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FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSE IN FORSYTH COUNTY
WINSTON-SALEM, NC JOURNAL AND SENTINEL
SUNDAY AUGUST 17, 1930
Prof. Seth B. Brown taught the first public school in Forsyth County. The building in which this first school was taught is still standing on Green Street and is used as a
dwelling house. At the time the school was taught the building was located near the present site of Brown-Williamson Tobacco Co.
Prof. Brown was a prominent teacher and educator in Forsyth and Davidson counties during the ante-bellum days. Other schools taught by Prof. Brown were Pleasant Hill in
this county and the Rock School in Northern Davidson County. His fame was such that he was favorably mentioned in some of the early historical and educational words of
the Piedmont section. Two daughters of Prof. Brown are residents of this city, Mrs. Mary Holobough and Mrs. Emma Peddycord.
LIVED IN BROWNTOWN
Prof. Brown was reared in and lived at Browntown just across the Forsyth County line in Davidson County on the road to Abbotts Creek Baptist Church. In addition to his
meritous work as a schoolteacher he was an ardent prohibitionist and strict moralist. Plain spoken, he never lost an opportunity to condemn strong drink; openly and boldly
he attacked the evils of his day; he catered to no one and never spared the guilty. He was a splendid public speaker—a man endowed with exceptional intellectual qualities,
possessed with sound judgment, and one fortunate enough to secure and retain the confidence and respect of his fellow men. Many neighbors gathered at his home every
Sunday morning to hear him expound the Scriptures, his favorite study.
ANSWERED CALL TO ARMS
When the call to arms was sounded for the War Between the States Prof. Brown showed himself loyal, true and patriotic son of his State and the Southland. Once in the war
there was no alternative but to fight for an(sic) successful and honorable conclusion. He never lost an opportunity of addressing public gatherings, urging full support of the
Confederacy, and encouraging enlistment. Although married and the father of a large family of children, the urgent call for men of the Southern army stirred his patriotic
ardor so much that his conscience would allow him to do no less than enlist for active service. He enlisted at Browntown in a company organized by D. C. Hedgecock, the 8th
of May, 1861. He received his training in Virginia. A wound--- received in collision with a troop of cavalry, probably his fellow soldiers – together with lack of proper food and
impure water with which the soldiers were so often compelled to maintain life, soon fatally undermined his health. Chronic dysentery, so prevalent among the soldiers, laid
hold upon him and soon disabled him for active service. He was honorably discharged. The discharge now in the hands of one of his descendants of this day, reads as
follows:
SOLDIERS DISCHARGE
“To all whom it may concern: Know ye that Seth B. Brown, a private of D. C. Hedgecock’s Company A of the 21st Regiment of N. C. State troops, who was enlisted the 8th
cay of May, 1861, to serve one year, is herby honorable discharged from the Army of the Confederate States. Said Private Seth B. Brown, was born in Davidson County in
the State of N. C., and is 47 years of age, 5 ft.7 1-2 inches tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair and by occupation a horticulturist. Served at Charlottesville, the 15th
day of April 1862. Approved by John Taylor, Captain Army Tent—I. L. Corbett, Surgeon Pa. C. S., in charge of General Hospital, Charlottesville, VA. Transportation
furnished in kind, T. L. Werlenbrecken, Captain.”
As the discharge states Prof. Brown was discharged from the hospital. His case was pronounced incurable and he was sent home to die. He died within a few months after
his return to Browntown Community of his malady, which he had contracted in the army services.
Prof. Brown worked for Esquire Moses Evans of the Browntown community for more than 15 years. The “squire” operated a large nursery and his salesmen covered the
entire section soliciting orders for apple, peach, cherry, plum, quince, grape and other fruit trees. Esquire Moses Evans, who had inherited a large farm near Browntown,
was a prominent and distinguished man of his day and generation. He was a typical Southern gentleman, polite and courteous, well educated, and well read. Like the
“Father of His Country” he always appeared tastefully and elegantly dressed. Well polished boots of the highest grade leather, black broadcloth Prince Albert coat, high silk
hat, and accessories to match were among his wardrobe necessities. Handsome and carefully tailored outfits attracted considerable attention among the farmers and the
gentry of the surrounding communities.
