A Step Back in Time
By Bobbie Sue Shelton
Pleasant Hill School, sometimes called “Chigger Ridge” and “Pumpkin Center,” was located on Rocky Glade Road about four miles north of Highway 99. It was on the south side of the road just east of the intersection with Taylor Road. It was established in 1923 with 45-50 students attending and was built with lumber from the torn down Little Rock School. It was a two-room white weather boarded building for grades first thru eighth. According to the late Harrison Mosley who attended Pleasant Hill School and graduated from the eighth grade, there was a stage at one end of the room where chapel was held each morning for 5 or 10 minutes. When Harrison attended school, there were about 30 – 35 students enrolled most of the school years. The male students would take turns making the fire in the stove (for heat) in the winter months and also sweeping the floors. They were paid 5 cents a day. In the fall school would close for about 3 weeks for the families to get their cotton picked. He also remembered boys were often playing pranks. They would lay a crayon on the stove or mark on the side of the stove and as it melted there would be a strong smell and smoke. At other times the boys would take a pin and stick the girls that sat in front of them by sticking the pin through the crack of the seat.
The first teachers were principal Georgia Lee Marable Pate who served four years, 1923 – 1927, and Elise Robinson. Others who taught there were Anna Campbell Morgan, Mary B. Prater Marable, Nannie Kelley Vaughan and Mary Frank Auberry. In 1931-32, Vera Covington began her teaching career there with Nannie Kelly Vaughan as principal. When Nannie Vaughan retired to raise a family, Vera Covington became principal and Frances McLain became the second teacher.
Because of consolidation of schools and the consequent decrease in small schools, by 1936 there were only 18 males enrolled in the fall with one teacher, Vera Covington. These students were: Grady Rowland; Alton, Robert and Clyde Clark; Alfred, Eugene, Charles and Fay Clark; Hayes and Johnny McDaniel; Pitts, Edward, Allen and Gene Morgan; Thomas Burns; Harrison, J. W. and Henry Mosley.
The Pleasant Hill School was consolidated with Rockvale and Eagleville Schools in 1938-39. On March 1, 1941, the County Board Of Education deeded to Mrs. H. V. Hall the one-acre of school property. The old school building is now rental property for a family dwelling and is presently owned by Mr. Harold Hall.
| Teachers were (left) Francis McLain and (right) Vera Covington, principal. Students (not in order): Jim, Ala and Maude Ghee; Thomas, Alton Robert and Clyde Clark; Jack, Pitts, Edward, Allen and Gene Morgan; Gladys, Alfred, Eugene, Charlie and Fay Clark; Vedosa Hinton; Billie Hinson; Miles, Harrison, Aubrey, J.W., and Henry Mosley; Irene and Ruby Beasley; Clifford and Grady Rowland; Geneva Lester; Lula, George, Horace, Harold and Bell Tune; Maggie Mai, Audrey and Tilman Underwood; Lula and Susie Underwood; Hayes and Johnny McDaniel; Robert, Charles, Louise, Frances, and Mattie Morris; Elmer and Thomas Burns. |