Haralson County GAGenWeb

It is claimed that the first free SCHOOL in Georgia was located in Tallapoosa, GA.

At one time, schools were established in neighborhoods provided sufficient enrollment was available. These were mostly one room schools and were often taught by young people in the community. These schools were located within walking distance for the students since there were no 'buses' as we know them today.

The population was not as mobile as it is today. The people were born and raised in a community, went to school together in the community, worshiped in the community and in one of the pictures, I can identify five couples that married and themselves raised a family in the same community.

Over the years schools have been consolidated, new schools built and the older schools torn down. We would like to build a data base of these old schools and include names of students attending the schools. If you have a picture, or information on any schools in Haralson County that no longer exist, please contact

Berner School, ca 1905
Buncombe School, 1932 Mentions Q P King, Hollis Lowery, Howard Lowery, B D Hutcheson, Jason Elliot, Ronald (Buddy) Bates, Walter Balenger, George B Wright, Fredia Self, Dorothy Horsley, Mary H Bennett, Ennis Bradley, Florence Bradley, Vivian Warmack, Doris Clay, Letha Bates, Genevie Robinson, Kenneth Pritchett, Carlton Johnson, Conal Barrow, Cranford Mar--, Eugene Waldrop, Albert Wilson, Glynn Clackum, D E Phillips, Blance Robinson, Laster Smith, Lilliam Bennett, Gladys Wright, Hershel Ballenger, --- Edwards, Sybil Edwards, Eunice Long teacher, Faye Hunt, Arnold King, --- Edwards, Nell Robertson, Evelyn Smith
Corinth School, 1908 Mentions Ernest lee Head
Draketown Baptist Institute, 1909
Eaves Academy, J T Latham Principal, 20 August 1901
Fairmont School 1909 At Piney Woods Primitive Church
Liberty Hill School, 1911 Aubrey Barrett, teacher. First Row: Boyce Warren, Leonard Brock, Luther Warren, Berlin Thompson, Una Thompson, Alma Warren, Willie Warren, Jewell Kenerly, Nelah & Jewell Moore, Emma & Leona Pierce, Alma Moon, Winnie Rainwater. Second Row: Charlis Hollis, Lyman McKibben, Charlie Smith, Wayne Rainwater, Dewey Brown, Joe Adams, Lydia Brown, Alice Brock, Alice Moon, Margaret Warren, Mae Warren, Dussie Willingham, Sallie Hollis, Velma and Alma Robinson. Third Row: Oren Warren, Archie Smith, marion Warren, Gus McKibben, Odus Brown, Aubrey Hollis, Minnie Lee Young, Viola Smith, Bertha Warren, Mae McKibbenm, Ollie Warren, Annie Warren, Johnny Rainwater; Fourth Row:Jessie, Joe, Noah, Albert & Robert Warren, Bodie Kent, Otis McKibben, Donnie Lee, Ola Young, Hattie Hollis, Annie Brown, Lee Warren, Beulah Robinson, Dane Rainwater.
Liberty Hill School 1916 (donated by Roby Barrow whose great uncle Lee Otis Barrow was the teacher in the 1916 class)
Pleasant Grove School 1907
Pleasant Grove School 1910
Pleasant Hill School (located on Jacksonville Rd near the AL line in the Pleasant Hill West community. Photo was taken about 1925, submitted by Geraldine Crowe.	Teacher: Bertha Smith, Mary Speight, Merle Allen, Ray Shealy, Walter Allen, Myrtle Coffee, Eva McAlpin, Clara Speight Next row: Ernest Shealy, Earl Allen, Leslie Shealy, Lena McAlpin, Evelyn Speight, Avis Shealy Next Row: Harold Shealy, Evell Wright, Henry Allen, Elvyn McAlpin Front Row: Robert Speight, Ernest Wright, Blanche Speight, Lillie Wright
