Hillsboro Elementary celebrates a long history of rural education

By Kimberly King

The Hillsboro School opened its doors to students for the first time 82 years ago.

The following is a transcript written by Mrs. Maxine Denton on the schools 50th anniversary.

The Hillsboro consolidated school opened its doors on a cold, gloomy day, Dec. 20, 1937.

The school year for 1937-38 began on Dec. 20 and ended June 19, 1938 and classes met six days a week.

Teachers were paid an average of $500 per year.

The school was built as a Works Progress Administration project under the Roosevelt Administration.

It was a beautiful building when completed.

It was constructed from stone hauled from near Campbell Mountain and Rowan County.

There being few gravel roads, some of the stone was hauled by horse-drawn wagons because of mud.

Skilled stone masons were imported to finish the stone and to teach the local people the art.

The project furnished labor for local people who were suffering from the depression.

The building was constructed on the same site as the old school, which meant that the children must be housed elsewhere during the 1935 and part of the 1937 school year.

The first grade occupied a small building in Pauline Davis’ back yard; the second and third grades used part of the Methodist Church; the fourth and fifth grades were housed in the Christian Church; the seventh and eighth grades were in the upstairs of the Marshall Hawkins store.

When school opened in 1937, some of the one-room schools nearest Hillsboro were brought to Hillsboro.

All the one-room schools in the Hillsboro District were consolidated with Hillsboro, Fox Valley and Flemingsburg at a later date.

The first year there were 199 students in attendance with 22 students in the first graduating class.

This was a gala occasion for the whole community.

Everyone had to walk through mud that first day of school because the structure had just been completed and no grass had been sown.

There were no window shades, modern plumbing nor indoor paint.

The only teaching aids were chalk, erasers and blackboards, but there was a wealth of enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work by teachers, students and the janitor.

The entire community was very proud of the new school and was eager to help in any way possible.

The first faculty was composed of the following teachers: Pauline Davis, Eliza Belle Cooke, Willa Denton, Maxine Denton, Alvah Rawlings, Ted Cook and Principal Ashton Denton.

The teachers, parents, and citizens of the community went all out to buy stage curtains, window shades and much needed supplies.

Pat O’Brien, the faithful janitor, volunteered to elevate the auditorium floor if the school would furnish the flooring.

This being done, one of the most successful money raising projects was the appearance of country music celebrities.

This was before television and as many as three shows an afternoon and evening were given.

Each year more books and supplies were furnished by the Board of Education and school money -making projects.

A large cistern was constructed to provide water for restrooms, fountains and a washroom.

The war years created problems.

The majority of the certified teachers were either inducted into the armed services or left to work for the war effort that paid double the salary for teachers.

It was the same with the bus drivers.

Buses were continually breaking down and maintenance people were difficult to find.

After the war, the school began to prosper.

The P.T.A. was organized in 1949.

The Board of Education purchased a building on adjoining ground and a lunchroom was established.

Lela Walton was the first paid cook.

Nudge Walton and Lillie Watson were volunteer workers but were employed later that year.

Basketball was the major sport.

With an outdoor dirt court and players that had never seen a basketball game, they managed to become county champions more than once.

The school continued to progress.

A large classroom was turned into a library which has become one of the best equipped in the county.

In 1974, the seventh and eight grades were moved to the middle school in Flemingsburg.

The entire building has wall to wall carpeting and is beautifully decorated.

An all-purpose room was added to be used as a dining area and for physical education programs and a fully equipped modern kitchen was also added.

Fifty years makes a difference. Kindergarten, Head Start, computers and television; you name it. It’s all at the Hillsboro School.

Past Principals of the school were Ashton Denton, Maxine Denton, Alvah Rawlings and Forest Tackett.

At the time Mrs. Maxine wrote this article in celebration of the schools 50-year anniversary, Mr. Eddie Ward was the principal.

Mr. Mark Leet is the current Principal at Hillsboro Elementary.

In 2013, the addition and renovation to Hillsboro Elementary included new Administration and Gymnasium spaces in addition to revised site circulation for separation of automobile and bus traffic. bringing every student into the building through the new gymnasium foyer.

Renovation work included replacement of the existing Coal Fired Boiler with a new geothermal heating and cooling system, and new ceilings and lighting at the historic building.

This helped the building achieve Energy Star compliance.

This project has helped keep a small community school building viable for years to come.