Maple Springs Was Among
First Consolidated Schools
By J. L. SANDERS
Maple Springs was one of the
first consolidated schools In Ma
con County. On or about the year
of 1930, the two-teacher school
of North Skeenah and the one
teacher school of South Skeenah,
were consolidated and became
known as Maple Springs School,
which was a three teacher school.
But, let's go back about a hun
dred years or more, to an old
log building, which stood in the
Btockton Cove, on what was
known then as Middle Skeenah
Creek.
This old building was or hewn
logs and had a large fire place
and puncheon seats. At this time,
for lack of sufficient Information,
the teachers can not be named.
Also, I cant say now if this school
To Our Teachers . . .
* j
We think that through the years your
kindness, patience and leadership has so in
fluenced the character of our "citizens of to
morrow" that you have contributed greatly to
the growth and progress of our County. . . .
For this we humbly say, "Thank You".
THE FRANKLIN 5 & W STORE
Many Learned
Through N.YA
Local Projects
By MRS. MARGARET ORDWAY
(County N.Y.A. Supervisor"
The National Youth Administra
tion was organized during the de
pression to assist young people
(16 to 25 years), unmarried, and
living at home.
Everyone had to be certified
by the county superintendent of
public welfare as a member of a
family eligible for W. P. A. as
was financed by the county or by
the community.
About the year 1875 or 1880.
a new log school building was
erected about a half mile further
up the creek, near the Pleasant
Hill Baptist Church. This building
had a large wood stove and
wooden benches, with backs, but
no desks. This was the building
where the writer first tackled the
rudiments of education. But not
when it first opened, as it stood
until about the year of 1920. when
I a new frame building was built
| and another teacher was added,
and modern equipment installed.
Among the teachers who taught
at this place were as follows :
from 1900. Lem Griggs. Ada
I White. Nellie Reece. Lila McPher
son, Carl Shope. Mr. Cathey,
Mary Jenkins. Carl Setser, Colonel
Stockton, E. B. Dehart, Clara
Shope, and J. L. Sanders.
On South Skeenah. the first
school house was of logs and
stood on the creek near where
Marion Thomas now lives. Later
in the early nineteenth century
a one-teacher school was built
nearby on a hill, and was a frame
building.
As mentioned in the first para
graph these two schools were con
solidated about 1930 and became
a three-teacher school. The first
teachers were Bertha Williams,
principal, Thelma Ray and Minnie
Sanders, assistants. Then for five
years, J. L. Sanders. Principal
Assistants during that time were
Leota McCrackin, Selma Henson.
Minnie Sanders, and George Car
penter. Later teachers were Kate
Shope, Glen Patton, Prank Flem
mini, and Ruth Slagle.
A few years ago, 1952, the
Maple Springs School was includ
ed in the consolidated school now
known as the Union Elementary
school.
sistance In ISM I had a waiting
list of 1(1 and hov thrilling it was
to receive appointment as county
supervisor with the notation: "You
are now empowered to proceed "
Youth were permitted to work
on town, county, state, and federal
property and I had vowed that
none would be deprived of employ
ment because of inability to reach
a project. At that time Macon
County had 98 miles of state high
ways. There were 440 miles of
secondary roads, more than half
of these designated, "unimproved."
So it was necessary to establish
work centers all over the county.
The Washington office said the
money was expended over a wider
area in Macon than any county
in North Carolina.
Nearly X>0 '
By 1942 the number employed
(white and Negro), totaled nearly
700. They worked 80 hours per
month at 20 cents per hour, "nils
does not include nearly a hun
dred pupils in county schools who
were assisted by NYA. Student
Aid. They worked under the di
rection of principals and teachers,
earning three to six dollars per
month. I was appointed "time
keeper without remuneration" to
j check, copy, and transmit the
monthly reports.
