Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-08-30
BOONE HAS A
NOTED SCHOOL
The Appalachian Institution at Boone
Although Comparatively Young
Has Accomplished Much.
(Fred A. Olds.)

An interesting, though very strong
state institution which in spite of it's
youth has wrought a great work in
mountain North Carolina and been
helpful in other sections, is the Appa-
lachian Training School at Boone.
Side by side there stand two build
ings, one Of wood which represents
what used to be Watauga Academy,
other of brick, being the first build
ing constructed for the Appalachian
Training School. Boone has only now
begun to grow, and a score of years
ago was very primitive but charming
in its site. in a circle of mountains
and in the hospitality Of it's people.
There was little village school and
in 1899 Mr.. and Mrs. D. D. Dougherty
taught, this, their salary being $25
dollars a month, sum which went
very far in those days. There were
fifty free pupils while twelve paid
a trifle for special teaching.
Then something happened, for an
inspiration came to the brothers
Dougherty, D. 2, and B. B. and they
decided to establish Watauga Acade-
my and took with them as tearhers
Mr.. J. M. Cheek Of Ailegcany, Miss
Maud Harris Of Cleveland and Mr..
W. M. Francum Of Caldwell. They
built the wooden school house which
mas been referred to and it was put
in commission TIE first day of Janu-
ary 1900, At the opening there were
only four pay students, all Of these
from Watauga, and for four months
these ard other; who came were
taught
At this juncture B. Is. ncugherty
was elected county superintendent of
Watauga, and served in this capaci-
ty eighteen years, going into every
nook and corner of the lovely coun-
~ and becoming acquainted with all
its people. This gave him great
insight into the needs of the noun
tain folk. s
In 1908 the state got a vision and
decided to establish a training school
for teachers at this point and then
and there the Appalachian Training
School was born. That year it was
decided to make the Fourth of July
a notable day and Romulus z. Linney
was wisely chosen as orator Of the
occasion: He made an address full
of fire and thought and love for his
mountain people and in the course Of
this address said: "Learning is the
handmade Of Loyalty and Liberty. A
vote governs better thaA a Crown" )"
In practical way he proved his zeal
by giving five hundred doll8ss toward
the cost of the first building for the
School. He said in his
last days that he was prouder Of
this gift than of any other that he had
ever made. Moses H. Cone, of
Greensboro and Blowing Rock, whose
grave is on lofty Flat Top Mountain
overlooking Boone and the Appalach-
ian school, gave five hundred dollars
more. The people of the village con-
tributed two thousand dollars and the
small brick building, the first Of the
group, was constructed and occupied.
That year marble slab was put over
lie door with an inscription Carrying
the words of MI: Linney which have
been quoted.
In 1903 there were 273 pupils in
he Training School, from seven coun-
ties, all in these mountains. The pub
lie school was also taught. Begin
ming in 1915, the school began to hold
a summer school and then inaugura-
ted in. the State the two term sum-
mer school. At this school it had 238
students FROM twenty one counties.
At the last term of the regular
school, which ended in May, there
were 373 students. At the two terms
Of the summer school there have been
64S, these coming from 70 counties
from the coast to the mountains.
And yet the school is only Begin
ming the large life, for in a great de-
gree, building have been primitive.
half of them wood and the only real
ly modern one is now under construc-
ton and will be finished in about nine
ty days at cost of $150,00O, con-
tanning the administrative offices, all
the classrooms and an auditorium,
though the latter is only half the size
it should be, for it's seat ng capacity
is only five hundred. The wooden
buildings are to be torn down, and
for the first time the grounds are to
be handicapped, definite place arrang
ed for the new buildings which the
State will provide, for this is bound
fo ho q lorue. inctitriti0u I0catod a. If