Dodge County GaArchives History .....Eastman Schools ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 27, 2004, 11:35 am THE EASTMAN SCHOOLS. (p. 110-113) EASTMAN'S first school house was built in 1873 by Mr. William Pitt Eastman and presented to the town. The foundation of the house was laid on Monday and on the following Saturday the building was completed. Col. Luther A. Hall was the first teacher. His salary of $40.00 per month was paid by Mr. Eastman. The school was dependent on private donations for three years. As Eastman began to increase in population the more liberally inclined citizens urged that a new and adequate building be erected. Several of the leading business men formed a corporation and petitioned the court for a twenty years' charter. In 1877, the Superior Court of Dodge County, in answer to the petitioners, granted the charter and incorporated the school under the name and style of "The Eastman Academy." The stockholders constituted the board of trustees and adopted by-laws for its government. The trustees were as follows: Chairman, James Bishop, Sr., H. J. Sapp, W. W. Ashburn, Wm. P. Eastman and A. G. P. Dodge. Prof. George A. Harrison was elected Principal of Eastman Academy and under his wise management the school began its long period of struggle and growth. After Prof. Harrison resigned other teachers followed in succession until 1884 Prof. Reuben J. Strozier was elected principal. During his eight years of judicious management the school flourished. From 1892 to 1897 the succeeding principals were, respectively, as follows: Franklyn, Bradwell, Flanders, Robeson, Miller and Bryan. In 1874 the trustees held a meeting and discussed methods for the enlargement of the school facilities. The town council and board of trustees held a joint meeting and appointed a committee whose duty should be "to consider the procurement of an eligible site for the erection of a larger building." Eastman was growing in wealth and population. It became a necessity that some certain and positive steps be taken to provide better facilities for the education of the children. The old school building had served its day. It was urged by many that a new and larger one should take its place. Among the public spirited, who realized and demanded that Eastman should have a larger school building and adopt a better system of education, was Col. John F. DeLacey. He drafted a bill providing for the establishment of a system of public schools, and, at a public meeting of citizens, urged its adoption. The bill met with success and was made a law by the Act of the Georgia Legislature. Mr. W. W. Harrell, grandfather of M. J. W. and W. B. Daniel, donated the site for the new school building. Bonds to the amount of $10,000.00 were voted by Eastman. The mayor and aldermen elected a board of education consisting of the following men: Col. John F. DeLacey, president; Milton Edwards, Sol Herrman, J. D. Page, L. M. Peacock, Mather Wynne and James Bishop, Jr. In the fall of 1897 the foundation of a new building was laid and the building was completed and furnished in January, 1898. Prof. W. T. Gaulden was elected Superintendent of Eastman Public Schools and began his first session in the fall of 1897, and moved into the new building in January, 1898. Before the public school system was put in operation, tuition ranged from $15.00 to $35.00 per annum, in addition to the amount paid from the public school fund of the State. In 1899 Prof. N. W. Hurst succeeded Prof. Gaulden as Superintendent of the Eastman Public Schools, and during his administration the curriculum was raised from ten grades to eleven, self-government system was adopted—which was later discontinued on account of objections from a few of the patrons. A school paper was published by the students, and a chemical laboratory was installed. The first graduates of the Eastman High School were Miss Monica McRae and Mr. Herrman Harris. In 1902 Prof. Hurst resigned the superintendency to accept the position of vice-president of Gordon Institute at Barnesville, Ga. Prof. J. D. McClendon was placed in charge of the schools of Eastman in September, 1902, and filled the position until critical illness in the following fall forced him to give up his work in Eastman, which was his last work, as he died in October, 1903. For several years after Prof. McClendon's departure, superintendents served for a short period of time each, and among them were the following, serving in rapid succession: Starr, Parker, Byrd and Smith. In 1905 Prof. Mulloy was made superintendent, which position he filled most acceptably. During his administration the school grounds were improved considerably, the most notable improvement being a handsome private hedge in front of the old building. In 1908 Prof. Hurst was again elected to his former position and during his term of eight years the school underwent many changes. An up-to-date high school building, with all modern improvements and full equipment was completed during his second year. Two new pianos, a planitarium, physical and chemical labatories were installed and military training introduced. The teaching force was increased during these years, owing to the growth of the school. Another innovation of this last period of our school was the Baloptican Lecture Course given by Prof. Hurst four or five times a year to the pupils free of charge, Prof. Hurst getting the machine for these pictures at his own expense. In March, 1917, Prof. Hurst resigned his position as superintendent of the schools to place on the market his invention, "The Planitarium," a device for teaching Geography and Elementary Astronomy. Prof. T. J. Sappington was elected as his successor, and under his administration the school continued to prosper. Prof. R. J. Strozier returned in the fall of 1917, to the joy of the citizens of Eastman. Prof. Strozier had left the Eastman schools in 1892, after having served as superintendent for eight years. This joy at his coming was in a few months overshadowed with sorrow at the sudden passing of this great educator and godly man. Prof. Brindle, who was principal, was elected superintendent to finish the unexpired term of Prof. Strozier. Prof. R. G. Hall was elected superintendent and served for two years. Other superintendents.since the departure of Mr. Hall have been Guy H. Wells, who after serving the Eastman schools for a number of years accepted the presidency of the South Georgia Teachers College at Statesboro, Ga. Prof. Zack Henderson succeeded Prof. Wells, and he too resigned to accept the position of dean of the South Georgia Teachers College at Statesboro. Prof. W. E. Queener succeeded Mr. Henderson. The present superintendent is Prof. Paul Long, and the Eastman school continues to grow. There are over a hundred in the senior class this year, which will be the largest graduating class in the history of the school. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY COPYRIGHT 1932 By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB Printed by FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/history/other/gms543eastmans.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb