Cooperville School

Cooperville School 1920's

     "On June the first, Cooperville School closes its doors. It not only ends the 1955-56 school year, but also the school itself. Cooperville will be consolidated with Midway School. This consolidation will has caused us to look backwards and started us thinking about the beginning of the school.

     There are no records of Baldwin County Public Schools before 1893. In the earliest records  we find Cooperville School mentioned and Miss Ikie Hudson as the first teacher. Some of the older citizens of the community remember the little one room school house of that year. It was on the same site as the present buildings on the property of Mr. James I. Ethridge. On February 3, 1893 Mr. Ethridge deeded 1½ acres of land to the Baldwin County Board of Education. Before this date, about 1897, a new one-room building had been built. A carpenter who worked on this building tells us he worked for 50 cents a day.

    In 1898 Miss Bobbie Gause was elected to teach at Cooperville. Her salary was $35 a month. She had an enrolment of forty-one pupils. Miss Gause taught until 1905. The school term was 100 days.

    In 1905 there was an additional room built. Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Hammondtree were the teachers.

    A school census about this time showed 360 children between the ages of 6 and 18 in the 322nd district of Baldwin county. Of this number 218 were white and 142 colored. There were 26 between 10 and 18 who could not read or write.

     In 1906 Miss Lily Irby was assigned as another assistant teacher at Cooperville. She taught only one year and Miss Leone Ethridge took her place.

     The school term was increased to 140 days. These days were taught from November through May, so the children could help gather crops in the fall.

      Among the earliest teachers we find these names: Mr. R.S. Love, Miss Ethel Stembridge, Mr. Bloodworth, Miss Agnes Stembridge, Miss Myrtle McDermont, Mr. Chisholm, and Miss Torrance. The mention of these names probably calls back many school-day memories for some of the citizens of this community.

     Consolidation of some of the smaller schools began. The pupils at Stevens' Pottery School were sent to Cooperville. Through the years Camp Creek, Ennis, Salem, Pine Grove, Mt. Pleasant, and Union Hill schools have been consolidated with Cooperville. As more pupils came to this school more rooms were added. Finally a primary room was built that did not adjoin the other building. Later more rooms were added to the primary room and years later restrooms added to that building. A large stage and auditorium were added to the main building.

     Space will not permit the naming of every teacher that has taught at Cooperville. No doubt some of you will remember teachers who are not mentioned, bu they were a part of Cooperville and did their part in sending out girls and boys who have made fine citizens for the community, the county, and state. Cooperville School should be proud to see what some of these pupils have made of themselves. Mrs. J. R. Watkins, Miss Mary Vaughn, Mr. & Mrs. O. J. Holliman,, Mrs. Lucy P. Walker, Miss Mattie Lou Ivey, Miss Lanette O'neal, Miss Ellen Echols, Miss Hattie Richardson, Mrs Martha Davis, Miss Runette Simmerson, Miss Selma Sherrar, Miss Louise Parker, Miss Louisa Bloodworth, Miss Florence Cole, Mr. T.V. Smith, Miss Betty Snead, Miss Evelyn Humphrye, Miss Christine Holloway, Mr. D.B. Smith, Mr. L.D. Langley, Miss Iris Wilkinson, Mr. J.L. Lawrence, who was the father of Mr. Frank Lawrence and Miss Louise Hicks, who is now Mrs. Louise H. Huff and others are among those who have taught at Cooperville.

      As consolidation began, transportation of pupils to school began. Mr. Theodore Brookins was the first bus driver.

     At one time Cooperville taught the high school grades, but gradually the older ones were sent to the larger high schools until Cooperville became only an elementary school.

      In 1948 General Refractories deeded more land to the school. This made a large playground and the Parents Teacher Association has bought playground equipment for it.

     Mrs. P.N. Bivins, Mrs. Ray Holsenbeck, Mr. Branscomb, and Mr. Milledge Leach were the last principals of the school.     Cooperville School will long be remembered for it has sent out many future citizens."

