The Wilmington morning star., 1946-04-21
Oldest School House In State
May Be Converted Into Museum

come again primary center of
public school progress.
This Oldest building was not
the first on the same site. AS earlv
as 1749 John Starkey had introduce
ed a bill in the provincial General
Assembly providing for a free
school at New Bern. 1t was in that
same year that James Davis set
up at that town, under Assembly
subsidy, the first printing press
in North Carolina, which soon
made possible the first pamphlet,
first book and first newspaper of
the province.
Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs
frequently urged the need of bet
ter schools and more schoolmas-
tiers in North Carolina. Largely
due to the untiring efforts of the
Rev. James "Parson'' Reed, mis-
sionary Of the Society for the Pro-
pagation of the Gospel at New
Bern, a public school was opened
at New Bern Jan. l 1894, with
Thomas Tomlinson as the first
schoolmaster.
On March 9, 1894, the General
Assembly ratified an Act for
building a schoolhouse and school
masters residence in New Bern.
Reed, John Williams, Joseph Leech
Thomas Clifford Howe, Thomas
Hasten, Richard Cogdell and Rich
ard Fenner were named as its
first trustees.
A year later Reed and 80 other
prominent residents of New BERN
and the vicinity reported to Royal
Governor William Tryon, Dobbs'
successor, that the money SUBJ
scribed for blishment of a.
first public school at New Bern
had been partly spent for materials
for a school building and that
they desired Tomlinson to have
more pupils and to be able to pro-
cure an assistant.
Governor Tryon was requested
to ask the Society for the Propa-
ganda Of the Gospel to allow
yearly salary for Tomlinson, who
was reported to be endeavoring
to teach the children 'in such
branches of useful learning as are
necessary in several of the Of
fees or stations in life, and
imprint on their tender minds the
principles of the Christian re-
ligion agreeable to the establish
meat of the church of England.
Tryon wrote for this financial
supplement, and it was pledged
by the society. A Mr.. Parrot was
engaged as Tomlinson's assist
ant. On July 20, 1865, Reed, wrote
to the society in England: School
house is at length enclosed-Large
and decent Edifice for such
Young Country-45 feet in length
80 in breadth, and has already
cost upwards Of 300 pounds this
currency.
AL money for the purpose hav-
ing been expended Reed continu-
ed: II have preached and begged
in its behalf, until the suppliant
is entirely weary and charity
cold" The floors had not been
laid, and the chimneys had not
been erected. Accordingly, the
poorly-paid rector took half of
years salary from his own pocket
to send to New York for the pur-
chase of bricks.
Before the assembly from his
own church pulpit Reed kept argu-
ing for his schools completion.
Twould give me great satisfac-
ton to see little flourishing
Academy in this place. I have
this affair much at heart, and the
difficulties I have met with have
given me such uneasiness.
Modern school supporters could
have no greater task or handicaps
than did this early pioneer. But
in the same spirit of unselfish
ion, they will likely win today
devotion to the cause of educat-
as he won 100 years ago.