As the Northern Ohio Cooperage and Lumber
Company expanded, so did the need for housing and
services for its workers. Out of this came the Sawdust
Hill community. At its peak, over 60 structures,
including shotgun-style houses, a Baptist church, . . . — — Map (db m221309) HM
As northern timberlands were depleted,
timber buyers looked to the dense forests in
the south. In March 1902, S.W. Sterling, a
timber buyer for a firm in Grafton, Ohio,
was buying timber in Missouri when he
heard about the fine timber at . . . — — Map (db m221310) HM
Arkansas experienced a number of economic
advances in the first quarter of the 20th
Century. Extensive railroad building in the
late 1800s set the stage for economic growth.
Although the Delta's popular economic image
is King Cotton, . . . — — Map (db m221313) HM
Around 1900, there were about 16 one-room
schoolhouses in and around Parkin. Most
were on plantations for the education of the
sharecroppers' and farm workers' children.
The Northern Ohio School, built around 1910,
was no different. The school . . . — — Map (db m221314) HM
Rural education in the Delta was no easy task
for students or teachers. There were many
obstacles to overcome, such as weather,
walking distances, and family responsibilities.
Plus, being an African-American school,
students and teachers were . . . — — Map (db m221316) HM
Daily lessons revolved around the "three R's:"
reading, writing and arithmetic. The Child's
World Reader, a basic math book, and a
speller were the textbooks used.
Class was in session from 8AM through 3PM
except in September and . . . — — Map (db m221317) HM
The Ott family of Parkin purchased the
Northern Ohio School from the Kelly family in
1959. The Kellys had been using the school
for a hay barn. The Ott family transformed
the old "barn" into a home by portioning
rooms and designing a living . . . — — Map (db m221318) HM
Much of what is known about the Northern
Ohio School came from first-hand accounts
known as oral histories. People interviewed
were former students, teachers, children of
the sawmill owners and workers, persons who
lived in Sawdust Hill, or . . . — — Map (db m221319) HM
Step into the school gently. It's filled with history
and memories … maybe some from your school days.
As you enter the school you will see the
classroom as it was on any given school day
between 1936 and 1948. The school was . . . — — Map (db m221320) HM
