History of Goree, Part 14 (New Goree & School)

The New Goree & The New School
by John H Bates

In 1906, there was a small one room school called Chigger Hill located about one and one-half miles south west of present day Goree on the land now owned by P.H. Routen. The new town of Goree had started and the Chigger Hill School was moved to the present Goree at midterm. The town relocated because of the railroad, thus being dubbed ‘a railroad town’.

Miss Minnie Nelson was the teacher at the Chigger Hill School and she finished the spring term at the new location. Goree had built a three room building consisting of two classrooms and an auditorium. Mr. & Mrs. C.S. Carter were the new teachers at the beginning of the fall term in 1906. W.P. Edwards and J.E. Crouch were trustees.

Besides Mr. Carter, there have been eight other men to hold the position of superintendent in the past 58 years. Namely J.W. Bowman, a Mr. Hargroves, Elmer Truman, E.L. Cover, H.D. Arnold who began in 1920 and taught until his tragic death in 1950.

Some time between 1906-1918, more classrooms were added to the original three room building. In the fall of 1921 and spring of 1922, four additional classrooms, a study hall and an auditorium were added. I do know if this is correct, as I was a student at this time. In 1929, the present high school building was completed and I was a member of the first class to be graduated in the new structure.

I believe Goree holds somewhat of a record in the most number of years some members of the faculty have spent teaching in one location. Mr. Arnold taught 30 years; Mrs. H.L. Moore-43; Mr. J.H. Bardwell-20; Mrs. Bardwell-17; Mrs. Bettie Taylor-19; and Mrs. Arnold -20. I believe 149 years of teaching for 6 people in the same school is quite unusual.