New memories being made in historic Spring Hill School

doors to one teacher and 28 students in all grades.  Last week, over 75 students and 50

adults were present for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for this last

remaining one-room school house in Houston County.

 

Previously located on Hwy 41 three

miles north of Perry, Spring Hill School was one of 14 one-room school houses

in Houston County.  Some believe that

this little school – measuring 20 x 30 X 12 feet – was the first

one-room school house built in this county.  It is certainly the last to remain standing.  On March 5, 2011, I reported in this

column that the Perry Area Historical Society (PAHS) had been working with the

Board of Education (BOE) for over two years to save this historical building,

move it to land owned by the BOE in Perry and restore it for generations to

come.  Almost two years to the day

from my first column, the renovated school house is once again open for

educational purposes.

 

Ellie Loudermilk, PAHS President, will tell you that the $25,000

restoration has been a long process mainly due to funding.  Our Perry area community has really

helped as businesses, organizations and individuals have all donated money,

supplies and valuable time to this effort to preserve the history of education

in Houston County.  According to

Ellie, school officials chose to move the little school to the site of the

former Perry Panther gymnasium, a structure which was legendary as the home of

Coach Eric Staple’s basketball dynasty. Recently, PAHS members held our March meeting in the school house and I

can assure you that memories were plentiful as former cheerleaders, team

managers and fans shared stories of those unforgettable years.

 

That same week, new school house memories were being made as 65 pre-K

students on a field trip from Perry Primary School attended the ribbon cutting

ceremony.  They were the first of

many students who will tour the historic old school in the future and learn

what it was like to attend a one-room school house over 100 years ago.  In addition, a group of Morning Side

Elementary band students played their instruments and provided music for this

historic ceremony.  

 

In their time, one-room school

houses were unique centers of learning for their communities. However, these beloved facilities were more than just a place to get an

education as they were often important hubs of community activities for the

areas they supported.  In the early

1900s, there were over 200,000 one-room school houses scattered across our

nation’s countryside. Approximately 7,000 of them were located in Georgia.  Today, there are fewer than 400 left in

the United States.  We are fortunate

to have located and saved one in Houston County.

 

For over a century, Spring Hill School has served our

community well.  During that time,

it has been used as a school, a home and even a church.  Today, the newly renovated school house

stands proudly in its revered spot behind the BOE offices ready to provide

another 100 years of service to Houston County residents. 

HHJ News