly stands in sharp contrast to that of the present day. Little girls often had one basic dress for school. That dress, however, was supplemented with an apron or a pinafore which served at least two purposes. It kept the dress cleaner and its ruffles were attractive. The high-topped shoes were made of leather. When the leather soles wore out, the father or mother half-soled them with another piece of leather. Usually a little girl's hair was parted in the middle, pulled back and braided into two braids or pigtails. During the winter months long-legged knit underwear was worn. The long legs were stuffed down in long cotton stockings and a pair of dark colored flannelette bloomers (panties) that came to the knees were worn over the "long handles" as the underwear was called. During the three months of the summer term a cooler material for bloomers was substituted for the bulky ones. Cool gingham or calico dresses buttoned down the back, with two round collars and two pockets, to hold treasures, were worn.
The boys wore the usual overalls and homemade shirts. When their overalls were too soiled to wear to school, they wore their long, best, dress (Page 415 Top Photo: Locust School, District 34) pants. These "Sunday pants" were held up by suspenders. The younger boys had knee pants for Sunday-best and sometimes wore them to school. In winter the boys wore "long handles", too. A heavy jacket and a cap with ear flaps was the outdoor style.
In summer the majority of the youngsters walked over the miles barefoot. Sore toes and stone bruises often caused high temperatures and much pain. Sometimes they would cause the child to have a few days absence from school; then he or she would fall behind in 'headmarks' in reading or spelling classes.
Early school days weren't all 'readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic. Although discipline was strict and well carried through in the 1890s and early 1900's enjoyment was part of the curriculum. The outdoor plumbing was no problem to the boys and girls. In many of the districts "girls went up the road" from the building, and "the boys went down the road' Often the younger children would get permission during study hours to leave the room. They would do some playing along the way when they were out of sight of the teacher. At recesses the boys would go "down the road", climb saplings to the top, bend them over and ride them. Whee! What was more fun than seeing who could ride the highest! Sometimes a youngster would fall off and get hurt. Then, the "fat was in the fire" with the teacher. The girls would "go up the road", and talk about their beaus (boy friends). Often a little sister to some beau would carry "love notes" from the big girls. They would very carefully hide them so "Teacher" wouldn't see them.
During summer terms of school the districts that were near enough to each other for children to walk, ride horses, or ride in a farm wagon would have school rallies. A school rally consisted of mental and physical scholastic competition.
Mental competition covered spelling, arithmetic and oral reading. (Page 416 Top Photo: Peel School, built in 1936) The spelling contest was often in the form of a "spelling bee' or a "spelldown". It was presented in different manners. Sometimes it was oral with teams from each school represented. At other times the words would be written by the contestants. Next came the oral reading with the reader trying to read longer than his opponent without missing a word. Last, but not least, came the most exciting contest of all, the ciphering match (now called an arithmetic or math contest). The team with the most scores at the end of a given time won.
After the morning session of mental competition was completed, lunches (carried in tin pails to the rally) were eaten and physical games began. These games consisted of horseshoe pitching, foot races, high jump, sack races, pole vaulting and others.
During the winter months a "spelling bee" at night was a very popular mode of entertainment. It was educational as well as entertaining. People would attend from miles around. Pre-study would go on in the homes from one session until the next.
On the school grounds, practice went on every recess by pupils who hoped to excel at the next rally. The age range of the school children often ran from 5 or 6 to 18 or older. All of them were not interested in such challenging at rallies. These children found great joy in playing Wolf-over-the-River, dare base, New Orleans and others.
There was no lack of creativity in these Marion County children. Often the younger girls made playhouses, using rocks to outline the house and to partition the rooms. Thin flat rocks were used for furniture. They used their own creative ideas of building the furniture and, if someone was fortunate enough to have a piece of broken mirror, it served as a mirror for their dresser. Pieces of broken dishes, even small pieces, were treasures to take to school and use for dishes. They would pick wild flowers to make bouquets for their houses.
(Page 417 Top)
Each playhouse would have a 'pretend family' consisting of a mother, father, baby and several other children. These families would visit from house to house and the children would be sent to do 'pretend chores'. On, what fun they had. Creativity was inspired by their love of playing.
The creators did not always find their playhouses intact when they got another play period. Pranksters often slipped around and disarranged them. The pranksters would hide until the little girls had gone into the house when recess was over and disarrange these places. But woe unto those boys when the girls found out who had done the job. They were chased, caught, scratched, and "screamed at". The teacher usually had to punish a few before the ordeal was ended.
