Most of this information was told to me by my mother, Mrs. Gertrude W. Gaskins.
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Early school____ At that time, the county made no provisions for the children of this community to attend school. After an elapse of time, a Mrs. Allen, an English Missionary came to this section – purchased some land and built a building. She named it the Allen Mission after her name. Since there was no school, she loaned the building to the county during the weekdays for classes and on Sundays, Sunday School was taught. This provided an opportunity for children to get an education. There was no way to get to school but walk. The teachers, some of them graduates of then Hampton Institute, were excellent. Mr. Willis B. Holland, the grandfather of the late Dr. Ernell Holland was one of those teachers.
For many years the children attended school in this building. A church now occupies this land and retains the name of Allen Grove Baptist Church located on Route # 258 (near the Southern Skating Rink).
The Shanks organized and built a private school on land they had bought and named it the “ Beulah Heights Apostolic Holiness School.” A fee was charged to those who attended. Though it was mainly for those children whose parents were of that religious persuasion, anyone could go.
The men of this area organized themselves into a secret order known as the “True Reformers.” They built a building called the “Hall” to hold their meetings. By now, some of the children were going over into Southampton County to the Franklin Town School. A Mrs. Sara Diggs was the principal. Friction started in this school among the town children and those from Isle of Wight County. So Mrs. Gertrude W. Gaskins with some other parents and her former teacher, Mr. Willis B. Holland, contacted the Superintendent Dr. Rawls. He informed them that if they could find a building, he would send a teacher. The “Hall” was available. The first teacher was a Mr. J.W. Washington to be followed by Misters Holland, Hutcherson, Miss Daye of Lynchburg and Roanoke, VA and others. Up until now, the county still had not adequately provided for the education of the children at this end of the county.
John Bowman, William Sessoms, Briton Myrick, William Jackson and Reverend J.W. Blacknall, himself an educator and pastor of the church went to see the county (school) superintendent. They were told the county had no money to build a school at that time. This did not daunt their determination. About that time a Mr. Rosenwall, a philanthropist, was aiding in the building of schools throughout the South for minority people. The plan was the community was to raise $750.00, the county would give $750.00 and the fund was given $750.00. That was achieved. The next step was location. My grandfather, Solomon Boyd, and my mother sold the land to the county. My mother signed the deed for him after he touched the pen. This was the first school provided by the county for the children in this area. It was named Camptown even though it was located in the section that was named Jamestown.
By this time Camp Manufacturing Company had been established and was buying all the nearby land they could get. Jamestown eventually lost its identity. The entire area now is called Camptown, to the chagrin of some.
The seven grades were taught but there was no place for those who wanted to go on to high school. Those who did continue attended private schools. Some went to live with friends and relatives in other places.
A paper mill was now being built in this area and a new road was indispensable. The school (in the path of the planned road) was moved to a new location. The curriculum still carried only one through seventh grades. Students from this area had to go to Hayden School, then a private school, in Southampton County. It was known for its good teachers who taught well and were free to drill you until you got it. There were no social promotions. You got it or you were retained until you did. Those students were given a dream by those teachers and the private schools provided the power to make the dreams come true. After 1954, busses were put on in Isle of Wight and students were then transported. All of the homeowners now are newcomers. A few descendants are still living in this area. The song has ended, but the melody lingers on.
The book Many Voices was published in 1986 as part of a project of the Interview Committee appointed in 1984 for the Isle of Wight County 350th Sesquitricentennial Celebration. The Oral History project taped the recollections of our older citizens and developed their stories from the transcriptions. Many Voices gave a permanent record of the previously unrecorded family life and history in Isle of Wight County. These excerpts take only the discussions dealing with the education memories of some of those citizens.