The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-26
At Ryan X Roads
By P. ID. DAVIS


 | Up in Morgan county there is a com munity out on the mountain 20 miles east of Hartselle known as Ryan X rapidly that it should have publicity and recognition, but it's lack of close connections with the outside world has kept it from it's just dues
 | In strict sense it is more of a set clement than a community because there | is not semblance of village and the people get their mail by rural route from Joppa, which is 20 miles from Cullman, the nearest railroad point
 The people up there may be described as small farmers, the majority of whom own the land they live on and cultivate. small few of them are said to be in good condition' but the main source of revenue is from the field by the sweat of the brow. Thus they are an honest, hard working, homogeneous people full | of energy and interest for both them | selves and their fellowman.
 | Such progress as has and is being made by Ryan X road people causes a stranger to ask: What has been the cause?" The causes in this instance l have been many. First of all the very nature of the people who are not tran sient. but many live on their father l old farm may be cited as a foundation cause. They are wide-awake and eager readers, Daily papers reach many homes and even though they are late they are careful read and their influence is great
 l The wise Teacher said ::"By their fruits ye shall know them" To paraphrase this | for a community it would read: By their school ye shall know them" Being purely democratic, the school is the nat ural and logical center and leader for 1 6 pushes forward the people around it push i forward.
 1 Ryan x roads has a school which 1 is credit to any small town and su- perior to what many of them have. A modern $40O0 building has been com pleted this year and four teachers are employed. The old two-room building was too good to be thrown aside so 1t was repaired and turned into a nice home for the principal. Plans are under way to make this an accredited high school, which will probably be done next l year.
 | An interesting story could be written l of the efforts put forth to construct the 1 building, but it can be briefly told by | saying that everyone was reached and | everyone took part. After it was about l finished some extra fixtures were needed. | To get them the School Improvement
  some cotton on part of the school land which was not in use. To do this the men did the blowing, the ladies did the hoeing and the children did the picking. Thus everyone took part
 1 To mention the School Improvement association without saying it was so active that it met regularly throughout the year would hardly be fair. Not only has this association been of benefit to the school, but it has greatly assisted ] in Red Cross, Liberty Loans and other war drives.
 l AS already mentioned. the Ryan K roads people are excellent people and everyone has taken part in the progress | made, but Joe Crawford has done the lions share of the work. He is by nature a leader which every community must have if it works as a unit and accom- l plishes great things. This school has been fortunate in employing good teaci- CTS and if they can keep thelr f esent principal, Professor George T Woodruff the future course of the school and com
 munty can be e1"s1rly seen.