School records of Marion County show that there were 74 numbered schools. Some of the districts carried their number as a name, such as Number One, Number Seven, Number Eight, Number Ten, etc. Some of the districts were named for the town or community where they were located such as: Summit, Yellville, Rush, Peel, Flippin, Bruno, Pyatt, etc. Still others carried one or more names and these names now seem amusing just to read them. However, the early pioneer patrons were evidently sincere in having their school called Gobbler's Scratch, Hide Out, Last Chance, Possum Trot, Jay Bird, Asylum, Chigger Hill, and Big Foot. The names and location of each school will be found on the map of Marion County depicting schools.
One of the earliest schools in Marion County was Number 22 or Watts School. It was named for Uncle William Watts who was born in 1817.6
The Summary of Marion County Examiners Report in 1890 was:
Enumeration: White 4,237; Colored 13; Total 4,250
Enrollment: White 1,343; Colored 0; Total 1,343
Number of districts: 57
Districts reporting enrollment: 19
Districts voting tax: 2
Teachers employed: 50
School houses: 40
Institutes held: 3
Teachers in attendance: 22
R. B. Garrett, County Examiner
Statement of number and salaries of teachers in 1890:
Number employed: Males 22, Females 28, Total 50
Average monthly salaries
Grade I: Males - 45; Females 40
Grade II: Males - 35; Females 30
Grade III: Males - 30; Females 25
(Page 418 Top)
The Grade I, II and III in the statement referred to the type of Teacher's License held by the teacher. To obtain a county license the person desiring to teach would go to the County Examiner's office in Yellville for a two-day examination, which was held the third Thursday and Friday in March, June, September and December. The test covered Spelling, Reading, Penmanship, English Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography, U. S. History, Arkansas History and Physiology.
A first grade license was the highest and lasted for two years without re-examination. For a first grade license the avenge on all subjects must be 75% - 85%. A second grade license was good for one year and could be renewed one time. Its avenge must be 65% - 75%. A third grade license was good for six months. The average for it must be 60% - 70%. Another examination was required for it.
The boys and girls who usually took the Teacher's Examination were those who had just finished the eighth grade. In fact some of them had repeated the eighth grade because they were not near enough to a high school to attend one. Some of them were very serious about the event and would study toward that goal. One such incident happened with a group of eight pupils from the Rea Valley school in 1917. Mr. F. C. (Flem) Gibson was the teacher. He pledged a gift of a hand bell to the boy or girl making the highest grades on the examination. Among the group taking the tests were two brothers, Bob and Arza Hall. They had the highest scores with Arza one point higher than Bob.7 He still has the school bell that he won fifty- nine years ago and apparently is as happy in 1976 about winning as he was in 1917.
Some of the earliest Marion County teachers' names and records found were W. B. Flippin who taught a subscription school in 1838. The three men who hired him were Jacob Wolf, John Adams and John Be Armond.8
In his autobiography, J. M. Keeter, born in 1857 relates that at the age of sixteen he "stood teacher's examination and made a first grade license". He taught one subscription school and three free schools in Marion County.
Records found in the vault at the Yellville courthouse show the following about Flippin School:
1895: Teacher - J. H. Poynter: Board Members -
H. C. Butler,J. C. Matthews and T. H. Poynter
1896; Teacher - same; Board Members - same
Issued warrants in amount $54.50 for the year
1897; Teacher - same; Board Members - same
Special tax and Poll tax $341.71
Issued warrants 221.11
Balance $120.60
1898; Teacher - same; Board Members - J. H. Poynter, J. A. Flippin (Uncle Jim) W. H. Lynch (Uncle Henry)
Collected taxes $292.75
Issued warrants $292.75
Balance 0
(Page 419 Top Photo: Hamlet School))
The school at Flippin was located north of the airport on the land presently known as the Guy McCracken or Simon Osborn place. It was built by W. B. Flippin and the land at that time was owned by Jim Lynch. Some other teachers through the years at this school were Con Huddleston, Mr. Bellamy, Houston Poynter and Raleigh Matthews.
