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The
Pictures
Where is Vaiden, Mississippi?
Education
Vaiden's
Schools
From the years 1840 to 1870, there were very few public
schools in Carroll
County. Most of them
were rural which were taught by one or two teachers lasting one to four
months in session when the teachers were not engaged in other activities.
The smaller
children were taught at home by parents, older sisters and brothers, hired
tutors or sent to a private school.
Miss Julia Sanderson had a private school in her home east of the railroad in
Vaiden. Later she taught in a building on the hill where B.W. Holmes' home
now stands. She also taught in the Vaiden
Public School.
More Information on Vaiden's
Schools
Public Schools
The first
public school was established in 1860.
It was located east of the Vaiden
Cemetery. Miss Annie
Thompson was one of the first teachers of the Vaiden Public School.
Professors McGoffin, Ford, Leighton, Adams, Carlton and Dr. T.W. Fullilove also taught.
In 1875, Dr. & Mrs. C.M.
Vaiden built a public school, the Vaiden Male and Female
Institute, to be used "solely and exclusively for educational
purposes." This school was located where the Vaiden High School
is located today. They gave to the black people the academy formerly used by
the white children.
The deed for
the Vaiden Male and Female Institute states: We designate and appoint as
trustees for life, or as long as willing to serve, the following men: W.A.
Wilson, S.C. Baines, Dr. A.J. Sanderson, S. Lichenstein, John J. Cain, W.M.
Anderson, E.C. Ely, Dr. Joseph Applewhite, Benjamin Rosenthal, Joseph Hirsh,
S.E. McConnico, Sr., B.J. Kopperl, R.R. Hawkins, D.D. Fullilove, Dr. Sam A.
Hairston. Any seven shall constitute a quorum.
Dr. Vaiden
chose Charles Henry Barksdale and his wife, Emily St. Albans Woodson
Barksdale, as the first teachers of the institute.
The institute
was accredited in 1910
with two in the graduating class: Eula Lee Cole and Joseph Herring.
In the early 1900s, this building was struck by lightning
and partially destroyed. The exterior was reinforced
and the interior reworked. Later an annex of three rooms was
added. This building was used until 1941.
Mr. Rush Weir's will of 1938 deeded the land
adjoining the Vaiden Public School (as it was now called) to the Vaiden Separate School District
and also $25,000. With this money and $15,000 more, the present Vaiden High School Building was built in 1941
under the W.P.A. Program. The old Weir house on the property west of the
school was purchased for a teacher's home. It was later used as the Principal's home, as well. The school
also provided a home for the
agriculture teacher.
Vaiden Separate
School District
was changed to a county school in 1943.
Midway, Blackmonton, Brownline, Beatty and Hebron schools were consolidated with it.
Blackhawk joined in 1956.
Until
desegregation in the mid-1960s,
Vaiden's Black High
School Students attended the North Vaiden School, now known as the
Percy A. Hathorn Public School.
Vaiden School
Will Open September 6th
The Conservative,
"Vaiden Outlook" Section, 08/20/1943. P.2., by Mrs. S.P. Armstrong
"The Vaiden
Public School will open
for the 1943-1944 session, on Monday,
September 6, at 9 a.m."
"All students are requested to report at that hour for
registration and classification."
"The public is also cordially invited to be present for the
opening and to see the new building, which is near completion and will be in
full use for this season."
"The faculty is now complete with the following teachers: F.D.
Prewitt, Principal and Math; Miss Ruth Hood, Science; Mrs. James A. Hill,
English; Miss Grace Norwood, History."
"Grammar School: Miss Grace Hatcher, 6th and 7th Grades; Mrs. Marion Ely, 4th and 5th Grades; Miss Lovie Wright, 2nd and 3rd Grades; Mrs. F.D. Prewitt; Primary and
1st Grade; Miss
Mary Haman, Hall."
