EARLY EDUCATION AT POWELL'S STATION

Ronald R. Allen

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A new school building was built at Powell's Station in 1916. Ceremonies were held in the community, when the cornerstone for the new building was laid. At the dedicatory proceedings, Mrs. Paul Bishop-Garnett presented a talk, outlining the early history of schools in the Powell's Station. Mrs. Garnett obviously had the opportunity to talk with some of the old community residents when compiling that information, and her comments not only related to the early schools in the area, but also provided information concerning early residents in the community. A typescript of her speech on that occasion was placed in the cornerstone of the new Powell's station graded school, and that original document has been recovered and today is in the collection of the newly formed Knox County Museum of Education.

The following is a transcription of Mrs Garnett's original speech. I have added some occasional notations, including such things as places and names in the Powell community. Those notations are in italics. Following that transcription, I have added a list of the names of students who attended that institution -- later called Powell's Station High School -- from 1875 through 1879. The names are contained in a pamphlet issued in 1919 for a reunion of those students.

THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION AT POWELL'S STATION

(By Mrs Paul Bishop-Garnett)

The history of education at Powell Station naturally divides itself into four epochs :

The first embraces the building of the first school house in the community.

The second treats of the erection of the second building and shows the progress of the community during a period of twenty-five years.

The third marks the change of location and the establishing of the Perkins School.

The fourth deals with the history of the secondary schools recently discontinued.

The fifth epoch is to be written. What a grand privilege we have today of making history.

Through the combined efforts of Judge Brown and the County Court and Superintendent M. K. Wilson and the County Educational Board and the High School Board of Knox County we are permitted to come together this afternoon and lay the cornerstone of a new Grammar and High school building and write this first page of the fifth epoch of the history of schools at Powell Station. And many each succeeding page shine with a light of a noonday sun and may the influence that goes out from this new institution be felt at home and abroad and the fullness thereof be rounded up in eternity.

The first educational institution in this community was erected between the years 1820 and 1830, forty years after Samuel Doak founded the first school in Tennessee. The land on which the building was placed was given by Maxwell and Isbel Gaston Brown and was situated one half mile south of Powell Station across Beaver Creek on the Hardie R. Brown farm. Hence the name Brown's School House. Mr and Mrs Brown were grandparents of Dr. J. C. Collier, Horace Brown, and J. E. Groner of Powell Station.

Mr. John Bell, who resides two miles south of Powell Station, attended school at the old Brown School House in 1834, eighty-two years ago. Mr. Bell now being ninety years of age.

At this early age Knoxville was a mere village, not even the main line of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad had been built. There was very little cleared land, homes were some distance apart and the roads were very poor. The people forded Beaver Creek when they went from one side of the creek to the other. While Knoxville was hardly a large metropolis in 1834, it could have been considered more than merely a village, with more than 14,000 residents. By then, the downtown section had extended several blocks north from the river, and included businesses and residents both east and west of Gay Street.

The building was constructed of logs donated, cut, hauled and put in place by the men of the neighborhood, thus giving us a striking example of the community spirit that was exercised by our forefathers.

A large stone chimney stood at one end of the log structure, having a fireplace five feet wide, in which a big wood fire crackled on frosty mornings.

Before "books", the small children would gather around the fire and warm their toes, while the larger ones roasted chestnuts and the big boys exchanged "possum news" of the night before.

The building was not ceiled overhead and the joints were peeled poles tha afforded the sturdy youth a good place for "skinning the cat" on rainy days, which they actually did, the same room being used for study hall, recreation hall, gymnasium, and rest room.

The one window had no sash but was a mere opening with a shutter to be closed at night. The door had wooden hinges made by the neighbors, the lock was not a Yale lock, no, but 'twas a simple wooden latch placed over a wooden staple, with a stick poked through. The seats were made of logs split into, with pegs put into each end of the logs for legs. They had no backs, and there were no desks.

In the early days the puncheon floor was possibly used but later a plank one took its place. The scholars say that the planks were not nailed down, and that quite an uproar would be heard as "recess" and "dinner" was announced. Clumpety, clumpety, clump went the timbers as the children ran over them. Even the neighbors some distance away knew when it was books and when it was playtime by the groanings of the floor.