The Number One district was first established in 1884 in Dr. F. G. Huddleston's field.9 About 1900 a building was erected at the present site. It was a frame building with one room and a lean-to. In 1920 the old building was torn down and the big one was made. Some of the early directors were John Goff, Dr. Huddleston, and Silas McBee. Later came Walter Wood, Ben Tate and Linden Marberry. Early teachers at Number One remembered were Harrison Poynter, Con Huddleston, Cam Gillispie, Willie Jenkins, Troy Jenkins, Ross Jenkins, and T. E. Phillips.
Some of the other early Marion County teachers in the 1880's and 1890's were Betty Estes Cantrell, Mary Fee, Frank Burns, Sr., and Katy Sawyer (who was hired by five men to teach a subscription school at the Watts School.) Some early subscription schools were held for penmanship only. One such school was held by Bill Black in his home with about twenty enrolled.10
Teachers remembered by M. 0. Gilley, as his teachers, were: Weldon Callahan - 1899 at the White School on the north fork of Greasy Creek; Ezra Lay - Asylum School on Water Creek; and Alex James - two terms at Antioch on Greasy Creek. Other schools taught by Mr. Gilley after the beginning of his career at De Soto Springs in 1913 were Dillard, Antioch, Cedar Creek and Burns." 11
School records prepared by F. C. (Flem) Gibson shortly before he died listed his Marion County teaching as follows:
(Page 420 Top Photo: Watts School. Last log school to be used in Marion Co))
District #1 1906-07; 1907-08; 1908-09;
Hurst, District #II 1912-13; 1913-14;
Concord, District #17 1910-11;
Flippin, District #26 1918-19; 1919-20; 1920-21; 1921-22;
Elbow, District #36 1909-10;
;Oak Grove, District #41 1911-12; 1917-18;
Rea Valley, District #65 1914-15; 1915-16; 1916-17;
Yellville Summit #4 1935-36 12
Early teachers in Yellville include: J. L. Bond 1903; V. L. Webb 1909-10; J. W. Blacklock 1910-11; 0. J. Carson and Helen D. Bardeen 1911-12; Mr. Dulaney (who taught for a few months) 1918-19 and Mrs. Bardeen took his place when he left); John Coventon 1919-20; H. H. Patrick 1920-21; Mrs. Thompson "Miss Effie", 8th-9th grades 1920-21 and Miss Ella Jenkins (Rowden) taught lower grades 1920-21.
Mrs. John Q. Adams (Myrtle) taught her first school at Summit in 1923. Mr. Adams was also teaching there at that time.
Mr. G. T. Sims (Tom) taught his first school in 1904 at Asylum (Lower Water Creek) - a three-month term - and at Burns School (Upper Water Creek) - a four month term. His teaching career in Marion County lasted from 1904-1910. He went to Oklahoma and taught 42 years then came back to Marion County and did some more teaching. He presently lives at Yellville, age 92 (in 1976).13 Stella (Ballard) Frame, relating school experiences, said that in 1908 her family lived near Rush at the Beulah mine and that she walked 1 1/2miles to Rush school. At that time Rush was a booming mine town and had several families with school-age children. The subjects she remembers taking in school were - The Three R's plus physiology, grammar, algebra and geography. She said that they did not drop any subject as they advanced in books or grades. They had books 1, 2, 3, and 4, etc. The games they played most were baseball, town ball, cross-out and catch ball. Then there was drop (Page 421 Top Photo: Rush Creek School, 1915)) the handkerchief, tag, wolf-over-the-river and others. Her schoolday remembrances were all of happy events except for one little "2-lick" whipping for "tattling". Teachers that she remembers at Rush were Frank Carson, Oscar Carson, Miss Bess Cantrell, Will Bearden and his sister Lou. Later, Stella became a teacher and taught at Cedar Creek and Number One.
It is not often that a county can have an entire family so school-minded as that of Dink and Flossie Berry. In 1900 Mr. Berry, fondly spoken of by former students, began his teaching career at Newton Flat (now Bull Shoals). He taught 46 three-month terms in this school. He taught at several other schools including Happy Hollow, Malidda, Wild Cat, Hill Top, Promise Land, Big Foot, Jones, Georges Creek, Summit, Oakland, Flippin, Duren Valley, Cowan Barrens and Bonanza.
The six children of the family all taught in Marion County. The oldest son, Victor, taught at Promise Land and Oakland prior to 1922.
In 1923 Earl taught his first school at Cave Bottom. He then went to Baxter County and taught several years. Later he returned to Marion County and taught at Flippin.
