Musing on one teacher schoolhouses.

Musing on one teacher schoolhouses.

Yesterday I spend a lovely few hours interviewing family members of Genie Maude Wilson.

Genie Maude  lived in Morgan County many years ago…tons of great stuff on her for a story in the local paper on a just-published book compiling the best of her columns she wrote for 65 years. 

But this simple post is photographs from another part of her life — school teacher. Mrs. Wilson taught for many years starting in 1913 till the county closed her school — first known as Mitchem School and later Fairview School — in 1928. 

This is a picture from a picture in the book of the school in 1915. It gives a glimpse of life in Georgia deep in the rural South almost a century ago.

When I learned the schoolhouse was just a mile or so down the road from the family farm where we had lunch, I drove down there.

Two of Genie Maude’s granddaughters, Sally Stephens along with Rachel Harper, labored untold hours searching through her columns and putting the book together.

When I mentioned driving by the old school on the way home, Sally remarked what a shame that it had fallen into such a state.

I had been by this building easily a hundred times for it is right off US 441 just a few miles south of town. Never seen it.

This is what a 100 years — the last 70 or so with no real care — can do to a place. Hate to think of what 100 years will do to me.

Such a thriving place, bustling with energic, lovable, joking country children.

Life is so short.

Let’s wake up to the beauty in the unphotographed right before us.