SCHOOLS BROOKE COUNTY:

This information is from the book:

BROOKE COUNTY, BEING A RECORD OF

PROMINENT EVENTS

OCCURRING IN BROOKE COUNTY W.VA. FROM SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY, UNTIL JANUARY 1, 1882.

BY J.G. JACOB AND J.F. MURPHY

Page 118, 119 and 120

FREE SCHOOLS IN BROOKE COUNTY.

In 1855, under the then Virginia Free School Law, an effort was made to establish free schools in Brooke but without success. The law required a two-thirds affirmative vote which as then taken at the various precincts, is copied.

For Free School Against F.S.

Neil's Precinct (Holiday's Cove) 15 14

Good Will 35 23

Wellsburg 158 62

Fowler's 24 40

Well's (opposite Steubenville) 18 40

Bethany 58 21

Total 308 200

The result fell short 30 odd votes in a very meager poll; from which it may be inferred, that except in Wellsburg and Bethany, public opinion had not yet reached an advanced stage in favor of free schooling. A few years later came a change in public opinion on education, and a great many other matters, wrought by the events of the war, and in the very midst of hostilities, in 1864, the present Free School System was adopted. Hon. Gordon Batelle, of Ohio County and A.F. Ross, late of Brooke, were largely instrumental in this. The county was divided into Buffalo, Cross Creek and Wellsburg School districts; the two former being all outside the town corporation, and as the law provided they were divided into sub-districts and the machinery put in motion in some instances, and quarters, with a good deal of friction and pull-back. New houses had to be provided in every district and it was expensive. The records of the county districts are not readily attainable; but in each of them the school tax was a very large proportion of the annual levy. With commendable spirit, however, the taxpayers persevered until every sub-district was supplied and Brooke County now stands among the very foremost in the State in regard to her Public Schools.

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WELLSBURG INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

In Wellsburg district, as stated, the Seminary building was first used as a free school house. The first Board of Education elected consisted of G.W. Caldwell, President, Joseph Applegate and Jos B. Harding. H.C. Shearer was then appointed Secretary. This was in June, 1864. George W. Russell took the enumeration. Males 173, females 204; colored 5- total 382. The salaries at first were for principal $50.00 per month; for teachers $25 to $30, and four teachers in addition to the principal were employed. The levy for school purposes was, 1864, 15 cents on the $100 valuation.

ENUMERATION IN 1880-1

At this time (1880-1) the enumeration is: Males 398, females 338; colored 11- total 747; and two male and six female teachers, including the principal, are required and also a temporary teacher for the colored children of school age. The levy had advanced in 1881, to 50 cents, on the $100 valuation and still the school are crowded and salaries low.

A considerable addition, however, it may be stated, was made to the original school district by the annexation of territory, by the law of 1868, establishing the Independent district, by which much of the increase is accounted for. The district is a corporation under a special charter, called, therefore, an Independent district.

THE WELLSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING

The school building was erected in 1868 at a cost of nearly $22,000, including the grounds, all of which, except a small fraction, has been paid. James Hervey, President, Joseph Applegate and J.G. Jacob, constituted the School Board at that date. The ground was purchased, plan of a building procured from Architect Kerr, of Pittsburgh, and the contract to build the same awarded to Thompson White of Wellsburg. Some of the details of the plan, relating to heating, &c,&c, were omitted at the time and the building got ready for occupancy in 1868-9.

It contains eight large school rooms, 26x26 feet and a large hall or exhibition room, full size of the building, and has a capacity for about 400 children. Although devoid of architectural display, it is as commodious as is desirable; and as convenient and safe as any one in the State. The house was newly roofed with slate in 1881, and other wise repaired.

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LAZEARVILLE SCHOOL

In the summer of 1860, the residents in the upper end of the district known as Lazearville, made application as the law provides for a school house.

They had the requisite numbers and in 1881 the brick building now occupied was erected at a cost of something over $1600. It has a school capacity of 75 to 100 pupils, was put up by John Mayhall and is now occupied as a school, and nearly full.

FREE SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC ESTIMATION

The Public School system, as far as Brooke County is concerned, may with confidence be said to be a success; and though it bears somewhat hard financially on some parties, is universally popular, and would not be dispensed with, were opportunities afforded.