In the beginning the work pro
jects were established at a num
| ber of rural schools. There were
1 40 at that time. Eleven springs
| were enclosed and 11 drinking
; fountains erected. Ten thousand
j feet of pipe was laid from springs
to fountains. Rock walls, to stop
erosion, were constructed where
necessary and many playgrounds
were improved. Kind people in
every area provided mules or
oxen, so that we also improved
roads close to the schools.
Donates Lumber
The U. S. Forest Service donated
50 thousand feet of lumber, and
this was used to construct 54
leantos. which provided shelter
for children waiting for school
buses. The forest service also gave
the N.Y.A. logs for the Frazier
Community Center for Negroes.
This structure (later destroyed
by fire) was 30 by 70 feet and
was described as the handsomest
log building erected by the N.Y.A.
in this state.
An abandoned W.P.A. recreation
center at Horse Cove was given
to N. Y. A. This was taken down
and hauled to Otter Creek. There
it was rebuilt and named the May
Community Center.
Excellent Training
All this was excellent training
for the boys. Those who had
aptitude for wood carving received
instruction. A number of them
were taught to make looms for
the weaving centers conducted by
Noah Evans, who taught the girls
to process raw wool and to weave
beautiful materials that were high
ly praised at the Raleigh exhibits.
Sewing centers for girls were
established in a number of com
munities. During the last year of
N. Y. A. there was a sewing and
cooking center in Franklin.
Projects Stopped
Soon after the beginning of
World War II, all local projects
were discontinued. N. Y. A. War
| Industry Training Centers were
: established and many young
I people from Macon County went
; to these. As soon as they finished
the course they were assigned to
employment in big production
plants in the Piedmont and coast
al areas of North Carolina and
in Maryland and Virginia. Several
stenographers who had been as
signed by N. Y. A. to public offices
in Franklin also left to assist in
war work. Thus in 1943, the great
experiment was halted by the de
mands of war.
The inland area of the Costal
Plain rises approximately one foot
, per mile in a westerly direction.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ONE OF OUR OLDEST INSTITUTIONS ?
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MACON COUNTY
From One of the Newest Institutions
V . ' ' \
People's Department Store
, (Opening soon ? Watch for it)
F rom the days when
Macon County was
dotted with one
room schools . . .
Through today with
our fine modern
school buildings and
facilities.
Our Teachers Have Been the
Foundations of Our Schools
FOR T*IE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS DIFFICULT, BUT
INSPIRING TASK WE WISH TO EXTEND
Our Heartiest
CONGRATULATIONS
The Bank of Franklin
/ .
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
"An Educated People
Moves Freedom Forward"
This is the slogan of your organization, the National Edu
cation Association which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary.
We join the people of Macon County in saying we are proud
of the teachers of Macon County and of the work they have done
to make this great slogan come alive.
Baldwin Market
Books and Buildings Hfelp Make Good Schools but . . .
GOOD TEACHERS ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL
THING FOR GOOD SCHOOLS.
Macon County Has Been Extremely Fortunate in the Quality
of Our Teachers . . . They Have Done an Excellent Job.
CONGRATULATIONS
AND BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE
DRYMAN'S
Men's and Boys' Shop
The Heart of a Thing! . . .
At the heart of a good substantial building
there is always a good solid foundation.
At the heart of a good permanent highway
there is always a good solid road bed.
At the heart of a good strong school
there are always good solid teachers.
Through the years Macon County has had many such teachers
and they have helped to show the way to progress for our com
munities.
For You and to You, We Say,
^ ?
Thanks and Congratulations!
Macon Construction Company
Many Things Have Changed . . .
In the progress and growth of the schools in Macon County, but
children and teachers remain as the two most important elements
making up our public schools.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE TEACHERS OF MACON COUNTY
FOR THE LEADERSHIP
THEY HAVE GIVEN OUR CHILDREN
Burrell Motor Company
Chevrolet Sales-Service Oldsmobile
Phone 123 Franklin, N. C.