No janitor service was needed in those days as the big boys chopped and carried the wood and the girls swept the house. The girls swept the house. The teachers had no special boarding places but visited around among the scholars thus coming in contact with every patron, and being a guest in every home. The story is told that a young man living across Beaver Ridge from Brown's School House took the teacher home with him to spend the night and on the way back to school the next morning the teacher stopped on the ridge and provided himself with an armful of black gum switches, much to the dismay of the young host.

The people in those days seemed to carry out in a way some of the very principles of education that we hear discussed at the present time. With their meager opportunities they performed their task well in playing the role of pioneer educators. But a progressive spirit had seized the citizens of Brown's School House and the dear old log house, with its primitive construction, and the service it performed, passed into history and a new frame structure took its place about the year 1857.

Miss Martha Finley was teaching in the log house when the frame one was built and on its completion the teacher and her scholars, as Oliver Wendell Holmes expressed it in his 'Chambered Nautilus', "He left the past years dwelling for the new, stole with soft steps its shining archway through. Built up its idle door. Stretched in his last found home and knew the old no more."

The frame building had two doors opposite each other and six windows with glass in the sash. The room was ceiled and had a good floor. A heating stove stood in the center of the room, and as you see it was quite an improvement over the old one. The planks that were used for flooring in the log house were made into seats for the new and these were used until the building was abandoned.

Brown's School House was really a community center. Spelling matches were enjoyed by all the folks of the neighborhood. It is said one patron became so interested in the spelling bees that he carried his blue back speller into the field, and when he stopped old George to rest the farmer studied the spelling book.

It was also used as a preaching place for all denominations. Revival meetings were held there and a Union Sabbath School conducted. Circuit Riders left their appointments from time to time.

Among the names of ministers who conducted services at Brown's School House we find Rev. Samuel West, Rev. Jonathan Bishop, and Rev. John Brown. "They are dead yet speak."

The teachers at Brown's School House sometimes came from another neighborhood, yet oftentimes were her own sons. We find these names among the many. Fount, Gentry, George, Magby, Hardie, Brown, Martha Finley, Williams, A. A. Connor, Brown, Frank Sanders, Wilson Collier, Charles Nelson, and Thomas C. Karns.

It is said Charles Nelson brought many new ideas into the school. He saw the need of the graded system and got it into practice to some extent.

In the early history of Brown's School patrons paid tuition, but before 1850 they began to get the benefit of the free school money derived from the state. (The state, however, has had a tax levy for schools since 1816)

The free school would be taught in the fall and a subscription school in the spring and summer. The course of study consisted mainly of the three R's, although High School Branches were taught, T. C. Karns having begun the study of algebra, under Hardie Brown.

Charles Karn was at one time Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Brown School District, and issued certificates to teachers. Hardie Brown, who had been a student at Hiwassee College, came home and applied for the position of teacher at Brown's School. Mr. Karns, with his meager education, conducted an oral examination, asking the young collegian a few questions on arithmetic, grammar, etc., and granted him a certificate right then and there.

Let us see who some of the patrons of Brown's School were during this period of forty years. Maxwell and Isbel Gaston Brown lived near the sight of Mrs. Hardie Brown's home, this being the old Brown homestead.

Mr. Dooling, brother in law of Eli Cox, lived at what is now the Luther Brown farm, Mr. Brown's father, John Brown, having bought it from Mr. Dooling.

Elijah Johnson lived near the gap of the ridge where his son James now lives.

"Uncle Samuel" Bell's home was what is now the Reynolds place, Mrs Reynolds being his daughter.

Wash and Aunt Sookie Bell's lived near Bell's Bridge in the old building still preserved by their son, S. A. Bell.

Robin Bell owned what was known as the Nursery Farm, which he sold to Wesley Fox in the early sixties. Mr. Fox having owned the Hibbs place.

In 1849 William and Margaret Lonas McClellan built the house where Sam P. Fox now lives and reared a large family, Rufus and the late Matthew McClellan being two of that number.