Mrs. Mary B. Holobough, a daughter of Prof. Seth B. Brown, now living on South Liberty Street, recalls facts in this article, concerning her father, Prof. Brown. Mrs.
Holobough was born and reared in the Browntown community and was in her youth one of the belles and social leaders of that section.
Mrs. Holobough states that her father, while teaching at the Rock School in the northern part of Davidson County fell in love with one of his pupils, Miss Letitia Idol. They
were enamoured(sic) with each other that they eloped and were married before the termination of the session. She lived as a widow in this city until her death around 1900.
This article found in the newspaper by Betsy Hendrix.
Typed by Reba S. Jones
SUNDAY AUGUST 17, 1930
Prof. Seth B. Brown taught the first public school in Forsyth County. The building in which this first school was taught is still standing on Green Street and is used as a
dwelling house. At the time the school was taught the building was located near the present site of Brown-Williamson Tobacco Co.
Prof. Brown was a prominent teacher and educator in Forsyth and Davidson counties during the ante-bellum days. Other schools taught by Prof. Brown were Pleasant Hill in
this county and the Rock School in Northern Davidson County. His fame was such that he was favorably mentioned in some of the early historical and educational words of
the Piedmont section. Two daughters of Prof. Brown are residents of this city, Mrs. Mary Holobough and Mrs. Emma Peddycord.
LIVED IN BROWNTOWN
Prof. Brown was reared in and lived at Browntown just across the Forsyth County line in Davidson County on the road to Abbotts Creek Baptist Church. In addition to his
meritous work as a schoolteacher he was an ardent prohibitionist and strict moralist. Plain spoken, he never lost an opportunity to condemn strong drink; openly and boldly
he attacked the evils of his day; he catered to no one and never spared the guilty. He was a splendid public speaker—a man endowed with exceptional intellectual qualities,
possessed with sound judgment, and one fortunate enough to secure and retain the confidence and respect of his fellow men. Many neighbors gathered at his home every
Sunday morning to hear him expound the Scriptures, his favorite study.
ANSWERED CALL TO ARMS
When the call to arms was sounded for the War Between the States Prof. Brown showed himself loyal, true and patriotic son of his State and the Southland. Once in the war
there was no alternative but to fight for an(sic) successful and honorable conclusion. He never lost an opportunity of addressing public gatherings, urging full support of the
Confederacy, and encouraging enlistment. Although married and the father of a large family of children, the urgent call for men of the Southern army stirred his patriotic
ardor so much that his conscience would allow him to do no less than enlist for active service. He enlisted at Browntown in a company organized by D. C. Hedgecock, the 8th
of May, 1861. He received his training in Virginia. A wound--- received in collision with a troop of cavalry, probably his fellow soldiers – together with lack of proper food and
impure water with which the soldiers were so often compelled to maintain life, soon fatally undermined his health. Chronic dysentery, so prevalent among the soldiers, laid
hold upon him and soon disabled him for active service. He was honorably discharged. The discharge now in the hands of one of his descendants of this day, reads as
follows:
SOLDIERS DISCHARGE
“To all whom it may concern: Know ye that Seth B. Brown, a private of D. C. Hedgecock’s Company A of the 21st Regiment of N. C. State troops, who was enlisted the 8th
cay of May, 1861, to serve one year, is herby honorable discharged from the Army of the Confederate States. Said Private Seth B. Brown, was born in Davidson County in
the State of N. C., and is 47 years of age, 5 ft.7 1-2 inches tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair and by occupation a horticulturist. Served at Charlottesville, the 15th
day of April 1862. Approved by John Taylor, Captain Army Tent—I. L. Corbett, Surgeon Pa. C. S., in charge of General Hospital, Charlottesville, VA. Transportation
furnished in kind, T. L. Werlenbrecken, Captain.”
As the discharge states Prof. Brown was discharged from the hospital. His case was pronounced incurable and he was sent home to die. He died within a few months after
his return to Browntown Community of his malady, which he had contracted in the army services.
