Recently Burned House Is Recalled
As Site Of Early Warrenton School
By J. EDWARD ALLEN
A front page story in The
Warren Record of February
tenth, 1977. recited the fact
that there had been several
fires in the Warrenton area
during the early part of the
week; and Varly yesterday
morning," the home occupied
bv Mrs. Emma Yancey at 306
Warren Street had been
destroyed by fire. At first
glance that would be a fire
story which would be of great
interest only to those directly
interested in the people
concerned: and as a matter of
history, not claiming attention.
But this writer's attention was
challenged by some of the facts
which will be given in this
story. In the napcr it Hid not
even have a separate headline.
So here we go. This writer
lived on Warren Street from
1889 until 1902, at which time
we bought the residence on
Halifax Street now occupied by
Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins. This is
no typewritten error: we lived
in the residence which faces
the burned building, north,
from 1889 until 1901. The We" is
no error. Our residence and the
building that burned were just
a few feet inside the town limit.
The stone marker was a few
feet from the corner of the
building. Our other moves
would be a part of another
story
Now we recite some
Warrenton history. The build
ing that burned on February
ninth, had been in its original
condition the Warrenton Public
School building. Yes: that is
correct. It housed the only
public school of which Warren
ton could boast. The reader
might have doubts, but it is
true. Then, one comes to ask.
How could that be? Well, one
has to remember several
things. First, since the town's
earliest days away back in the
eighteenth century. Warrenton
has had private school — some
for boys and some for girls. The
Warrenton Male Academy has
been in existence since those
early days before 1800. Mrs.
Montgomery's book. Days in
Old Warrenton" will tell the
interested reader about them
— if he can find a copy. The
literature of Warren history
tells that many were not
believers in public and free
education. The Rev. Charles
Applewhite Hill, principal of
the Warrenton Male Academy,
went to the legislature a
champion of free public
education in 1816, but there
was no powerful support and
there was not enough public
demand for it and powerful
leaders were opposed to such.
Some of the Trustees of the
Warrenton Academy are said
to have opposed public schools.
It is probable that Governor
Turner opposed them. Also, in
almost every decade. Warren
ton had good girls' schools,
which are described at length in
Mrs. Montgomery's book.
The Graham school came to
Warrenton from The Fork" and
Ridgewav in 1898, and was one
of the best college preparatory
schools in the :Aate. This writer
remembers the highly respect
ed private school of the Misses
Hawkins, as well as that of
Mrs. Pendleton and Mrs.
Twittv. Also there were the
Warrenton Female College on
the block where the I.G.A.
store now is, and the
Warrenton Female Collegiate
i
Institute which faced the west
end of Warren Street. The
reader is referred to Mrs.
Montgomery's book. Sketches
of Old Warrenton. North
Carolina." a very interesting
document which ought to be
reprinted with additions. The
private school of the Misses
Hawkins, in the southern part
of the town which was very
popular and very efficient, did
much for the culture of
Warrenton.
Thus, until about 1901,
Warrenton had only one public
school, that on Warren Street
and it was often referred to as
the Free School," in a one room
building, which with later
additions was destroyed by fire
on Fehruarv ninth. The original
school building was only one
room about twenty by
twenty-two feet. You hung
vour hat and coat on a nail on
entering. There were probably
outdoor toilets. The school got
water from a spring down the
hill south (Polk property now)
when students carried a bucket
down there. The spring still
exists.
The school session was four
months long: no more. 1 think of
some of the teachers over the
vears: Miss Maggie Hudgins.
aunt of Miss Madge of
Warrenton: The Misses Mc
Trow: and the last. Mrs. M. C.
Avcock. It is my recollection
that after the four months term
ended, my mother rer'-d the
building and taught privately:
Miss Jenkins, .vhose father was
connected with the new
Methodist Orphanage in Ral
eigh: another was D. E.
Hudgins. Miss Madge's uncle,
who went to Marion, and was
General Counsel of the
Carolina. Clinchfield and Ohio
Railroad: another. John Wilbur
Jenkins, who later was an
Editor of the Baltimore Sun
newspaper and used to come to
see us: and I think Miss Mabel
Davis. Warrenton Librarian,
was taught by her older sister,
mv mother.
And in addition to our Public
School. Warren Street itself
was not without interest in
those days of the early part of
the century. To be sure, as a
street it was just a ("art path
that led on down to the
branch" and one past The Ella
Cooper House" on the other
hill: but there was a residence
next to us which was renovated
for someone, but I do not know
the details. Then there was
only one residence on the south
side of Warren Street, which
was associated with some inte
esting history. When we lived
on the street, it was occupied
bv the McC.raw family, who
later lived on Main Street, and
the later Main Street home is
now used by Mrs. Gay the last
home toward the railroad
station.