Frank Ragsdale, Mr. Ragsdale's brother, owned the Knoxville Brick Company's farm. At that time there was a store near the big spring in Powell Station, and the "store keeper" brought out some advanced geographies. They were large in size and the first of the kind in the community. Mr. Ragsdale's son George purchased one of the books and walked into Brown's School next morning with the book under his arm. The scholars say that the scene was one never to be forgotten.

Aaron Gentry, who was Albert Gentry's grandfather, owned Dr. Collier's home place. The house standing near the road. The farm however changed hands until Mr. Stoltzfus, Miss Amanda Stoltzfus' father, bought it and lived there during the Perkins School period, Mrs. Samuel Tillery having purchased from him.

Wilson Parker, Elbridge Parker's grandfather, lived on the Moore Farm above the station.

Mr. Chiles lived on Dr. Collier's upper place. This is known as the old Lewis farm, John Sharp's farm being a part of it.

Thomas Conner and his wife Peggy owned the farm where Alex Bishop now lives.

Squire John Tunwell owns the Child's farm above Glenwood Church, it being the girlhood home of his wife, Talitha Wood Tunwell.

John Wood lived on what is now Glenwood farm, owned by - - Ballou. Alfred Wood owned the Rutherford farm, Mrs. Rutherford having been Mary Jane Wood.

Rufus Wood lives on what is now the Fayette Wood place.

Wilson and Margaret Brown Groner reared their family on the Groner farm east of Powell Station.

Charles Karns bought at part of the Josiah farm in 1846 and moved to the farm now owned by Mrs. W. W. Bishop.

Ellison Armstrong lived where Gus Godfrey now lives.

Thomas and Jane Brown Collier lived further down the valley below the Bell settlement.

Spence Elkins owned the place where his son Columbus now lives.

Eli Cox and Martin Yarnell lived across Beaver Ridge in Hines Valley.

Abraham May lived in the community and was a patron of the school.

Abraham Hoover was a practicing physician of the early days, his office being at the corner of Mr. McMillan's yard. He was a very cheerful man and always enjoyed a joke.

Dr. John Ragsdale and his wife Callie McBath Ragsdale came to Powell Station during the sixties and lived on the farm now owned by his son Eugene Ragsdale. He doctored all the folks in the neighborhood, as Dr. Hoover had passed away. Even when I was a child Dr. Ragsdale's name was a household word, and the people looked on him as their best friend in time of sickness.

In the year 1860 when the Brown School was in its zenith the railroad was built from Knoxville to Powell Station. Cord wood was shipped from here to Knoxville, wood being the principal fuel then. Even the locomotive was fired with wood. The extending of the railroad into the community encouraged a new occupation, that of cutting cord wood.

Old settlers say it was quite an event when the first train ran out. Farmers left their work and went to the top of the nearest hill to watch the "iron horse" make its way across the country. A station was made and named for Columbus Powell, who had bought the Ragsdale farm, now the Brick Yard farm. Mrs. J. Allen Smith of the Knoxville City Mills is the daughter of Mr. Powell, she having been Miss Lillie Powell. U. S. postal records reveal that the original name of the local post office - - located at the train station - - was not Powell's Station, but was called Tunnel Hill. That office was established September 28, 1860/. The Postmaster was Lewis F. Ragsdale. Apparently, that was then the name of the community, although that fact seems to be lost in all located historical accounts. The name of the post office was changed to Powell's Station until seven years later, on July 5, 1867. The first Powell's Station Postmaster was William Neighbert. It appears that the railroad station, and the community itself, was first known as Powell's Station in 1867. By the early twentieth century, other area communities had been absorbed into the Powell community, including places called Fowler and Spring Grove.

For some years after the village was founded the school was continued as Brown's but as the population increased and the demand for a new school building agitated more and more it was decided to abandon the old Brown site and locate the new school at the station.

A new site was decided upon and a 100 foot lot was donated by Dr. Ragsdale, it having been the request of Preston Bishop who sold the property to Dr. Ragsdale. The present site was chosen and the transfer was made to the Directors whose names appear later.

