The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-12-01
CHAPPELLS SCHOOL
By G.. ?. PettigreW


The story of the Chappel!s school,
is a story of pluck and progress. 1t
is chronicle Of small beginnings,
patent struggle, and final triumph.
Just when the school was fouHded
this chronicler can not state. Neither
can. the oldest inhacitant" Back in
the early seventies We find It dis
pensing knowledge from a log cabin
jus, across Lark Branch from Mr..
j. L. Watkins place. Miss Ella Watts
was the teacher, Ind she was succeed
ed by Ms; Babe" Andrews, a sister
OF Mr w. l.. Andrews, aoout 1873.
for maGy years tie school had 40
pe: :anaEt abiding place 1t migrat- :
I'd TO a po.nt on the western side of
;he Chapgejis Ferry road about oppo-
ste the site Of the frame" school
house later erected on the Boazman
prope:.y. II neyu iouHasged to the
woods IN :e*" o. the ste of Saluda
; church. Then, fl 1888 or 1889 it
emerged from its sylvan retreat and
cc:apied the ''eli" Of the more pre-
tentious building that still stands on
! the ste donated by the late J. B.
; Boazman. The main section of this
building was not built until about
1901 and II parted with the "ell'
several years ago. The late, John R.
Scurry was chairman OF the Soard of
trustees when it was erected and it
was then considered model district
school hoase Bat in few years the
growing needs and advancing educa-
t!onal standards Of the community
rendered it obsolete and trustees and
patrons began planning for q better
day.
In 1913 the present commodious
structure Of brick, in Greek Colonial
style, was completed and occupied.
1t is modern and in every essential
particular up to date. There are
. four spacious class rooms with cloak
rooms en- first floor, two class rooms
and q chapel or auditorium suitable
for community assemblies on the sec
ond ficor. al lighted by acetyline.
The cornerstone contains the names.
Of a. ?. Coleman. J. L. Watkins and
". 0. Holloway as trustees and E.
II. Aail and G. D. Brown, Jr., as sup
erin5endeats Of education.
VIII the new building provided,
second teacher was employed, and
the dav Of the one teacher school was
pas. Iii 1919. thanks to state aid
ard Z special tax Of 10 mills, taird
teacher was idded to the staff, and
the fourth is in prospect, let US say!
Many teachers have come and
gone. leaving their impress upon The
cc:n:funity life. Along in the SOC the
Late VI. G. Holloway, Sr., taught. Fol-
loved q intervals Mr.. Harry Jen-
n.Ggs. later an attorney of Columbia,
Mr. Townsend and Prof c. W. Moore
now of Faughnvlle 1t would seem
Tia. male teachers were preferred in
those days. Mr.. J. /. Dennis was the
!a,ti Of the line. presiding as pr:nci-
pa IN 1919-20. with Misses Louise
NtGce and Leila Culberth as assist
sr.s Last year Miss Jeanie Simkins
w&s principal with Misses Anabel
Saunders and ClaYicc Fore as assist
ants. The present s:atf consist of
Miss Saunders, principal ard high
school grades. Mrs. Woodie Morri-
sctta. intermediate work, Miss Fore,
primary and music There are now
only ten grades, but the progressive
trustees, Dr. w o. Holloway, 4. P.
Collran ara Jno. B. Seurry, and the
paoIic spirited patrons are beginning
10 dream Of an accredited high
school. When that dream becomes
reality Chappells viii have entered
into its own.