Guy taught at Number One, Yellville-Summit, Duren Valley and was the first teacher at the new Fairview school building. All of this was prior to 1930. In 1943-44 he was Superintendent of Flippin Schools.
Loyce taught at Happy Hollow and perhaps other schools before teaching several years in Baxter County.
Maude (the only daughter) taught at Bonanza and Hand Valley.
Then, Blake, the youngest son, taught two terms at Newton Flat.
Before 1900 Bruno had a two-room school with two teachers who taught grades one through eight. Then in 1902 a controversy arose between patrons of the area. Two districts were formed (Number Six and 63). They used the creek as a given line to divide them. Both schools used the same spring for their water. Sometimes little "chatty spats" arose when children met at the spring while, at other times, "love notes" were passed from one side of the creek to the other.
(Page 422 Top Photo 1: [class photo] Institute of 1906 held at Bruno. Rev White, Teagardner, Marvin Patterson, Jim Smith, Jim Sims, Grover Owens, Will Keeter, Fulton Patterson, Guy Wolfe, Bill Horner, Unknown, B F Burnes, Eugene Phillips, Prof J L Bond, Smith, Shelby Bryant, John M Rufus (R.P.), King Bascum Patterson, J Matthews, Mary Adams, Almeda Patterson, unknown, Harvy Dodd, Grover Johnson, Lynn Wade, Frank James, Ulis Firestone, Weldon Callahan, Shaw, John Coventon, Will Jenkins, Vic Adams, O J Carson, Levi Johnson, Dink Berry, Tom Sims, unknown, Dottie Owens, Donna McCarty, Ann Wade, Jess Blankenship, Cora Blankenship, Bess Coventington)- Photo 2: [class photo] Watts School around 1912 to 1915: Henry Camp, Walter Whitson, Walton Smith, Jewel James, Logunza Callahan, Aaron James, Jessie Smith, Flora Camp, John Q. Adams Jr, Teacher Lena James, Lura James, Vanella Smith, Evlyn Callahan, Erma Melton, Omer Melton, Grayson Callahan, Nola Patterson, Jessie Tony, Donnie Keeter, Vivian Callahan, Louise Phillips, Inez Keeter, Lena Callahan, Floyd Callahan, Frank Whitson, Abe James, Enos James and Carl Keeter.))
(Page 423 Top Photo 1: [class photo] Moccasin School, 1912. Teacher Perry Jenkins, Eucl Wood, Homer Burnes, George Mears, William Saylors, Russell Wood, Robert Pilgrim, Perry Jenkins, Verlia Burns, Millie Pilgrim, Murt Wood, Fred Wood, Cal Wood, Viva Wood, Cecil Burns, Don Wood, Edith Pilgrim, Ira Pilgrim, Beatrice Pickins, May Mears, Audrey Pickins, Zetta Mears, Dezzie Mears, M H Morgan - Photo 2: Flippin School about 1928. Elsie Treat, Helen Marberry, Alpha Byrd, Pauline Marshall, Maude Reed, Nellie Wood, Eunicey Pierce, Wilma Stacey, Klye Morris, Robert Pangle, Doyne Hurst, Mark Linck, Ned Phillips, G B Keeter (Supt), AD Robins (Teacher), Maud Pierce, Beulah Mahan, Alsie Pierce, Zela Beavers, Winnie Erwin, Eula Mahan, Margaret Fee, Bernice Parnell, Murphy Mears, Clyde Estes, Mary Linck, Guy Rose, Zena Huddleston, Inez Henry, Esther Mears, Raymond Johnson, Russell Keeter, Edith Evans, Helen Williams, Reba Johnson, Leo Morris, Elsie McCracken, Elwood Daffron, Carl Rose, Hearl Pangle, Earl Vanzandt, Eula Keeter, Lowell Wooten, Glen Johnson, Park Treadway, Clifford Miller and Loyne Hurst. (Page 424 Top Photo: [class photo] Flippin Bailey Robertson School. Subscription School taught by Bailey Robertson. Howard Jenkins, Rupert Daffron, Elmer Noe, Mack Reynolds, Frank McBee, May Kemp, Pearl Vanzandt, Walcie Stacy, unknown, Loy Reynolds, Lou Kemp, Ruby Estes, Myrtle Bond, Bernice Parker, Harry Westmoreland, Spivy Westmoreland, Bertie Parker, Fannie Osheilds, Lester Wood, Rue Estes, Annual Henry, unknown, Grover Burch, Herbert Daffron, John Trowbridge, Brun Wood, John Wood, unknown, Frank Burch, Warren Trowbridge, Hobart Noe, Hutchson, Tollie Wood, Bill Talbert, Mary Vanzandt, Gladys Sanders, Elzada Burch, Luna Flippin, Bertha Noe, Johnnie Daffron, Willa Wood, Nettie Thompson, Davie Poynter, Loy Wood, Fay Lynch, Stella flippin, Eula Hurst Matthews, Jessie Flippin, Maude Noe, Alice Stacy, Tallie Wood, Osheilds, Bailey E. Robertson
Dorothy (Keeter) Rose, who was a fourth grader during the divided schools era, smiled when she told of an older girl who went from her play area over to the other playground to play. Her boyfriend soon spied her, grabbed her and gave her a big kiss. She said that girl ran back to her own schoolyard "as fast as lightning."
