Story of Laurel Hill School

     In 1891 the first school was opened in laurel Hill, then a part of Walton County.  Under the supervision of Henry Steele the patrons built a one-room log school house east of the town site about three quarters of a mile from out of town.

     The patrons were told that the county could furnish a teacher at a low salary, but they would have to build their own building for the county was too poor to build.  The people went to the woods, cut and peeled logs and soon had a log cabin ready for the new teacher.  Plain board planks were the only desks available.

     After the building was finished, Henry Steele walked to DeFuniak Springs to secure a teacher.  The first teacher was Miss Dora White.  She taught three months for a very low salary and boarded among the patrons.

     The pupils had to walk from one half to five miles to get to school.  They played together on a very crowded playground as best they could.  The three R's were the only subjects taught and these from a short supply of books.  Perhaps one text, the "Blueback Speller."

     This log cabin was used for a school house about five years, then, because of a lack of space, the school was moved into a two-room section house.  Then a two-room school house was built with aid form the county.  Two teachers carried on the work through the grammar grades only.  Miss Adele Williamson, now Mrs. Adele Stephens, and Mr. Tom King were the teachers.

     In 1901, a three-room building was constructed on the west side of town about one mile out.  Three teachers were employed.  There was a larger play ground and more suitable desks for the purpils.  This building was used until 1917.  A new brick building was begun at this time.  It was a two-story structure with twelve classrooms, stage, and an auditorium.  A large faculty that could take care of grades one to twelve was now at work.  This building was made after the birth of Okaloosa County.  In 1915, bonds were issued to build this hosue.  A large library was started; a laboratory was equipped; music was introduced as a subject; pupils were allowed a choice of subjects they wished to take; play grounds were more spacious and well organized and supervised teachers salaries were placed on a safer basis; and terms were lengthened to eight months.  This was a great improvement and opened the road to even better educational advantages for the children of Laurel Hill.  When the building became crowded after consolidation of rural schools nearby, a new primary building was built.  This was placed in the east corner of the large campus, giving added advantages to the primary teachers for a special and separate play ground.  The building was made of wood and had two rooms. 

     Pumps were used as a water supply which was much more sanitary than the open wells previously used.  Of course, this pump method of getting water was far from satisfactory, but considered quite an improvement over the open well system of 1891.

     From 1891, a log cabin, one teacher school, Laurel Hill had made great strides in her educational progress.  By 1925, athletics were carried on in many different phases.  Boys and girls alike lived on the ball courts.  They adored playing basketball.  For many years, Laurel Hill boys and girls held the county silver loving cup for basketball victories and championship.  In 1930, Laurel Hill lost this championship to Baker, but not her love of athletics.  Today she can boast of a grand, well-trained team of boys and girls.

     By 1925 teacher training was on a much higher level than in the earlier years.  The school had been placed on the state's list of accredited schools.  A nice Home Economics Department was equipped.  The school was still on the upward climb, when, in 1931, the building with all equipment and furnishings burned.  The files or records and a few other minor things were saved from the office.  The small primary building was far enough from the large one that it did not burn.

     Now came a slump in the school spirit.  There were no desks, library, laboratory, Home Economics equipment, and worse still, no building.  The school situation was a turmoil.  Primary teachers and others crowded into the small wooden building, while the high school was housed in a garage building east of town.  The following two terms were taught in these two respective buildings, still without proper equipment, still without a library; and still not on the accredited list.

     In 1934, bonds were issued to start another brick building south of town on a beautiful site 1/2 mile from town.  There were not enough funds to complete the building and it was taken over as a W.P.A. project.  It is a one story structure with about 20 classrooms, study hall, library, office, auditorium and other room space.  The playgrounds are spacious and sectionalized for departments, an electric motor pump furnishes the water supply.  Steam heat keeps the building warm.  The beautification of the campus has added to the appearance of the school.

     Men and women who have become doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers, stenographers, railroad officials, dieticians, and many, many other things, have received their high school training in Laurel Hill High School.

      Extracted from 1949 Laurel Hill School Annual