The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1960-06-30

The Old
Log
Schoolhouse
photo by
L. J. Beachy)
by Ross c. burst

Several interesting accounts OF
the old Compton School have al
ready appeared in previous is
sues of The Glades Star Since
this is one of the few authentic
log schoolhouses still standing in
its original location, it seems to
deserve some further attention. If
an attempt is to be made to pre-
serve it, it must be done soon.
In the court house in Cumber-
land is the record of a deed issued
by Elizabeth and David Compton
to the School Commissioners of
Allegany County, Md. The date is
Oct 20, 1868. This was few
months after the Battle of Get
tysburg and 10 years before Gar
rett County was born.
The description of the lot to be
conveyed is as follows: Begin
ming at a chestnut tree standing at
the County Road leading from
Grantsville to Swauger's Mill at
point where the Glade Road
crosses said County Road and
running thence w. &C #. to a stone;
thence S. 88 it, to a stone; thence
E. &c fit. to a stone; thence by
straight line to the point of be-
ginning.
The consideration was $40. This
might seem to be a small sum to
pay for a school lot but it must
be borne in mind that the lot
was small, containing only 10 of
an acre. This figures out to nearly
$50 per acre; surely a good price
for farm land in 1868. 1t suggests
the possibility that the log build
ing was already in existence. AL
though not mentioned in the deed,
it is possible that the COmptons
were to continue living in the
building until the School Com
missioners were ready to use it
as a school after the close of the
Civil War.
David Compton died Aug. IA,
1866 His son, Ross Compton and
his bride, Martha Engle lived in
the building. Possibly the big
Compton farmhouse was not yet
completed Their daughter, Anna
da Compton, married Daniel En-
low. She is still living in Akron,
Ohio and has repeatedly told the
writer that she was born i'll the
old log building. However, when
she reached school age, she at
tended school in the same build |
ing in which she was born. This |
would indicate that the building |
was taken over for school pur-
poses some time between her |
birth (1872) and 1873.
To the list of teachers of the |
Compton School can be added an
other name. Rev. Lawrence Green |
of Stockton, Calf, remembers !
that his first teacher was Ger
trude Hone. This was probably +,
about 1889.
On Aug. 5, 1901, the Board of |
Education of Garrett County pur-
chased from Arnold jenkins a p !
acre tract along the same road !
but more than a mile further /
north toward Grantsville and more |
centrally located. A frame build |
ing was built. The lot was carved |
out of an old grant known as the |
Mars Hill Tract. The name of the
school was accordingly changed |
from the Compton School to the
Mars Hill School.
One of the first to teach at the
new location was Lawrence Green
who had spent his school years
at the old site. l taught there dur
ing the school year of 1901. 1t
was my last one-room school and
also my largest enrolment. If my
memory serves me correctly we
had So students during the year.
The building was literally burst
ing at the seams.
Early in February 1911 we held
school entertainment" on
Friday night. A deep snow lay
on the ground and the tempera-
ture was frigid. People came in
sleds and sleighs from all direc-
tions. The program consisted OF
the usual recitations, declarations,
music both oral and instrumental