Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-03-26
LETTER FROM MIDDLBWAY.
M1nn1rwAY. March 2l, l87s.


Mr.. Editor In a former communica.
.tion, 1 had intended to give you an account
of the improvements which have lately been
made here, but il assumed q length which
did not intend il should, and admonished me
that 1 was probably intruding upon your
columns. But with your indulgence viii
now do what It was my purpose to have done
at that time. Among these improvements is
that OF the Messrs. Hciston, who have re-
GENTLY purchased from the heirs OF the late
VIM. Watson, what is known as the old saw
mill property, situated upon the Big Spring
Run, upon which they have erected saw
mill, aud have now In course of erection
dwelling house, and IL the number of teams
going to and from the mill Is any criterion
from which to judge, 1t is doing . thriving
business. I understand that these gentlemen
have in contemplation the still further util>
ization of this excellent water power, by
erecting upon tia grist and Touring MILL
which will undoubtedly be . great conve.
nience to the people OF the town, the near.
est, with one exception, being from Eve TO
eight miles distant-all Of them having been
burnt this one included, but since rebuilt
by the gallant Sheridan and his invincible
barn. burners. Another is that Of the crec>
ton Of q new school. house, (by the board Of
school commissioners upon the site of the old
brick one on Seminary hill, whose dilapida>
ted and tumble down condition rendered 1t
untenable for school purposes. Those that
once met there, teacher and scholar, will re-
member IL as a thing of the past but many
of them have passed away. Some that once
performed the duty of teacher have been
born to the tomb, and are now sleeping the
sleep that knows no waking, and many OF
those who WINGED under the rod of the mas
ter, so cruel aud grim,
care scattered and sundered by mountain and
Aud some in tho silent embrace Of the grave"
The new ono is plain and substantial look
ing two story frame building with two rooms,
for the accom- modation of both the male and
female schools, and is now occupied BY them,
The female with Miss Ida Kearney as teacher;
who Is graduate of the State Normal School
at Shepherdstown, and the male with Rev.
Geo. A. Long, the esteemed aud excellent
pastor Of the Lutheran church Of this place,
whose thorough aud collegiate course OF ed.
ucatiou eminently Ats him for any position in
which he may be placed and with teachers
possessing qualifications, such as these do, if
those under their tuition do not learn the
fault must lay elsewhere, and not with them.
While upon the subject Of schools must not
forget to mention the cOIoTeu BcnooI, Win
q. NJ. Mainright as teacher, and perhaps
the largest 10 the district, numbering some
sixty pupils, who are oil under good control,
and are making considerable progress in
every branch of their studies, as a visit to
the school will show. Their exercises, partic-
ularly those upon the black board. give tangi.
Bile evidence that they have the capacity and
tho brain, and II properly cultivated are sus.
coptible of receiving an education. Nor is
tho spirit of improvement confined to tho
white population alone, the blacks, too, have
taken up the enterprise, and the southern
portion Of the place has been improved by a
couple of neat and comfortable looking
dwellings, erected by William Roman and
Simon Walker, two gentlemen of African
descent, and who deserve the Communications
of all good citizens for thoir industry and
energy. DOT.