1947
After a two year search for suitable land, the County again worked with Pi Beta Phi to supplement the elementary and high schools with a 1.8 acre lease of land adjacent to the Settlement School for a new playground. This addition helped allowed the school to meet State requirements and continue the athletics instruction during the school year.
An excerpt from a letter written by Settlement School teacher, Ruth Sturley, August 6, 1947:
“We had school this p.m. beginning with the assembly of the whole school of about eighty in my room which is the largest of the three. We began with the flag salute followed by patriotic song – scripture reading and Lord’s Prayer – Mr. Abbott making an address to the youngsters and winding up with some war songs. Mr. A is a Civil War veteran and told us about his experiences and the two glimpses he had of Lincoln. Then Miss Burton took her primary class to the room where they hold forth and Miss Runyan ditto and I was left to my twenty two consisting of boys and girls in four grades 7, 8b – 8a, and freshman High. The youngsters are really awfully dear and all have the accent – they find it as hard to understand me as I do them – but in time we will get along without so many what’s and beg pardon’s. We three girls as yet are the whole faculty but Miss Bishop will get another teacher as soon as she can find one suitable, preferably a man who will take charge of the boys – that is start baseball and other activities and teach in rural training…
We also are the proud possessors of the first hose in Gatlinburg and mayhap the only one! This morning our telephone was connected which Mr. Huff brought up yesterday. Another wonderful possession is a big refrigerator and ice! This is the first year ice has been brought up here – and it’s greatly needed too.”
1947 Catalog