In 1873, a school law was made by the legislature providing for a State Superintendent of Public Education, County Superintendent for each county, City Superintendent, a board of three directors for each school district. The legislature also provided for a state tax to help pay the expenses for the expenses of the schools, and authorized cities and counties to levy taxes for the same purpose.

Professor T. C. Karns of Powell Station became the first Superintendent of Knox County Schools, and Dr. John Ragsdale, John Tunnell and John Brown were the first school directors of the eighth district. Interest in education was at a high tide in this community at that time. The citizens went to work and cut and hauled logs to the saw mill. These logs were taken from the farms of Henry McClellan, Columbus Powell, and others. Everybody lent a hand, and in 1874 the building was completed.

Previous to this date Sam M. Cooper, now of Fountain City, was going to school in Washington County and made acquaintance with Professor William H. Perkins, Professor Perkins being the Principal of the school in which Mr. Cooper was a student and later teacher. This school was receiving aid from the "George Peabody Fund." When Mr. Cooper returned to Powell Station he insisted on the Board of Directors employing Professor Perkins as principal of the new school, which they did., and the school was opened in the fall of 1874, with Prof. Perkins as principal and Mr. Cooper, Assistant.

The Directors made application for funds from the Peabody School Fund, and received $300.00 a year to be used on teacher's salaries. Prof. Perkins and Mr. Cooper received a stated salary, derived from the Peabody Fund, state and county school tax levy, and tuition.

The Perkins High School is said to be the first school in the county to receive aid from the Peabody Fund. The Trustees of the Peabody Fund decided that they could best help the schools of the state by providing a Normal School for the training of teachers, so Peabody School was established in Nashville in December, 1875, and the using of this money soon came to an end. Prof. Perkins was retained as principal for four years, when he resigned to go elsewhere. The good that was accomplished during those four years cannot be estimated as the influence from this school will radiate forever. Original local newspaper accounts of the school reveal that it was originally known by various names, including the Knox County Normal School, the Powell's Station Graded School, and the Peabody High School. While most modern accounts refer to this as the Perkins School, that designation has not been found in the contemporary newspaper accounts.

After Prof. Perkins went away good schools were had until 1891, when the secondary school system was established by the legislature. The school had a course of study for ten grades and was a great advantage in its day. Hundreds of young men and women have gone out from the secondary school at Powell Station and are succeeding in life. Numbers of them had no further school training. They are now occupying successful railroad positions, some are railway mail clerks, others are teachers, bookkeepers, preachers, lawyers, merchants, doctors, farmers, dentists, and other honorable occupations.

Students of the old Secondary School, let's keep her memory green because it was there that we got our inspiration, it was there that our pride and ambition was stirred, and it was there that we received the first impulse to go forth and perform our part of the world's work.

Since 1914, one year high school course has been taught at Powell Station. This brings us to the present. As has been mentioned, through the efforts of County Court and County School Officials, we are to have a new school building and a three year course.

How can we show our gratitude better than by putting our shoulders to the wheel and cooperating with this school facility and these school officials in their efforts to make this school one of the best in the county and the state. A school that will reflect credit on us as patrons and friends as well as on the faculty and the School Board.

Let us ponder deeply, "What is my ambition for the new high school?"

When we have rendered all the assistance we can in the development of the religious, mental and physical natures of these children under our care we will hear the same voice that our forefathers heard - "Come ye blessed of my Father".

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STUDENTS AT THE POWELL'S STATION GRADED SCHOOL / NORMAL SCHOOL / PEABODY HIGH SCHOOL / PERKING SCHOOL, 1875 - 1879

Above, I have listed this school under the various names it was called in contemporary Knoxville newspaper accounts in the 1870's (plus adding the name the "Perkins School", the name by which the original school is often referred to today is most writings, although that name is not found in the original newspaper accounts.) The following are the names of students who attended the newly constructed grammar and high school building at Powell's Station from 1875 through 1879. The names are reproduced from the Sixth Reunion of those classes, held on August 1, 1919, and printed by the S. B. Newman Company of Knoxville that year. (Author's personal collection.) Names shown with asterisk (*) represent those who were deceased when the 1919 reunion was held. (Interestingly, that publication refers to the school only as Powell Station High School, and makes no reference to the earlier names of the school.)