There used to be just one
residence on the south side of
Warren Street, which has some
interest for us now. It was
originally called the John
Wilson place. It was built about
1850 by John Wilson, who later
went to Wilson's Mills, Johnson
County. Soon after 1880, a Mr.
Boyd, from Clarksville. Va„
occupied this resident. Mr.
Bovd was the editor of a
newspaper here, about which
we do not have any details. And
in the later eighties. Mr. Boyd
went to Covington. Tennessee,
and made his residence there.
And here is an interesting
story. Mr. Boyd s eldest
daughter was Mrs. Frances
Boyd Calhoun. And Mrs.
Caihoun was the author of a
book which became quite
popular and was widely read.
the title being Miss Minerva
and William Green Hill." I„ this
writers boyhood, practically
everybody wanted to read
about Miss Minerva and Billy
Green Hill. It was really very
entertaining; her character
Billy Green Hill was enjoyed
and laughed at by thousands of
readers. But it has to be related
that Mrs Calhoun died before
the book became well known.
After Mr. Boyd went to
Tennessee, Mary reaped some
of the profits from the book.
The book is in this writer's
library. It has to be related that
very soon an author of
Richmond. Va.. a Mrs.
Sampson, wrote some books
using the same characters
published by a Chicago
publisher, which were profit
able to her. But Mrs. Calhoun,
the originator of Billy Green
Hill, lived on Warren Street
south side. That Warrenton
residence still stands.
We must not forget a
resident of the north side of
Warren Street. John Plummer
was for many years the Captain
of the Warrenton colored Fire
Company; and in manv fires did
they work valiantiv. The
Company was organized after
the biggest of Warrenton fires,
that of June 21. 1881; which
totally destroyed the two
blocks between Rose's Store
and the Record office.
First HP Class
Had Local Woman
Mrs. Emma Lewis Whitaker
Hoskins of Warrenton. has
been named "Golden Panther"
by High Point College in
recognition of the fiftieth
anniversary of her graduation
from her alma mater.
She was a member of the
first class to graduate from
High Point College, founded in
1924. The Class of 1927 has
twelve members, most of whom
attended the reunion at the
College on Feb. 5.
Mrs. Hoskins is a retired
teacher.
She was among the 124
students who arrived in High
Point on Sept. 14. 1924 to
participate in the opening of the
new college. High Point College
now has over a thousand
students and is related to the
United Methodist Church.
Liquidation Sale
• GROCERIES • BEER • WINE
All Items To Be Sold
30% OFF Retail Price
SALE IS FEB. 9-25 from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Daily
Warren Plains Market
Warren Plains N. C.
NOTICE
Warren Academy, Inc.
Admissions Policy
Warren Academy accepts
applications on a
non-discriminatory basis.
For Further Information:
Phone or Write
Warren Academy, Inc.
P. 0. Box 676
Warrenton, N. C. 27589
Phone: 257-3556
BOBBY'S
2 Miles South Of Louisburg
Highway 401
OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK
9 A.M. — 7 P.M.
SUNDAYS 1—6 P.M.
Specializing In
MEN'S, BOYS' AND LADIES' CLOTHING
MEN'S & BOYS' DRESS AND WORK SHOES J
Junior Project
Suggestions Made
The February meeting of the
Town "N Country Garden Club
met at "The Flame" with Mrs.
Sophese Hawkins, presiding.
Members of the newly
organized Junior Garden Club.
"The Rudding Roses." were
invited quests.
Following a business session.
Mrs. Gertrude Hawkins pre
sented objectives, guidelines,
program activities and sug
gested projects for the Junior
Garden Club.
A Valentine motif comple
mented the decor and added a
spirit of warmth to the
occasion. Mesdames Annie Mae
Alston and Georgia Exum
hosted the meeting for Mrs.
Edna Harris who was unable to
attend due to illness in her
family. They served a delicious
assortment of Valentine dain
ties.
Junior members present
were Monica Rurchette,
Deborah Neelv. Lisa Raker.
Germaine Hawkins. Rosa Rob
inson. Jean Williams and
Esther Williams.
Other Town 'N Country
Garden Club members in
attendance were Mrs. Cora
Hawkins, Mrs. Mary Powell,
and Mrs. Sally Rrown.
| Tips To Help You
"Music produces a kind of
pleasure which human nature
cannot do without," Confucius
said 2,500 years ago. Today,
much of our music comes from
sophisticated audio compo
nent systems.
Betore you replace your old
record player, make sure you
take the time to listen to a high
fidelity componenHyitem
Hawkins Pupils
Named On Lists
The honor rolls for the
second nine-week grading
period and for the first
semester were released this
week by Hawkins Junior High
School Principal James Wilker
son.
Attaining grades of 90 or
better during the second nine
weeks were Tony Ayscue,
Margaret Foster. Billy Perkin
son and Davii^ Richardson of
the seventh grade and eighth
graders Gretchen Aycock,
Svlvia Carroll. James T.
Fleming, Thomas Fleming,
Glenda Hawkins, Mark Lynch.
