Greenbrier County, West Virginia - Greenbrier County Public Schools ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The records for this work have been submitted by Valerie F. Crook, E-mail address: , May, 1999. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN WEST VIRGINIA 1904 pgs. 203-204 Greenbrier County BY L. W. BURNS, SUPERINTENDENT When the civil war closed there were few schools of any kind in this county. About this time Zachariah Trueblood, who was the first county superintendent, came to the rescue, and did much for the public school system. A few of the rude log houses built then may still be seen stand- ing, but none are in use. Through the several years following, the idea of public education stead- ily became popular. Such enterprising and successful men as Walter C. Preston, Judge J. M. McWhorter, Wm. Lewis, and Hon. Thos. H. Dennis were elected county superintendents. In 1881, J. W. Hinkle, a young man of exceptional ability, was chosen county superintendent. He gathered about him many good teachers, and all were assisted in their earnest efforts to make the schools better by the hearty co-operation of many loyal patrons. During this period the schools were very prosperous. The advancement of these eight years proves that it is best to have long service in office. From 1889 to the present time the following men were elected to the office of county superintendent: E. D. Smoot, 1889-'91; W. F. Lawrence, 1891-'95; Alex. Thompson, 1895-'99, and L. W. Burns, 1899-1903, the last named being re-elected and now in office. With few exceptions the schools of this county have been steadily progressing. The number of schools, at first forty or fifty, is now two hundred. The largest schools are at Ronceverte, Lewisburg, Falling Spring, North Alder- son, White Sulphur Springs, Frankford and Williamsburg. Greenbrier county joins Virginia, and has always been somewhat un- der the shadow of the influence of the Old Dominion. Many people of Virginia do not believe in public schools, and some are found here who do not support this greatest of all methods of educating, but they are fast disappearing. With the great advantage of coming in contact with the culture and refinement of Virginia, and at the same time with the enterprise and progress, and every thing that is good of its own great State, Greenbrier stands high in the list of counties in many ways. It may be truly said that it has furnished as many, or more, excellent students for the colleges and universities of our country than any county in the South. [Photo of old log school house.] This school has been in operation for ten sessions, its enrollment has never exceeded fifteen pupils, but during this period there have gone out from it, Two practicing physicians, A college graduate, One public school teacher, A justice of the peace and postmaster. A teachers' institute Instructor.