Newspapers / The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.) / July 2, 1993, edition 1 / Page 4
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The News-Herald, Friday, July 2,1993 Cooper served as R.L Vann principal for 38 years Jenkins led Ahoskie blacks' educational opportunities By Clarence S. Newsome Centennial Education Committee Sources of information about ed ucational opportunities for Negroes in Ahoskie during the post-Civil War era until 1892 are inconsistent at best. However, it is conclusive that a one-room schoolhouse was built at Catherine Creek Road and Hayes Street. Whether Van Butler or Miles Hall was the first teacher or princi pal is one inconsistency uncovered in the research. Writing about the "Ahoskie Col ored School” in the Parker Brothers' book The Ahoskie Era of Hertford County in 1939, H.D. Cooper, principal from 1934-72, said, "For many of the facts dealing with the early education of Negroes in Ahoskie, we are indebted to Mr. William Hawley Jenkins, who served on the School Committee for 41 years, being chairman for 30 years." This source of information pro vides the basis for much of the his torical content that follows. First school erected In 1892, under Superintendent John Vann, the county assumed re sponsibility for the operation of the Ahoskie Colored School. A build ing was erected. An all-Negro committee of Jenk ins, Preston Newsome and James Jenkins was named to replace a pre vious three-man committee that in cluded one white man, Richard Hayes, and two Negroes, Jobe Newsome and March Holloman. The committee employed teachers and conducted all of the school's business for 20 years. In 1933, the committee was abol ished by the legislature when it in augurated a district plan. The one-story building was re placed with a two-story building in 1899 to accommodate the increas ing Negro population because of the development of Ahoskie as a commercial center and the increased concern of parents to have better education opportunities for their children. School bell preserved The large school bell that was used at that building is now en shrined on the campus of R.L. Vann School on Holloman Avenue as a result of a project by the North Carolina Junior Historians, who were students at the school. Principals who followed Miles Hall were Tony Sessoms, Norfleet Scssoms, Martha Sessoms, Charlie Lewter, Mrs. Mary E. Sills, Paul Jenkins, Marcellus Newsome, the Rev. P.J. Vann and Joe Gay. During World War I, the N.C. Department of Education conducted a campaign to place at least one high school in each county for Ne gro children and they were known as training schools. The stale agreed to subsidize the schools as long the counties furnished buildings, equipment and operating funds. Principal H.D. Cooper served as Robert L. Vann School prinicipal for 38 years. With C.S. Yeates as principal from 1920-26, the people of Ahoskie wanted a school under this plan. Five acres of land, three-quar ters of a mile northwest of the orig inal site, was purchased from Dr. Jesse H. Mitchell. Subsequently, the building, which by this time had a two-room addition, was moved in 1920 to the new site, the present location of the south end of the original primary building on the Vann School cam pus. With the status of county train ing school, the school was ex panded with two more buildings and another for agriculture. The school term was doubled to eight months, and high school classes were taught. George Allen, a musician, taught several students to play the piano and other instruments, and a small band was formed. James L. Walker taught agriculture classes. School bus bought After three years, however, the county training school was moved to Winton to be a part of Waters Normal Institute, which was sup ported by the West Chowan Baptist Association. Because of the move, parents of Ahoskie high school students had to purchase the first school bus to transport Negro children to Winton. In the meantime, the school in Ahoskie became know as the Ahoskie Graded School for primer through seventh grade. The Rev. Claude F. Wilder was principal from 1926-34. H.D. Cooper then became princi pal and served until 1972. During his tenure several buildings were constructed and organizational plans evolved. Congratulations, Ahoskie • A Full Service Insurance Agency • Many Years of Insurance Experience • Dedicated to Personal and Professional Service • Specialist in Transportation Risks Larry Wynns • Jewel Wynns • Elsie Thompson Wynns Insurance Agency, Inc. "Where Your Savings Help Your Dollars to Grow" We are proud to be a part of Ahoskie's Financial Community for 40 years! Since 1953 TRI-COUNTY CREDIT UNION 107 East First street Ahoskie 332-4413 In 1934-35, a one-story brick building with 12 classrooms, an auditorium and a principal's office