About Sevier County Schools By Beulah D. Linn

Sevier County Community Schools – 1915
By Beulah D. Linn County Historian
Education improved in Sevier County in 1915.
In an editorial entitled “Raise the Standards” of June 23, 1915 Vindicator, editor
William Montgomery stated, “Superintendent of Schools holds that all teachers
must hereafter be examined by the state board. Present certificates are good for
the time issued but after that teacher examinations go.” Under the chairmanship
of H. D. Bailey the members of the County Court (Justices of the Peace) voted to
increase teacher’s salaries to $41.00 a month.
Teachers were appointed by District School Directors
The new Sevier County Baptist High School (Smoky Mountain Academy) opened
in 1915.
There were ninety-six public schools, three church schools, four mission schools,
and Pi Beta Phi Settlement School.
The public school opened August 19, 1915 with Alton Oliver Delozier as
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The length of the school term was four months. After the public schools closed
subscription schools opened in some of the public schools houses for another
term of three or four months. Subscription schools were intended to supplement
the regular school term. The teachers were the more popular public school
teachers.
Many residents of communities, which did not have subscription schools,
arranged to send their children to board with relatives or others in communities,
which did have subscription schools. The cost of tuition varied according to grade
level.
The emphasis on going to school at least through the eight grade resulted in 412
Sevier County students receiving an eighth grade certificate in 1915. The chief
objective was for the student to receive a solid grounding in reading, writing,
arithmetic, and spelling.
Alton Oliver Delozier who had completed his second year in the Collegiate
Department of Murphy College in 1913-14 served two terms as Superintendent of
Instruction: 1915 to 1921 and 1923 to 1929.
Alton Oliver Delozier was the son of Dr. Joseph Benjamin Delozier and Sarah Ellen
Loveday Delozier. He married Mae E. Flanagin, daughter of Dr. S. W. Flanagin and
Rachel Elizabeth Parker Flanagin on Oct. 29, 1919.
Alton DeLozier
Alton Oliver DeLozier, a long-time Mason, Sunday school teacher, and former
Sevier County Superintendent of Schools, died Wednesday afternoon at the age of
84 in Baptist Hospital.
DeLozier was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sevierville, where he
taught Sunday school for more than fifty years and attended the Men’s Bible
Class. He was also a member of Mountain Star Lodge 197 Free and Accepted
Masons for more than fifty years, Royal Arch Chapter 163, Knights Templar
Commandry, Kerbela Temple Shriner, and thirty-second degree Mason.
Delozier had taught school in Bradley and Sevier Counties and was Sevier County
Superintendent of Schools for several terms during the first quarter of this
century.
Survivors include daughters Mrs. Charles (Jean) McCall of Loudon, Mrs. George
(Flo Lee) Barnes, Jr. of Knoxville: sons Dr. Oliver Delozier and Dr. Joe Delozier of
Knoxville; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and a brother Luther Delozier
of Sevierville.
Funeral services were held Friday at Rawlings Chapel with Reverend Stanley
Harrison of First United Methodist officiating. Interment followed at Shiloh
Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers include members of his Sunday school class, members of
Mountain Star Lodge 197, and Kerbela Temple Shrine’s.
Active pallbearers were Chandler McMahan, Bill Broady, Johnny Waters, James
Trotter, Mayor Cliff Davis, Joe Carr and Roy Newman.
Obituary- Sevier County News-Record, Sevierville, Tennessee. Tuesday, December 16, 1975,
Section B, p. 10
Harrison-Chilhowee Academy (The King’s Academy)
In 1915 the Harrison-Chilhowee Academy in Seymour, which had, became a
Baptist school in 1887 under the sponsorship of Chilhowee Baptist
Association, was known as the Harrison Chilhowee Institute. It was under
the direction of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Association.
The school provided an elementary and secondary education for students
who lived in dormitories and also students who lived in the community.
Under the administration of Professor Jerry E. Barton in 1915 the school
offered an elective course entitled “Teacher Training”.
Of the ten gradates in the class of 1915 the following were teaching in
Sevier County public schools in the fall:
Shelby H. Atchley – Long Springs
John H. Drake – Shiloh
A. M. Drinnen – Pickens
W. Stuart Rule – Principal, Laurel Grove
Murphy College
Murphy College on Cedar Street in Sevierville opened in January 1892.
The College specialized in preparing students to become teachers.
Although the school was operated under the auspices of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, the Board of Trustees and the faculty were chosen from
different denominations and the students could attend the church of their
choice. The school curriculum also provided instruction in music and art. It
was the cultural center of Sevierville offering lectures, musical programs,
and plays.
In 1915 under the administration of Dr. E. A. Bishop the Sevierville
Grammar School was located in the old frame Methodist Episcopal South
Church building that had been moved to Bruce Street and converted into
two classrooms.