Mary C. Aldred *

A. H. Alley

Emma Alley

Meda Alley

Mary Alley *

Mary E. Alley

Maynard Alley

J. M. Allen

James W. S. Anderson

Cora C. Anderson

Harriet E. Anderson

Sarah J. Anderson

Margaret A. Anderson

Gillie C. Armstrong

Sarah E. Armstrong *

Joseph T. Armstrong *

Hugh Arnold

Frank Arnold

Charles Ault

William Ault

John P. Ault *

Nancy Bailey

Henry Bailey

T. A. Bell

Granville Bell *

W. F. Bell

J. L. Bell

Edwin Bell

James Bell *

Melissa Bell

Mary E. Bell

Mary Bell *

Nancy E. Bell

Nancy Bell *

Pat Bell

J. H. Black 8

Joe Black

Emma Beets

George Beets

Hardy Beets

G. C. Bishop

Mary Bishop

Marusha Bishop

Thomas Bishop *

Joseph Bishop

Wessie Bishop

C. M. Bridwell *

Ella Bridwell

Lizzie Bridwell *

H. M. Brown

L. F. Brown

Lizzie Brown

Mary Brown *

T. W. Brown *

J. P. Brown

J. B. Callahan

J. K. Callahan

George W. Callahan

Maggie Callahan

Simon Callahan

Adelia Chavanes

Blanch Childs

Effie Childs

Alice A. Cole

P. C. Clapp *

T. F. Cooper

Alex G. Cooper

Jennie M. Cooper *

Lizzie Cooper

James B. Cooper *

John B. Cooper

A. H. Cooper

J. W. Conner

Mary A. Conner

Thomas M. Conner *

Thomas Conner *

John R. Conner *

S. C. Cornick

George Cox *

R. L. Cox

M. F. Caldwell

D. B. Caldwell

Douglas Caulkins

Henry

Caulkins

Henry Caulkins

Dan D. Caulkins

W. B. W. Chenoweth

A. D. Collier *

J. . D. Collier

Hoyle Collier

E. S. Copeland

Martha Cox

LaFayette Crawford

Joseph Crawford

Howard Crawford

Henry Davis

Elmore Davis

Jasper Davis

Sarah E. Davis *

Sarah J. Davis

Mary R. Davis

Taylor Davis *

John L. DeFord

Nancy DeFord

Emma DeFord

W M. DeFord

Will Dew

Richard Duggar

W. S. Duncan

John Edmond

James P. Edington

Joseph F. Edington

Tennessee Edington

Rachel Edmons

John England

Fayette English *

John English

J. F. Ellis

Bettie Elkins

Eva Elkins

Willie Elkins

Lillie Englies

Rebecca English

William Farmer

John M. Ford *

Eliza Fox

Maggie Fox

W. D. Fox *

James B. Foy *

C. C. Fertag

S. P. Fowler

W. T. Foute

James Fletcher

Cordelia Franklin *

Cynthia Gamble

T. L. Gammon

Eddie Gardner

Walter Gardner

John Gamble *

J. H. Gamble

C. H. Gault

Nancy J. Gault *

Ed Gentry *

Minnie Gentry *

David Gibbs

John Gilpen

Joseph Giles *

J. C. Groner *

A. R. Groner *

Catherine J. Groner

H. B. Groner *

Hoover Groner

C. Y. Haggard

J. W. Hall

J. B. Hall

Maggie Hall

Mary Hall *

Taz Hall *

George Harrell

John Harrell

David Harrell

R. H. Hart *

Millard Harbinson

J. H. Harrison

Mary Heaton

John Henry *

W. C. Henry *

Willie Harper

Fredie Hinkle

J. M. Heaton

J. M. Hoss

J. C. Hoskins

W. F. Hitchcock

Eltha Hinckley

Fannie Hinckley

Carrie Hoss

Lelia Hoss

Roena Hoss

Ella Israil *

John H. Jackson

Martha Jackson

Nancy J. Jackson

