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Union Male Academy 1842 - ca 1872
Harrelslville [called Bethel until 1847], N C
1842 - Union Male Academy established with Edwin Evarts from
Vermont as principle.
Jesse J Yeates gave up the Union Academy at Harrellsville [as
assistant to Evarts] and adopted
law for his profession. Ere another year was gone, he wedded the fair and
gentle Virginia Scott and became a permanent citizen of Murfreesboro. C F Lyon succeeded
Yeates in the school as Evarts assistant. Mr. Lyon had been for two years teaching at
Pleasant Grove and had already made many friends in Hertford. He was reared
in Pasquotank, educated in Kentucky and was a true man. Like a host of
others he went out as a Hertford soldier, and was mortally wounded at the
battle of Ellyson's Mill before Richmond in 1862.
Among its alumni were W P Shaw, Sr, Thos R Jernigan,
John R Jernigan, H C Sharp, John O Askew II, J W Perry, W D Pruden.
School
continued until about 1872.
In 1870 the census shows the teacher was Dempsey
P Barclift Jr
also, A J Harrell is listed as an artist and teacher
D Barclift 1822 -1901 - at
age 37
"He was a rigid disciplinarian and a strict Methodist. Slacking was the
greatest crime in Mr. Barclift's school, and he punished it accordingly;
pupils came there to learn, the boy who failed to know his lesson was sure
of a sound thrashing. Mr. Barclift was of medium stature, dark completed,
wore a beard, had a well-shaped head, very bald, and small black piercing
eyes. He always carried a large black cane with a crooked
handle.”
Harrellsville Academy was a military school prior to the war. With the
initiation on hostilities in 1861, all students were inducted into the CSA
Army and removed to Raleigh to serve as Home Guard.
- Ron Forehand in his bio
of D. Barclift
"Harrellsville is a place of wealth and intelligence.
There were two good schools here.
"The Union Male Academy stood under a large grove. The Academy in those
days was one of the best. Young men and boys from surrounding counties came to
school. Professor Evarts [of Vermont], Bicero Frank Lyons, and
William Powell [were the teachers at various times.] Many of the men who attended academy became men of prominence
and power. It stood near the present home of Mr. E C Callis and Mr. Roger
Jackson Jr.
After the year 1872, the building was used as a public and private
school and a church for the Baptists. It was demolished in the early 1890's.
Sills under the front rooms of the house to the left of it are from the
"Old Union Adademy." The site of the old building is still sometimes
referred to as the "Old Academy Grounds." from
"The History of Harrellsville" written Jan 1961 by Carolyn Faye Morgan
while a student at Harrellsville High School
--------------------
"The school for girls was held at the home of Mr. Abner Harrell. Miss Laura Cuthral was principal and she was assisted by Miss Mary Womble. The school rooms and music rooms were in his grove. His house was filled with boarders. . ." from "The History of Harrellsville" written Jan 1961 by Carolyn Faye Morgan while a student at Harrellsville High School
this picture is of the "Girls
School" in Harrellsville that Carolyn Morgan wrote about in her
"History Of Harrellsville".
The Historical Association Of Harrellsville has moved the building and now in
the process of renovating it.
Tommy Powell 24 Jan 2006
-------------------
Harrellsville
High School Auditorium
about 1940
 |
photo compliments of Michael J Manning,
all that's left of Harrellsville
High School the main 2 story building had been torn down.
This must have been built after the old wood part had been torn down.
The new Auditorium and Home ec. building was built by the WPA in 1940.
WPA plaque showing when new auditorium was built and by who.
You can see the plaque on the auditorium ~ Tommy
Powell 28 Aug 2003
Harrellsville High School built in 1924
now demolished
My name is Carolyn Morgan
Abrams a friend of Tommy Powell's. I grew up near Harrellsville and graduated
from Harrellsville High School in 1961. He and I were in high school together.
He sent me the address to your site and I have enjoyed browsing through it.
Almost like going home! I saw the picture of the Harresllsville High School
Auditorium and called my brother who still lives back there to ask about it. He
said that was Harrellsville High School prior to the brick one built
in 1924. He graduated from there in 1943. During the time he was in school the
upstairs was used as the auditorium and the downstairs as lunchroom and and Home
Economics department. The first class to graduate in the new auditorium was the
class of 1942. Thought maybe you might like to know this. He is almost 77 but
has a fantastic memory.