These two schools were in existence in one small area until 1920. At that time citizens of the community began to work for a better system. Under the leadership of H. A. Holbrook, who was with the State Education Department, the first accredited high school in Marion County was established. Each student paid a tuition fee of $5.00 a month. Many students from surrounding communities came to this school to finish high school. John Q. Adams was Superintendent when the new building was completed. They finished building in time to have a five-month term.
Bruno was the first school in the state to have an Agriculture Department. It was under the guidance and teaching of Mr. J. B. Ewart, who is fondly remembered by many for his interest in the boys he worked with in the classroom and on the basketball court.
When this first Agri school was established in 1921, Mr. Ewart and the boys felt a great need for a workshop. They secured the approval of various community groups. Then went to the hillsides, cut logs and hauled them to a nearby sawmill, took the lumber and built their own home. From pouring concrete to the finishing coat of paint, practically all the work was done by the Aggie boys. Family names represented include Burns, Pyle, Setzler, McNair, Keeter, Ezell, Angel, Wilson, Milligan and Elton. 14
Sometime after the railroad was completed, patrons of Flippin school (Page 425 Top) decided to move the school from near the airport nearer to the "new town" of Flippin. This new building was a two-story, two-room frame building located on Crane Creek, just north of town. It was set on the right side of Highway 178 opposite where Fallen Ash Road turns left off the highway. At this new site the school had three luxuries-two outhouses and a drilled well with a hand pump. When the well went dry at times, the pupils vied for the chance to walk over to the depot in town and carry large buckets of water back to school. By 1917 the attendance had grown so that there was need for two more rooms. They were added-one downstairs and one upstairs.
The school term usually was divided with three months in July, August and September, a vacation for people to pick cotton, then the children went back to school for three or four months. Some of the teachers here were Loy (Wood) Barnett, Fred Williams, Mrs. Bardeen, F. C. Gibson, Miss Mae Barnett, Miss Faye Barnett, Mrs. Ella Rowden, Dink Berry, lone Williams and Mrs. Donna (Keeter) Phillips, fondly called "Miss Don". They were interested teachers and discipline was firm.
In 1926 Mr. G. B. Keeter became Flippin Schools' Superintendent. At that time the first two years of high school accredited work was begun. 1927-28, three years of work was offered with a "D" rating. Better schools brought more pupils and a need for more room. After lengthy discussion of where to build and how to finance it, the decision was made to move to the present school site. Mr. and Mrs. Joe McCracken, better known as Joe and Winnie, donated the land. E. L. Huddleston (Hudd) drew the plans for the building and they were approved by the State Board of Education. The cost of this new rock structure was about $40,000 plus donated equipment and labor. There was no state or federal aid for the first building which consisted of seven classrooms, a large study hall and a library. These rooms surrounded the gymnasium on the south, east and west sides. The gym had a large stage on the south side and bleachers on the north side. The whole building was heated with wood. The first year in the new building showed that the school had grown to a "C" rating and offered four years of accredited work. Subjects offered included: Algebra, geometry, American and European history, Civics, Latin and English.
In 1928-29 Bruno had a "B" rating; Yellville-Summit had a "B" rating; Flippin had a "C" rating; Pyatt offered three years of work; Georges Creek offered two years and Oakland offered one year.