was constructed. In 1937-38, a high school unit was constructed with nine class rooms. From 1938-41, the school was known as the Ahoskie High School for the Colored Race. The first class graduated in 1939 with diplomas from a state-accredited high school. During that first year, the basket ball team, coached by J.W. Futrell Jr., won the Northeastern champi onship at Elizabeth City; and the chorus, directed by I. Sherman Greene, tied for state honors in Durham. In the spring of 1940, Ahoskie students ranked first in district ex ams at Elizabeth City. School is renamed In 1941-42, the school was re named for Robert Lee Vann in honor of the owner and published of the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the leading Negro newspapers of the country. Vann was born Aug. 29, 1879, in Ahoskie. The school col ors became maroon and gold, and the mascot became the Trojans. In 1942-43, the 12ih grade was adekd. To eliminate the possibility of the basketball team from playing on outdoor courts or in a ware house, the school and community joined in 1946 to construct a gym nasium, a frame building with white asbestos siding. Although it never had dressing rooms, showers or toilets, many exciting and victo rious games were played and physi cal education classes held during its 32-year existence. A one-story brick building was constructed in 1947-48, largely through the effort of J.L. Faulcon, the agriculture teacher. Later, in 1965-69, a steam-operated cannery was installed for the preservation of locally grown fruits and vegetables The 1950-51 school term in cluded the hiring of W.E. Bowser as the first football coach at R.L. Vann. The same year Clifton Epps was added as band director, and the first school yearbook was pub lished. In 1953, a six-classroom, brick building was constructed on the very spot where the first two-story, frame building was located from 1920-34. In 1959, additional class-, rooms and a cafeter» were added to the north side of the primary build ing to accommodate more students. As a result of the "freedom-of- choice” plan of integration in 1968, several black students attended for merly all-white schools in Ahoskie, but no while students enrolled at R.L. Vann at any level. A historic era came to a close in the spring of 1970 at the last of 31 Robert L. Vann High School commencement exercises. R.L. Vann School teachers Among the teachers in the late 1940's at Robert Monk, B.B. Riddick, Mrs. M.C. Newsome, Mrs. L. Vann School in Ahoskie were (clockwise, D.H. Taylor, Mrs. R.M. Manley and Mrs. E.K. from left front) Mrs. L.B. Patterson, J.A. Page, Pierce. (Photo courtesy of Clarence S. New- Mrs. L.B. Porter, Mrs. M.S. Parker, Mrs. E.H. some) jUiiiiHi More Vann School teachers Other teachers in the late 1940's at Robert L. V. Jenkins Newsome Yeates. Mrs. Dessie Weaver Vann School in Ahoskie were (clockwise, from and Mrs. India White. Today the school houses left) Mrs. Henrietta Yeates, Edward Hunter, Mrs. Ahoskie's fourth- and fifth-graders. (Photo Agnes Weaver, Mrs. Georgia Weaver, Mrs. Irene courtesy of Clarence S. Newsome) Many Vann School graduates achieved excellence in the class room and on the athletic fields, but today that success is manifested in their lives as strong forces for the improvement of humanity in com munities throughout the world. After desegregation The 1970-71 school year was the first for total integration in Hertford County schools. R.L. Vann School was reorganized to include grades 5- Cooper retired as principal on June 30,1972 and was succeeded by Clarence S. Newsome. The school again was reorganized to include the fourth and fifth grades in the Ahoskie district. In 1973, kindergarten classes, as part of the ESEA Title I program, were added. In 1975, classes in spe cial reading and special mathematics were added along with a resource center for children with learning problems. In 1977, the kindergarten classes became state supported and were re located at Ahoskie Graded School. Newsome retired as principal on June 30, 1983, and was succeeded by Ray Parker until 1988. Mrs. Brenda Tinkham was principal for one year and was succeeded by the current principal, Harvey Jones Jr. We Offer Services No Other Pharmacy Offers Our patients know that they can depend on us for quality service. We will answer their questions, spend time with them and are always available. We are always concerned about the patient's needs. •Free Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Screening •Senior Citizen & Children Under 6 Discount •We fiie your insurance claims •Counseling. 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The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.)
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July 2, 1993, edition 1
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