Colbert School

THE DAVIS NEWS, THURSDAY, JUNE 14,1973

COLBERT SCHOOL REMEMBERED

By Mary Wilson

            It stands silent now.  The windows have been boarded and the doors have long since been padlocked, but for many it was their first introduction into the world of education.  The place is the old Colbert school house.

            Located three miles west and a mile south of Davis on a hill just above Colbert creek in the Arbuckle Mountains, the old school house is one of the few one-room houses still standing.  It is a sturdy concrete block building with its double front doors facing the east and another door at the west end.  The teachers’ platform was located at the west end of the room and fragments of the chalkboard still remain on the west wall. Remains of the old storm cellar can still be found just to the south of the school building.

            The water well for the old school was located in front of the school house across the rocks that overshadow Colbert creek below.  A former student said it was a privilege that the children looked forward to when they were the ones allowed to go get the water for the day.

            During the summer months a 25 cents piece of ice was put in the cooler each day.  Each pupil furnished his own drinking cup.

            During the winter a potbellied coal heating stove furnished the heat.  Each pupil also helped the teacher with the janitorial work.

            Transportation furnished no major problem for the pupils.  As was the case with most country schools, most students lived nearby.

            Probably the most festive occasion to be celebrated during the years of school was Christmas.  A former student supplied the following information:  “Christmas was like magic to be me back then.  The huge evergreen tree was cut from the mountains and brought.  It touched the ceiling and was decorated with tinsel, ornaments and colored paper chains.  And of course, we had our Christmas program with candy and fruit.”

            Interest in a school located in the area of the present building was first recorded in 1905.  According to the minutes of the first meeting on record in the Murray County courthouse regarding interest for a school, the following officers were elected in August of that year; Director, L.M. Kennedy; Clerk, Alice Ticer; and Treasurer, A. Searcy.

            On July 14,1908, the site for the Colbert school was laid out and organized.  Miss Essie Bell was Murray County Superintendent and Alice Ticer was the first teacher.

            In 1940 the Colbert school district was consolidated with the Woodland school district.  At that time all the permanent records and furniture went to Woodland.  The land on which the school building is located and the school building were sold and now privately owned.

            For a time the building was used for a church and Sunday School, as were most other one room country schools.  The building doubled for the west precinct voting place until 1950.  Presently, the owners of the building use it for storage.

            A partial list of school board members serving during the years include:  L.M. Kennedy, Alice Ticer, A. Searcy, Frank Pickens,Sr., Will Moss, George Martin, John Mabry, John Edgmon, Royal Gibson, Bud Martin, King Crippen and Truman Montgomery.

            Some of the teachers for the school included Alice Ticer, Vernie Lay, Margie Cochran, Olive Ellis, Joe McClure, Nellie Hunt, Mr. Wagner, Mert Merkerson, Mr. Harper, Mrs. Beard, Mr.Key E. Kirby, Leah Russell, Mrs. Hooker, Gladys Morrow and Doris Chambless.

            Some names taken from pupil lists include Herman Anderson, Susie Anderson, Maudie Anderson, Vernette Anderson, Lucinda Anderson, Dick Anderson, Nelson Anderson, Jessie Been, Ethel Been, Woodrow Been, Velma Blogett, Burt Curtis, Willie Curtis, Howell Crippen, Grace Dickinson, Ralph Dickinson, LaJoyce Deel, Brigham Davis, Evanda Davis, Christine Edgmon, Carlos Edgmon, Jack Farmer, Elisa Farmer, Virgil Fussell, Betty Fields.

            Johnie Gibson, Ina Gibson, Martin Gibson, Burdine Gibson, Homer Garrett, Ollie Garrett, Charline Garrett, Buster Higgins, Edith Higgins, Magaline Hunt, Earl Harris, Ray Harris, Wilburn Hedrick, Oscar Hedrick, Bobbie Jones, Charles James, Laura James, Earnest King, Earl King, Albert Lewis, Clayton Lewis, Addie Mae Lewis, Marvin Martin, Irie Martin, Henry Martin;

            Charlie Martin, Juanita Mabry, Marie Mabry, Winnie Mabry, Eugene Mabry, Buddy Mabry, Carl Mabry, Fay Moss, Carl Montgomery, Bessie Montgomery, Truman Montgomery, Floyd McNull, John Pickens, Roy Pickens, June Pickens, Irene Pickens, Lester Pickens, Henry Pickens, Elmer Regan, Gladys Rowe, Thomas Smith, Carmil Sewell.

            Frances Sewell, Blondine Scribner, Homer Scribner, Victoria Searcy, Thomas Searcy, Elsie Smith, Myrtle Smithey, Mamie Smithey, Lucille Tyner, Glen Thomas, Nadine Ticer, Raymond Ticer, Darita White, Grindred White, Inez Ward, Clyde Ward, Orval Williams, and Ferrell Williams.

            Many names were left out because space would not permit an entire list.  The names used do not include the married names of all or many of the female pupils and others listed may not be living.  Much more could be said and many stories could be told.  Each person whether teacher or pupil, has his or here own version of the history of Colbert school.  This is just one brief account of a concrete block school house in the Arbuckle Mountains.