Prompt List 2

 Research the history of Cove Hill School in Pocahontas County. Report the history of each school. Include one by name and location. Include the list of teachers if reported.

High Schools in Pocahontas

 

Academies and Common Schools: The Foundation of Education in 19th-Century Pocahontas County, West Virginia

The Educational Landscape of Antebellum Pocahontas County

Introduction to Early Appalachian Education

The story of education in 19th-century Pocahontas County, West Virginia, is a narrative of resilience, ambition, and adaptation, forged in the crucible of Appalachian geography and politics. Before the mid-1800s, the educational landscape of what was then western Virginia was defined not by a state-mandated system, but by the formidable challenges of its environment. The rugged, mountainous terrain and a sparsely distributed population made the establishment of centralized schools impractical.1

 Consequently, education was a localized and often informal endeavor, driven by the immediate needs and collective will of isolated communities. The first school buildings were frequently crude log structures, rudimentary in their construction, sometimes using greased paper for windowpanes and simple poplar slabs for writing desks.1 This environment demanded a self-reliant approach to learning, one that was deeply embedded in the fabric of community life long before the arrival of state-sponsored initiatives.

This necessity for self-reliance was not merely a product of geography but also of political reality. The dominant, wealthier eastern counties of Virginia were often reluctant to levy taxes to fund a system of free public schools for the poorer, less populous western regions.1 This political and economic neglect created an educational vacuum, compelling the settlers of the trans-Allegheny to devise their own methods for educating their children. The result was a bottom-up system of education, built on local cooperation and direct parental investment. 

This model stands in stark contrast to the more centralized, top-down academy system that would emerge in the 1840s. The early ethos of localism and community responsibility, born of necessity, cultivated a cultural appreciation for education that would later provide fertile ground for more formal institutions to take root.

The "Pay" and "Subscription" School Model

In the absence of a public system, the most common form of organized education in early Pocahontas County was the "pay" or "subscription" school.2 This model was a direct reflection of the community-driven nature of frontier life. A group of families in a particular settlement would collectively agree to hire a teacher for a set term. Funding was managed through direct payments, or "subscriptions," from the parents of the scholars.4 In a region where hard currency was often scarce, payment frequently took the form of in-kind contributions. A common arrangement was for families to provide the teacher with room and board for a duration proportional to the number of children they sent to the school.2

The history of this model in the county is long and foundational. The first school in the vicinity of Greenbank, for example, was a pay school established as early as 1780.2 Historical accounts also note that James Baker, considered the first schoolteacher in Pocahontas, was active in the region until his death in 1786, while William McNeil was another prominent early teacher who ran a 12-month school.6 The curriculum in these subscription schools was typically rudimentary, focusing on the essential skills of reading, writing, and basic arithmetic—competencies vital for managing a farm, participating in commerce, and engaging with civic and religious texts.3

The Role of Churches in Early Education

As pioneer settlements grew into more established communities, the local church often evolved into a central institution for both spiritual and educational life. With dedicated public buildings being a rarity, the session rooms of churches were frequently repurposed as schoolhouses during the week.2 

In the Greenbank community, the session room of Liberty Church was one of the most significant early educational venues, illustrating the intimate connection between faith and learning in the antebellum period.2 This dual function of church buildings underscores their importance as community centers and highlights the collaborative spirit of the settlers, who leveraged their limited resources to meet the fundamental needs of their society.

The Academy Movement of 1842: A Coordinated Vision for Higher Learning

A Pivotal Year for Pocahontas County Education

The year 1842 marks a watershed moment in the history of education in Pocahontas County. In a coordinated and ambitious move, the Virginia General Assembly chartered three distinct academies within the county's borders. The Huntersville Academy was the first, incorporated on January 18, 1842.7 It was followed by the Little Levels Academy in Hillsboro, incorporated on February 14, and the Greenbank Academy, incorporated on March 26 of the same year.7 This simultaneous establishment of three advanced schools represented a dramatic shift from the scattered, informal subscription school model to a more structured, state-sanctioned system of secondary education.