Prof. Brown worked for Esquire Moses Evans of the Browntown community for more than 15 years. The “squire” operated a large nursery and his salesmen covered the
entire section soliciting orders for apple, peach, cherry, plum, quince, grape and other fruit trees. Esquire Moses Evans, who had inherited a large farm near Browntown,
was a prominent and distinguished man of his day and generation. He was a typical Southern gentleman, polite and courteous, well educated, and well read. Like the
“Father of His Country” he always appeared tastefully and elegantly dressed. Well polished boots of the highest grade leather, black broadcloth Prince Albert coat, high silk
hat, and accessories to match were among his wardrobe necessities. Handsome and carefully tailored outfits attracted considerable attention among the farmers and the
gentry of the surrounding communities.
Mrs. Mary B. Holobough, a daughter of Prof. Seth B. Brown, now living on South Liberty Street, recalls facts in this article, concerning her father, Prof. Brown. Mrs.
Holobough was born and reared in the Browntown community and was in her youth one of the belles and social leaders of that section.
Mrs. Holobough states that her father, while teaching at the Rock School in the northern part of Davidson County fell in love with one of his pupils, Miss Letitia Idol. They
were enamoured(sic) with each other that they eloped and were married before the termination of the session. She lived as a widow in this city until her death around 1900.
This article found in the newspaper by Betsy Hendrix.
Typed by Reba S. Jones
BUILDING WHICH HOUSED FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN FORSYTH IS STILL STANDING SETH B. BROWN WAS PRINCIPAL Pioneer Educator Served in Civil War to Die Soon Afterwards By O. M. Brown |
MASQUERADE
North Green Street House Is Lot More Than Meets Eye
Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the antique-lover in the family? Jim Finney has just the thing.
The last one-room log-cabin schoolhouse in Winston-Salem. The price is right, too. Free---not including carrying costs.
The log schoolhouse has been covered with clapboards and used as a residence at least since it was moved from Ardmore to its present location at 115 N. Green Street more
than half a century ago. When Finney, owner of Business Systems and Interiors Inc. at 141 Green Street, bought the property about a month ago as a future site for his
business, he had no idea of the building’s historic significance.
“I found out the day after I closed that it was an old log school---I was really surprised,” Finney said. The massive, hand-hewn logs are still visible in the attic of the original
part of the building, which has been partitioned off into two rooms, he said. A kitchen, bath and porch were added at some point during the evolution of the building from a
schoolhouse into a home, he noted. The building originally stood on the site of the Baptist Hospital complex said Johnny Glasscoe, who lived in the house for 28 years before
moving two doors down on Green Street recently. Glasscoe said he learned the history of the building from former owners, including the daughter of J. W. Stevens, the man
who moved the building to its present site.
“Mr. Stevens worked at the Belk-Stevens store on Trade Street, and he lived in a big, two-story house on the corner where the radiator company is now.” Glasscoe said. “He
had gone to the old schoolhouse as a boy and he moved it up here about the time they built the hospital (in 1923).” Stevens eventually gave his big house to his daughter
and moved into the little schoolhouse building, where he died several years later, Glasscoe said.
Construction details such as the use of oak instead of pine logs, cast-iron hardware, floorboard width and the form of windows and doors date the building to the mid-19th
century “probably before the Civil War,” said John Larson, director of restorations for Old Salem Inc.
The building is historically significant because it is one of the few log structures of that vintage left anywhere in the county.” Gwynne Taylor, author of a county wide inventory
of historic places. The building is apparently the last identifiable one room log schoolhouse left in the area that later became the town of Winston, Mrs. Taylor added.
Finney is planning to build on the site, and he hope someone will take the old building off his hands before the cold weather comes. “I’d like to see the property cleared before
someone goes in there and builds a fire in the middle of the floor to keep warm and burns the place down,” he said. Finney said he will give the old building and the
outbuildings on the site to anyone who can remove them before winter. “I’d like to see somebody take the house who could move it and do something with it,” he said.
Larson said Old Salem could use the materials from the house in restoration and reconstruction projects if the house must be demolished, but has no need for the whole
building. “Ideally, we would much rather see the whole building maintained intact somewhere,” he said. “I’m not too big on antiques myself, but I’d hate to see the building
just bulldozed down,” Finney said.
