LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
BRANDON
Contributed Mar 2006
by Lee Freeman
From "Florence Happenings," the Florence Herald, Thursday, April
28, 1898, p. 1.
A subscription is being raised to build a school house in East Florence between
the Cotton Factory and the Wagon Factory. The present school house is too small
and is rented by the city. Wyley Freeman has the list in hand and will
receive subscriptions.
Contributor's Note: Wiley Francis Freeman (ca. 1847-1913) was the son of Mary
Jones and ____ Freeman. He married Sarah Frances Wesson (d. 1894) of Lauderdale
County, AL in 1866. She was the
daughter of Wm. A. Wesson and Amanda Ijams. Wiley and Sarah Frances had ten children: William
Joseph; Mary Betty; Amanda; Hattie; Georgia; Dan; Ella; Miles; Nannie; and Ben.
In the 1890s, Wiley moved his family from Stony Point to East Florence where
he, Miles, and Dan worked at the Wagon Factory. Wiley gave a speech at the
dedication of the the new school, in October of 1899. See below.
From "Sweetwater Chat," Florence Times, Friday, April 29, 1898.
Mr. Wiley Freeman has started the best thing we have seen yet. He is getting
subscriptions to build a school house out here. That is the best kind of a move.
We need one bad. We note the Florence Pump & Lumber Company has put in $20 to
start the list. That is a generous act and a good big start at one and the same
time. We are satisfied that every man who can will help push the thing along.
From "Bids for Street Work: City Council Awards Contracts for
Street Improvements: School House for E. Florence," Florence Herald, Thursday,
June 9,1898, p. 1.
Mr. Wiley Freeman reported having funds subscribed for a school building in East
Florence and asked for help from the city. Messrs. Phillips, Smith and Patrick
were appointed a committee to meet with the Board of Education and see what
could be done toward making an appropriation. The committee will make a report
to the Board of Aldermen.
From "City Finances," Florence Times, Friday, November 18, 1898, p 3.
4. The city has no school building in Sweetwater, and no building adequate for
the colored school. The Board of Education has been renting buildings for some
years, and it would be cheaper for the city to own its own buildings, and far
better for the comfort of the school children. . . .
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted. That of the bonds authorized to be issued by this
act, the sum of Sixty-nine Thousand Dollars shall be used for taking up,
canceling and retiring the present outstanding bonds of said City of Florence,
either by payment of the old bonds or by an exchange of the new bonds for the
old, and for no other purpose. That the sum of Twenty-three Thousand Dollars, or
so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be used for the purpose of paying the
floating debt said City of Florence may have on the first day of January, 1899.
That the sum of Two Thousand and Five Hundred Dollars, or so much thereof as may
be necessary, shall be used for the erecting of a school building for white
children to be located at some point in the Sixth or Seventh Ward in said city
to be selected by the Board. That the sum of Two Thousand and Five Hundred
Dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be used for the erecting
of a school building for the Negro children of said city, to be erected at such
point as the Board may determine. And the sum of Three Thousand Dollars may in
the discretion of said Board be used for the purchase and improvement of a
cemetery ground. . . .
From "Mayor Weakley's Message," Florence Times, Friday, December 9, 1898, p. 2.
SCHOOLS.
Our schools are all in a thriving condition and are largely attended. Particular
attention is called to Seventh Ward school which has grown from enrollment of
about eighty-five to more than 200.
The city owns no school building in this section of the city and is compelled to
pay rent for a building ill-suited for the purpose and I advise not less than
$2,500 be expended in the erection of a building for the colored school, the
money for this purpose to be procured from the sale of bonds as already stated.
From "The City Council," Florence Herald, Thursday, June 15, 1899, p. 1.
. . . At the special meeting Monday night the reports on the locations of and
plans for the two new school houses will be heard, as will also the report of
the special committee investigating the fire department improvements. The
session will be one of the most important ever held by the present board, and
all interested should attend.
From the Florence Times, Friday, June 23, 1899, p. 1.
East Florence School Building.
The plans and specifications for the East Florence School are here, and
contractors are requested to bid on same. Bids the be [sic] opened at July
meeting of city council. Plans can be seen at Clerk's office, city hall. Right
reserved to reject any or all bids.
From the Florence Herald, Thursday, August 10, 1899, p. 1.
New School Building.
The East Florence public school building is going up rapidly. The storm sheeting
is on and they will cover it this week. Mr. Nichols shows a deep interest in the
public schools by his heroic efforts to get the buildings ready for the opening
of the fall season. The new kindergarten room in the basement of the East
Florence building will be ready for the fall opening. The kindergarten will
commence and continue with the public school session.
From the Florence Herald, Thursday, September 28, 1899.
CHAS. M. BRANDON SCHOOL.
Board of Education Honors Memory of This Lamented Citizen.
The board of education of this city has honored itself
in naming the East Florence school "The Charles M. Brandon School." This action
was taken at the meeting of the board on Monday night, and it is a graceful
compliment to the memory of one who was, until his death, one of Florence's most
highly esteemed citizens.
In order to fittingly dedicate the new building to the
memory of the lamented gentleman for whom it has been named, exercises will be
held at the school building next Monday afternoon, when the following program
will be carried out:
"The School House in a
Community or Ward," John T. Ashcraft.
