History of Dewey District Number 33

Our school enjoys a distinction which few schools have. Usually school districts and school houses are named for some prominent and worthy person in the community, or have names in line with some particular characteristic of the people or the country. Not so with the Dewey School. It is apparent that it was named for one of the far-famed heroes of the Spanish-American War. This name thus applied indicates that the district was organized about a quarter of a century ago. The first building, a rude, one-room, frame structure, about twenty feet by thirty feet, with very poor equipment indeed, stood about one mile north of the present location. Mr. Cannon, still a resident of the district, was the leader in obtaining from private subscriptions, the funds necessary for the old building. In 1911 when the Lawn District was organized the size of the Dewey District was somewhat reduced to the east. At this time the tax was increased to twenty cents and the school house was moved to its present site, which was nearer the center the district; another room, about sixteen feet by thirty -two feet was added, giving the building the shape of the letter "T." Another teacher was employed, but a funds made it impossible for the district to continue two teachers long, and so Dewey became again one of the one-teacher schools of the county and so continued until 1921.

During the summer of this year $2500 bonds were voted and the tax increased to fifty cents. Two teachers - Mrs. R. H. Hearreal and Miss Robie T. Smith- were employed and the district received State Aid for the first time, although-because of the state of money matters affecting the bond market the: bonds are unsold and the old building, improved somewhat by a little new equipment, has had to be used again-the Dewey District shows many evidences of desire for more and more progress. Verily, Dewey is "coming to the light," as is symbolized by the decorations on the opposite page, and has the prospect of becoming one of the very best two-teacher schools of the county.

-CHARLIE GRIFFITH

 

CLASS ROLL

		
PRIMER	        THIRD GRADE	    FIFTH GRADE	con'd SEVENTH GRADE			
Inez Berry      Cecil Haynes        Elmer Cannon    Thomas Best
Jessie Long     Alma Cannon         Colen Papasan   Bessie Stewart
Aaron Carter	Clarence Stewart    Robert Faust    Carrel Watson	
Lucile Waldrop	Noah Streetman	    Lee Waldrop     Edmond Adams
Myrtle Brown	Granvel Long	                    Tommie Griffin
Fonzo Johnson                                       

FIRST GRADE	 FOURTH GRADE	    SIXTH GRADE     EIGHTH GRADE
                                    Leola Carter    Lee Christian
                                    Bonnie Johnson  Allen Berry	 
            	 Jessie Watson	    Rufina Adams    Claud Papasan
Agnes Little     Ada Lee Brown      Allie Johnson   Lola Little
Warren Graves	 May Brown          Willie Little   Charley Griffin
Minnie Brown     Bunk Brown         Ray Watson      Elva Griffin
Astor Adams      Asa McMillan       Claud Haynes    Ruth Johnson
Mary Dale Stewart                   J. D. Faust     Ruby Graves
                                                    Ivy Waldrop
                                                    Ruby Watson

SECOND GRADE	FIFTH GRADE	    SEVENTH GRADE	
Omie Halkum     Ruth Haynes	 
Earl Watson     Monte Mitchell                      
Oscar Little    Beatrice Adams      Nannie Brown    
J. W. Streetman	Linnie Waldrop      Elvie Millon    
Lee Roy Berry	Ola May Stewret     Exie Hefley     
Ward Waldrop	Odessa Haynes       Linnie Papasan
Lawrence Haynes	John Brown          Ruby Papasan	

 Reference: The Buffalo Trail 1922