Page 20 - MOST RECENT
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to enter the sophomore year at N. C. State.
There were happenings of a lighter vein at the
Academy. Minstrel shows were held and on one occa-
sion Ty Cobb (about 1901), the famous baseball player,
came to town and the school was turned out so the
students could see him.
In January of 1878 an advertisement leaflet of the
Kernersville Academy had the following announcement
of interest:
Good Health and Good Morals, Free from Vice
The Board of Directors have now made
permanent arrangements with the present Prin-
cipal for a term of years. We can, therefore,
say to all, that this school offers superior ad-
vantages. Special attention will be given to
E arly Negro School 1898 primary as well as advanced studies. Students
Mr. Thomas Matthews, Principal
Mrs. Cornelia Johnson, Assistant prepared for teaching, for business or for any
college.
The curriculum, which is full for a high
Kernersville Academy had some outstanding teach- grade school, will be thoroughly taught. Aid
es. One of them was Dr. E. C. Brooks (a brother-in- will be extended to young men or young ladies
of good character, who may not be able to pay
law of the late Zora Sapp Paddison), who later became
cash. Ministers' children at half rates, except
a professor at Trinity College (now Duke University), board.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Presi- Young ladies can board with the Principal
dent of State College (now N. C. State University in and his family. It will be observed that the low
Raleigh). The late Bern Stafford, a pupil of Dr. Brooks, rates of charges places school privileges in the
reach of all. It is desirable that board bills and
said, "He was very smart; possessed a good personality;
part tuition be paid in advance. The pupils
and was of college material. He was a teacher of all
are required to attend Sunday School and
his subjects and was a very well-rounded gentleman." Church on Sunday. Religious exercises in the
The late Addie Kerner Adkins taught upstairs in the school every day.
Academy before the Methodists took over in the fall of In the 1880's the Academy and the building beside
1881. She had been a former student. the Methodist Church on Main Street were exchanged.
One of the earliest teachers was Professor Whitting- From then until 1907 the Methodists owned and operated
ton. A Professor Ray taught during the 1880's. It was the Academy. The old school was tom down in 1909.
said that he brought about the beginning of the uplift of During much of the time of the existence of the
education in Kernersville and surrounding areas. Some Kernersville Academy, a small school known as the Tan-
of the other teachers were: Prof. Fetter, who taught in yard Lane Free School was being operated and sup-
the 1880's; The Whittingtons; Miss Sallie Kittle, a music ported by county taxation. It was located near the site
teacher; Miss Sally Browning; a Mr. Ingram; the wife of the parsonage of the First Baptist Church and the
of Mr. Mewborn, the Principal; Miss Daisy Leake; Miss home of Mr. and Mrs. Sumter Bowen. Students got
Tilla Harmon, a music teacher; Miss Fleta Brown; Miss water at the old Tanyard spring. Some of the teachers
Emma Lowery, a music teacher; a Mrs. Hepler; Misses
Emma and Rosa Johnson; Mrs. Zora Sapp Paddison, a Mr. Alexander H. White Mr. Sid Shore
Teacher at Kernersville Academy Teacher at Kernersville Academy
primary grade teacher during 1906 and 1907; Miss
Lizzie Greenfield and Miss Frances Willis.
Some of the Principals were: R. P. Kerner, who was
Principal during the Civil War; Mr. Mewborn; the Rev.
S. R. Trawick; and Prof. H. L. Coble from Randolph
County. Mr. Coble took charge of the Academy in the
1880's. D. P. Robbins, M.D. of Winston-Salem said in
1888 that Mr. Coble "comes highly recommended and
will endeavor to put the school on an elevated plane."
The late Kohler Greenfield was a student of the
Aca"demy. When he was interviewed in the early fifties
he indicated that he studied some of the classical sub-
jects - Caesar, Cicero and Virgil. According to him the
Academy gave students a good preparation for college.
After leaving the Academy he passed the entrance ex-
aminations and another examination which enabled him
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