Communication was still slow in the 1920's in many parts of the county. The July 31, 1924, issue of THE MOUNTAIN ECHO carried the following article: "THE MOUNTAIN ECHO has been selected as the official paper for the County Department of Education. In it will appear all regular advertisements of the County Department of Education. News from the schools and from the Department of Education will be in the ECHO each week. Teachers will be expected to watch each issue of the ECHO. By special arrangements with the publishers, who are co-operating with the Department of Education, a copy of the ECHO, for school use only, will be sent to each school in the county every week the school is in session As fast as the reports from teachers come in, the schools will be entered for their copy of the ECHO. All subscriptions must be certified through the County Department of Education. FRED BOYD, Supt."
(Page 426 Top)
August 24, 1924, the issue of the paper carried this article:
"VISTING SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: Visits planned by the County Superintendent. Please save:
Sunday night, August 24, speak at Buffalo.
Monday, August 25, visit Buffalo, Elbow and Rea Valley. Speak at Rea Valley.
Tuesday, August 26, visit Buffa-Cove and Hurst. Speak at Hurst that night.
Wednesday, August 27, visit Hamlet, and Pleasant Ridge. Speak at Pleasant Ridge that night.
Thursday, August 28, in office at Yellville until noon. Visit and speak at Cantrell.
Friday, August 29, Institute at Flippin. All nearby schools dismiss for the day and attend the Institute. Pupils and patrons are urged to attend. The afternoon program of games is given elsewhere in this paper.
Saturday, August 30, in office in Yellville.
Sunday, August 31, speak at Markle, either morning or night, as community desires.
Monday, September 1, visit Markle and No. 18, Keesee. Speak at No. 18 that night.
Tuesday, September 2, visit Jay Bird. Speak that night.
Wednesday, September 3, visit Locust and Possum Trot. Speak at Possum Trot that night.
Thursday, September 4, Friday, September Sand
Saturday, September 6, Institute at Peel. Nearby schools dismiss Thursday and Friday.
Sunday, September 7, speak that night at Keesee, District No. 38, next to Missouri State Line.
Monday, September 8, visit No. 38; at Hide Out that night;
Tuesday, September 9, visit Hide Out and Yocham, No. 70. Speak at No.70 that night.
Wednesday, September 10, visit Pritchard and speak at night.
Thursday, September 11, visit Gobbler's Scratch and Last Chance, No. 55. Speak at Last Chance that night.
Friday, September 12, visit Jones School, No.68 across the river; return to Yellville.
Saturday, September 13, County Board meets. Please do not ask to see County Superintendent. He will have two weeks' mail on his desk and the most important meeting of the County Board for the entire year.
The following week the County Superintendent will be at Fayetteville and Fort Smith on business until Saturday, September 30, when he will be in his office again."
Another interesting article found in the files of THE MOUNTAIN ECHO dated September 28, 1924, follows:
"Saturday the County Board cleaned up the money on hand and apportioned to the districts every cent that the Board was able. Each child enumerated will receive $4.25. It was found a few districts had enumerated children (Page 427 Top Photo: First location of Flippin School before 1900. Simon Osborne Place north of Airport. Frank Flippin, Roy Flippin, Gus Butler, Elbert Butler, Oscar Flippin, Myrtle Estes, Alice Lynch, Pearl Estes, Fay Lynch, Jessie Flippin, Stella Flippin, Luna Flippin, Ellen Butler, Belle Chandler, Essie Estes, unknown, Ada Jenkins, May Flippin, Virgie Butler, Della Chandler, Myrtle Lynch, Una Flippin, Linda Jenkins, Virgie Lynch, Maude Estes, Minnie Jenkins, Lily Alford, Lee Flippin, Willie Flippin, Dee Chandler, unknown, Fred Flippin, Hurd Flippin.) in other districts. In such cases the money will be paid to the district the child belongs to. In cutting down the County Department expenses so closely, the County Board hopes the different districts will spend their money on the schools and not to try to carry any of the funds over with the expectation of voting a low tax next spring.
Transfers were granted to the following petitioners: C.A. Still, Freck; John Rea, Flippin; R. B. Williams, Flippin; G. H. Morton, Eros; J. C. Webb, Eros; Tom Keeter, Freck; Jim Brown, Dodd City; and Gordon Keeter was transferred from Duren Valley, but not his wife.
The County Board voted not to spend any money on a county circulating library.