“Sure, I’d like to see it saved,” Glasscoe agreed. “After all I lived there all those years.”
Article in THE SENTINEL, November 1, 1984 and written by Alan Willis, Sentinel Staff Reporter
Typed by Reba S. Jones
North Green Street House Is Lot More Than Meets Eye
Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the antique-lover in the family? Jim Finney has just the thing.
The last one-room log-cabin schoolhouse in Winston-Salem. The price is right, too. Free---not including carrying costs.
The log schoolhouse has been covered with clapboards and used as a residence at least since it was moved from Ardmore to its present location at 115 N. Green Street more
than half a century ago. When Finney, owner of Business Systems and Interiors Inc. at 141 Green Street, bought the property about a month ago as a future site for his
business, he had no idea of the building’s historic significance.
“I found out the day after I closed that it was an old log school---I was really surprised,” Finney said. The massive, hand-hewn logs are still visible in the attic of the original
part of the building, which has been partitioned off into two rooms, he said. A kitchen, bath and porch were added at some point during the evolution of the building from a
schoolhouse into a home, he noted. The building originally stood on the site of the Baptist Hospital complex said Johnny Glasscoe, who lived in the house for 28 years before
moving two doors down on Green Street recently. Glasscoe said he learned the history of the building from former owners, including the daughter of J. W. Stevens, the man
who moved the building to its present site.
“Mr. Stevens worked at the Belk-Stevens store on Trade Street, and he lived in a big, two-story house on the corner where the radiator company is now.” Glasscoe said. “He
had gone to the old schoolhouse as a boy and he moved it up here about the time they built the hospital (in 1923).” Stevens eventually gave his big house to his daughter
and moved into the little schoolhouse building, where he died several years later, Glasscoe said.
Construction details such as the use of oak instead of pine logs, cast-iron hardware, floorboard width and the form of windows and doors date the building to the mid-19th
century “probably before the Civil War,” said John Larson, director of restorations for Old Salem Inc.
The building is historically significant because it is one of the few log structures of that vintage left anywhere in the county.” Gwynne Taylor, author of a county wide inventory
of historic places. The building is apparently the last identifiable one room log schoolhouse left in the area that later became the town of Winston, Mrs. Taylor added.
Finney is planning to build on the site, and he hope someone will take the old building off his hands before the cold weather comes. “I’d like to see the property cleared before
someone goes in there and builds a fire in the middle of the floor to keep warm and burns the place down,” he said. Finney said he will give the old building and the
outbuildings on the site to anyone who can remove them before winter. “I’d like to see somebody take the house who could move it and do something with it,” he said.
Larson said Old Salem could use the materials from the house in restoration and reconstruction projects if the house must be demolished, but has no need for the whole
building. “Ideally, we would much rather see the whole building maintained intact somewhere,” he said. “I’m not too big on antiques myself, but I’d hate to see the building
just bulldozed down,” Finney said.
“Sure, I’d like to see it saved,” Glasscoe agreed. “After all I lived there all those years.”
Article in THE SENTINEL, November 1, 1984 and written by Alan Willis, Sentinel Staff Reporter
Typed by Reba S. Jones
LAST IDENTIFIABLE ONE ROOM LOG SCHOOLHOUSE LEFT IN TOWN OF WINSTON |
GRASSHOPPER COLLEGE- 1910
Submitted by Reba Jones
Submitted by Reba Jones
MANY REMEMBER “GRASSHOPPER COLLEGE”
Among many of the one-room schools that existed in the Old Town community around the turn of the 19th century before consolidation was accomplished, and are still remembered
by residents of the area, was one which was located on what is now Beck’s Church Road. The name of the school was Beck’s School.
Or, at least officially that is the name it was given. The children who attended it had a different name for the little frame schoolhouse---Grasshopper College.” And the name will
probably remain in many memories even after all else is forgotten about it.