State-Level Ambition and Cultural Integration

The purpose behind this legislative action was explicit and strategic: the academies were chartered for the specific purpose of preparing students for matriculation at the University of Virginia.9 This goal reveals a significant state-level ambition. It was an attempt to build an educational pipeline, connecting the remote western counties to the Commonwealth's flagship institution of higher learning in Charlottesville. This initiative can be interpreted as a form of political and cultural integration. 

By establishing these preparatory academies, the state government in Richmond was not merely promoting local education; it was actively working to bind the trans-Allegheny west to the eastern establishment through a shared educational framework and a common cultural standard. In an era of growing sectional tensions that would ultimately lead to the Civil War and the formation of West Virginia, this investment in a unified Virginian identity was a powerful political statement. The academies were, in effect, instruments of state policy, designed to project the intellectual and cultural values of eastern Virginia westward, thereby strengthening the social and political ties of the Commonwealth.

Architectural and Social Significance

Underscoring the importance of this initiative was the significant capital investment made in the physical structures of the academies. Unlike the simple log schoolhouses of the pioneer era, the academies at Greenbank, Hillsboro, and Huntersville were described as "the most modern buildings in the County," constructed of solid brick.2 This investment transformed the buildings into powerful symbols of progress, learning, and community pride. They were not just schools; they were the intellectual and cultural centers of their respective districts.

The establishment of these academies also reshaped the social dynamics of the towns that hosted them. The vast distances and lack of reliable transportation in the mountainous county meant that for many students, daily travel was impossible. Consequently, scholars from more remote homesteads boarded in Greenbank and Hillsboro for the duration of the school term.2 This influx of students and the intellectual activity they brought transformed these towns into vibrant educational centers, fostering a unique academic atmosphere in the heart of the Alleghenies.

The History of Greenbank's Educational Institutions (Greenbank District)

From Pioneer Schools to a Formal Academy

While the formal "Greenbank High School" was a 20th-century institution, founded in 1916, its roots run deep into the 19th-century educational soil of the Greenbank District, known as Meade District until 1873.2 The district's earliest educational efforts included a pay school dating to 1780, a school at a location known as the Crossroads which operated until 1820, and another on Cartmill Creek that served pioneer children for over a decade.2 Before the construction of a dedicated academy, the session rooms of local churches, particularly Liberty Church, served as the community's primary schoolhouses.2 This long tradition of community-supported education set the stage for the establishment of a more permanent institution.

The Greenbank Academy (1842–1916)

The Greenbank Academy, chartered on March 26, 1842, represented a significant leap forward. Erected on the site where the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall would later stand, this brick building was part of the county-wide academy program and was championed by Professor Benjamin Arbogast, who served as its first teacher.2 A key distinction of the academy was that it was the first "free school" in the area, a notable departure from the subscription model that had prevailed for over 60 years.2

With a consistent enrollment of sixty-five to seventy-five scholars, the academy offered a curriculum that was significantly more advanced than that of the earlier common schools.2 Its program was robust enough to serve as a teacher-training institution for the county. 

Graduates of the Greenbank Academy could attend a week-long "Institute" and, upon passing an examination prepared by the County Superintendent, become qualified to teach in the common schools themselves.5 This function highlights the academy's pivotal role in elevating the overall standard of education throughout the district.

The institution demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving the immense disruption of the Civil War. A few months after the war's conclusion, the building was remodeled and expanded into a two-story structure, earning the new name of the "Advanced School".2 Under this new designation, it continued to maintain a high standard of education for the community. The old academy served Greenbank for nearly three-quarters of a century, operating continuously until 1916.

 Its final session was taught by C. E. Flynn, a figure who embodies the transition between educational eras, as he would go on to serve as Pocahontas County Superintendent of Schools.2 The closure of the academy in 1916 coincided directly with the founding of Greenbank High School, marking a seamless transfer of the educational mantle from the 19th-century academy to the 20th-century public high school. This institutional continuity is a testament to the deep-seated value the Greenbank community placed on education, allowing its central school to adapt and evolve across generations rather than collapse and be replaced.

Location and Known Educators

The Greenbank Academy was centrally located in the town of Greenbank, on the property later occupied by the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall.2 While a comprehensive roster of its educators over its 74-year history is lost to time, historical records have preserved the names of several key figures who guided its students.