Source: the last Cooperville School Year Book 1955-1956
 

1900: Some students - Eugene Benford; Mamie Cormanni, Florence Etheridge; Susie Gladin; Bob Gause Harris; Eva Patterson; Ivy Patterson; Lonnie Patterson, Roberta Wood
1905: Some students:Cora May Finney; Eugene Benford; George Carpenter; Willie Cooper; Alma Echols; Ruby Gladin; Robener Pearce, Annie Wood
1905: Consolidated with Stevens Pottery School
1906: Cooperville High School opened. Principal Prof. W. D. Hammontree
1910: Cooperville High School March 29, 1910
Honor roll for March: Osborn Brown, George Carpenter, Frank Echols, Mabel Hall, Robena Pierce, Clara Childs, Rosa Hoover and Johnnie Mae Pierce.
Honrable Mention having missed only one day during the month. Mae Berry, Addie Lee Echols, Carltonn Ethridge, Elenor Jones, Lizzie Lee, Hattie Pearl Reybolds, Erma Childs, Louis Davis, Martha Echols, Ruth Echols, Connie Ethridge, Julian Ethridge, Otis Hall, Hansell Hall, Willie Dock Stanley, Elmer Wood, Lawrence Wood and Burton Wood. The Union Recorder Mar 29 1910.

1911: Grover Bloodworth was principal.  Agnes and Ethel Stembridge were high school teachers

1955-56 School Year
R. Frank Lawrence, School Superintendant
Mrs. Sarah H. Youmans 1st Grade
Miss Jessie C. Richardson 2 and 3 Grades
Mrs. Louise H. Huff, Principal and 4 and 5 Grades Mrs. Josephine Rice, 6 and 7 grades
If you would like a photo of a student from 1955-1956 email me.

1 and 2 grades: Jan Babb Glenda Barnes Wayne Clance Diane Dyes Wayne Etheridge Ann Farmer Linda Jackson Grace Kitchens Geneva Lingold Al McCant Nadine NeSmith David Ryles Roy Roberson Sammie Timdall Sandra Tindall Mary Ann Vinson Darlene Wood Glenn Wood Hillard Wood Randy Wood Dennis Locaby Stephen Pierce Wadeen Wood Richard Pierce Gerry Bell Terry Torrance Douglas Gladin Pam Wilkinson Ronnie Roberts (died 7/20/2005) Gary Pettigrew (died 5/23/1989) Herman Wilcher Marion Tollison (died 6/24/2011) Elizabeth Lingold Buddy Benford (died 11/25/2003) Larry Wilkinson Jim Kitchens Joan McCant Eileen Babb Robert Tollison

3 and 4 grades: Gloria Barnes Kenneth Davis Mary Bess Farmer Wayne Samples Gail Young Betty Babb Johnny West Diane Jackson Sammy Hall Violent Wilkinson Linda Tollison (died 4/3/2011) Larry Eady Frank McCluney (died 7/20/2003) Cheryl Clance Randall "Pedro" Reynolds Robert Pettigrew Anne Patterson Johnny Brown Ross Bell Gloria Martin J.C. Johns Hayward Jackson Jimmy Brown Bonnie Swint Larry Roberson Buford Tollison Jerry Tollison Leroy Vinson Barbara Gladin Carol Swint

5th grade: Nancy Kitchens Terry Davis Gail Eady Harold Tollison Buford Tollison Fleming Farmer Sara Weaver Evelyn McCant Barbara Jean McCant Jeannette Farmer Edwin Vinson Jerry McCullar 6th grade Jean Barrett Danny Eady Eunice Eady Lamar Etheridge Sarah Jackson Betty Jo Kitchens Mary Ann Kitchens W.B. NeSmith Viola McCant Harold Tollison Charles Weaver Kay Weaver Joe Weaver Pat West 7th Grade Pauline Benford Jimmy Farmer Dean Everidge Mary Farmer Brenda Pettigrew Geraldine Prosser Dickey Smith Patsy Epps

From 1954-55 Year Book

Mrs. Lucy P. Walker's Class about 1923

Note: The school is gone but on the site is a nice community park
*  killed in Vietnam February 13, 1968 while a passenger on a Military Helicopter and is buried in Milledgeville, Georgia at WestView Cem.
 
 

Eileen Babb McAdams copyright 2004