Murphy College on Cedar Street provided classrooms for students in the
collegiate and preparatory departments. Of the 12 students in the
Collegiate Department of Murphy College in the spring of 1915 the
following were teachers in Sevier County in the fall:
Mae E. Flanagin – Sevier County Baptist High School
Laura Walker- Principal, Fox
Thomas Whaley- Principal, Brier
Of the 152 students in the Preparatory Department of Murphy College in the
spring of 1915 the following were teachers in the fall of 1915: Lida R. Allen,
Blanche Ballard, Sallie Blalock, Mattie Bohanan, Victoria Brown, Caroll
Caughron, Beecher Drinnen, Mary Elder, Lizzie E. Emert, Ella Floyd, Nelli
Hammer, Craton Hicks, Cora Ingle, Sarah Husky, Lee Price, L. E. (Ledford)
Sarten, Newton Townsend, Ada Walker, and John Webb.
The Following was taken from an article in the Montgomery Vindicator
Aug. 11, 1915 Entitled “Where They Teach
School
Jones Cove
Juniper
Dist 1
Service
Prin
Asst.
Prin
Asst.
Flats
Crocketville
Henry's
McMahan
Evans Chapel
Name
Williams, Randolph
Williams, T. W.
McMahan, Lizzie
Large, John R.
Lawson, Ida
Miller, S. D.
Miller, J. H.
Proffitt, J. B.
Huff, J. C.
Shepherd, G. R.
Dist 2
Dudley
Emert's Cove
Glades
Sevier Co. B.H.S
Sevier Co. B.H.S
Brier
Proffitt, Walter
Brown, Victoria
Proffitt, Garfield
Flananagin, Mae
Elder, Stella
Whaley, Thomas
Ownby, Miles
Price, Ennis
Prin
Asst.
Indian Creek
Dist 3
Cedar Bluff
Belmont
Birds
Fox
Patterson, N. W.
Williams, Joel
Worth, G. W.
Walker, Laura
Patterson, Gertrude
Sims, Mabel
Maples, Luther
Sarten, L. E.
Prin
Sims
Blowing Cove
Republican
Dist 4
New Albany
Long Spring's
Walnut Grove
Prin
Asst.
Elder, Stella
Atchley, Shebey
McMahan, Verol
Sheilds, M. E.
Middle Creek
Robert's
Prin
Asst.
Prin
Asst.
Connatser, O. M
Walker, Ada
Webb, John
Webb, Lucy
Elder, Mary
Harrisburg
Dist 5
Murphy College
Pigeon Forge
McCookville
New Era
Cana
Germany
Pine Grove
Bishop, E. A.
Clabo, E. N.
Webb, Georgia
Prin
Asst.
Prin
Asst.
Prin.
Asst.
Gobble, Eunice
Trentham, E. O.
Blalock, Sallie J.
Cotter, Maude
Headrick, Ida
Webb, W. W.
Enloe, Florence
Hoard, Pauline
Breedlove, M. E.
Prin.
Asst.
Union Hill (Col)
Pleasant Hill (Col)
Dist. 6
Weirwood
Prin.
Asst.
Tarwater, Ethel
Gaylor, Miss.
King, Milinda
Mullendore, M. ???
Ogle, H. R.
Kings
Meigs Mountain
Rocky Mountain
Dist 7
Catlettsburg
Midway
Reed, James L.
Ownby, A. A.
Emert, Lizzie
Atchley, Nannie B.
Kyker, Blanche
Atchley, Flora
Prin.
Asst.
Reeds
Union Hill
Kellum
Dist 8
Cates X Roads
French Broad Academy
Henry's X Roads
Prin
Asst.
Douglas
Beech Springs
Prin
Asst.
Asst.
Ferguson, Mary P.
Sims, G. S. Jr.
Tipton, Nannie
Keller, Mae
Nave, Clora
Williams, C. N
Shultz, Rhea
Mount, Zelma
Dist 9
Chilhowee
Barton, J. E.
Temple’s
Trinity
Shiloh
Pine Ridge
Davis, Dora
Reed, Betty
Drake, John
Murrell, Loie
Dist 10
Dripping Springs
Union Academy
Whites
Sugerloaf
Cusicks
Pickens
Prin
Asst.
Prin.
Asst.
Prin.
Asst.
Black Oak
Zion Hill
Tarwater, M. W.
Ogle, C. E.
Ingle, Cora
Murrell, Daisy
Baker, Dock
Drinnen, O. M.
Ballard, Blanche
Floyd, Ella
Bohanan, Mattie
Dist 11
Gatlinburg
Fighting Creek
Prin
Asst.
Mountain
Banner
Big Ridge
Baskin
Roaring Fork
Mill Creek
Brackins
Elkmont
McCarters
Pollard, Mary O.
McMahan, F. M.
Clabo, Sanford
Noland, Robert
Ownby, R. S.