Table 1: Known 19th-Century and Transition-Era Educators of the Greenbank Academy

Name	Role/Title	Time Period	Source(s)
Professor Benjamin Arbogast	First Teacher; Influenced Founding	c. 1842	2
Professor Swank	Teacher	c. 1905	11
C. E. Flynn	Last Teacher of the Academy	c. 1916	2

The History of Hillsboro's Educational Institutions (Little Levels District)

Clarifying the Historical Record

Similar to Greenbank, the institution known as "Hillsboro High School" was a product of the 20th century, opening in September 1912.12 The educational history of the Hillsboro area in the 19th century is dominated by its predecessor, the Little Levels Academy, and the institutions that emerged from its legacy after the Civil War. The community was located in what was first named Academy District and later renamed Little Levels District, a name reflecting the unique limestone valley in which Hillsboro is situated.10

The Little Levels Academy (1842–1860)

Chartered on February 14, 1842, the Little Levels Academy quickly became the educational and cultural heart of the town of Hillsboro.7 For eighteen years, it was the primary center for advanced learning in the southern end of Pocahontas County.15 The academy's leadership was provided by two respected clergymen who served as its principals. The Reverend Joseph Brown was its first principal, serving for seven years from 1842 until approximately 1849. He was succeeded by the Reverend M. D. Dunlap, who led the institution for the next eleven years.17

The academy's run as a vibrant center of antebellum learning came to an abrupt end in 1860 with the onset of the Civil War.14 The conflict not only shuttered its doors but also saw the building repurposed for military use; during General Averell's retreat in December 1863, a large number of prisoners were held within its walls.6 After the war, in a move that signaled a fundamental shift from a semi-private chartered model to public oversight, the academy's property was transferred to the county's Board of Education to be integrated into the new free school system of West Virginia.15

Post-War Diversification and Segregation (1865-1900)

The Civil War acted as a powerful catalyst for change in Hillsboro's educational landscape. It shattered the singular, unified academy model of the antebellum period, and in its place arose a more complex, fragmented, and publicly controlled system that was explicitly defined by both gender and racial segregation. This transformation was a microcosm of the broader societal changes occurring across the South during the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction eras.

In 1865, the county purchased the old Little Levels Academy building and began operating it as a public school. By the 1880s, it had been formally designated as a "school of higher order for boys" and was known as the Hillsboro Academy.14 This marked the formal introduction of gender-segregated secondary education in the community.

Concurrently, a separate institution was established to provide advanced education for female students. Operating out of the basement of the local Methodist Church, this school was known as Hillsboro College or, alternatively, the Little Levels Seminary.14 The use of a church basement, while demonstrating the community's commitment to female education, also highlights the limited resources available for this purpose compared to the dedicated building used for the boys' academy.

Toward the end of the century, this system of segregation was extended along racial lines with the establishment of the Seebert Lane Colored School around 1898.18 This one-room school, also known as the Pleasant Green School or simply the Hillsboro School, was built to serve the African-American student population of the Seebert and Hillsboro communities.19 While the building was constructed in 1898 by Robert Samuel Jordan, land for a school for Black children had been deeded to the Board of Education as early as 1876, indicating a long-standing effort within the African-American community to secure access to formal education in the era of "separate but equal".18 The school was a one-story frame building with a cupola, located at the junction of U.S. Route 219 and Seebert Road.19

Locations and Known Leadership

The educational institutions of 19th-century Hillsboro were centered in and around the town. The Little Levels Academy, and its successor the Hillsboro Academy, occupied the original 1842 brick building in Hillsboro.14 Hillsboro College for girls was housed in the basement of the Hillsboro Methodist Church.14 The Seebert Lane Colored School was located just outside of town on Seebert Road.19

Table 2: Known 19th-Century Principals of the Little Levels & Hillsboro Academies

Name	Role/Title	Institution	Time Period	Source(s)
Rev. Joseph Brown	Principal	Little Levels Academy	1842–c. 1849	17
Rev. M. D. Dunlap	Principal	Little Levels Academy	c. 1849–1860	6

