LAMAR - PIKE COUNTY, GA - Ebenezer School Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Diane Cooper" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/lamar.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Ebenezer School There are no early records of Ebenezer School, but the records in the Pike County Clerk's office this indenture is listed: On January 14, 1883, a fit of 1 acre a part of land Lot #70 and #71 of District of Pike County, Georgia was deeded to the following Trustees of Ebenezer Methodist Church. It was given by Mr. W.V. Kendrick. This part of the land was deed for the church. another record shows that a gift of 5/8 of an acre in Land Lot #71 was given on March 30, 1882. The Grantor was Shelor B. Shehee. This was probably in addition to the one acre deed in 1851. Since it was in the Stewartville Community, it has been referred to as the Stewartville School as well as Ebenzer. It was a one room, wooden frame building with a small porch on the front. It was surrounded by large oak trees. Inside a small stage was at one end and esks were around the wall. Classes were held seven months a year. Boys had to help with planting and harvesting and extreme band and cold weather prevented children from being able to attend. Grades one through nine were taught by one teacher. This school provided school for the children in this community until 1924. On March 11, 1901, B.D. Martin, Executor for the will of E.P. Martin, deeded this school to the Pike County Board of Education for the sum of $1.00. The old school house was torn down in 1924 and the lumber was bought by Mr. Alvin Walker. It was used to build two rooms on to the home owned by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Walker. Some of the tearchers at Ebenezer School were: Miss Bessie Grier, a teacher from Waverly Hall, GA, Miss Irene Wiliamson, who boarded with the Walkers, Miss Lillie May Walker and Miss Alma Walker who were sisters, and Miss Gertrude Pilkenton and others that we do not have the names. NOTE:from Diane: Lillie Mae WALKER (1893-1972) is my grandmother's sister. She and Mrs. Williams had a dress and hat shop in downtown Barnesville for many years. I have her diary and a Jennie Lyn doll that she left me. She never married as her fiance was killed in the war. Their mother is Ada (SMITH) WALKER. Mr. Ben Ridley was county school superintendent when school was deeded to Pike County. Records show that Ebenezer School taught children for 71 years from 1853- 1924. Some of these students are still living, the oldest is Mrs. Willie Gooden Clark who is 103 years old. Her two sisters are Mrs. Ossie Gooden Williams who is 93, and Mrs. Ivy Gooden Scarbrough who is 91. They lived at the Rice homeplace and walked through the woods to school. Miss Ossie says when the weather was bad her Papa came for them in the buggy or wagon. She says they carried their lunch of ham and biscuits and baked potatoes in a syrup bucket. They remember playing jump rope and boys playing marbles and ball. Mrs. Clark said the older children helped the younger ones with their lessons. It was a happy time and they enjoyed school and tried to go very day they could. She said the teachers were strict and you knew to behave or you would be punished. Another student, Mr. Douglas Elliot who is 94, remembers his school days. He said Miss Irene Williams was so strict that if you missed spelling a word correctly she would give you a lick with a switch. He said the girls would help them catch up with their work when they had to be out with farm work. Mrs. Ruby Trice Hamlin and her sister, Mrs. Mary Trice Littleton and Mr. Obie Trice were students in 1910- 1917. They remember a wonderful loving teacher, Miss Lillie Mae Walker. SOURCE: Ebenezer Methodist Church 150th Anniversary Bulletin - 1990 Lenora Ginn, Complier 1840-1990