(Provided by Joyce Fields Blankenship)
The first school was in Jew Hollow, which is in Mineral Springs. From personal memories, we believe the school was held in a church-school common building that was furnished by the Pratt Coal Mining Company. The company had developed a mining village there, and the school was established to educate the miners’ children as well as other children in the area. The coal company paid the school's educator, Mr. Rufus Franklin (whose education was limited to home studies). We believe the mining company moved out and left the school behind. Soon afterward, Jefferson County assumed control of the school.
In 1922, the County moved the 159 students and 4 faculty members to a new stucco building, the one we all remember. Classes would be held in that building until 1972, when Mineral Springs School was closed. The building remained vacant until it burned about 1974. In 1977, the five-acre school property was sold. Two years later it was sold again, and today a private residence occupies the site. Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, Mr. O. L. Hand helped tear down the old Jew Hollow School building for some of the lumber. That lumber is still in the Hand family home today in Fieldstown.
Click here for a detailed history of the school and an extensive collection of school memories prepared by Joyce for the enjoyment of all friends of Mineral Springs School.
The first school was in Jew Hollow, which is in Mineral Springs. From personal memories, we believe the school was held in a church-school common building that was furnished by the Pratt Coal Mining Company. The company had developed a mining village there, and the school was established to educate the miners’ children as well as other children in the area. The coal company paid the school's educator, Mr. Rufus Franklin (whose education was limited to home studies). We believe the mining company moved out and left the school behind. Soon afterward, Jefferson County assumed control of the school.
In 1922, the County moved the 159 students and 4 faculty members to a new stucco building, the one we all remember. Classes would be held in that building until 1972, when Mineral Springs School was closed. The building remained vacant until it burned about 1974. In 1977, the five-acre school property was sold. Two years later it was sold again, and today a private residence occupies the site. Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, Mr. O. L. Hand helped tear down the old Jew Hollow School building for some of the lumber. That lumber is still in the Hand family home today in Fieldstown.
Click here for a detailed history of the school and an extensive collection of school memories prepared by Joyce for the enjoyment of all friends of Mineral Springs School.
School History
1915 Mineral Springs School 1972