Education in the Edray District: A System of Common Schools

Clarifying the Historical Record on "Edray District High School"

The user's query regarding an "Edray District High School" in the 19th century requires careful clarification. The available historical record does not support the existence of a single, centralized high school with this name during that period. The Edray magisterial district was officially formed in 1872, having been renamed from Lincoln District as part of a county-wide reorganization.10 

While there are later, 20th-century references to an "Edray District High School" play 20, these almost certainly refer to the high school located in Marlinton, which served as the primary town and educational hub for the surrounding district. The 19th-century educational story of the largely rural Edray District is not one of a consolidated high school, but of a decentralized network of common schools. The absence of a singular high school in the 1800s is not a gap in the record; rather, it is the historical finding itself.

The One-Room Common School System

For the vast majority of children living in rural areas of Pocahontas County like the Edray District, the educational experience was the one-room common school.1 Following the establishment of West Virginia's free school system after the Civil War, these small schools were established throughout the countryside, strategically placed to be within walking distance for local students.1 In a single room, a lone teacher was responsible for the instruction of students of all ages and grade levels, a demanding task that required immense versatility.1 

This model stood in stark contrast to the preparatory academies in the more populous towns. It reveals a de facto two-tiered educational system in 19th-century Pocahontas County: the advanced, centralized academies offered a preparatory education to a select few who could often afford to board in town, while the common schools provided a more basic, but essential, education for the broader rural population.

A Case Study: The Verdant Valley School

A tangible example of this common school experience is the Verdant Valley School, which was located near Fairview in the Edray District.21 Its physical structure speaks volumes about the nature of rural education in the era. It was described as a "hand-hewn log structure with shake shingles," a stark contrast to the "modern brick" academies in Greenbank and Hillsboro.21 This difference in construction material and scale highlights the economic and social distance between the county's educational tiers. The Verdant Valley schoolhouse was more than just a place of learning; it was a vital community center. The building was used for public gatherings and events, including religious revivals, reinforcing the role of the rural school as a social and cultural anchor for its isolated community.24

While a comprehensive list of all common schools and their teachers is not available, records mention other schools such as the Mill Point School and the Green Hill School.21 Names of teachers who served in the county's common school system during this period include William McNeil, Cornelius Stulting, Harvey Bright, and George Bright, individuals who were foundational to the education of generations of Pocahontas County residents.6

Conclusion: Legacy and the Transition to a New Century

The educational journey of Pocahontas County during the 19th century is a compelling narrative of ambition, profound disruption, and pragmatic adaptation. The century began with a landscape of informal, self-reliant pioneer schools, born of necessity in the Appalachian frontier. This evolved into the ambitious, state-sponsored academy system of 1842, a top-down effort to forge a unified educational and cultural link between western Virginia and the state's eastern establishment. This vision, however, proved fragile. The cataclysm of the Civil War and the subsequent creation of the state of West Virginia irrevocably severed this connection and shattered the antebellum model.

In the post-war era, a new reality emerged. Educational oversight shifted to the county and state, leading to the rise of a more widespread public common school system. This system, while extending educational opportunities to a broader population, also reflected the deep social stratifications of the late 19th century, with formal segregation by both gender and race becoming codified in institutions like those in Hillsboro.

Despite the turmoil and transformation, the legacy of the 19th-century academies endured. In Greenbank and Hillsboro, the academies established their host towns as lasting centers of learning and educational aspiration. They created an institutional and cultural foundation upon which the consolidated public high schools of the early 20th century would be built.2

 The unfulfilled promise of the 1842 movement—a single pipeline to the University of Virginia—was replaced by a new trajectory, one rooted in West Virginia's own identity. This new path would eventually lead to the consolidation of the county's various high schools—including those at Greenbank, Hillsboro, and Marlinton—into the single, unified Pocahontas County High School in 1968, bringing the long journey from scattered pioneer schools to a fully centralized system to its conclusion.26 

The 19th-century educational history of Pocahontas County thus serves as a powerful local reflection of the great historical forces that shaped Appalachia and the American nation.

Works cited

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