Marion County GaArchives News.....The Origin and History of the Hoke Smith Institute December 21, 1906 ************************************************ 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: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 April 1, 2005, 8:08 pm The Marion County Patriot December 21, 1906 The Marion County Patriot, No. 49 Friday, December 21, 1906 Page Five Hoke Smith Institute Origin and History Hoke Smith Institute owes its existence in a large measure, to the untiring efforts of Buena Vista’s ex mayor, the lamented C.S. Crawford. Strange as it may seem, the negro element of the town for a long time opposed local taxation for the maintenance of schools. After all preliminary arrangements had been made such as advertising for election, etc., Mayor Crawford arranged for election day, for the benefit of all who would vote for Public Schools, a barbecue. The necessary two thirds vote was easily gotten. In the spring of 1900 the City Council elected the following School Board: Judge Jas. M. Lowe Dr. J. Alvah Weaver Col. Wm. B. Short Robert E. Clements Bland S. Parker These gentlemen, with the exception of Dr. Weaver, have served continuously for six years. Under the supervision of these gentlemen, the present comfortable and commodious building was completed in the fall of 1900. The Board elected as teachers for the first year: J.H. Melson, Principal Miss Sarah Mathis, Assistant Miss Flossie Dunn, Assistant Miss Lucile Lowe, Music Director Hoke Smith Institute threw open her doors January 1901 to about seventy-five pupils. The first term was begun under flattering auspices. The old regime had been supplanted by new methods. The Board appointed Dr. Weaver as a committee of one to take all the abuse of disgruntled patrons and to supervise the heating of the building. He devoted little time to the former duty but much to the latter. Col. Short was appointed to formulate rules and regulations to govern the school; Mr. Parker, to supervise the colored school; and Judge Lowe and Mr. Clements to have charge of things in general. That all did well, the success of the school testifies. The following class was graduated in 1901: Miss Marilu Drane Miss Minnie Lee Jester Miss Sarah Bullock Miss Louise Wynn Mr. J.R. McMichael For the year 1902 the former teachers were reelected and Prof. W.E. Drane was added to the corps. This year was perhaps more prosperous than the former. A much larger class graduated, a number of whom entered the best colleges of the state. For the year 1903 Misses Lizzie Harvey and Ola Harrison were elected to fill the places of Misses Dunn and Mathis. The school increased in interest and numbers and in the summer graduated Miss Clayre Hollis, Messrs. Clifford Hale and George McCrary. In the fall of 1903, Prof. G.W. Driskell, a man of splendid attainments, succeeded Prof. Melson and held the fort very successfully for one year, graduating in 1904 a large class of bright girls and steady boys. In the fall of 1904 Prof. R.B. Collins was elected Superintendent, and for two years managed the modus operandi of the school in such an acceptable manner that all gave him up reluctantly last June. During all these years the school has accomplished a splendid work. Her graduates are filling important positions in the social, professional and business world. At present the school has an enrollment of about 160 pupils, a good library of 300 to 400 volumes, a faculty of six competent and consecrated teachers consisting of: Prof. J.H. Melson, Superintendent Prof. J.W. Barnhill, Principal Miss Hattie Whitaker, Assistant Miss Lula McMichael, Assistant Miss Lizzie Harvey, Assistant Miss Emmaceil Allums, Music Director This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb