The forest clearing near the mouth of Indian Draft was named School House meadow because of Patrick Slator, who was living on the frontier homestead as the family's schoolteacher when a dramatic Indian raid took place there in 1784.
At that time, Lawrence Drennon (the brother of Thomas Drennon) had established his home near the mouth of Indian Draft along the Greenbrier River, employing Slator to educate the family's children. During the violent 1784 raid on the property:
- Henry Baker was shot and killed as he was climbing a fence, returning from his morning wash.
- Richard Hill successfully leaped over the fence and escaped into the brush completely unharmed.
- Two other settlers, John and James Bridger, were slain in the attack.
- Patrick Slator, the schoolteacher, managed to survive the onslaught.
Because of Slator's role and presence on the property during this historic and tragic clash, the clearing where the family had built their lives became permanently known to local history as the School House meadow.

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