Olympia Mill School (1901-1909) / Olympia Granby Historical Foundation

Olympia Mill School (1901-1909), also, Olympia Granby Historical Foundation. . , Listed on National Historic Registry in 2017, this house is one of approx. 300 homes in Olympia Mill Village built 1900-01 for workers at nearby Olympia Cotton Mill (founded by WB Smith Whaley.) This 6-room duplex housed the first Olympia Mill School. Organized by teacher and principal Mary "Mamie" Boozer (1874-1917) at the behest of company the school opened Oct. 1901 in leaders and county school officials. one-room of this house with about thirty poor white pupils whose families came to the mill village seeking work and a better life., Enrollment at the Olympia Mill School grew quickly, and by 1903 Three large classrooms in this frame. there were over 125 students. building were formed as the house's interior partition walls were removed By 1909, around 240 students attended Olympia to allow more space. For a time, it was the largest Mill School each day with 8 teachers. school in Richland County. In fall 1909, the school moved into a new 2-story brick building in an adjacent lot just southeast., The house was also used in 1916-1917 for additional classroom space due to overcrowding in the school next door., Reverse , Founded in 2013, the Olympia Grandy Historical Foundation's mission is to establish and maintain the Olympia Mill Village Museum to tell the story of "Life in the Mill Village in the Early 1900s.” The museum serves as a repository for photos and artifacts from the lives of people who grew up here. The Olympia School Annex tells the history of Olympia High School with trophies, yearbooks, and a collection of memorabilia., With the help of Olympia Community Education Foundation's leaders, Joby Castine and Bobby Davis, the museum property was purchased in 2014 and developed with community wide donations from OGHF Founding Members and grants. Under the guidance of Olympia Granby Historical Foundation's leaders, Johnny Henry, Emily Boone Walker, Bonnylin Henry, Jake Jaco, Sherry Hall Jace, Staci Richie, support from Council Women Dalhi Myers and Allison Terracio, grants from Richland County Conservation Commission and Community Development. the museum opened in November 2018., The Olympia Mill Village Museum belongs to this community and to and it serves as an ALL the people who contributed to its success, am dot serves as an Olympia Community Meeting Space. We are Linthead Strong!.