{"id":582,"date":"2023-06-10T04:28:36","date_gmt":"2023-06-10T09:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tngenweb.org\/lincoln\/?p=582"},"modified":"2023-06-12T13:09:30","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T18:09:30","slug":"mulberry-school-in-lincoln-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tngenweb.org\/lincoln\/mulberry-school-in-lincoln-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Mulberry School in Lincoln County"},"content":{"rendered":"

From: johnshutt [at] vallnet [dot] com<\/a> (John L. Shutt)
\nTo: ‘George Waller’ <hbladm1 [at] uconnvm [dot] uconn [dot] edu>
\nSubject: Mulberry Institute
\nDate sent: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 03:44:21 -0600<\/p>\n

Dear George,<\/p>\n

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

Mulberry Male and Female Institute was founded in 186? and enjoyed
\nan uninterrupted career of prosperity during the administration of its
\nfirst President, Rev. T. D. Jones, who died in the fall of 1873. At the
\ntime he was elected to the presidency of this school he occupied the
\nchair of ancient languages at Mary Sharp College, was a teacher of
\nrecognized ability in the State, and his death was a public calamity. He
\nwas ably assisted by a competent corps of teachers. Miss Sue F. Sharp,
\na graduate of Mary Sharp College, of whom her alma mater was
\nalways proud, taught the higher branches of mathematics. A woman of
\nfrail constitution, and with indomitable energy, she literally sacrificed
\nherself for the good the her pupils. She died in the midst of usefulness
\nand is enshrined in the hearts of her students. Peace be to her ashes.
\nHer successor was Prof. Dabney, of the University of Virginia. He was
\nquiet, taciturn and scholarly — was appreciated by those who knew him
\nbest. None therefore esteemed him as those who were daily under his
\ntutorship. His health failed, and he returned to his native home,
\nVirginia, and died, surrounded by his family and loved ones.<\/p>\n

The subsequent management of the school has not been so satisfactory
\nto its friends and patrons. By a debt incurred in the erection of a
\nhall for which the building committee was held liable, the property
\npassed into individual hands, since which time it has been leased,
\nsometimes to teachers and then to interested patrons, and in either case
\nwas equally unsatisfactory to both parties. With the failures of the past,
\nand the present pressing demand of our children upon us, the universal
\nverdict was that something must be done. At this juncture the
\nmanagement was fortunate in securing as President John C. McClure,
\nof whom Prof. H. B. Brown, of the Northern Indiana Normal School
\nsays — “He is an energetic, enthusiastic worker, thoroughly qualified to
\nbe in charge of a school of any grade; a fine organizer, good in
\ngovernment, and especially apt in imparting instruction. There is no
\none whom I can with more confidence recommend to public favor.”
\nProf. McClure having accepted the position last fall, is now teaching
\nhis second term, and so satisfactory has been his work that he has been
\ninduced to buy the property, the community giving a bonus of several
\nhundred dollars, to be applied to fitting up anew the building. The
\nservices of Prof. Ballard, of the University of Iowa, have been secured.
\nHe is known to be a gentleman and a scholar. Miss Gertie McClure is
\nin charge of the little folks, and will see to it that they have every
\nattention and care. Mrs. Shadden teaches music and art. She needs no
\ntestimonial other than the work done in this school for the past several
\nyears. Her class grows steadily, and is now larger than at any time in
\nits history.<\/p>\n

Under the new regime the outlook is very hopeful. With a school
\nequal to the best, located in one of the healthiest and richest sections of
\nMiddle Tennessee, with the new railroad, with four churches — and
\nwith no saloon — where is there a better place to live and educate our
\nboys and girls? If faithful, honest toil brings success, these teachers will
\nsecure it. They are worthy successors to those who guarded the
\nfortunes of this institution in its palmiest days.
\nSigned — R.<\/p>\n

That certainly looks like “palmiest” but I find no such word in the
\ndictionary. You may substitute any word that makes better sense!!!!!
\nThe last number of the date the school was founded was completely
\nblacked out. Sorry. You may, or may not, know that the village of
\nMulberry is on highway 50 between Fayetteville and Lynchburg. Not
\nbeing a part of a public school system I would not know in what
\ndirection to go to find old records. Don’t know how long the school
\nsurvived after 1891, when this article was written.<\/p>\n

Margaret Harris Shutt —– email: johnshutt@vallnet. Com
\nFayetteville, TN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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…<\/p>\n

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