AS TIME GOES BY
Wood County History
By LOU MALLORY — Chairman Wood County Historical Commission
Past schools, churches and businesses in the Alba area
In 1867 the Alba area got its first school houses. It was built of logs and located in Pleasant Ridge. This private school was open from 1867 until 1873. The first teacher was one Mr. Ray. His students were Jason and William McChristian, James Pope, A.J. Sherwood, Simon Wilson, C.W. Chaney, Joe and Allen McKay, Daniel McKenzie, John Childress and J.E. Ray.
In 1873 the school became a public school and classes were held in the Methodist church and continued there until 1880. During this time, a one-room log schoolhouse, 20 feet by 30 feet, was built at Dale Creek near a spring.
The school term was three months during the summer and three months during the winter. Each pupil carried his own lunch and everyone ate picnic style a mid day. Spelling classes were taught together while the other subjects were taught separately. Student had to purchase their own books and each had an average of three or four.
The City of Alba did not have its own school until 1887 when the Simpkins family donated an acre of land to build a school which also provided a meeting place for the Masons. The one-story frame building, about 26 feet by 30 feet, was located near the old Cranford Drugstore site. The first teacher of the school was Zedikiah Wigley. Ike Gunter was of the opinion that this was as big a school building as Alba would need.
In 1889, a log schoolhouse was erected at Salem in the Pope Settlement. The first man to teach at this school was R.T. Ruckern who, in making a land deed, had to sign his name with a X mark!
Shortly thereafter, the school at Alba moved to a new location across the railroad tracks, just west of th J.I. Case residence. Ike Gunter's prediction had quickly been proven wrong. Evidently Mr. Gunter realized this and gave a speech at the opening of each new school year.
The two-story frame building served a number of purposes. It also served as a church house, an organizational meeting place and a community center. This school was taught by Mr. Cauthron. On May 18, 1902, a storm with tornado-like winds damaged the building. The repairs were done and the building continued to serve the area until 1908.
In 1908, a new brick school building was built north of the railroad tracks at the west end of College Street.
This new building had eight rooms – four upstairs and four downstairs. The building was the pride of the town in that there was no nearby community that could boast of such a school building.
In 1917, another two-story brick school building was built just across the street from the 1908 building. This building served as the high school until 1951 when a new addition was added to the 1917 structure. The first gymnasium was built in the 1930s, then destroyed by fire. It was replaced by a CCC project during the 1930s.
As noted earlier, schools and churches were often used interchangeably. Two of the area churches can document their beginnings, The Pleasant Ridge settlers built their church in the fall of 1867 and the Enon church was erected later on in 1880.
In 1905, Alba had two churches but no mention was made of their denominations. At least four different denominations held church services in Alba. They were the Church of Christ, the Methodist church, the Baptist church and the Church of the Nazarene. It is assumed that many of the mine workers were Mexican and probably Roman Catholic but there is no evidence of a catholic church in the area.
Alba, then as now, has always had service and fraternal organizations. Today, Alba remains a progressive community and has seen substantial growth since Lake Fork was created. The downtown area has several businesses and in the past year, a library and an historical museum has been opened. Alba has also published several pictorial histories if the area.
Today, Alba and Golden have consolidated their schools. They have built a new up-to-date school facility which provides area student with a solid education.
Each September, the community hosts a community fair. It is well attene4d by good food and plenty of entertainment.
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