Vaiden High Opens
The Conservative,
"Vaiden Outlook" Section, 09/10/1943. P.2., by Mrs. S.P. Armstrong
"The 1943-1944 session of Vaiden High School opened Monday, September 6. The worship period was in
charge of Rev. J.W. McNutt who brought out very beautifully, the need of God
and prayers in the lives of all."
"Supt. F.D. Prewitt made an interesting talk and introduced the
new teachers."
"Mr. B.W. Holmes, president of the board of trustees, made a nice
talk about the new school building."
"Misses Nell Williams and Ann Fullilove played a piano duet."
"Visitors inspected the new building before leaving."
"The spacious auditorium was filled for this opening."
School Opens Aug. 25 -- Holidays Slated
The Conservative, 08/04/1960. P.1.
Vaiden school faculty will be as follows: F.D. Prewitt, Supt.; L.C.
Kittrell, Vo. Ag.; Mrs. Vivian H. Kittrell, Home Ec.; Jack Hemphill, Coach
& Soc. Sci.; Miss Shula Armstrong, Commercial; Curtis Armstrong, English;
Miss Jo Ann Butridge, English; James Tom Dulin, Math; Miss Eva Mae Word,
Librarian; Miss Grace Hatcher, Jr. High Math & Soc. Science; Mrs. Evelyn
J. Ross, Jr. High English & Soc, Studies.
Mrs. Lillian H. Armstrong, 6th
Grade; Mrs. Birdie D. Ely, 5th
Grade; Mrs. Alice B. Cox, 4th
Grade; Miss Lovie Wright, 3rd
Grade; Mrs. Alice H. Pierce, 2nd
Grade;
Mrs. Beatrice B. Prewitt, 1st
Grade; Mrs. Martha Bowie, Public School Music. Band Director has not been
selected yet.
1960-61 school term opens on Thursday
Aug. 2 at the 3 white schools in the county. All
3 schools will
open for a period of 9
months (180
days), the first holiday being fair day in Sept. or Oct. -- Date is not
certain at this time.
Thanksgiving -- schools closed on Thurs. & Fri., Nov. 24 & 25
Christmas -- Dec. 16
- Jan 2, 1961
HEA Holidays -- 16th
& 17th of
March 1961
1960-61 school term will close on May 24, 1961
Old Landmark Removed
The Conservative,
"Vaiden Outlook" Section, 09/17/1946. P.4., by Mrs. S.P. Armstrong
"The old
building of Vaiden High School which has stood since 1875 or earlier, had been removed to
make room for a gymnasium for the new school building which was completed in 1943. With few exceptions, this
old building has stood since the childhood days of everyone in this
community."
"Supt. F.D. Prewitt has been fortunate in obtaining new equipment for
the new building -- opera chairs for the auditorium, furniture and scenery
for the stage, and a beautiful curtain. The floor in the auditorium has been
sanded and waxed and other improvements will be made before school opens in
the fall."
"The trustees, and indeed all the people of this community, are grateful
to Mr. Prewitt for his untiring efforts in behalf of the school."
"Mr. Prewitt has had sixteen years experience in school work and has
been with the Vaiden
School since 1942. He has ever had the
interest of the school and every pupil in it at heart since he has been here."
Vaiden High School was extremely competitive
in sports, with the ability to draw huge crowds, filling the football stadium or the gymnasium to capacity. Vaiden's old gym (second gym) was said to have been a
barracks or hanger at Camp
McCain. There was one
gym earlier (the school's first gym), but no pictures have been found (yet).
The third and newest gym was built in the 1970s and sits in the lot
beside the Band Hall.
Note: Some of the Band Pictures
were Damaged. Please be patient. . .better ones are coming soon.
Vaiden High School
Band Ratings
The Vaiden
High School Band rated
good against strong competition of larger schools.
Drum Major, Linda Jones, rated 2; Student Director, Alice Shands,
Rated 2; The Band
rated as follows: Marching, 2;
Inspection, 2;
Concert, 3; Sight Reading, 3. Congratulations to our Band !
