On September 30, 1879 school board records show "A petition
from Spring Valley was presented for consideration of the Board for the
establishment of a public school at that place and petition granted",
this was the first school to serve the Blanton community. The
Spring Valley School officially opened October 27, 1879 with Nathaniel
M. Moody serving as the school's first teacher and C.G. Gant, W.L.
Osborn, and John Marion O'Berry as the school's first trustees. The
first school term was 66 days long and ended on January 30, 1880. (See
more about John Marion O'Berry on Blanton's People-pals and pioneers
page)
On March 24, 1883 the Superintendent reported that he had entered into
contract with C.C. McMinn to teach the Spring Valley School No.
32. On October 6, 1884 school board records show that "the
trustees of Spring Valley School petitioned the Board to change the
location and name of said school to Blanton, which was granted."
This was the first official school for Blanton Town and was reportedly
located east of Blanton Lake and was simple frame structure.
September 5, 1887 School Board minutes record James R. O’Berry,
W. N. Dowling, and Jno. O’Berry as trustees serving Blanton
School, no. 7. By December of 1888 the Blanton School had a total
enrollment of 50 pupils and an average of 30 students in attendance.
According to School Board minutes, on July 3, 1905 the board agreed to
sell the Blanton School, which had been in use for 21 years. The old
Blanton Schoolhouse finally sold for $36, which was recorded on Sept.
4, 1905 in school board minutes. As a result Blanton Town
received the addition of a large two-story school, which was built on
land donated by John O’Berry located along today's Sweetwater
Road. Mr. O’Hara served as the first teacher in the new
school, teaching until about 1922. During that time Mrs. Buck served as
primary teacher. In October 1907 the school board insured the new
Blanton School pictured below in 1905 shortly after being built.
| The two-story Blanton Schoolhouse in 1905 situated on land donated by John O'Berry. |
| Blanton
School students in 1905, pictured left to right are (Front row seated
on the ground) Harry Blocker, Oscar Blocker, Elmer O'Berry, Warren
Dowling, Jack Dowling, Roy Blocker, unknown; (Second row seated in
chairs) Mae Green, Emma Bessenger, Sol O'Berry, Robert Small, Bruce
Haycock, unknown, unknown, Winfred O'Berry, Luther Green, Newell Mayo,
Lillie Stone, small child, Lizzie O'Berry, O'Berry infant, O'Berry boy,
Conlly Green, Mattie Lou Mayo, Mrs. Hayes, Hayes child, Mrs. Green,
Green Baby; (Third row) Muriel O'Berry, Hays girl, Vernon Green, Hays,
Brent Haycock, Mosel Howard. Fred O'Berry, Ethel Sloat, School
Principal Mr. OHara, Ralph Bessenger, and primary teacher Mrs. Buck. |
The following information has been gathered from various sources and
shows the numerous teachers who served the Blanton School over the many
years that it stood in the Blanton Community.
- Nathaniel M. Moody served as teacher of the Spring Valley School in 1879 according to School Board minutes.
- March 24, 1883 contract was given to C.C. McMinn to teach the Spring Valley School.
- Some of the earliest reported teachers of the Blanton Schoo included:
Mrs. Minerva Murphy, Charles Copenhaver, Blackburn Wray, and Mrs.
Edmund Blocker. Edmond O’Berry was the substitute teacher.
- A 1915-16 directory shows Miss Eugenia Shumate as the teacher at the Blanton School, with 29 students enrolled.
- On Apr. 8, 1927, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss
Mary Lou St. Clair was appointed teacher of the Primary Department of
the Blanton school to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mrs.
Prudence Getty.
- School board minutes show the following teacher and their
dates of appointment at the Blanton School: Cooper Stanley (July 1,
1901); Alna Gregg (Aug. 6, 1903); Ida Govereau (August 1904); Miss
Mattie Lou Mayo (July 5, 1921); H. A. Hammer (June 16, 1926); H. A.
Hammer and Mrs. Lula Hancock (July 2, 1928); Mrs. Lula Hancock (July 3,
1930); Louise O'Neal (August 31, 1931); Mrs. Freida Eiland (June 4,
1934); Music teacher Mrs. Louise Blocker (December 21, 1936); Maude
O’Berry (August. 2, 1937); Vera Goodwin (July 5, 1938); Myra
O’Berry (June 7, 1943); Cora Mickler (August 16, 1943).
- Mrs. Maude O’Berry, the mother of Ila Dowling, was
the last teacher at the Blanton School when it closed in 1944 and
students were bused to Dade City.
On Aug. 17, 1944 the school board voted to discontinue and close the
Blanton School, as a result students were bused to more centeral
locations such as Dade City. The school closed shortly after
their vote, however the school building remained apart of the community
until sometime around 1963 when the old building was torn down because
it had been allowed to fall into disrepair.
Images of the Old Blanton School
| 1919 Blanton School boys class.
Pictured from right to left (front Row) Walstien Dutton, Frank
Blocker, Norman Blocker, LeGrand Dutton, Kenneth Ansley, John Ivery
Page; (Back Row) Joschiesus Geiger, teacher,Donnie Blocker, Jerald Sloat, Carl Dowling, Robert Page, Herrmann Ansley, Harris
Dutton, and Gene Jordan. |
| 1919
Blanton School girls class. Pictured from left to right (front
row) Ruth Jordan, ? Sloat, Donnie Chapman, Pauline Sloat, unknown,
Grace Jordan, Pearl Sloat, Myrtle Ellis; (Back row) Margaret Dowling,
Hilda Ansley, Pearl Ellis, Fleta Blocker, Mattie Lou Mayo, Edith Page,
Newell Mayo, and Cassie Page. |
| This
1930 photograph of the Blanton School students show that the old
two-story school house was still in good condition with a rather large
student body attending. |
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This page was created by Jeff Cannon and last revised on June 24, 2009.
Information and research by Lora Blocker and Jeff Cannon.
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