The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-21
Editorial Correspondence

large body of land here in a section
which had hitherto been called u
pocosin. 1t was thoroughly drained
and well more than one hundred feet
deep was driven which gave healthy
mineral water. Mr.. Cox had lived near
this place before the railroad was
built from Kinston to Greenville. and
on a small scale he had begun the
manufacture of the Cox cotton planters.
He resolved to increase his manufac-
turing business and to build him
town that would not permit the sale
or manufacture Of LIQUOR. If you
should travel from Murphy to Manteo
you would not find stronger temper
ance man than Mr.. Cox. Every town
in this section then had saloons. Bust
ness men were deluded by the notion
that saloons were necessary to "draw
trade" Mr.. Cox subscribed to no SUCH
heresy. knowing that they demoralized
business and deprived grocery and dry
goods stores of trade and caused men
their wives and children. He deter
mined. therefore. to build a town that
should be noted for three things-in-
dustry. education and temperance. He
bought here a large tract of land and
as soon as his factory was at work
here. But before doing either he re-
solved not to sell lot in Winterville
to any man without putting in the
deed that upon that land no liquor
should be "sold. manufactured or
given away for ninety-nine years" If
man did not like that condition, 1t
was proof that Mr.. Cox did not want
him in Winterville and he kept the
land. 1t attracted men who wished
to rear their children in a moral at
mosphere. Instead of retarding the
building up of the town. Mr.. Cox's adj
herence to his temperance principles
promoted it's growth.
The first school here-and school
was opened as soon as the lumber
could be converted into house-was
conducted by Miss Mamie Cox, who
is now Mrs. w. j. Wyatt, of Raleigh.
Winterville High School has been con-
Quoted since and has steadily grown.
1t opened in a little house with TWEEN
ty-two pupils. Tt has grown until 1t
now represents an investment of $13.-
600 with an enrolment of 265 pupils
land one hundred and twenty-five
of them are boarding in the institu-
ton )-representing fifteen counties.
with a faculty of five teachers, under
the principalship of Prof. G. E. Line
berry. He is a native of Chatham
county, a graduate of Wake Forest
College, one of those quiet, industrious,
thorough men who do whatever they
undertake we'll. He has succeeded
finely here and Winterville Academy
has not only revolutionized this imme-
date section but has had large in
fluence for good on all the surround
ing country and has boarding pupils
from fifteen counties. The time was
when people here sent their children up
the country to school. OF course. this
meant that higher education was in
the reach of only few. The men who
established Winterville Academy con-
ceived the idea of planting in the
heart of this good county an instltu-
ton that would be near to the peo-
ple's homes and therefore enable them
cheaply to educate their children. Mr..
Cox has been the most liberal con-
tributor to the upbuilding of this great
school here, having himself given
something like $1,000 or $4,000 In
money. but his money gifts have not
been his most important contributions,
for he has given his time, his SYM
patty, his help-himself to the up
building of the school. There are now
three large and handsome buildings
one central building with recitation
rooms and a large auditorium, and
two large dormitories-one for boys
and one for girls. The school is con-
Quoted upon high lines. Good disci-
pline and thorough instruction are its
two distinguishing characteristics.
There are no frills here and no fads.
but old fashioned North Carolina
ways, where industry economy, apph-
cation to studies, thrift and character
are given first place. The young men
and young women here have come
from fifteen counties and they come to
learn-to fit themselves for usefulness
in life. Thirty per cent of the teach
ers in the Pitt public schools were edu-
Gated here, and many of the teachers
in other counties obtained their train
ing here. The idea is to put the
board and instruction here within the
reach of those who do not have an
abundance of this worlds goods.
am told that board, room and tuition
are furnished for $3.50 per month, and
the board is as good and as plentiful
as any youth needs or ought to desire.
This low rate is possible only by the
best and most careful management
but it enables many parents to give
a good education to their children who
could not send to high priced schools.
1t has been a blessing to Eastern
North Carolina and is destined to be
more and more useful. The pupils