Possum Trot in the last election voted "No Tax". The following electors have petitioned the County Levying Court to levy a 10-mill tax; H. J. Rogers, 0. E. Stinnett, Jerry Upshaw, Charles Pruett, Lester Rogers, John Upshaw, F. J. Stinnett, Charley Roger, Claud Rogers, Pate Dixinson, Amos Clarkson, San Hawkins, Henry Luellen. This is a majority of the electors living in the district.
The Gobblers Scratch district failed to hold a school meeting in the spring. All but two electors within this district, Marion Ashmead and Walter Ashmead, have petitioned for a 12-mill tax to be levied against all property (Page 428 Top Photo: This is a picture of Price Place School District No 11. It is three miles north of Oakland, AR. Robert (Bob) Rea taught five terms of school here. The picture was taken in the summer of 1913. The children are: Elmer Hollingsworth, Early Terry, Ralph Melford, Lizzie Trimble Wilbanks, Frank Chapple, Buna Johnson Hollingsworth, Johnny Pruitt, Roy Campbell, Eva Sisney, Carrie Shaw, Alta East, Myrtle Burgess, Tom Mefford, Leatha Owen, Beatrice Trimble, Effie Burgess, Bob Rea (teacher), Flora Shaw, Ida Sisney, Mary Willbanks, Myrtle Willbanks, Grace Shaw, Janie Sisney, Lucy Mefford, Jesse Willbanks, Clarence Collins, Albert Hollingsworth, Tronie Johnson, Alsey Hollingsworth, Ted Willbanks, Irvin Johnson, Earnest Shaw, Tom Owen, Esther Owen, Eliza Sisney, Hazel Willbanks, Italy Willbanks, Vina Willbanks, Sadie Collins.) within the district. These signing the petition are: J. H. Campbell, G. W. Miller, Pate Wilkinson, Elmo King, Kirk King, John Campbell, T. L. Morrison, D. W. Kelley, J. M. Crews, G. W. McKinney, and G. W. Dodson. County Judge Bob Berry drew up this petition and deserves much credit for its successful circulation.
Malidda voted ten to nothing to consolidate with Cave Bottom. Cave Bottom voted unanimously for the consolidation, it is reported.
The petition to dissolve the Wild Cat district and add the territory to the new consolidated district and Kingdon Springs was approved by the County Board. Wild Cat is No. 13, one of the oldest districts in the county. Every patron, it seems, signed the petition. The Wild Cat house will be left for church purposes.
Kingdon Springs voted Saturday to move their school downtown. The old building will be torn down and a new school rebuilt. Every patron voted for the move, proposed by County Superintendent weeks ago.
Friday morning the County Superintendent returned from the northwest part of the county. This week he visited the following schools: Turnbo, Hide Out, Yocham, Pritchard, Gobbler's Scratch, Chigger Hill or Oak Hill, Jones School, Peel and Locust. Thursday night he spoke at Dodd City.
Organizations pertaining to the improvement and support of our schools have been in existence for many years. The forerunner to the PTA (which we still have) was the SIA which stood for School Improvement Association. (Page 429 Top Photo: School house at Powell, Marion Co, AR in early 1900's) It operated somewhat like the PTA does today with probably more enthusiasm. Remember, the church and the school were the chief means of entertainment and communication.
At the time the high schools over the county were being formed, there was a requirement of an eighth grade examination given by the County Superintendent. If the grades were passing, a pupil was allowed to enter the ninth grade. Otherwise, he repeated the eighth.
Throughout the history of schools, competition in sports has been a major attraction to the greater percentage of high school students. The major sport in Marion County since the early 1920's has been basketball. Outdoor courts for basketball were used until the schools began to improve and interested patrons could find a means of building gymnasiums.
Transportation from one school in the county to another was by any type the group could get. Some communities were fortunate enough to hire the owner of a 1 1/2 ton truck to take the teams to games. However, if these motor vehicle owners were unable to make the trip and the destination was out of walking range, the horses were hitched to two-seated hacks. These vehicles were loaded with all who could hang on but what fun those youngsters had traveling from, perhaps, Bruno to Zinc. This traveling by hack and open trucks was always "air-conditioned" even in zero weather. The pupils were sturdy and withstood the trips. The games were played in the afternoons with at least one team happy-sometimes one school would win all the games that day.