Source: The Conservative
[Vaiden Outlook Section], April
15, 1965. P.3.
Vaiden High School
Pictures -- April, 2000
Picture 5 -- Picture 6 -- Picture 7 -- Picture 8
Football Field Looking West
# 1 -- Football Field Looking West
# 2
The following have served as
principals:
Col. C.H. Barksdale -- 1875-1881
J.S. Colmery -- 1881-1882
J.E. Hopkins -- 1882-1883
C.W. Lynch -- 1883-1885
Capt. Lee -- 1885-1886
W.N. Bridges -- 1886-1887
R.B. Smith -- 1887-1888
Sam Sanderson -- 1888-1889
W.W. Woodson -- 1889-1901
T.L. Mitchell -- 1901-1903
M.B. Potter -- 1903-1905
Robert Bailey -- 1905-1910
J.R. Bingham -- 1910-1912
E.B. Allen -- 1912-1916
Mr. Sumrall -- 1916-1918
J.L. White -- 1918-1919
G.L. Breschler -- 1919-1924
Mr. Hellen -- 1924-1925
W.C. Grayson -- 1925-1929
Dewey Denton -- 1929-1930
Mr. Melvin -- 1930-1931
C.W. Pullen -- 1931-1939
Frank Louis Hawkins -- 1939-1940
Frank D. Prewitt -- 1940-1967
Curtis Armstrong -- 1967-1973
Jerry O'Briant -- 1973
James M. Alford -- 1973
C.G.
Gaston -- 1974-1975
Billy Joe Ferguson -- 1975-1999
Serving as able
assistants to these superintendents were several Vaiden Ladies who served
many years:
Miss Mary Haman -- Entire teaching
career of about 60
years was spent in Vaiden.
Served under two former pupils:
C.W. Pullen and Frank Hawkins.
Miss Lovie Wright -- about 40 years
Mrs. Alberta Grantham (J.W.) Conger -- about 10 years
Miss Annie Dora Wright (wrote The
Wright Way to Write;
adopted for Mississippi
textbook) -- about 15
years
Miss Magdalene Armstrong -- 15 years
Miss Maggie Sanderson -- 20 years
Mrs. Shula Armstrong (P.A.) Bennett -- 31 years
Mrs. Evelyn Jones (J.K.) Ross -- 32 years
Miss Grace Hatcher -- 34 years
Mrs. Lillie Hatcher (A.L.) Armstrong -- 16 years
Mrs. Alice Herring (C.A.) Pierce -- 21 years
Miss Eva Mae Word -- 11 years
Mrs. Winnie Bennett (E.H.)
Davison -- 14
years
Mrs. Ruby Seale (S.C.) Spencer
-- 15 years
Mrs. Alice Cox -- tenure n/a
Others teaching for several years
were:
Mrs. Minnie Austin (J.O.)
Cearley
Mrs. Susie Huffman (J.S.) Tucker
Mrs. Jeanette Smith (C.H.) Butt
Miss Ruth Smith
Rufus Smith
S.E. McConnico, Jr.
Mrs. Dot Vaiden (George) Harris
Mrs. Tennie McEachern (L.W.)
Herring
Mrs. Mary Conger (J.E.) Phillips
Mrs. Edith Fullilove (L.W.)
Kitchens
Dr. James Thomas "Tom" Dulin
Mrs. Beatrice Bell (F.D.) Prewitt was
not a native, but spent 26
years here teaching the first grade.
Mrs. Martha McCreary (Lamar) Bowie of West
taught music for many years.
Miss Emily
Fullilove and Mrs. Willie Boyette (James) Hunter were Vaiden natives who
never taught here, but were devoted teachers for many years in other
localities.
Faculty and Staff
Like a lot of
their peers, Vaiden High School teachers were
extremely versatile and well adapted to teaching various classes. As an
example, listed below is a compilation from 1963-1970
of all the teachers and other positions in the Vaiden School.
