subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Jul 06 2009 

Published: November 15, 2008 06:23 pm    print this story   comment on this story  

Rededication ceremony Nov. 18 for Granny Richardson Springs one-room schoolhouse at EKU

Special to the Register

A shining symbol of Kentucky’s educational heritage will be celebrated Tuesday, Nov. 18, when Eastern Kentucky University re-dedicates the newly renovated Granny Richardson Springs One-Room School.

The 1 p.m. ceremony will be conducted at the school site on Kit Carson Drive across from the university’s Perkins Building. The public is welcome. Speakers will include EKU President Doug Whitlock, College of Education Dean Bill Phillips and Robert Grise, a retired EKU professor and local historian who has often led tours of the facility. Also, the West Irvine Elementary School Choir will perform. Tours will be offered after the ceremony.

A fixture on the EKU campus since it was moved from Estill County in 1976, the schoolhouse has undergone an extensive facelift that includes new weatherboarding, painting, new windows, interior and exterior lighting, landscaping, new concrete walks and signage.

“Many older Kentuckians attended one-room schools and have fond memories of their school days,” said Tom Bonny, retired superintendent of Estill County Schools who now serves as assistant director of the South East/South Central Educational Cooperative. “This schoolhouse serves as a living replica of education in the early 20th century and helps us all to understand some of the sacrifices our predecessors made to provide or receive an education.”

In 2003, EKU’s College of Education launched an effort to raise funds to renovate the schoolhouse. A $35,000 grant from the EKU Foundation augmented approximately $12,000 in money raised through a benefit event starring Carl Hurley and the late Homer Ledford and from individual contributions.

The Granny Richardson Springs School opened in Estill County in 1900, six years before Eastern Kentucky State Normal School was established, and closed in 1964. It was donated to EKU by the heirs of the late Eli Sparks. The Lee County Board of Education donated furnishings.

Thirty-one students were enrolled in the school’s first year. That number grew steadily, especially after oil was discovered in the area, but declined again during and after World War II. By 1963, only six pupils attended.

Martha Elkin (Granny) Richardson was born in 1791 in Clark County and later moved to an area near Brushy Mountain in Estill County. She and her husband, Bradley, had 10 children — eight boys and two girls.

The renovated schoolhouse is again available for school and group tours. To make tour arrangements, call the Dean’s Office in the College of Education at 622-1175.

Also, donations are still being accepted and may be sent to the attention of: Associate Dean Kim Naugle, College of Education, 420 Combs Building, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, KY 40475.

print this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operator
Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operator with
Class A-CDL
859-661-5699, 625-5990
...>MORE

PT summer help needed. Minimum wage.
PT summer help needed. Minimum wage. Lawn/garden & cleaning. Send contact information to: PO Box 314, Berea, KY 40403....>MORE

Heavy Equipment Operator needed
Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operator with
Class A-CDL
859-661-5699, 625-5990
...>MORE

Lexington Herald Leader route avail
Lexington Herald Leader has a morning route available in Berea/Paint Lick. Takes Approx 3 hrs daily. Profit potental of ...>MORE

CMA / LPN
CMA / LPN
Wanted for busy
Medical Practice
Send resume to:
793 E. Bypass Ste. 213
Richmond,
...>MORE

Part-time Nanny.
Part-time Nanny.
2 full days/week. Childcare experience necessary. Call 859-623-3875.
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

2002 Mustang
2002 Mustang
(convertible). V6, auto., pwr/ac/cruise. Good condition. 95,930 miles. $7,700.
Call 859-986-1798
...>MORE

1997 GMC Safari Van, one owner.
1997 GMC Safari Van, one owner. 148K miles. New Tires, Completely serviced, white, clean, new Battery. $2,800.
Ca
...>MORE

1996 Buick Lasabre
1996 Buick LaSabra Limited, 98-kmiles, all options, including leather seats. CD Casset, power everything. Blue book $289...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Rentals

100’S OF MODELS -- ZERO DOWN
100’S OF MODELS -- ZERO DOWN WITH LAND OR AS LITTLE AS $1800. FIRST TIME BUYERS! SSI/DISABILITY! WE OWN THE BANK! PRE-AP...>MORE

TOWNHOUSE back up to a Golf Course
Townhouse: backs up to a Golf course. 2 BR, 1.5 bath, $450mo, $300 dep renter pays ut. 582-6087....>MORE

1 & 2 bdrm Apts for rent
1 & 2 Bdrm.1/2 mo FREE Rent. Lease, Dep., Air. Utilities Pd. Aval Now 623-2603, 623-0918....>MORE

See all ads

Deal of the Day

Everything from A-Z!!!
Need to sell your bedroom suite, washer and dryer, or even selling an animal? Call Mayme or Melissa at 859-624-6681 to p...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index