Poplar Springs School, 1901 Contributed by Gary Bailey. Mentions Belle Newman, Eva Mize, Jena Robertson, Lizzie Murdock, Ida Kadle, Vassie Fincher, Henry Latham, Arthur Murdock, Charlie Murdock, Walter Kadle, Ollie Murdock, Robert McGinnis, John Owens, Villa Waldrop, Henry Pope, Grover Robertson, Julius Mize, Lee Kadle, Willie Kadle, Cora Goggans, Edna Lamunyon, Berta Mize, Ethel Goggans, Addie May Newman, Ezzie Owens, Bertha Newman, Willie Robertson, Elza Newman, Clyde Pope, Taz Latham, Graham McGinnis, RObert Waldrop, Eula and Sallie Pope, Claude McGinnis, Addie Belle McGinnis, Buran and herschel Mize, Wadus Kadle, Albert Lamunyon, Jesse Chandler, Lenton Pope, Charlie Lamunyon.
Steadman School 1915-1920's More info here
Tallapoosa Public School, ca 1915. Burned ca 1928 Photo Courtesy of Vanishing Georgia Collection, Georgia Division of Archives and History.
Tallapoosa High School ca 1915 more info here
Union School, 1914, Rodric M. Phillips has submitted this photograph of a school. The name "Union 1914" is written on the picture. We have not been able to identify this definitely as a Haralson County School. His Mother Myrtle Pauline Carroll is 7th from the left in the 2nd row. She was born in 1905 and appears to be 8 or 9 in this photo. If you can identify this photograph, and especially identify any of the people please advise me
Wesley Chapel School, ca 1938 Wesley Chapel School was located on Jacksonville Rd. (Now Hwy 120) west of Buchanan. The school was closed in the 1940s. The picture was taken around 1939-1940. Photographer unknown. Standing: Opal Fincher, girl, Virginia Lyle, Catherine McFall, Willene White, girl, John Verner, Edward Barger, Blanche Lambert, Boy, Girl, George Verner, Bobby Sue Verner, Mildred McFall, 3 boys Front row: James Edward McFall, Roy Bargers, Phil Verner
Wildcat School, ca 1910 Picture donated by C. Carter Believe to be Wildcat School circa 1910. Top Row: ?; Leon Wood; Alonzo Wood; Colonel Hughes; ?; Jonas Hughes; Monroe Wood; Edd Pope; ?; Young Pope;?. Second Row:?; ?;?; _ Clackum; Rosa Newman; Ethel Sewell; Cora Hughes; __ Sewell; ?. Third row: ?; ?; ?; ?; Fannie Smith; (Teacher); Luther Pope; Thomas Woody; ?; ?; ?; Front row: Lillian Pope; ?; ?; ?; Ollie Newman; ?; ?; Chester Pope
Wildcat School 1912 Picture courtesy of The Tallapoosa Journal, Published June 28, 1972 in the Journal-Beacon. Mrs. Dovie Price contributed the picture to the Journal in 1972. Wildcat School 1912, Miss Georgia Waldrep, Teacher. Seated in front: Irvin McAdams and John Wood; 1st row (l to r); Paul Vernon, Luther Cauthen, Ellison McAdams, Robert McAdams, Jesse Lyle, Miss Waldrep, Sallie Wood Chandler, Evie Lyle Worthy, Lena Mcadams Mann, Jannie V. Cauthen; 2nd Row: James McAdams, Newman Vernon, Charlie Cauthen, Julius Cauthen, Ulys Wood, Roland Murdock, Jim Cauthen, Beulah Sanders, Rosa Murdock Berry, Eula Wood Stone, Annie Lyle Robertson, Arvella Cauthen McGinnis, Dovie Newman Price: 3rd row: Leonard Cauthen, Memphis Sanders, Jesse Murdock, Walter Cauthen, Claude Cauthen, Jesse Cauthen, Edna Cauthen Lane, Sudie Cauthen Pope, Susie Waldrep, Lennie Murdock Gentry, Dessie McAdams Harwood. ( Note: Married Names Shown for female students when known.)