It is a list of classes taught and teacher's names only. The year(s)
attributed to the teacher and class is not listed. All descriptions are based
on the Vaiden High School Yearbook.
County Superintendent:
Godfrey Campbell
School Board:
W.C. Miskelly, E.W. Moore, Ralph Redditt, Douglas Moore, Vernon Welch, H.P. Mullen
Board of
Supervisors: Claude Lott, W.C. (Monkey) Welch, Percy Corder, George Galey,
Cecil Herbert
Clerk: Mina H.
Gee
Sheriff: M.
Bennett
Attorney: Mack
L. Boykin
Engineer:
Arthur Goodman
Bus Drivers (does not include Student Bus
Drivers): Milton Bailey, Tom Montague, Wilson Davis, James Devine, Claude Cox, Earl Daves, Carl Lott, Dub
Ellis, Charlie Fullilove, Albert Welch
School
Custodians: Tom Lockhart and Curtis Greer
Lunchroom Ladies: Claire Montague,
Gladys Cox, Alma Rogers, Ruby Pullen, Lyn. C. Hodges
Principals:
Frank Prewitt, Curtis Armstrong
Secretaries: Mrs. Alva Hodges, Linda McBride, Carolyn Armstrong, Lillian (Randle) Donovan, Frances Jenkins
First Grade:
Mrs. F.D. Prewitt, Lillie Armstrong, Alice Lipscomb, Betty Miller, Carol Jo Cannon
Second Grade:
Lillie Armstrong, Eva Booker,
Evelyn Ross, Alice Pierce
Third Grade: Joyce Raby, Louise Holmes, Mary L. Hambrick, Lillie Armstrong, Ernestine Stacy
Fourth Grade:
Alice Cox, Louise Holmes, Judy Mayfield
Fifth Grade: Shirley Hemphill, Sylena Jones, Joan McClellan, Jackie Nabors
Sixth Grade:
Grace Hatcher, Gladys Hatcher,
Lillie Armstrong, Sylena Jones, Mrs. Vicy Ammons
Seventh Grade:
Evelyn Ross, Farris Jenkins
Seventh Grade
Spelling: Brenda Farrish
Seventh Grade
English: Brenda Farrish
Eighth Grade:
Grace Hatcher
Eighth Grade
Spelling: Charles McBride
Jr. High: Grace
Hatcher, Jack Hemphill
Biology: James
Alford
Physics: Tom
Dulin
Social Science:
Jack Hemphill
Band: Bob Esterline, W.B. Oswalt
Study Hall: Eva
May Word
Family
Relations: Barbara Holley
Occupational
Orientation: Drew Lenard
Agriculture: Joe Taylor, Robert Holley, E.P. Raby
Tom Evans and Robert Holley at the Vaiden School Reunion
at the Vaiden Baptist Church, Saturday, August 1, 2009
FFA Motto: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to
Live, Living to Serve”
FFA Creed: “To practice
brotherhood, honor rural opportunities and responsibilities,
and develop those qualities of leadership
which a Future Farmer should possess.”
History of the 4-H Club -- Symbols of the 4-H Club
[NOTE:
Vaiden 4-H Members are Harold Stanton (3rd from left) and Wallace
Welch (4th from left)]
Photo
Scan Courtesy of Carla Smith Thomas
FHA Motto: “Toward New Horizons”
Home Economics: Fay Murphy, Barbara Holley, Rose Ann Miller
Business: Martha Noland
English: Jerry Tate, Jean Taylor, Bernard Taylor, Charles McBride, Curtis Armstrong
Commerce:
Martha Noland, Shula Armstrong
History: W.B. Montague, Mary L. Hambrick, James Whitehead Jr.,, Jean Taylor, Grace Hatcher, Kenneth Weeks,
Frank McClellan, Hugh Shearer
Science: James Alford, Billy J. Ferguson,
Alfred Laney, Percy Miller, Jerry O'Briant, Joe Taylor
Government:
Martha Bowie, Grace Hatcher
Math: Alfred Laney, Melvin Stacy, Linda Darnell, Tom Dulin, James Alford, Jerry
O'Briant, Grace Hatcher
Music: Martha
Bowie, Lillian (Randle) Donovan, James Persons, Bernard Taylor
Librarians: Johnnie Flanagan, Brenda Farrish, Linda McBride, Eva May Word
Coaches: Billy
J. Ferguson, Percy Miller,
Jerry O'Briant, Kenneth Weeks, Frank McClellan, Hugh Shearer, W.B. Montague, James Whitehead,
Jr., Jack Hemphill, Curtis Armstrong, Farris Jenkins
The County Superintendents of Education elected
from Vaiden were: B.F. Wiley, Sr. -- 1892-1895,
D.D. Fullilove, III -- 1916-1924 (Administration was highlighted by
Mr. Fullilove's ability to consolidate schools. (Information from W.P.A.
