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From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. Dictated by J. T. Arthur, assisted by Purd McLaren and Troy Irby. Written by Leuna Hildreth - May 1938
The first school in Pine Hill community - before the Civil War - was located on Richie Penn (land,) north of Penn’s Horsepower Gin, across the road from where Al Sharp’s store now stands. The Richie Penn place is now owned by Cleb Sharp and Mrs. Jim Cowser. This first schoolhouse was built of round logs, chinked and daubed with red clay and slab to keep out the rain and cold, and did not have any floor, only the dirt. The seats were split logs, the face smoothed with a broad axe and holes bored on bottom side and pegs stuck in for legs. These seats were not much for comfort as they had neither backs nor foot rest. The doors were hand made of one by twelve lumber, hung on wooden hinges, also made by hand. The window shutters were also made like wise. The building was covered with boards, wood pegs for nails. The house was warmed by a high stick and dirt chimney.
The first teachers were John Moore and Mr. Abner. Stiff Penn, Rich Penn, Joe Gist, Crockett Gist and Jake Crane and others we can not recall, were attending this school when the civil war was declared. This house was used a few years after the civil war and then converted into a dwelling.
The second school was taught under a brush arbor, made in shade of the trees, just east of where Pine Hill Church now stands. Joe Gist taught this school. Then a new house was built of boxing plank, located between where the church now stands and the graveyard. This house also had a stick and dirt chimney in the west end of house; but more comfortable seats, for they were made of plank. This building was used also for a church and Sunday school, the denomination being Cumberland Presbyterian, and others. These were subscription school, lasting about three months in summer.
Mrs. Winnie Walden was the first teacher, followed by Cherry Looney Gibson ( an Irishman, who cut his third set of teeth while teaching here,) Taylor, McDowell, Mrs. Miller (mother of Mrs. J. M. Redding of Evans Point.) It was during Mrs. Miller’s term that the house burned. This was replaced with combination church and school house. Those teaching in this building were Minor Wiggins, Nealy Barnes, Weldon Duncan, Fayette Bevis, Mr. Bertram. Then another house was built near the Stiff Penn place, which was near the center of school district, and the old building used for church purposes.
Now this new location was named Gourd Head, because it was a mound in the shape of a large gourd. There was also a school house located just west of John Gist place, called Who Would of Thought It. The teachers at Gourd Head were Bird Day, later a Baptist preacher; Will Irby, later county judge of Franklin County; Ollie Minter, later a lawyer; Alma Denley, Fannie Crane, Dora Patrick, Ugenia Penn, Asby Parnell and others whom we can not recall. These two schools consolidated and a man named Cartwright gave the land, so the school was named Cartwright. After a few years these schools dissolved partnership and the Gourd Head faction moved back half a mile south of east of Gourd Head location on land given by O. K. Penn, three miles south of Greenwood on Winnsboro road, one mile west of old log schoolhouse, but retained name of Cartwright. The Who Would of Thought of It faction stayed at the place and renamed themselves new Cartwright. Had a one-teacher school for several years, then another room was added.
In 1918 this building was replaced by a modern two-room building. The teachers at this place, as near as we know, are as follows: Dave Gaines, Carrie Day, Kate Halburk, Sue Cathron, Fannie Baber, Johnnie McDonald, O. K. Penn, Rosie Waller, Mrs. Lewis Dodson, Ora Pickett, Ida Mae Dickson, Tennie Reeves, Jim Crane, Carl Hayden, Travis Penn, Ralph Harwriter, Travis Hughes, Doris Horton, Norris Orr, Clovis Alford, Ruth Randolph, Eula Mae, Ozella Kadenhead, Dona Mae Lindley, Lois Penn, Flossie Milligan, Lorene Sharp, Otis Ward, Nena War, Russell Craft, Essie Hitower, Josephine McClure, Clyde Anderson. Mr. Ward died while teaching his fifth term. He was loved and missed by all who knew him.
We recall some pupils of this school who made teachers: Travis Penn, O.K. Penn, J. R. Turrentine, H. D. Phillips, Oleta Hanson, Sybil Hamm, Vester Elledge, Eunice Mae, Bernice May, Edith Phillips and several others who now hold responsible positions over our county and State - Datus Sharp, for one, who now works in the Sulphur Springs State Bank.
This school has also produced three preachers, two men and one woman: Carl Irby and one son of Byron Irby, and a daughter of C. Sharp. This is the same school that stated at the Penn place, this being something seldom seen to move many times and settler so near the starting place. The schools have had some of the best teachers, and have turned out as many teachers and professional men and women as any we know, according to its size.
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