A Five-Dollar Dream for the Schoolhouse

“We will give $5.00 for it will you take it.”

Well hello there, neighbor! Step on into the archives for a moment; I have got something truly special to show you. It is a letter from way back in January of 1886, sent by a fellow named William F. Lowry to his neighbor, Laban Gwinn. Holding it today, you can feel the weight of history in its yellowed, lined paper. It is in good shape for its age, though you can see the soft creases where it was tucked away, and that black ink script is still as clear as a mountain stream.

In this short note, Mr. Lowry—who was serving as the President of the School Board—was looking to secure an acre of land near the Divide to build a brand new schoolhouse. He offered Mr. Gwinn five dollars for the spot, but he did not mince words. He made it plain as day that if the offer was not accepted, the Board was ready to head to the circuit court to have the land condemned. It is a little startling to see such a stern hand in a simple request for a school site, isn’t it?

This letter is more than just a business deal; it is a window into how our community was built. It shows the grit and the sometimes-sharp elbows it took to make sure the next generation had a place to learn. When we look at our schools today, we can think back to this five-dollar acre and the determined folks who made sure that, one way or another, the children of Fayette County would have a roof over their heads and a desk to sit at. It reminds us that our shared history is built on these small, stubborn acts of progress.

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