Looking Back

A few weeks ago, Hayne Neisler shared more interesting information about early times in Kings Mountain. He wrote: ‘’Most people believe the first school in Kings Mountain was Captain Bell’s military academy. In fact, before the town of Kings Mountain was founded in 1874, the small community here was called White Plains. In 1860, the White Plains Male and Female Academy was organized. Located near the current El Bethel Church, the following ad appeared in newspapers across the state.

White Plains Male and Female Academy

The next session of this school will open under the supervision of J.N. Baird, on Tuesday the 15th of January 1860 and continue for twenty weeks. Tuition varies from

$5 to $15 per session. Board will be $6 or $7 per month. Students admitted at any time and charged from time of entrance to the close, without deduction expect in the case of extended sickness.

This school is located in the Southeastern part of Cleveland County, five miles west of Crowders Mountain, in a neighborhood proverbial for health and morality. For particulars, address the Principal, White Plains , Cleveland County, N.C.

The academy operated in 1860 and 1861 and closed after the outbreak of the Civil War.

Also few people are aware that town of Kings Mountain had a college located here. In 1884, Captain Bell opened a college at the site of his military academy. Called the Kings Mountain Busi- ness College, twenty-one students enrolled. The following ad appeared in local newspapers.

Kings Mountain Business College In connection with the Kings Mountain High School, a business college under the direction of Frank P. Martz Ph. D., will open August 24th, 1884. Professor Martz is an expert in book-keeping, German, and economics. Expense of the Full Course, board, tuition, etc. in Book-keeping and all kindred branches, will not exceed $100. No uniform or drill required in the Business College. Students may enter at any time.

Enrollment for the second year, in 1885, fell to thirteen students causing the college to fold after only two years of operation.” anniversaries, and during holidays. The empty chair is all too real for them. Let us remember them, also, on this solemn anniversary.

Those who were lost from Kings Mountain include:

• Christopher Eugene Brooks, Army, KIA July 3, 1966

• Roy Benjamin Cochran, Army, KIA March 16, 1968

• Robert Larry Dellinger, Army, KIA October 27, 1968

• Charlie Melvin Ellison, Navy, KIA

February 27, 1969

• Michael Allan Graham, Army, KIA October 7, 1970

• Dudley Carroll Hughes, Jr., Navy, KIA December 23, 1967

• Sammy Ray Morrison, Army, KIA May 24, 1970

• William (Pete) Dale Small, Marines, KIA, July 15, 1969

• Gregory Wayne Thomas, Marines, KIA May 21, 1968

• Harold Hugh Welch, Army, KIA January 29, 1968