The parents built up a great interest in the games and, if possible, every one went along to the games. Most families were large and often had two, (Page 430 Top Photo: Early Education - Doll Buggy Parade. A Kindergarten Class taught by Mrs. A.E. Strode in Yellville 1925 [children in photo are not named]) three or four players. Mrs. Ethel Ham (now 96 years of age) tells of having four daughters playing at one time. They were Pearl, Opal, Erma, and Ruby.
Each school had team names: AGGIES from Bruno; PANTHERS from Yellville; PIRATES from Pyatt; CARDINALS and BULLDOGS from Flippin. Each school has trophies won in some county, district or, perhaps, state tournament.
Some players remembered from the 1920's are: From Bruno: Bernice Pope, Norma Burns, Doris Wilson, Ruby Ester, Lola Thompson, Grace McClain, Dorothy Keeter, Johnie Pyle, Ruby, Opal, Pearl, and Erma Elam, Hugh Wilson, Everett Burns, Lester Burns, Rual Keeter, Hoyte Pyle, Howard Wilson and Raymond McNair; From Pyatt: Cinderella Tippit, Beulah Treadway, Hilton, Halpain, Fred Lowry, R. A. Milum, Berry Mellon, and Fred Stevens; From Yellville: Florene Layton, Virginia Hayes, Mary Alice ESter, Fern Angel, Clyde Angel, Lyon Wood, Vena Covey, Roland Williams, George Hand,Boss Hudson, Oscar Mellon, Ewell (Rabbit) Adams, and Ulis Wood; From Flippin: Zena Huddleston, Inez Henry, Eula Keeter, Artha Barnett, Mary Linck, Elsie McCracken, Winnie Erwin, Pauline Marshal, Alsie Pierce, Esther Mean, Doyne Hunt, Clyde Estes, Russell Keeter, Matt Linck, Mark Linck, Lowell Wooton, Guy Rose and Leo Morris.
In the March 13, 1930, issue of the MOUNTAIN ECHO under the front page headline: Flippin Again Wins In District.
"In one of the most successful district basketball tournaments ever held since the organization of this association, the Flippin Cardinals played their way to their third championship in as many years, on Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night of last week in Flippin High School gymnasium. Nine teams were entered. The tournament was in direct charge of W. F. Slagle of Alpena Pass, President of the Association. Mr. R.L. Caylor of Jonesboro College refereed all the games. (Here are the scores shown at length) Scotland 28-Formosa 27; Eureka Springs 16-Cotter 8; Flippin 54-Oxford 4; Yellville 39-Melbourne 17; Scotland 14-Pyatt 45; Flippin 87-Eureka Springs 3; Cotter 15-Oxford 8; Melbourne 25-Formosa 24; Yellville 34- Pyatt 27; Eureka Springs 26-Cotter 28; Scotland 16-Pyatt 41; Pyatt 59- Cotter 3; Finals Flippin 30-Yellville 7. After final game Referee Caylor selected the first and second all-district teams. First Team-Henry and Huddleston, Flippin, forwards; Hilton, Pyatt, jump center; Angel, Yellville side (Page 431 Top) center; Linck, Flippin and Treadway, Pyatt, guards. Second Team-Keeter, Flippin and Layton, Yellville, forwards; Halpain, Pyatt, side center, Covey, Yellville, jump center; Casinger, Scotland, and E. White, Yellville, guards. These excellent ball players didn't just arise from "nowhere". They were well-coached by school people who were not only interested in winning games but also in building character for the future. Many, many extra hours were spent with these young people. So let us remember Beulah Thompson and J. B. Ewart from Bruno; Dolph Elam and Thurman Lancaster from Pyatt; P. V. Blankenship and Ed Carson from Yellville; and G. B. Keeter from Flippin, as being builders for our Marion County Schools."
Sources:
1. History of Arkansas, Shin
2. Ibid
3. Annals of Arkansas
4. Acts of Arkansas
5. Because the Trail Is There, T. M. Stinnet.
6. G T. Sims.
7. Arza Hall, Ron Valley
8. Early History of Marion County, S. Turnbo
9. Ina Golf Tate
10. G. T. Sims
11. Ibid
12. Ibid
13 M. 0. Gilley, from Article in Mountain Echo.
14. Mountain Echo, Yellville, Arkansas.
Top of Page
Return to The History Of Marion Co Index Page
Return to Marion Co Home Page