Sunnyside Academy
Sunnyside Academy was a privately-run school established in Powderly by residents of Jones Valley in 1884. A 40- by 60-foot wooden building with a belltower was constructed, serving 70 pupils. J. F. McLaughlin was the first schoolmaster, teaching from the Blue-Black Speller, McGuffey's Reader, Ray's Arithmetic, and Maw's Georgraphy as well as Latin and algebra books. Fridays at the school featured either a spelling match or a slate of speeches.
McLaughlin was succeeded by Sally and Molly Miles, J. E. Strickland, Maude Gartiner, and a "Professor Johnson", who served as principal when the school was expanded. Other teachers included B. H. Davidson and "Professor Geisler".
After the establishment of a Jefferson County Schools system, Sunnyside Academy was annexed as the Powderly Elementary School. The original building served until it was destroyed by fire in 1918. A new Jones Valley School was constructed to take its place, opening in 1921.
References
- Roper, Bob (n. d.) "History of Jones Valley High School" JonesValley.net - accessed February 29, 2008.
- (Roper bases his history on an article by Herman W. King in the February 14, 1962 Birmingham News.)