Dale County AlArchives Photo Place.....Ariton High School Ca 1915 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker CGT714@AOL.com February 23, 2005, 2:15 pm Source: The Southern Star Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/gph1421aritonhi.jpg Image file size: 97.0 Kb This was first printed in the Central of Georgia News Magazine in 1926. It also had a picture of Ariton High School building. In 1975 it was reprinted in the "Historical Chronicle-Featuring Pike, Barbour, and Dale Counties from 1819- 1975". High Regard Was Given To Education March 1925 The history of the Ariton High School began with the consolidation of the towns of Charlton and Ariosta, two of the most progressive of Dale Countie's communities, into the town of Ariton. The town of Ariton is located in the heart of the "lordly pine" section of Southern Alabama, among the hills of Dale County and neighbor to the town of Ozark. It has one thousand inhabitants and may be reached by the A.C.L. railroad or the Central of Georgia. Its splended highway and its progressive, ambitious citizens mark it as one of the distincily progressive and splendid points on our map. The cause of education in Ariton had a firm and solid germ imparted to it by such worthy and exalted champions as Mr. J.J. Doster, of our State University, and many are there in Ariton at present who attribute the stirring of higher ambitions to the inspirations given by this worthy educator. The two-room school building of the earlier years, poorly equipped as it was fortunately proved inadequate after two or three years. After a heroic struggle, a two story four room building, with limited equipment, was constructed on a beautiful new site on College Street. In 1915, a large room for the Primary department was added. For the past five years, the citizens of the town, realizing tbe need of a modern school system, have kept up a constant agitation for a larger building with adequate equipment. Formation of definite plans was begun upon the loss of our wooden building by fire in January, 1924." From the ashes of the past, the citizens of Ariton wished to construct a building that would be a credit to the state and one to serve not only the local co mmunity, but also a considerable extent of the surrounding territory, thereby giving each child an opportunity to complete the high school course in an a-grade institution. Subsequently, mass meetings were held and plans were formulated and discuss. The County Board of Education consisting of Messrs. D.S. Cain, Chairman: J.E. Ac?, 0.S. Gissendanner, Dr. A.D. Matthews, and Prof. E.C. Palmer, Superintendent of Education of Dale County, was cooperating whole-heartedly with the citizens and local Board of Education, composed of J.L. Barnes, Chairman; J.F. Richardson, anc R.L. Hutto. A building committee composed of the local board with Mayor A.N. Fain, and Y.E. Folson, was advised to go forward with the work. After the necessary proceedings had been complied with plans were adopted for the erection of a modern eight-room building, with the very latest and most approved conveniences and equipment, the stamp of complete public approval being affixed after plans for a spacious auditorium was announced. A finance committee was appointed with H.R. Phillips, Jr. as chairman, ably assisted by Dr. Wyatt Barnes, C.L. Armstrong, W.E. Blocker, Mrs. Wyatt Barnes, Mrs. A.D. Matthews, the local board, and the building committee. A part of the funds was secured by taxation, a part from state appropriation, and a part from county funds; but a very large contribution came directly from magnanimous and enthusiastic citizens, demonstrating markedly the wide-awake attitude of the community. Open-handed generosity was the most distinctive trait of the vast majority. All are most emphatic in their commendation of the unselfish and untiring efforts of the local board in putting over a gigantic task. To Mr. J.L. Barnes, Mr. R.L. Hutto, and Mr. Frank Richardson, more is due them than will probably ever be known. Another organization claims a large share of applause, with the contribution of $1,000.00, the entire amount being paid within six months, the honor going to the Parent-Teachers Organization. The P.T.A. enlisted the baseball team, consisting of the young men of the town, the teachers, and the pupils of the elementary and high schools as auxiliaries in their campaign. Plays and pageants have had their run. Barbecues, with their unexalled mixtures and flavors, ably presided over by Messrs. J.L. Barnes, W.H. Weed, and Will Dillard, have had marked popularity. None of those interested in Ariton's progress educationally have contributed more in the nature of cooperation, zeal, and public-spirit has Mrs. Frank Richardson. She is usually regarded as chief hostess on the occasion or every barbecue. In fact, every boy, girl, man, and woman has contributed in some way to the success of the greatest enterprise ever undertaken by the splendid people or Arit The year of 1924 marks a crisis in the standards of attainment of theboys and girls of Ariton, placing them on the highest basis attainable in any community in all our fair land. The requirements have been met for affiliation with Southern Colleges, and our admirers may look for our title on the roll of honor in the near future. The work of the school is in the control of a most efficient and competent faculty, composed of Miss Ada Law, principal; Misses Maurine Richardson and Eunice Hutto, Alumnae of Woman's College; Prof. T.G. Pritchett; Misses Oma Dean, Mollie Cherry, and Ola Weed, all equipped with training from one of our best Normals, Troy Normal. Miss Ocie Weed has charge of piano music and chorus work.. A very interesting and commendable fact of the faculty situation is that, with the exception of the principal, all are products of Ariton's stimulating atmosphere demonstrating unusual ability, devotion and cooperation that brings success. The high school boasts of a glee club, a dramatic club, basketball teams for both boys and girls, and a spirit characterized by loyalty to good principles and a willingness to cooperate in whatever is characterized by the superior. Much credit is due to Miss Eunice Hutto in training the boys basket-ball team into a group marked by pep, puch, and success. The girl's team under the leadership of Miss Maurine Richardson has made an enviable record, recording only over-whelming triumphs with such teams as Pike County High, Dale County High, and New Brockton High. With the spirit of untiring effort, loyalty to a high and noble cause, cooperation in all details of the proceedings, the most distinctive feature of the life of Ariton Citizenship cannot fail to sow some seeds on ground which will surely bring forth a beautiful and bountiful return. Source unknown, was in a file under Ariton at the Dale County Library in Ozark ,Al. Mrs. Mary Vic Paramore has the original papers of the people who promised to pay into the School Treasury. I will Scan the papers and name it Ariton School Pledges 1924 . The names will not come up on the search engine in a scanned doc. I will put some of surnames here. Phillips, Barnes, Blocker, Matthews, Armstrong, Hutto, Folsom, Briley, Fain, Gooden, Jones, Prestwood, Richardson, Metcalf, Weed, Batchelor, Wilson, Harden, Grimmer, Fain, Keabey/ Kealrey, Johnson, Dickert, Lewis, Dillard, Hartzog, Whigham, Paulk, Dean, Adams, Williams, Towns, Dunnarant, Dawson, Wynn, Leroy, Tomlin, Adamson, Watson ?, Johnston, Tatom, Sutton, Commander, Davis, Cherry, Prichetts,Sammons, Roe, Jackson, Segler, Paramore, Garner, Bray, Deloney, Laney, Sessions, Trawick. Sorry if I left some out , some I could not read. The total listed was $ 6,629.50, 108 names , looks like a few may be missing. Good luck to all CGT. 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