Rolling Heath School
Built in 1912, Rolling Heath replaced
the old school of Buck's Skull. Buck's Skull School was an older pioneer
school made from logs, located on what is now Fort Leonard Wood.
In the 1800's as the Pioneer families
began to settle in Pulaski County,the need began arise to educate their
children. As they began to settle in the various small communities, they
banded together to start a school. Many times these schools were held in
someone's home or an old cabin or building, until a new school could be
built. Usually the land for the various schoolhouses was donated by a land
owner. Often times these schools then would be named after them.
Many times the schoolhouse was
the only public building for miles, so they were often used as meeting
places and churches. Often they were only used for a year or so until a
more central location could be found, then a newer, larger building was
built and renamed. During the Civil War, most schools were closed, and
children were taught at home. The report of 1865 showed there were only
13 schools located in Pulaski County. They were still all made from logs
and had only eight teachers.
By 1873, there were 49 schools,
8 frame and 23 log buildings. There were 29 male and 9 female teachers.
The average annual attendance for each child per year was 59 days.
Dry Creek School
Dry Creek School was located near
the present Main gate of Fort Leonard Wood. Some of the families that attended
Dry Creek School were, Walker, Lambeth, Carmack, Long, York, Christeson,
Farris, Atterberry, Bench, Hamilton, and Lewis. In the picture above, the
teacher is Della Wells Stewart. Others are , L to R, Gordon Sotherland
(visitor), unknown, Spurgeon Walker, unknown, Lloyd Walker, unknown, Bessie
Lambeth, Anna Lambeth, Evelyn Burnett (visitor with gun), and B.T. Wyman.
The visitors had been hunting and stopped by to visit.
Low Gap School
The land the Low Gap School was
built on was donated by John Thompson. Among the teachers that taught were:
Marie Blalock, Cora Logan, Lee Todd, Mabel Null, Hazel Gaede, Emma York
and Gladys Anderson. Low Gap School was located on land that now is Fort
Leonard Wood.
Shockley School
The Shockley School was located
about 4 miles north of Waynesville, in the area that is known now as Shockley
Bottom. The land was owned by the Shockley family, who were early settlers
of Pulaski County. Some of the families that attended school here were,
Fuller, Booker, Burgess, Turner, Robinson, Zeigenbein, and Skinner.
The Shady Grove School
The Shady Grove School was located
on the Joe Ed Roam farm about 6 miles north of Waynesville. It is located
approximately one mile from the homesteaded property of Rueben Bartlett.
Many of the Bartlett children attended school there. It is one of the few
rural schoolhouses that is still standing and in its original form. The
land was donated in 1913, however it was in use much before that time.
Frank Manes taught at Shady Grove in 1909. Some of his pupils were Edna
Cowan, Opal Thornsberry, Lloyd Thornsberry, Mabel Thornsberry, Lon Roam,
Robert Roam, Frank Roam, Emmett Manes, Rena Manes and Stella Manes. Other
teachers were Marion Vaught, Floy Vaught, and Georgia Dye. The Shady Grove
Schoolhouse was restored in the 1980's by a project supervised by Ronnie
Dye, Terry Shultz, and Tim Bartlett. The picture above was taken during
the 1930's. The teacher is Georgia Dye, and three of the students are my
father Walter Weber, his brother Dale,and sister Marian. The tall boy in
the middle is my father.
The Cave Springs School
Cave Springs : The Cave Springs
School was located in small community of Hannah. Hannah was located on
the banks of the Roubidoux Creek. The Fairvew Baptist Church also used
the school until 1895. Some of the families attending school here were,
Berry, Anderson, Decker,York, Hendricks,Dye,and Nickels.
1913 Pitcure of the Hancock School
Class
The first Hancock School was
built in 1880. Some of the families going to school there were, Mitchell,
Goodman, Roberts, Porter, Decker, Hamilton, and Bates.
Other Pioneer Schools of Pulaski
County
Anderson, Baldridge, Barlow, Bates,
Bayou, Bloodland, Brown, Burnett, Cave Springs, Cedar Hill, Cowan, Curtis,
Deerlick, Dublin, Dundas, Fairview, Fox Crossing, Gaddy, Gospel Ridge,
Haley Bend, Hamilton, Hawkeye, Hickory Grove, Hicks, Hilton, High Point,
Hooker, Hopewell, Independence Kelso, Lee, Lewis, Liberty, Lone Star, Manes,
Maze, Miller, Mt. Gibson, Needmore, Oak Creek, Oak Grove, Palace, Parsons,
Pine Bluff, Pisgah, Pleasant Grove, Prospect, Richland Institute, Robinson,
St. Anne, Shady Grove, Sheely, Sheppard, Steel Bridge, Swede, Sweet Home,
Traw, Trower, Turkey Ridge, Vickers, and Waynesville Academy.
