The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-22
HISTORY Of WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL
Anderson County, S. G.

Prior Ito 1888, the writer can not
get exact dates as to the founding OF
White Plains school, but it was prob
ably founded shortly after the War
between the States.
In 1883 j. r. Guytoa taught the
White Plains school. The house stood
on the left side Of the public road
leading from PendIeton Pelzen, almost
in front of where White Plains church
now stands.
| This school house was a one room
log house about 18 feet wide by 20
fect long. 1t was built OF Zine logs
hewn out OF the old field near the
school house. The roof was OF oak
board split from Joab Clardy's place
near the Hurricane creek. The seats
were made Of pine slabs with two
holes bored In each end Of the slab,
and sweet gum pegs drove lii the holes
for legs. This little house vas about
seven feet high, and had two doors,
| one on each side Of the house. The
chimney was of stick and clay, ;:nd
In the winter. when the fire was burn
ing in the fire place the teacher and
most Of the large boys wefc kept busy
carrying water from the spring ana
pouring on the chimney to keep 1t
from burning up.
One small window was the only
means OF light, except through the
cracks between the logs. The win
dow was in the back Of the house, il
was two logs sawed out about 18
inches wide by two feet long; and the
| shutter was one piece of plank Just to
fit the opening in the wall. On windy
days the window had to be closed to
keep the fire from burning up the
chimney. When this was done, the
only means of light was that which
came In between the cracks of the
logs and the rough boards of the
floor.
The enrolment of this school was
about 40. The school derived its
name from the white sandy country
In which the school was located.
Some Of the other teachers of this
school were: DR.. NJ c. Richardson,
Vermillfon, William Cason.
From this place tho school house
was moved to q cross roads about one
mile vest, where the present school
house now Is.
A. frame building was erected in
18s9-16 feet wide by 32 feet long. Ii
had three windows on each side and
one door In front. The blackboard
extended across the back Of the school
house. The seats were made OF a
plank 12 inches wide and extending
from one end Of the room to the 9TH
'er. 1t was nailed along the side OF the
wall about 18 inches from the floor
This just made two long benches in
the school house. The stove was In
the back OF the room. The room was
ceiled with dressed ceiling. Rev. d. l.
Spearman was the first to teach In.
this school In the year of 1889. AT
this time this school house was mod
ern school building.
In 1890 J. B. Spearman taught the
school.
In 1891 j. B. Harris taught the
school, assisted by ]. B. Spearman. /.
The enrolment at this .time was
log. s,
In 1892 the school was again taught
by J. B. Spearman.
In 1893 Rev. P. ]. Vermillion. taught
the school assisted by his wife, Mrs.
Zoa Welborn Vermillion. Z
In 1896 another room was annexed
to this building. making n two room
building. This room was placed OF
the back Of the other room. It was
about the, same size of the other. ,At
this time every. patron was asked to
make a Stated bench to put iii this
school shOuBe. * ~ Il. i Z
Som. on NE other. teachers OF this
school wore: Miss Jennie Shirley
John Majors, Robert Gentry. DR.. VIII