Why was it named “Grasshopper College”? The idea behind it was probably the same as that of “Slick Hill School, “ which acquired its name because of “all that slick red mud on the
hill.” Only children who were in grades one through seven attended, and it just seemed natural to call it that. (If anyone has a better explanation, please let us know! Of course, It’s
possible that it was called that because there were a lot of educated grasshoppers around that neck of the woods!)
Mrs. Lillian Anderson, formerly Lillian Speas, was a pupil at the school, and also taught there later. When she was attending Beck’s School as a student around 1907 or 1909, it was
a one-room school taught by J. W. Murray, Mrs., Anderson said. She also mentioned that he was a good teacher, well thought of by members of the community and later had a road
named after him—and of course Murray Road is still there.
Mrs. Anderson was engaged by parents in the area who wished their children to have additional education beyond what the school could offer then, the school year lasting about four
or five months at that time. With Mrs. Anderson’s help, the year was extended for an extra month. She obviously enjoyed the job, and said that she was “happy to have these
children for pupils. They were nice children and good pupils.” (All of you who had Mrs. Anderson for a teacher—now you know what she really thought of you!)
In the picture shown, decorations can be seen on the porch of the school building. These were there for a very important occasion, and one which caused probably a great deal of
delight and enjoyment for the pupils—it was the last day of school.
Mrs. Anderson said that commencement was being help on that day, which was called an “Exhibition”…and it probably WAS and exhibition, because the last day of school usually is
enjoyed by students and teachers alike…”Everybody was happy and having a great time,” Mrs. Anderson said, and then added that “teaching at this school was on of the highlights
of my life!”
Mrs. Harold Conrad of Murray Road, who furnished the picture, also attended Grasshopper College, and had many interesting things to tell about it.
There was one large stove in the middle of the room, and benches were arranged around the stove, so “we could warm our feet on these cold mornings,” Mrs. Conrad said.
Something else about the stove was also mentioned. It had a long, winding pipe that went through the roof of the building, and she said that she has often wondered since then just
why in never fell, because it didn’t look too safe at all!
One long bench was placed at the front of the room, where pupils assembled to recite their lessons while others did work at their desks. Each desk seated two pupils, with books
being kept under the top of the desk.
There was a spring down behind the school where pupils would get water, Mrs. Conrad said, usually two going at a time to fill up buckets and bring them back for the other children.
The subject of drinking water brought up another interesting thought—“It looks as though there would have been a lot more sickness in those days among the children,” Mrs. Conrad
said, “because even though that cold spring water tasted awfully good, the buckets were passed up and down the rows of children, and all of us drank out of the same bucket and
dipper!”
All types of games were played during break periods, as well as before and after school was in session, but most were the kind that called for a great deal of imagination from
everybody involved, because few of the little “store bought” equipment were ever available.
Baseball at Grasshopper College was the primary sport it seems, even though bats and balls were constructed by hand, or pupils had used what was available, such as boards for
bats. And there was no discrimination about girls playing baseball either, Mrs. Conrad said,”We just joined right in and played with as much enthusiasm as the boys!”
Basketball wasn’t played at all, because it had not yet become popular anywhere (and it probably would have been a great deal more difficult to make a basketball, too---), but other
games were popular, and are still being played by children that age, such as “Ring-Around-The-Roses,” “Drop-The-Handkerchief,” and all those others that everyone knows.
We’d also like to express our appreciation to those who contacted us about this story. Some of these are Mrs. Anderson, who is now living at the Belo Home in Old Salem, Mrs.
Conrad, and others who have assisted with this story. It would have been impossible to have done it without them.
Forsyth Suburbanite April 25, 1968
Typed by Reba Jones
Among many of the one-room schools that existed in the Old Town community around the turn of the 19th century before consolidation was accomplished, and are still remembered
by residents of the area, was one which was located on what is now Beck’s Church Road. The name of the school was Beck’s School.
Or, at least officially that is the name it was given. The children who attended it had a different name for the little frame schoolhouse---Grasshopper College.” And the name will
probably remain in many memories even after all else is forgotten about it.
Why was it named “Grasshopper College”? The idea behind it was probably the same as that of “Slick Hill School, “ which acquired its name because of “all that slick red mud on the
hill.” Only children who were in grades one through seven attended, and it just seemed natural to call it that. (If anyone has a better explanation, please let us know! Of course, It’s
possible that it was called that because there were a lot of educated grasshoppers around that neck of the woods!)