Wallica Howard. Scott O'Neal,
Tammv Roberts, Milvett
Simms. Sabrina Williams and
Zanet Williams.
Named to the first semester
honor roll were Tony Ayscue.
Davis Collier, Patricia Rran
nock. Margaret Foster, Billy
Perkinson and Jean Williams.
Eighth graders on the first
semester list were Gretchen
Aycock. Sylvia Carroll, James
T. Fleming, Thomas Fleming.
Diane Francisco, Glenda Hawk
ins. Alice Hawkins. Wallica
Howard, Jan Jordan. Mark
Lynch. Scott O'Neal. Tammy
Roberts. Milvett Simms. Fave
Stallings. Sabrina Williams and
Zanet Williams.
No ninth grade students
were included in either list.
Mrs. Neal Fetes
Young Students
Mrs. Clinton Neal entertain
ed her kindergarten class and
friends at a Valentine party on
Monday afternoon with Susie
Davis, Jason I'ittman and
Rudolph Davis as co-hostesses.
Mrs. Fthel Hudgins and Mrs.
Ann Bolton assisted in serving
the punch and valentine
cookies.
Attending were Mary Fran
ces Dodd. DeAnn Earp. Lisa
Harris. Ann Manning. Jason
Pitt man. Jamie West. Kristie
Crosswhite. Jack Williams.
Kristie Robertson. Rudolph
Kilian. Rebecca Crouch. Susie
Davis. Kristin Young. Sarah
Pavnter. Brad Jones and Susie
Dailv.
A thousand peaks rise above
10,000 feet in Colorado.
Happenings At John branam
By KAREN HILUARD
On Monday when the
morning bulletin was distribut
ed with NO announcements, it
was a rare day at John Graham
and was attributed to the
midwinter-doldrums. Things
have gradually picked up since
Monday though, with everyone
enjoying the warmer weather
and anxiously anticipating the
arrival of spring.
Mrs. L. G. Hawkins accom
panied students from her
English classes to the Cardinal
Theater in Raleigh. Tuesday
morning, to view a Shakespear
ean play. "Macbeth."
Everyone at John Graham is
very proud of the Varsity
Raskptball Teams which were
both ranked first in the Tar
River Conference this year.
Roth teams played with spirit
and enthusiasm throughout the
entire season.
The Tar River Conference
play-offs began Monday night
WA Students
Left Off List
The names of six students
were omitted from the six-week
honor roll at Warren Academy
released last week by Head
master Rennie L. King.
Students who should have
been included on the list for the
fifth grading period were Jule
Ranzet. Tracev Fowler and
Gtna Phillips of the fifth grade,
seventh graders Margaret Ross
and Sreda Steed and ninth
grader John Rurgess.
in Louisburg when the Norlina
(firIs defeated the Louisburg
girls and the Bun boys defeated
the Franklin ton boys.
Tuesday night the John
Graham Lady Jackets played
the Norlina Lady Waves and
the John Graham boys played
the Bunn boys. (Winners were
not known at this writing.)
Wednesday night at 7 p. m.,
it will be the Bunn girls versus
the Franklin girls. At 8:30 p. m.
the Norlina boys will compete
with the Louisburg boys.
No games will be played
Thursday night. The FINALS
will head the schedule for
Friday night at 7 p. m. All
games will be at the Louisbu.g
High School Gymnasium and
admission is $2 for adults.
District Play-Offs will begin
February 21 (next Monday) at
Millbrook High School in
IVBICIK11 * * ovuuvuva M11U
faculty have faith in the Jackets
and hope to find them in the
District play-offs next week.
All the way Jackets!
Thanks goes out to the John
Graham Cheerleaders and their
sponsor. Mrs. Hall, for the
great Pep Rally last Friday.
The Cheerleaders have worked
very hard this year and deserve
much credit for all of the life
that they have brought to the
JG Spirit. "Thanks!"
There has been much
sickness this winter and it has
not missed visiting John
Graham. Everyone would like
to wish cheer and get well
greetings to Mrs. Laonipon and
Mrs. Virginia Levister who
have been ill and in the
hospital. We miss them very
much and hope that they will
soon be back with us.
Dr. P. R. Reddy
would like to announce the opening
of his office for the practice of
internal medicine.
Medical Arts Building, Henderson.
Phone 492-6127.
Office hours by appointment.
WE BUY J§
Continental
Standing Timber Woodlands
Pine or Mixed Pine end Hardwood
By The Unit Or By The Boundary
If You Are Interested In Selling A Tract Of Timber. 30 Acres Or
Larger, Please Call Us Collect At Ouf Procurement Office Nearest
Vou. Or Write Continental Forest Industries, Inc.
Louisburg 496 2700 P.O. Box 385
Katesv.lle Woodyard 496 5294 Franklinton, N.C. 27525
Norltna Woodyard 456-2611