Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Photography: School House

My grandfather's old school house in
Hassell, North Carolina
Population: 72


Photo info:
I took this picture in December of 2006. The school housed children in grades primary through secondary. There was some rain the day I took this picture. I love the way the rain made the brick steps glisten. It also gave the old building a slightly different shade.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another wonderful pic Stephen! I cannot imagine growing up in SUCH a small town... (I admit it, I am a city girl, no a suburban girl, who needs to be close enough to the city to go there whenever I want.)But I think that small towns, especially when your Grandfather was a babe were better. Maybe they still are today... I do not know. Sorry this is a bunch of ramblings today...

Cergie said...

Stephen, I almost posted an old school to day
A school closed since 1928 which is in a wonderful forest in the mountain
During my vacation (ten days long) I took so beautiful pictures, saw si wonderful landscape ! It's difficult for me to coma back in Cergy !

Your grand father's school is so modest and simple. I'm sure that all the kids and their teacher wanted so much to do a good job then

Stephen A. Bess said...

Faith-
Yes, it would be hard to live in a town with a population of 72. :)I like the city as well, but there are times that I long for my small town upbringing. Good to see you. Peace~

Cergie-
It must have been beautiful if you didn't want to go back home to Cergy. :)You'll have to post that picture soon. Good to see you.

Anonymous said...

This school house reminds me of a story that I read by Charles Chesnutt called "Po Sandy".

Nice photo!

African girl, American world said...

Stephen, I'm always amazed and proud at how in touch with your history you are!

Stephen A. Bess said...

UB-
Isn't great how a picture can evoke so much. Thank you. :)

Mwabi-
Thank you amai. It's my passion.

Fabrizio said...

...And you're the wisest among my blog friend, brother, and I'm always happy to look at your site, 'cause you make me learn a lot of things.

See ya

Fab

Professor Zero said...

Is it still standing?

Stephen A. Bess said...

Fab-
Thank you sir. :)

Profzero-
Yes. I took this picture in December 2006.

Crankyputz said...

You know the one thing I hate about growing up in Dubai was that I was so far away from my family. I have no idea where my grandpa when to school.....

Lovely pic, thanks for allowing me to share in your history.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Crankyputz-
My pleasure. :)
I take advantage of the preserved history as often as I can. This has been my little passion since I was a child. It has grown into something very passionate now that I'm older and I love to share it.

Anonymous said...

I can almost hear the sweet voices of children and the pattering of footsteps on wood. Lovely photo filled with memories!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Stephen. Thank you for this mindstretching picture!!

Here's a quiz for you and your readers:
Do you think people who went to schools such as this are less intelligent?

What was the role of parents in these schools vs the role of parents today?

What are your thoughts about those who are defined by the type of school they attended?

P.S. I define myself ***wink***

Good to see you again! Our love to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

Hello Stephen, that was me Tryphina, I am not sure blog is placing me incognito!!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Getzapped-
Thank you. I love the image you've painted. :)

Tryphina-
!! Where have you been? :)Good to see you back. You present some interesting questions. Some of the greatest minds in the world have attended schools like this. This was especially true in the early days of the 20th century America. Schools for African Americans (or Colored if you're talking to my grandfather) commonly look this way in the Jim Crow South.
Good to see you and hope to see you soon. Peace~

Dance_Soul said...

There is so much history in your family. I'm glad you have a personal responsibility to continuosly catalog and share it. (haha, and if you didn't - you do now.) ;-)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Dance-
Hello my friend. :)Yes, history has been my passion for years. I WILL continue to catalog it. Thanks.

black feline said...

yes..it brings back many fond memories :)This school should be gazetted (if there's such a word lol)under heritage conservation..

Stephen A. Bess said...

Blkfeline-
lol! Yes it should. I wanted to get a picture of it before someone decided to tear it all down. I have a picture of my great-grandmother's house as well.

Lord of Erewhon said...

Really nice this photo... It seems the rural USA is something else...

Cheers!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Erewhon-
Yes, it is a world away from where I am now. Thanks for stopping in. Peace~

Anonymous said...

Hey Stephen!

I posted some photos on my blog! I'd like you to take a look at them with your photographer's eye!

Thanks! =)

Stephen A. Bess said...

UB-
I'll be over.

Writing on Board said...

Wow!

Tafari said...

Wow! The bldg has seen some days & how awesome that you could capture this piece of your history.

Bygbaby

Stephen A. Bess said...

Writer-
Thanks

Bygbaby-
It is a wonderful thing. Thank you.

BronzeBuckaroo said...

This looks like the school house my grandma attended as a child. She had a picture of her and her classmates in standing in front of it at one time.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Our history is so beautiful! Thanks for stopping in.

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