While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
"Seest thou a man diligent in his business,
he shall stand before kings, he shall not
stand before mean men."
Era Of Supt. McBride
About October 1, 1888 Mr. and Mrs. James F.
McBride arrived to take charge of the work
as superintendent and matron. Their arrival
was the occasion of another joyful meeting
on the part of the colored people who came
to see the "suptender, and express their
great joy over the new start that was to be
given the school."
Mrs. McBride at a later date, referring to
the appearance of things on the day of their
arrival at this, their new home, wrote:
"I can still see how the old log house
looked as we drove up; so dilapidated. A
broken down porch ran along the front of it,
and we had to climb over an old rail fence
to get to it. Our first meal was corn bread
made with water-without salt-and stewed
dried peaches."
When the school opened they were assisted by
Miss Carrie Peck, Celestine Hodges and Mary
Grundy.
A new era was now inaugurated in the
management of the school. Ownership as yet
extended only to the farm buildings, which
consisted of the old log house, and barn,
purchased from Robin Clark, and the new
school building. The first effort was now
made to utilize two small fields of cleared
land and the neighboring timber to raise
stock and crops for the local support of the
school.
Girls' Hall
In 1889 a commodious Girls' Hall was built
having ample facilities for carrying and
boarding a considerable number of students.
The enjoyment of anything like ordinary home
comforts on the part of the teachers began
with the occupancy of this building. It
became the home of the family of the
superintendent, teachers and the girls; and
the old log house was fitted up for
occupancy by the boys. An additional room
was also added to the school building.
As the patronage of the school increased Mr.
McBride felt there was need for a suitable
Boys' Hall. He made the plans for it and,
enlisting the interest of the women of
Indiana, they provided the money for it. On
January 29, 1892, after three and one half
years of faithful service and before his
hopes could be realized by merely starting
the work on the new building, his death
occurred and the progress of the improvement
work was again arrested.
Mr. McBride was educated at Hanover,
Indiana, and had previously taught in
several other schools. He was an active
Christian worker and had been ordained a
ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. He
anticipated the future needs of the school
by planting fruit trees that, during these
later years, have borne bountiful crops of
fruit.
The other assistants of Mr. McBride were
Mary Coffland, principal in 1889 and
assistant principal 1890 to 1892; Miss
Priscilla G. Haymaker, who returned to serve
as principal in 1890 and continued until
1896. Other assistants were Anna McBride,
Bettie Stewart, colored, and Rilla Fields
who served from the fall of 1891 to the
spring of 1895.
Mrs. J. F. McBride
During the next eight months the management
of the institution devolved upon Mrs.
McBride; and she continued to serve as
matron until the spring of 1899, a period of
eleven years. She gave to this institution
many of her best years for service, and the
best work of her life. She became specially
interested in a number of young people at
Oak Hill and aided them to attend other
schools of our Board. She is now living at
Coalgate, Okla.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Choctaw Freedmen and Oak Hill Industrial
Academy, 1914, Robert Elliott Flickinger