Records, Vol. 4,
p. 338, Mrs.
Charles Duke)) and G.G. Bennett -- 1924-1936 (Further consolidation of schools.
Handled Rosenwald Funds.)
Other
than some of those listed above, the 1954 Vaiden Yearbook lists the following teachers:
Miss Lovie Wright -- Third Grade
Mrs. Santa Garrett -- English, Spelling, Reading
Mr. Clarence Pierce -- History
Miss Jane May -- Commerce
Mr. Billy Lewis -- Math and Science
Mr. Lewis Kittrell -- Agriculture
Mr. Pete Garrett -- History, Science, Coach
Mrs. Birdie Ely -- Fifth Grade
Mrs. Martha Bowie -- Public School Music
Miss Christine Carithers -- Homemaking
Vaiden's Plays
(More Coming Soon)
Do You Trust Your Boyfriend? -- 1969 Cast
Special Thanks to Wayne Strahan
for the scans of the 1954
Vaiden Yearbook Photos
Excellence in Education
Consolidation with J.Z. George
Another Consolidation Article
Vaiden's Last Graduation – 1999
What's Left of Vaiden High School
-- October, 2000
Image 1 -- Image 2 -- Image 3 -- Image 4
Image 5 -- Image 6 -- Image 7 -- Image 8
Image 9 -- Image 10 -- Image 11 -- Image 12
Image 13 -- Image 14
North Vaiden School/Percy A.
Hathorn Public School
Hathorn School Closure Issue – February, 2006 – CLICK HERE
The North
Vaiden Public School/Percy Hathorn Public School
was formerly known as Vaiden
Jr. High School
and then as Vaiden Negro High School. In the 1950s, it was located on the hill by
the Vaiden Cemetery, but around 1957,
the students were later moved to a new building and a new
location on the east side of Highway 51 North between Vaiden and the Roadside
Park. Mr. Percy Hathorn became the Principal in 1955. In the early to mid late 1960s, the old building located by the cemetery
was moved to the west side of Highway 51
North, on the same location as the softball field and across from the new
school, and was used for many years as the Vaiden Community Center, where the
author of this website and several of his friends spent many Saturday nights
making music in our rock & roll band, Coldfire. Mr. Hathorn
possessed a quality of leadership, dignity, and concern that is rare in
today's society. In 1956,
a certain 2 1/2 year-old, who shall remain
nameless, lived several hundred yards from the old school when it was located
by the Vaiden Cemetery. While his mother and father
were busy in the garden, this little boy discovered that his favorite cat was
missing. Convinced that the cat had headed toward the school, the child left
home in a vain attempt to rescue the poor feline. While Mr. Hathorn was
teaching school, he heard someone crying. The little boy had crawled under
the schoolhouse looking for the cat. Not finding it there, he burst into the
classroom, crying for his "kitty cat." Mr. Hathorn, sympathetic for
the plight of the youngster decided that, rather to keep the screaming child,
it would be best to take him home. As he put me, uh, the child into the car,
he was met with stiff opposition. A truce was arranged only after Mr. Hathorn
let the child sit in his lap and steer the car on the way home. The little
boy never forgot Mr. Hathorn's concern and patience, especially with a 2 1/2 year-old behind the wheel. Thank You,
Mr. Hathorn.
