Page 203 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

MEMORIES OF MASON SCHOOL

By Clarice Wood Morrell

In the early 1920’s, Columbia County had many small schools. Life in

the community centered around these schools and the church.

The minutes from June 20,1921 Columbia County school board meeting

listed 41 schools for white people and 31 for black people. Bay Creek, 7
mile Camp, Santiago, Perch Pond, Good Luck, Cross Roads, Ebenezer,
County Line, Avery, Scrubtown, Jerusalem, Good Intent, Kiota, Cat

City, and Truevine are a sample of the names of the schools.

Patrons of the Mason district petitioned the school board to consolidate

the schools in the district. On January 23, 1924, the school board and
county superintendent met with a committee at Mason, Florida to select

a site for the consolidated school. They selected a plot of land west of
the picnic grounds and adjoining the same on the Walter Turner Estate

beside road U.S. 41. The site met with approval of the Board and
Superintendent.

The trustees and a number of the patrons of Mason special tax district #8
went before the Board on July 1, 1924. They were not pleased with the

site that had been selected by the committee, the School Board and
Superintendent at a special meeting on January 23,1924.

Messers Houser, Dicks, Hawthorne, and Jones made forceful arguments
in favor of the site being in the vicinity of Parnell’s store, as set forth in

the petition asking for the consolidation of all the schools in the district.

All of the other patrons present were in favor of the location at Mason as

selected by the committee, Board, and Superintendent.

The Board after hearing all the arguments for and against both sides
decided that the location should as selected on January 23,1924.

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