EDMUND PENDLETON HIGH SCHOOL
Edmund Pendleton High School was established at Doggett's
Fork in 1914, with Mr. Henry T. Louthan as the first principal.
The school was first named for its location, but shortly afterward
the name was changed to Reedy Church High School, after the
name of the magisterial and school district in which it was located.
Later the patrons set all other schools in Carolina good example
by naming the school in honor of Edmund Pendleton, Caroline's
most distinguished son (See chapter on Statesmen of Caroline).
The building originally consisted of that part of the present
structure which faces the Bowling Green-Richmond Highway, a
three-story structure with two rooms on each floor, the top floor
being a double class-room, capable of being converted into an
auditorium.
In 1916 an addition was built back of the original, and with it,
formed an L facing the South. The addition was also three
stories high, with one room on each floor. The basement room
of the addition was later completed by the students and fitted up
as a Science Laboratory.
In 1921 an auditorium was erected back of the main building.
The two dressing-rooms back of the stage, being quite large, are
used for class-rooms, thus giving the school altogether eleven
class-rooms. Below the auditorium is a concrete basement
90 × 30 which may be used for many social festivities. There is
a small music room in the school yard where piano is taught.
In 1920 there was erected, about 200 yards from the school
buildings, a commodious and modern eight-room house as a home
for the teachers. This building is known as the Teacherage and
is the only building of this kind owned by any school in the
county.
The buildings, lands, desks, pianos, and other equipment
represent a value of approximately $25,000. The school opened
with four teachers and a small enrollment, but so prospered that
within seven years the faculty had doubled and the enrollment
increased to 200, of whom over 50 were in the high school department.
Twenty-nine were graduated from the school during
the first five years, the greater number of whom have continued
their education in higher institutions of learning. Much of the
success of this school has been due to the efficient administration
of Mr. H. T. Louthan and Rev. W. D. Bremner who presided
over the school for many years; and also to Messrs. L. J. Head,
J. R. Blanton, George Burruss and J. C. Haley of the local school
board.
