The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-10-09
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF UNIONS SCHOOL
beginning i'm 1887 and Brought Down to Recent
Times-Valuable Data Never Before Pub
ished and OF Great Interest 10 the
Citizens of Union County,

Unions city schools give one of the
strongest evidences of recent ad-
vancement that the county of Union
affords. Unions special school dis
trlct which embraces Monarch and
Ottaray as well as the five schools
within the corporate limits and also
the colored graded school has tax
able value of $2,3S4,000 dollars, the
total expense of operation per annum
amounting to $4,000. The thorough
ly equipped buildings, splendid
courses and we'll trained board of
teachers combine to make Unions
schools rank with the very best in the
State. There has been most re-
markable advancement in the past
twenty years, in fact, rudimentary
education and a thorough high school
system of training is within the easy
reach of every child in Union special
district. Schools operate nine months
in the year and the work done is su-
perb. One of the best features of the
recent development is a system of
night schools and thorough business
course. The fact is, boy or girl go
ing through this training would be
equipped for practical work and
izenship it they never saw college.
This remarkable development has
come about under the administration
of the present efficient superintend
ent, Mr.. Davis Jeffries, who is one of
the most competent organizers ever
put at the head of school system.
Property assessment $2,284 900, an
nual expense of operation $4,000.
Handsome buildings, first class equip
ment, splendid force of teachers.
$4,000.
Present advancement far ahead of
a few years ago.
The following comparison of the
sessions 1904-1905 and 1912-1913 will
serve to bring out the remarkable
progress of these schools. In 1904-05
there were two hundred and three
white children enrolled and at that
time there was but one school build
ing, now known as the Central school.
The teachers enrolled at that time
were as follows: G. B. Waller, prin-
cipal, Davis Jeffries, Miss Minnie
Gist and Mrs. N. M. Linder; there
were but eight grades, the building
had but four rooms and one small
auditorium. Since that time this
building has been enlarged until at
the present time it contains twelve
rooms and each room is class ROOM
In addition to this building a splendid
high school building has been erected
the value of the building and lot be-
ing fully $4,000 dollars.
A comfortable school building has
been erected at Excelsior Knitting
mills, Ottaray mills, Monarch mills,
and West End. The school at Mon
arch employees five teachers and one
kindergarten teacher. Ottaray two
teachers, Excelsior two teachers. The
mills own the school buildings at
these points, but teachers are paid
from the public fund and are under
the supervision of Mr.. Jeffries.
The new high school building was
erected upon bond issue levied in
1909, the people at the time voting
q thirty thousand dollar issue-there
were but two dissenting votes in the
district. The present magnificent
building is the result of the broad
policy at that time espoused by the
people. There is four years high
school course. The schools nave eiev-
en- grades besides the business course.
The following will give some idea
of the progress made in the last
twenty years: The buildings have
increased from one to six; teaching
force from four to thirty, and the