History of Providence, KY
Part 6
by Frances Bassett Price

Early Schools

The first school in the town was said to have been in the summer of 1819 and was held in a rude log cabin with a dirt floor. The equipment was simple and primitive. A wide plank placed along one side of the building and supported by pegs fitted into auger hoes served as a desk for writing lessons. The seats were split logs with stakes fitted into auger holes for legs. A rough, homemade table for the school master completed the equipment of the room.

Among the first teachers may be mentioned Nathan A. Hibbs, Philip Matthews, Joseph Nichols, Francis Peyton, Buck Elder, Lorenzo D. Orr, William James, Simeon Palmer, James D. Palmer, Misses Marian Bowers, Mary J. Woodson, Augusta Sittler, and Cecil Gist.

In 1860 the Rev. Nicholas Lacy, pastor of Sharon (now First) Baptist church established a select school for pupils of both sexes. For this school, a brick building was erected on the east side of South Broadway. It was know as the M. and F. Academy. Academies were popular at that time throughout the state and many prominent men and women received an excellent education in them.

Prof. W. S. Coleman of Greenville, Ky. took charge of this school in 1869. In 1876 he erected a building of his own on a hill south of the business district, with a primary department conducted by Miss Helen Smith. This school was chartered and conferred diplomas and was attended by many pupils from many parts of Western Kentrucky, and from other states. An addition was made to the building in 1882. The building was razed in 1907 to make way for the first city graded and high school building. In 1898 Prof. J. Y. Brown became principal of the Academy and in 1908 he built from his own plans a modern building on Green Street which stood intact for several years.

Another school well-patronized locally as well as from nearby counties, was the boarding school conducted from 1880 to 1887 by Mrs. Myra Montgomery and Miss Rosa Montgomery, now Mrs. N. B. Hays. It was known as the Boys and Girls Home School.

Miss Sallie McKinstry, now Mrs. L. M. Baker, conducted the first kindergarten from 1880 to 1890 on East Main Street.

On Dec. 30, 1907 the first graded school, located on the site of Prof. Coleman's M. and F. Academy opened its doors for the reception of pupils with Prof. A. P. Thomas as superintendent. The first board of trustees was composed of J. G. Gist, Robert L. Price, David Browning, Robert L. Forsythe, and Thos. W. Dorris. Prof. Thomas was succeeded by Profs. S. E. Hancock , C. C. Miller, and A. L. Morgan. In 1916 Mr. Morgan selected the site for the Cedar Street school and the building was erected in 1917. W. Fred Hume was superintendent in 1918 and was succeeded by J. L. Chambers, who in turn was succeeded by L. P. Jones and W. H. Sugg. For the last nine years the schools have been under the able leadership of Superintendent E. R. Ward.