The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-08
THE d. i. Il. SCHOOL
Is NOW IN SIGHT

To BE Opened Next Fall at Tomassee
in OcOnte-Gener0uS Money Pledges
Made and Opportunity is Open 10
Public to Assist philanthropy.
Tha resolve expressed two years ago
BY the South Carolina Daughters OF
the American Revolution to estaDlsh
an industrial school in one or the
mountain counties of the upcountryt
has taken definite form and will soon
be a reality After serious consider
alton of many sites, the recent con-
&erence in Johnston voted to accept
bne at Tomassee in Oconee county,
ten miles from Walhalla and three
miles from the government forest re-
serve. 1t comprises 10 acres, OF
which so were given by Mrs. Hayne
Jones. so by George Harrison and 1U
by ". C. Whitmire. The generositE
of the donors was further evidenced
bssthe conditions imposed, practically
the oaly one \of Importance, being that
at any time this land ceases to De
used fer educational purposes, the
D. A. r. are to purchase it at S12.SO
an acre irrespective Of future value
or to return it to the original owners.
AS this price Is considerably belo"
the present value Of the land it shows
the confidence of these public spirit
ed people in the sincerity Of the D.
A. r. and reflects the desire OF the
community for such school.
Site is Pickens Home.
OF special historic interest to the
people OF South Carolina is the fact
that this is the region Of the govern
meat land grants made to Gen. An-
drew Pickens for his Revolutionary
services and he retired to this noun
tain spot to spend his declining years
at Tomassee. Those who have seen
the wonderful views from here do not
marvel at his choice.
From utilitarian standpoint the
site is desirable for many reasons
The considerations which the Daugh-
tens have had in mind in determining
the location of this school are that IL
should be remote yet accessible
where the need was greatest, and our
coming be in answer to manl1este1
desina of the people for the aid We
sTer. This place is ten miles 1roA
the terminal point of the railroad, yet
has excellent roads with R. F. u.
service by auto once a day. The only
schools within many miles OF this
snot are held in small. crowded build
ings greatly in need OF repair, anu
open for only two or three months
in the year. The eagerness OF the
oeouie for our school has been evl-
denced by their generous contrlbu-
tons toward the building fund, anu
their promise of labor and coopera-
tion.
School Onens Next Fall.
The conference which accepted .hls
site created a school board of seven
members with the State regent ae
chairman, three members elected by
conference (now Mrs. Duvall, Mrs.
Carlisle and Mrs. Hayne Jones, all
members of the D. A. r., these tour
ia elect three additional members
who may be either men or women.
ali terms to be for three years. Tnls
hoard will have full control Of the
school and its affairs. They will plan
a group of buildings, allowing foi
future growth. While it will BE- neces-
sary to begin in a modest way, as
each building is added it will mt into
the general harmonious scheme. Il
is expected that the first One, that
for the day school, will be built this
summer and school open with the fall
term
The water prob!~m will be simple,
In addition to several small springs
there is a stream with an eight foot
fall and the water shed in our coh-
troll, running through the property
which insures running water in the
buildings at small cost. The land Is
sartiallv wooded and about 80 per
cent. is level or slightly rolling. Choy
mountain protects it from ice storms
from the north and west and the lana
will be we'll adapted to grapes and
fruits. Prof. W.. w. Long, who has
charge of the State extension work,
has promised his cooperatioM ana
will make the school the centre OF
the county demonstration work. The
government is interested in encour-
aging grazing in the mountain por-
tons of the State and to this end pur-
poses establishing several cheese fac
tories. 1t is planned to have one of