Photos of Site where the
original Vaiden Negro School
stood on the hill by the Vaiden
Cemetery.
Photo
1 Photo
2 Photo
3
The following are teachers and
teacher's aides who have worked under the administration of North Vaiden
School.
Teachers
Victoria
Jackson, Irma Cunningham, Mary L. Hart, Lena Lockhart Berry, Millie Porter,
Robert Berry, Henry Stephens, Frances Henry, Sue S, George, Katie M. Trotter,
Barbara N. Gray, Christiana Smith, Ann Crawford, Willie E. Elliott, Lincoln
Shields, George L. Murph, Benjamin Nichols, Mattie Pinkney, Mildred Ellis,
Joyce Robert, Lucille Wingarde, James Nimox, Mattie M. Murff, Louise Holmes,
Albert Cuomo, Deloise Parker, Bobby Hill, Tommie Arrington, Jerry O'Briant,
J.O. Baskin, Ed Bowles, James Alford, James Hoskin, Omeria Hathorn, J.
Mallett, Heanette Epps, Joe Richmond, C.C. Cummings, Bertha Williams, James
G. George, Laura T. Reeves, Maxine Smith, Shirley Anderson, Margaret T.
Elliott, R.V. Anderson, Charles Lyncy, Bill D. Williams, Laura Mattox, Ruthia
Purnell McKenzie, Ollie M. Rush, Robert Williams, Dora D. Truss, Lillie
Armstrong, Alice W. Brown, Sylena Jones, Maryland Franklin, LaDonna Hathorn,
Clearance Hill, Minnie Arrington, Otis Morris, J.C. Morgan, Rossvelt Grantham,
Lesly Johnson, Rosamary M. Malcou, James Bibbs, Johnnie Howard, Sammie
Hemmingway, Alice Cox, Geneva Honeysucker, Lizzie Honeysucker, Wilma Ritcliff
Mason, Corrine Cole, Gladys McCaskill, John Honeysucker, Charlotte McCarley.
Teachers employed in 1975-1976
Julia Adams,
Alberta Alexander, Ruby Austin, Martha Bowie, Francis Davis, Omeria Hathorn,
Dorothy Jenkins (Librarian), Henry Lewis, Alice Lipscomb, Mary Lloyd, Glossie
Magee, Rosie Martin, Ella Murff, Shirley McAllister, Elizabeth Nimox, Earlean
Rogers, Evelyn Ross, Jimmie M. Simmons, Catherine Trotter, Miriam Tuberville,
Donnie Waller, Judy Waller, Jossie Young
Teacher's Aides employed in 1975-1976
Louise Huggins,
Mary Jones, Anna Bibbs, Dorothy Wade, Arma Purnell, E.C. Pickens, Verlene
Amos, Inez Rosamond, Laura Lofton, J. Rogers, Juanita Collins Rhine (mother of the
aforementioned screaming, car-driving, 2 1/2
year-old), Maxine Jones, Catherine Pate, Overa Watson, Annie R. Kinney, Elva Roberts,
Margie O'Briant, Beverly Burell
Principals of Vaiden Jr. High
School/Vaiden Negro High School/North Vaiden School
Prof. Hurbert
Cross, Prof. Jessie Anderson, Prof. Franklin, Prof. Brown, Prof. Wilson,
Prof. William, Prof. Lynch, Prof Hilton Anderson, Prof. Dave Daniel, Prof.
H.C. Redmond, Prof. Redmond, Rev. Jones, Rev. Joe Davis, Rev. O.L. Rancher,
Rev. Austin, Prof. G. Wendell Davis, Prof. David
Latham, Prof. Percy Hathorn
Percy A. Hathorn Public School
Pictures -- April, 2000
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