W. S. Jackson

W. R. Jenkins

J. M. Jett *

D. A. Johnson

T. W. Johnson

Leslie Johnson

Martha Johnson

Millie A. Johnson

Susan E. Johnson

Sarah C. Johnson *

M. E. Johnson

Rosa Johnson *

Robert Johnson *

James F. Johnson

William Johnson

H., R. Johnson

George Irish

W. C. Karns

Tula Kingsley *

Dawson Kreider *

Charles Kinzel

H. L. King *

Lizzie B. Knox

Mary Knox

Pearl Knox

Thomas Knox *

James Larew *

S. J. Ledgerwood *

William Ledgerwood

J. N. B. Ledgerwood

Thorn Ledgerwood

R. M. Lewis

Jeff Lewis

D. S. Lewis

Emma Lonas *

W. F. Lonas

Hurd Lonas *

Lula E. Lucy

B. R. McBath

Eugene McBryde

James M. McCloud *

Alice McClellan *

Sallie C. McClellan

Matthew E. McClellan

Maud McClellan

Mattie McClellan *

R. S. McClellan

Ross McCelellan

Willie McClellan

Fayette May

L. R. May

S. E. Mays

Mary Mays

Nancy Mays

Susan Mays *

Elias Miller

Harry Miller *

Harvey Miller

John Miller

W. R. Milligan *

George Milligan *

Cep. Milligan

William Mitchell

W. N. Montgomery *

C. W. Moore *

Sarah Moore

Eliza Moore

Larania Moore

Agnes Moore

J. C. Morris

Gilbert Murray

Sam Murray

Sarah Mundy

Sallie J. Mundy

Laura Mundy

Susan A. Mundy

Mary E. Mundy

Thomas Murray

W. M. Mundy

John Mundy

Thomas Mundy

Sam Murray

Thomas Murray

Jefferson Moore

Houston Moore

E. F. Mynatt *

W. N. O'Dell *

Harvey Ogg *

W. M. Parker *

J. C. Parker *

Thomas Parham *

Willie Patten

John F. Pearson

Austin Presnell

Frank Presnell

Temple Presnell

Tobias Presnell

R. B. Ragsdale

Eugene Ragsdale

Roy Ragsdale

W. M. Rogers

James F. Reynolds *

Maggie Reynolds

Martha Reynolds

Rosa Reynolds

J. M. Roberts

W. C. Robinson

Lavinia Richardson

Sherman Richardson

Lincoln Rhodes

Andrew Rhodes

Ed Rodes

Francis Rupe

Alice Sanders

Emma Sanders

Willie Sanders

Susan E. Scaggs

T. P. Scarborough *

J. M. Scarborough

Thomas J. Simmons *

George Simmons

Mary E. Simmons

W. F. Simmons

Sarah F. Slaughter

J. M. Smith

Frank Stoltzfus

Amanda Stoltzfus

Katie Stoltzfus

Tillie Stoltzfus

J. H. Stoltzfus

J. M. Spradling

James Sterchi

Willie Sterchi

Emma Stanley

Martha Stanley

Mary Stanley

Gilbert Stanley

J. M. Tillery

Laura Tillery

Ed Tillery

Laura Tindle

O. T. Tindle

John Tipton

Solomon Tipton

J. C. Tunnell *

Jesse Tunnell

Kate Tunnell

Mary Tunnell

Julia Tunnell *

S. F. Walker *

H. F. Wheat

Alex White

Berry White

Judson Weaver

James H. Weaver

James A. Weaver

Alice Webb

Cordelie Weaver

Elizabeth Weaver

Margaret Weaver

Mary Weaver

Nancy Weaver

Jane Weaver

D. L. Weiland

Sarah J. White

Ella B. Williams

Mollie Wood

Eva Wood

Callie Wood

R. H. Wright *

Joseph B. Worthington *

A. O. Wood *

Oscar Wood

R. C. Wood *

John C. York *

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