MCDUFFIE COUNTY, GA - HISTORY McDuffie County Schools Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jam66inGA2@aol.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mcduffie.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Some Notes on McDuffie County Schools And a Listing of Schools and teachers Taken from the November 8, 1912 Edition of the McDuffie Progress Note During Later Years when Transportation became easier many of these Small Community Schools were consolidated into the Larger Schools. Boneville, Marshall, Wrightsboro, Sweetwater, Columbia Mines ect being consolidated into the Thomson School. Ironhill, Avondale, Fort Creek, ect being Consolidated into the Dearing School Which served grades 1 through 12 until the 1950's when the upper grades were moved to Thomson leaving Dearing as an Elementary School, which it continues as today. A few of the More Distant small Schools lasted independently until the 50's and were then closed. As a Reminder Black and White School Facilities were separate until the 1960's so some of these Listed show two Schools in the Same Community or Located close by for that reason. Also School did not start until November due to Farm Children being needed to help with harvest, a break during Spring to help with Planting was also common during those times. Several of the Old School Buildings remain and can be seen today. An Example being the Small White Building located adjacent to Boneville Methodist Church which served as Boneville School in the Early 1900's. The Old Dearing School remains just off Highway 78 and the Building dates from the 1930's Several earlier Dearing Schools were lost to fire. In the Town of Thomson There stood an Elementary School Next Door to the Courthouse for many years, its location is now taken by the City Hall/Police station . There were also several private Academies ran by teachers from their homes. In Later Times The Town Elementary School was moved to a lot behind the Methodist Church and the Building Named for Miss Laura Jones, a teacher who had served in the town. The High School occupied various wooden Buildings through the years until a New Brick structure was constructed in the 1930's. This Building was struck by Lighting in 1938 and burned completely, forcing the classes to meet in various buildings downtown while it was reconstructed. The used Brick from the burned School were then used to construct a wall around the Football field just across the road, and the Stadium has been Known as the Brickyard ever since. Today the Old High School Building serves as Thomson Middle School and is Located on Main Street. Below is a Listing of The Schools in the County and the Teachers who ran them from the Year 1912 Thomson Public Schools Prof N.E. Ware Superintendent Prof J.A. Stringer Principal Grade 1st Miss Laura Jones 2nd Miss Annie Lou Tappan 3rd Miss Clara Morris 4th Miss Annie Fluker 5th Miss Lizzie Usery 7th Miss Lucile Ware 8th Miss Risia Phillips 9th & 10th Prof Ware & Prof Stringer County Schools Boneville Prof A.J. McGahee Dearing Prof C.W. Warr , Mrs Warr asst Cobbham Prof Rumble Marshall Miss Ruby Strozier Pine Grove Miss Varina Adams Wrightsboro Miss Irene Young Columbia Mines Mrs Kate Porter Sweetwater Miss Rica Perry Jameson Prof Frank McGlourery Avondale Prof L.P. Gunn Irin Hill Prof Martin McGahee Adams Chapel Prof D.W. Fuller Reeves Academy Prof B.F. Fuller Fort Creek Miss Lena Russell Bradshaw Miss Lena Maxwell Mt Auburn Miss Dora Edwards Union Prof Emmett Lazenby Anthony Miss Julia Reynolds Republican (Teacher to be Supplied) County Line Schools Fountain Miss Lee Byrd Macedonia Miss Alva Wells Mesena Rev J.M. Talkington Morris Miss Maude Harris