From: johnshutt [at] vallnet [dot] com (John L. Shutt)
To: ‘George Waller’ <hbladm1 [at] uconnvm [dot] uconn [dot] edu>
Subject: Mulberry Institute
Date sent: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 03:44:21 -0600

Dear George,

Better late than never! On December 21, Edward English Smith wrote
wanting to know how he might obtain his grandfather’s records from
Mulberry Prep School. I can’t answer his question, but I did come
across an article in the “Fayetteville Observer” of 19 March 1891 titled
“A Noted Educational Institution”. It follows. Others might also be
interested in the history of this school.

Mulberry Male and Female Institute was founded in 186? and enjoyed
an uninterrupted career of prosperity during the administration of its
first President, Rev. T. D. Jones, who died in the fall of 1873. At the
time he was elected to the presidency of this school he occupied the
chair of ancient languages at Mary Sharp College, was a teacher of
recognized ability in the State, and his death was a public calamity. He
was ably assisted by a competent corps of teachers. Miss Sue F. Sharp,
a graduate of Mary Sharp College, of whom her alma mater was
always proud, taught the higher branches of mathematics. A woman of
frail constitution, and with indomitable energy, she literally sacrificed
herself for the good the her pupils. She died in the midst of usefulness
and is enshrined in the hearts of her students. Peace be to her ashes.
Her successor was Prof. Dabney, of the University of Virginia. He was
quiet, taciturn and scholarly — was appreciated by those who knew him
best. None therefore esteemed him as those who were daily under his
tutorship. His health failed, and he returned to his native home,
Virginia, and died, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

The subsequent management of the school has not been so satisfactory
to its friends and patrons. By a debt incurred in the erection of a
hall for which the building committee was held liable, the property
passed into individual hands, since which time it has been leased,
sometimes to teachers and then to interested patrons, and in either case
was equally unsatisfactory to both parties. With the failures of the past,
and the present pressing demand of our children upon us, the universal
verdict was that something must be done. At this juncture the
management was fortunate in securing as President John C. McClure,
of whom Prof. H. B. Brown, of the Northern Indiana Normal School
says — “He is an energetic, enthusiastic worker, thoroughly qualified to
be in charge of a school of any grade; a fine organizer, good in
government, and especially apt in imparting instruction. There is no
one whom I can with more confidence recommend to public favor.”
Prof. McClure having accepted the position last fall, is now teaching
his second term, and so satisfactory has been his work that he has been
induced to buy the property, the community giving a bonus of several
hundred dollars, to be applied to fitting up anew the building. The
services of Prof. Ballard, of the University of Iowa, have been secured.
He is known to be a gentleman and a scholar. Miss Gertie McClure is
in charge of the little folks, and will see to it that they have every
attention and care. Mrs. Shadden teaches music and art. She needs no
testimonial other than the work done in this school for the past several
years. Her class grows steadily, and is now larger than at any time in
its history.

Under the new regime the outlook is very hopeful. With a school
equal to the best, located in one of the healthiest and richest sections of
Middle Tennessee, with the new railroad, with four churches — and
with no saloon — where is there a better place to live and educate our
boys and girls? If faithful, honest toil brings success, these teachers will
secure it. They are worthy successors to those who guarded the
fortunes of this institution in its palmiest days.
Signed — R.

That certainly looks like “palmiest” but I find no such word in the
dictionary. You may substitute any word that makes better sense!!!!!
The last number of the date the school was founded was completely
blacked out. Sorry. You may, or may not, know that the village of
Mulberry is on highway 50 between Fayetteville and Lynchburg. Not
being a part of a public school system I would not know in what
direction to go to find old records. Don’t know how long the school
survived after 1891, when this article was written.

Margaret Harris Shutt —– email: johnshutt@vallnet. Com
Fayetteville, TN