Mrs. Lillian Anderson, formerly Lillian Speas, was a pupil at the school, and also taught there later. When she was attending Beck’s School as a student around 1907 or 1909, it was
a one-room school taught by J. W. Murray, Mrs., Anderson said. She also mentioned that he was a good teacher, well thought of by members of the community and later had a road
named after him—and of course Murray Road is still there.
Mrs. Anderson was engaged by parents in the area who wished their children to have additional education beyond what the school could offer then, the school year lasting about four
or five months at that time. With Mrs. Anderson’s help, the year was extended for an extra month. She obviously enjoyed the job, and said that she was “happy to have these
children for pupils. They were nice children and good pupils.” (All of you who had Mrs. Anderson for a teacher—now you know what she really thought of you!)
In the picture shown, decorations can be seen on the porch of the school building. These were there for a very important occasion, and one which caused probably a great deal of
delight and enjoyment for the pupils—it was the last day of school.
Mrs. Anderson said that commencement was being help on that day, which was called an “Exhibition”…and it probably WAS and exhibition, because the last day of school usually is
enjoyed by students and teachers alike…”Everybody was happy and having a great time,” Mrs. Anderson said, and then added that “teaching at this school was on of the highlights
of my life!”
Mrs. Harold Conrad of Murray Road, who furnished the picture, also attended Grasshopper College, and had many interesting things to tell about it.
There was one large stove in the middle of the room, and benches were arranged around the stove, so “we could warm our feet on these cold mornings,” Mrs. Conrad said.
Something else about the stove was also mentioned. It had a long, winding pipe that went through the roof of the building, and she said that she has often wondered since then just
why in never fell, because it didn’t look too safe at all!
One long bench was placed at the front of the room, where pupils assembled to recite their lessons while others did work at their desks. Each desk seated two pupils, with books
being kept under the top of the desk.
There was a spring down behind the school where pupils would get water, Mrs. Conrad said, usually two going at a time to fill up buckets and bring them back for the other children.
The subject of drinking water brought up another interesting thought—“It looks as though there would have been a lot more sickness in those days among the children,” Mrs. Conrad
said, “because even though that cold spring water tasted awfully good, the buckets were passed up and down the rows of children, and all of us drank out of the same bucket and
dipper!”
All types of games were played during break periods, as well as before and after school was in session, but most were the kind that called for a great deal of imagination from
everybody involved, because few of the little “store bought” equipment were ever available.
Baseball at Grasshopper College was the primary sport it seems, even though bats and balls were constructed by hand, or pupils had used what was available, such as boards for
bats. And there was no discrimination about girls playing baseball either, Mrs. Conrad said,”We just joined right in and played with as much enthusiasm as the boys!”
Basketball wasn’t played at all, because it had not yet become popular anywhere (and it probably would have been a great deal more difficult to make a basketball, too---), but other
games were popular, and are still being played by children that age, such as “Ring-Around-The-Roses,” “Drop-The-Handkerchief,” and all those others that everyone knows.
We’d also like to express our appreciation to those who contacted us about this story. Some of these are Mrs. Anderson, who is now living at the Belo Home in Old Salem, Mrs.
Conrad, and others who have assisted with this story. It would have been impossible to have done it without them.
Forsyth Suburbanite April 25, 1968
Typed by Reba Jones
First Row (L-R): Roy Holland, Worth Speas, and Seabert Sprinkle.
Second Row: Lillie Sprinkle Bailey, Mary Keiger Bolten, Eva Sprinkle Conrad, and
Louise Holland Bell
Third Row- teacher Lillian Speas Anderson, Pearl James Hastings, Cecil Sprinkle, Ben
Spease, and Rachel Spease Kent
Second Row: Lillie Sprinkle Bailey, Mary Keiger Bolten, Eva Sprinkle Conrad, and
Louise Holland Bell
Third Row- teacher Lillian Speas Anderson, Pearl James Hastings, Cecil Sprinkle, Ben
Spease, and Rachel Spease Kent