Townsend, Newton
Ogle, Tilda
Clabo, Ruth
Carr, Richard
Huskey, Eldridge
Ogle, Ashley
Franklin, Lillie
Dist 12
Paw Paw Hollow
Shady
Smith
Snyders
Skeens, Ray
Bailey, Lloyd
Price, Lee
Hickman, J.H
Dist 13
Richardson Cove
Caton's Chapel
Shady
Oldhams Creek
Williamsburg
Ogle, Otha
Ownby, Minnie
Blalock, R. J.
McFall, Demarius
Saults, Iva
Dist 14
Island Veiw
Piney
Watson, Earl
Allen, Lida
Bethel
Ballards
Knights
Prin
Asst.
Highland View
Paine's Temple (Col)
Hickman, J. W.
Marshall, Ezalee
Hicks, Craton
Hammer, Nelle
Saffel, Mrs. G. A.
Dist 15
Allensville
Millican
Cattletts
Jones Chapel
Patterson, O. L.
Parrott, Jessie
Yarberry, Otha
Caughron, Carroll
Dist 16
Chinqupin
Mortar Branch
Laural Grove
Lindsey's
Clear Springs
Webbs Creek
Laurel
Copeland
Prin.
Asst.
Prin
Asst.
Dist 17
Drinnen, Beecher
Price, Henry
Fox, Blanche
Rule, W. S
Carnes, Albert
Price, Dallas
Shults, L. T.
Huskey, Sarah
Bradshaw, Homer
Huskey, L. R.
Sevier County Baptist High School (Smoky Mountain Academy)
Sevier County Baptist High School (Smoky Mountain Academy) was
located near the head of Bird’s Creek. In an area which was called sheeppen. Opening in 1915 the County and Sevier County Citizens contributed
funds for the elementary school. Funds for the high school came from the
Women’s Missionary Society of Knox County and the Sevier County
Baptist Association. The property was donated by Rev. Smith Ferguson
Payne, of which his home was used as the main building.
Some of the students lived in dormitories and others lived or boarded in
the community.
The School site is a beautiful spot still in use by the Sevier County
Association of Baptist as Camp Smoky and The Sevier County Resort
Ministries.
The Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church (founded in 1909) is located on
the property. Rev. Payne served as first pastor and is buried on the
property in front of the church.
Pine Grove School 1915
Teacher’s William “Bill” Webb and Florence Enloe
Mission Schools
Juniper School was established by the Woman’s Board of Missions of the
Presbyterian Church in 1900 with Miss. Harriet Daly and Miss. Mabel Moore
as the teachers. Located in the Wilhite Community near the Cocke County
boarder, the Juniper Mission School coexisted with the Juniper public
school in 1915.
The Reverend John H. Wright of the Union Presbytery established three
mission schools.
Roseville, a one-room church-schoolhouse located on the old Ore Bank
Road (Ridge Road) on a site near the present Sevier County Compost
Facility, was organized in 1911 and first served as a Sunday school.
On January 11, 1915 the teachers of the school was Ida Lawson.
McCookville School located on the Gatlinburg Highway above Pigeon
Forge was established in 1913.
On January 15, 1915 Miss Olive Brown was the teacher. It became a public
school in the fall of 1915 with Miss. Eunice Gobble as the teacher.
The William R. Baldwin Presbyterian Chapel, which also served as a school
was dedicated November 22, 1914: It was located on one. Half acre of land
deeded by J. M. and Mollie (Maples) Hammer to the Union Presbytery
February 19, 1914 the land was bounded by Robertson, Norton, Hammer
and Blalock on the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River in the 5th District on
January 16, 1915 the teacher was Martha Hodge.
Pi Beta Phi Settlement School
Pi Beta Phi Settlement School opened in March 1912 in the old churchschool house at the corner of Baskin’s Creek and old Gatlinburg Road.
During 1913-1914 a new white frame five-room school building was built in
a field behind the old school.
The Pi Beta Phi School had dormitories to house students from other
communities.
In addition to the usual curriculum the girls learned Home Economics and
weaving. The boys learned manual woodworking skills and agricultural
techniques.
In 1915 Sevier County supplemented the salary of Miss Mary Pollard, the
Head Resident. The three teachers were Miss Wilson, Miss Ditmar, and
Miss Young.
In the spring of 1915 there were 158 students. In addition to providing
instruction the community schools were important social institutions and
places of recreation. Students looked forward to Fridays for on that day the
school held the weekly “spelling bee”. Also, popular were the box suppers
held at the school. The boxes of pies and cakes were auctioned. The
proceeds were used to buy school supplies or to buy a stove or church bell
for the community church.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Mrs. Marian Scarlett,
Administrative Assistant to the Headmaster of Kings Academy, for the
names of the 1915 graduates of the Academy; to Mrs. Elaine Burgess of
Sevier County Register of Deeds Office for deed information; to Mrs. Helen
Murphy Allen for the 1914-1915 catalog of Murphy College and to Riva
“Scudder” Stimey for the photo of Smoky Mountain Academy.