ThomsonFootball.com - Home of the Thomson High School Bulldogs

Disclaimer

HOME

Thomson High School

Here's some of the history of Thomson High School and how it came to be. I'll be adding more about the new school when I can get my hands on it. Also there will be some more information on the school between 1970 and the current school. This first segment is taken in it's entirety from 'A Handbook Of History - McDuffie County Georgia 1870-1970 by Pearl Baker.

     In 1870, there were literally dozens of little one-room schools scattered around the county, each one accommodating anywhere from 10 to 30 pupils with one, or at most, two teachers.
   As recently as 1921 when the schools were consolidated, there were 22 white schools: Iron Hill, Boneville, Central, Wrightsboro, Marshall, East Thomson, (Cotton Mill); Anthony Cross Roads; Pine Grove, Fairview, Reeves Academy, Adams Chapel, Sunnyside, Cross Roads, Avondale, Fort Creek, Marshall, Republican, Columbia Mines, Cobbham, Mount Aubur, Mount Vernon, Union, Bailey's, Dearing, Sweetwater, Bradsaw's, and Cliatt Hall.
    There were schools in such out-of-the way places as Fountain(near the Camp-ground), Iron Hill, Holly Grove, Jamerson, Autney, Springfield, and Fort Creek. Even one called Frog Pond, near Hobb's Mill.
     In addition, we also had many small colored shcools: Flint Hill, Hickory Grove, Shanksville, White Oak Grove, St. lukes, Bob Allen, Stony Grove, Mesena, Halsey's Chapel, Green Branch, Zion Fair, Liberty Hill, Red Oak, Headstall, Mount Pleasant, Jones Grove, Poplar Head, Mount Gilead, Vandershaw's, Mount Zion, Cedar Grove, Piney Grove, and Cherry Hill. Some of thes classes were held in church buildings and Sunday Schools.
     In 1921 consolidation was agreed upon, because the financial burden of keeping up all of these small schools was too much for the state and county alike. They process was complete by 1933: The pupils in the southeastern part of the county went to Dearing, by bus, and those in the rest of the county went to schools in Thomson.
     There have been schools of a superior caliber in Thomson eversince the town was found. In 1853 land was given to the trustees for a Male High School "near the dept:, but whether it was ever built here is doubtful, because in 1873, when it came time to erect a courthouse a high school was moved from the present courthouse site to make room for it.
     The trustees of the Methodist Church granted the use of a vacant lot they possessed (where the so-called Laura Jones school now stands) on which to move the High School Building. John E. Smith bought the structure in 1874, but a stipulation was made that it always be used for educational purposes.
      In 1882 the Methodist Church took charge of this school, built a new school house with music rooms, etc., and in 1883 erected the 'Pierce Institue" named for Bishop Pierce on the church lands. They sold the Institute in 1895 to Professor I. A. Gibson. The property changed hands many times in the ensuing years, and in 1907 was destroyed by fire. A new Grammer School building was finally completed in 1910, ready for the fall term, and is now called the "Laura Jones School". (At the time, both grammer and high school classes were held here). (Note: yes, I know that's an incorrect spelling of grammar, but these are direct quotes from the book)
      A spereate High School was build in 1929, a one story building, with a cupola on top, where the present high school(now Thomson Middle) is located. In August, 1938, it was struck by lightning, the bolt following the electrical wiring through the building, and it burned to the ground. The Thomson Fire Department truck could not be started and equipment had to come from Lincolnton and Augusta to fight the blaze.
      The brick from the ruined school was salvaged, and used to put up a wall around the ball-park. For the children, there was no vacation from learning--classes were held in the churches, and various other buildings around town until another school could be built.
      The new High School was built under the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, project No. Georgia, 1598-F, construction began in 1938, a soon as the rubble could be removed, and completed in 1939; the architects were Scroggs and Ewing, the contractors, Knox Brothers Lumber Co., of Thomson.
      The Board of Trustees at that time consisted of J. Edgar Wilson, Chariman; G. White Jordan, Sect'y and Treas.; J. Clarence Dunn, Howard P. Neal, William S. Shields, and John H. Morrison, Superintendent.

Thomson High remained here until a new school was built in the early 1990's. Once the new school was ready, the old school was made Thomson Middle School. Making it the second middle school in the county, R L Norris Middle School is the other. I'll have a little more info about that and about the time between then and 1970 a bit later.