Fountain City Places That Made A Difference

Smithwood School

(1885-1980)

John Smith (1795-1883), the grandson of John Adair (1732-1827), was a visionary who appreciated the value of education. On May 26, 1880 John Smith deeded two acres to the directors of the second school district; James M. Crawford, J.M. Dailey and George A. McNutt. Later his son, James Harvey Smith (1840-1932), donated additional property. Children of the community had previously attended Forest Hill School (in the gap at Greenway at the time). A small schoolhouse may have been erected on the former Smith property as early as 1882; but in July of 1885 the directors of the school district asked for bids on a two-room frame structure to measure 25 by 60 feet with a high roof (1).

The building with a cupola and bell giving it a traditional look accommodated 50 boys and girls of all ages drawn from about 18 homes that then formed the Smithwood Commuity. Benches surrounded wood burning stoves in each room. The water pail in the corner was filled from the spring that flowed at the foot of the slope at the back of the school. One of the rewards for good behavior or good grades was the privilege of passing the water bucket (2).

Miss Minnie Anderson was one of the two teachers for the 35 to 40 students. She taught "first, second and third readers." There was no system of grade levels at the time; so Miss Minnie had children ten, eleven and twelve years old working in the first reader. In 1885 the school "year" was from August 1 to December; but in 1888 it was changed to September 1 to the last of January. Professor J.O. Becker received thirty-five dollars each month for five months.

An interesting incentive system was instituted in 1889 when Mr. C. Marston and Miss Eva McCampbell signed teaching contracts. Miss McCampbell received her salary of twenty-five dollars per month, plus a bonus of twenty-five cents for each pupil attending her school paid at the end of the session. Professor Marston received thirty-five dollars per month with the same bonus.

(Insert: Photo on Page 5 of Souvenir Book)

This was a modest start but, in the early 1900’s, a third room was added and the building looked as pictured above. This permitted the school to accommodate 60 to 80 pupils. Professor Ike Rogers was principal the first year. Soon Professor Becker became principal with Miss Butler from Roane County and Miss Kate Anderson as teachers. Perhaps the best-known faculty member was Professor John Newman who became pastor of one of the largest churches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

By 1915, the community had grown and the first portion of the brick building that served Smithwood until 1950 was constructed. The building now included six classrooms--four downstairs and two upstairs with an auditorium in the northeast end of the second story. Professor L.L. Ogle was the first principal, followed by H.N. Brown and Elwin Bryant. From 1925 until ___ H.T. Seymour, who later became a Knox County squire, headed the faculty. The enrollment had grown by 1923 and it was necessary to have split sessions--half the grades attended in the morning and the remainder in the afternoon.

Later, another increase in the student body required conversion of the auditorium into classrooms. A new auditorium was built at the southwest end of the building with classrooms on the second floor. Then in 1934 a cafeteria was built at the rear of the new auditorium. Fathers and grandfathers of many present day Fountain Citians remember school days at Smithwood with the principals mentioned above or their successors, Hubert D.Lakin (1906-1979), Boyd Webb (____-____) and Kenneth Reed (____-1948). Teachers who were at Smithwood for many years; such as Miss Jessie Gouffon, Mrs. Dell Kirkendol, Miss Mary Foster, Miss Esther Mae Ayers, Miss Violet Tudor and Miss Marguerite Mountain; also reflected the Smithwood tradition of quality in education. Miss Gouffon held the record for her 47-year tenure (1918-1965) and Mrs. Kirkendol taught for 30 years (1923-1953).

The school population had grown again by 1940 and required a larger building with more modern classrooms. The Parent-Teacher Association led a movement toward that end but funding and material shortages during WWII postponed any action until 1946 when efforts were renewed. With the County School Board and the Knox County Court cooperating, an appropriation of $395,000 was authorized. The new building contained 15 classrooms, an auditorium-gymnasium, cafeteria and clinic room. It was dedicated on March 31, 1950. Baumann and Baumann were the architects and R.L. Weiss and Son, the general contractors.

Smithwood School served the community until 1980, when most of the students were consolidated into Shannondale School and the doors were closed. In 1984 the two structures occupied six acres of land. The old Smithwood School building built in stages from 1915 to 1918, had been boarded up for several years after the new building was built. The old building was sold at auction in 1987 (or 1984?) and demolished in 1988. The newer building that was completed in 1950 was sold to the Tennessee Institute of Electronics in 1984 (3).

John Smith’s vision for providing elementary education of the children in the Smithwood community had been fulfilled for almost 100 years.

Bibliography: