The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-22
OF WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL
Anderson County, S. c.

Prior to 1883, 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. Guyton taught the
White Plains school. The house stood
on the left side of the public road
leading from Pendleton Pelzen,. almost
In front of where White Plains church
now stands.
This school house was q one room
log house about 18 feet wide by 60
feet cong. 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 was about
seven feet high, and had two doors,
n on each side Of the house. The
| chimney was of stick and clay, ind
In. the winter when the fire was burn
ing in the fire place the teacher and
most of the large boys were 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, 1t
was two logs sawed out about is
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.. N. c. Richardson.
Few. Jesse Vermillion, Rev. Patrick
Yermillion, William Cason.
From this place the school house
was moved to a cross roads about one
mile west, where the present school
house now is.
A frame building was erected IL
1876 feet wide by 80 feet long. II
had three windows on each side and
one door in front. The blackboard
extended across the back of the schoo!
house. The seats were made Of o
plank ~ inches wide and extending
from one end OF the room to. the 9TH
Ter. 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 If
the back OF the room. The room was
ceiled with dressed ceiling. Rev. D. J.
iSpearman was the first to teach in
this school in the year Of 1889. Al
this time this school house was a mod.
ern school building.
In 1890 ]. B. Spearman taught the
school. /,
In 1891 J.. B.. Harris taught the
school, assisted by J.. 3. SpeaYman.
The enrolment at this time, wal
In 1892 the school was again taught
by J. B. Spearman.
In 1898 Rev. p. j. vermillion laugh,
the school assisted by his wife, Mrs
Eoa Welborn Vermiliion.
In 1885 another room was annexed
to this building making q two room
building. This room was placed al
the hack OF the other room. It was
about the same size OF the other. "A,
this time every patron was asked fS
make q Slated bench to, put in this
schoof house,
Some Of the other taachers Of this
school were: Miss Jennie Shirley
John Majors, Robert Gentry, DR.. vii
lie Strickland, mr., Burns and sister.
This school house soon became TOT
small for the school. so there had t.
Lbe another school house built alto
gether new. It Is the present schoo
house; with the exception of the twt
back rooms which we're built later.
This time q large. two room house
with luI IN room attached. was erect
ed about 1906. Each room had d stow,
In the middle OF the room and hat
plenty OF light Tor the pupils to stud!
Miss Bessie Miller, assisted by Mis-
Minnie Simpson were the erst {,
teach in this new school building. i
Twas In the years of 1906 and 1907.
Miss Bessie Miller. assisted by Misl
Minnie Webb. taught In 1907 and 1908
At this time the school grew to,
large for two.teaehefs 80 there had {,
iSe another room added. which was pu
lat the back OF these other rooms, an
teacher Wngf eulpioyed. Wi