| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 262.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 23 Dec 2006.
There was a grand party Tuesday night at Smoky Mountain Elementary School in celebration of the school's Golden Anniversary. One of three county schools built during a period of consolidation in the 1950s, Smoky Mountain Elementary brought students from McMillan, Caton's Grove, Liberty, and Webb Springs Schools. Earlier, Bluffton School had been closed with its students then attending either Hartford or McMillan. Bluffton School stood near today's Bluffton Church and the Ogle family home. It was a one-room school. Located where Garver's Chapel Church stands today, McMillan School was a two-room structure. Caton's Grove School was in the field below Caton's Grove United Methodist Church. It was also a two-room school. Liberty School later housed Sunday School rooms for Liberty Church, until the school was dismantled and a new structure erected. It was also a two-room school. Webb Springs School was located nearer the Cocke-Sevier County line, near the Valentine's and close to the Park. It was also a two-room building. Dr. Nathan Ford, the only living member of the school board which voted to consolidate these schools, attended Tuesday evening's gathering. "When we took office in 1952, I think there were 56 schools in the county. Over the next four years, we consolidated schools in the Smoky Mountain, Del Rio, and Bybee communities and built new schools. When I left office in 1956, the county had 28 schools," said Ford. "One fellow, who didn't like what we were doing, said, 'If you leave that bunch in office another four years, there won't be a school left in the county!'" quipped Ford. Ford said that there wasn't much serious opposition to the board's decision to build Smoky Mountain. "Of course, people didn't want the schools pulled from their community," Ford admitted, "but overall things went pretty smoothly at Smoky Mountain." Ford remembered that the late O. P. Ailey served as contractor for the project. "Once he arrived for work and couldn't find the water hose, which had been coiled and stored by the workers the day before. He later found it hooked up and stretched into the nearby woods!" The late Oscar Bryant was Superintendent of Schools during this time. "He was a good superintendent," said Ford, "one who wasn't worried about the next election." E. H. "Buzz" Kennedy chaired the board. Serving with him and Ford were Dr. Parker Ford (Nathan's uncle), Lester Wilds, J. C. "Nig" Fowler, Luther Strange, and Dewey "Zack" Webb. Webb's great-grandson, Matthew Hill, also spoke briefly at Tuesday's gathering, and shared his family's pride in the community and school. Webb died recently at age 96. When Smoky Mountain Elementary opened its doors, Alma Whaley served as principal. Other teachers were Sarah Valentine, Uvella (Carver) Baxter, Irene Valentine, Ola Proffitt, Juanita Bryant, and Gordon Lindsey. All are now deceased except Irene Valentine and Uvella Baxter, neither of whom was able to attend Tuesday's party. However, Emma Dean Carver, who became the school's eighth teacher, was there and shared her memories with the gathering. "I was hired in 1961 to teach fifth grade," said Carver, who had previously taught at Cosby. "There was an extra room at the school, which I took," continued Carver. "I had all new desks and other items. It was nice." Carver finished her teaching career at Smoky, retiring in 1985 because of her husband's poor health. She had 33 years experience. Carver began her teaching career as one of two teachers at Liberty School in 1949, teaching the lower grades, while Susan Large taught the older students. "When I came to Smoky, my son, Carl J., was in sixth grade. He had gone to Liberty first," recalled Carver. Carver also mentioned the school's reputation for its good food, prepared by cooks Jettie Baxter, Rhoda Phillips, and Dovie Valentine. "Roscoe Jenkins was janitor when I came," added Carver. "We didn't have a secretary until Marilyn Bryant was hired in the 1970s." Tuesday night's gala began with a community-wide potluck supper. Current school principal, Patty Davis, welcomed the gathering, and recognized several special guests, including Cocke County Director of Schools and former Smoky Mountain Principal Larry Blazer. Also receiving special recognition was Jim Valentine, the only living member of the Cocke County Quarterly Court which funded the building project of half a century ago. Special music was provided by members of Smoky Mountain's Beginners and Advanced Bands directed by Kathy Sotello. Nick Grooms delighted the crowd with a guitar solo of "Silent Night." Seventh-grade students of Larry Proffitt proudly presented "An Oral Tribute to History" with several class members assuming the roles of the school's nine principals. Former faculty members and staff were applauded as were several of the school's alumni. The evening closed with rousing renditions of several Christmas carols sung by the school's younger students. They were directed by Catherine McCarthy. Today's student population at Smoky Mountain number 185. Eleven fulltime teachers, one special education teacher, and one Title I teacher are on the payroll of 38 staff members. Martha Loftis' Pre-K class is the newest addition to the school's curriculum.
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