"The Ward School, Its
Place in the Public School System," H. C. Gilbert.
Address by Hon. John B.
Weakley; Mayor.
Response by Wiley
Freeman.
"The Purpose of the True
Kindergarten," Miss Maud Lindsay.
"History of the Florence
Free Kindergarten," Thos. J. Philips.
"Sketch of the Life of
the Late Chas. M. Brandon," Dr. W. J. Kernachan.
The people of Florence and especially the patrons of
the East Florence school, are cordially invited to attend the exercises Monday
afternoon.
Chas. M. Brandon was one of the most popular men who
ever lived in Florence, and the dedicatory exercises will prove of especial
interest to those who knew and honor him. He was a friend of the people of East
Florence and showed his interest in them in many ways, being a leader in the
cause of education and christianity [sic] in that section.
From the Florence Herald, Thursday, October 5, 1899, p. 1.
BUILDING DEDICATED
"Brandon Public School" of East Florence Officially Named
SEVERAL ADDRESSES WERE MADE.
Phenomenal Increase in Attendance of Pupils From That
Portion of the City--Miss Lindsay's Address.
A good sized audience of the people of East Florence,
together with a number of visitors from up town, and a large number of school
children, gathered at the new East Florence public school building at the corner
of Ironside street and Cole avenue Monday afternoon.
The occasion was the dedication of the splendid
structure, and the program as carried out was a sincere and worthy tribute to
the memory of the man after whom it has been named--the lamented Charles M.
Brandon--than whom the children of East Florence never had a better or more
enthusiastic friend and helper.
The program was begun with a Scripture reading by Rev.
Richard Hall and prayer by Rev. Harris K. Kirk.
Mayor Weakley, after giving a sketch of the rapid
growth of the schools of East Florence, gave evidence of his earnest effort to
meet the difficulties occasioned by the wonderful and continued increase in
attendance. The commodious and comfortable house now named "The Brandon School"
is proof enough to all that his labors have met with success.
Mr. Freeman responded with a good speech. He said he
believed he represented all of East Florence when he stated they were proud of
the Brandon school. Mr. Freeman has always been on the side of the children and
probably no one has done more than he for the benefit of the schools.
Dr. Kernachan gave a short sketch of Mr. Brandon's
life, which was not only appreciated but heartily endorsed by all, for they all
knew Chas. M. Brandon and loved him.
Miss Maud Lindsay, principal of the kindergarten
school, delivered the following splendid address:
THE PURPOSE OF THE KINDERGARTEN.
"I always think that the kindergarten
best explains itself, and its purpose by name. It is a garden for children where
they may grow strong and wise and good--beautiful as the rose and pure as the
lillies.
"Long, long ago Christ spoke to His fishermen by the
sea of Galilee, and gave them a charge to keep, 'Feed My Lambs,' but it was a
long time before men understood that the teaching of little children meant the
teaching of the world.
"The future men and women of our country patter about
with bare feet now about our town, and it is the purpose of every kindergarten
to lead these little ones through love and kindness into the way of the right,
and prepare them to be helpful and useful in whatever place they may be needed.
"We all know that little children are influenced by
what they see and hear, and it is the purpose of the kindergarten to surround
them with good and guard them from evil. We want to open their eyes to all the
beautiful world around them, and teach them to look for loveliness everywhere.
"The children in our kindergarten last year learned to
shut their eyes very close to keep from seeing the child who was doing bad; and
that had a wonderful influence on the bad child, too, for he felt that he had
been shut out from their love and friendship, and he wanted to get in again.
"The purpose of the kindergarten is to keep from the
ears of our little ones all that is course and rude, and lead them to listen
only to those things that make the music of the world, pleasant, pure words and
loving counsels. I once heard a minister request that all the children in his
church stand up, and when a great number were standing he asked all to sit down
who had ever heard anybody swear, and out of that number every child sat down
but one. And the minister said, "Who's been swearing before these children?"
Ought we not to be careful what they hear?
"In the kindergarten we are all workers, everybody
busy, little hands being trained, little minds developed. Somebody looking in at
the window might think we were only playing, but every play holds a truth that
grown people might well learn. Every song is a lesson in dictionary, every story
a language lesson, the playthings are the beginnings of lessons, the games are
full of lessons in politeness and unselfishness, and all the running, jumping
and skipping that little people need keep them healthy and happy.
"The purpose of the kindergarten is to prepare. It is
the gateway to life, school and heaven, for who but little children are of the
kingdom of God? and
I
have read a joyful gospel
In each eager
child's face,
For a little child
shall lead us
To the Father's
throne of grace;
Let the heirs of
Christ's divineness
Find on earth their
rightful place
While love is
marching on.["]
Mr. Thos. J. Phillips followed Miss Lindsay giving the financial history of the
kindergarten.
Unfortunately Mr. John T. Ashcraft, secretary of the Board of Education, who was
on the program, was kept away by the illness of his brother.
Superintendent H. C. Gilbert explained the place of the ward school in the
public school system. All went away delighted with the first public exercises
ever given in the C. M. Brandon school. [back]