eel History
By George B. Weaver
The Yadkin
Mineral Springs Academy
Before good schools became fashionable,
this Stanly County academy set new standards.
More than a century ago. well
before the administration of
North Carolina's "education
governor," Charles Brantley
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, there
existed a school of considerable note in
rural Stanly County.
It was led by a pioneer educator. Edgar
Freeman Eddins, a teacher and graduate of
Wake Forest College. In 1887,jusi two years
after receiving his diploma, Eddins ac¬
cepted a job as principal of Palmervillc
High School, some 10
miles east of Albemarle
near the banks of the
mighty Yadkin River. His
influence there would Ik-
felt for die next -16 years.
The school came to be
known as Yadkin Mineral
Springs Academy because
of its proximity to the
river and to two mineral
springs diat reportedly liad
health-enhancing proper¬
ties. To many people, it
was known simply as “Pro¬
fessor Eddins' School."
In an age when much of
North Carolina's popula¬
tion was illiterate and teach¬
ing certificates were often
awarded without examina¬
tions. die Yadkin academy was an anomaly.
Many of the school’s graduates went on to
college and achieved posidons of promi¬
nence in North Carolina and elsewhere.
Some 20 colleges and universities across
die Southeast enrolled its graduates.
Alter he accepted the job of principal.
Eddins purchased die institution and
began operating it as a boarding school.
Students came from throughout North
l-v-cn count.,
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Carolina, as well as from South Carolina
and Virginia. Widi travel slow and uncer¬
tain in those days, boarding students lived
at the school all year, with the exception of
summer vacations.
The school was not hu ge by today's stan¬
dards. The enrollment averaged around
1 00, and about half of those were Ixrarding
students. Hie boys lived in a dormitory, die
girls in rooms added to the Eddins
dwelling, which still stands today.
Classes were taught from primary grades
through high school and emphasized the
basics and classical languages. 'Hie curricu¬
lum included Ladn. Greek, French, Ger¬
man and English, along with art, bookkeep¬
ing and music. .-Ml students studied math.
Commencement at the academy was a
major occasion. Usually held in May. it
covered at least three days and was
attended by parents and relatives who
The State/October 1991
often came from great distances. There
were numerous recitations, declamations
and demonstrations of knowledge, along
with special programs given by students
of all ages.
Soon after he came to Palmer ville. Eddins
bought a small farm near the village.
Records indicate that it was ruiwlown and
that the land had been improperly tilled for
years. But Eddins had a vision for the prop-
erty.Judic iously, he plained fruits, vegetables
and grains. Soon, the harvests were feeding
the boarding students, as well as Eddins'
family — his wife, son and five daughters.
One story goes that while Eddins was
clearing the farm's overgrown weeds and
brush, he raised his ax to cut a small, red
oak. Suddenly, he had second thoughts and
decided to leave die little tree. I le trimmed
it neatly with his pocket knife and let it
grow. That tree — now a mighty oak — still
stands on the property.
Eddins involved himself not only in the
school, but also in county and state politics.
I le was Stanly County's first county super¬
intendent, served two terms in
the General Assembly and is cred¬
ited with introducing the first bill
to appropriate funds for state
schools. Although the bill was
defeated in that session, it passed
in the next.
Perhaps his most far-reaching
achievement occurred during the
1892-93 scIkkiI term. Eddins was
named clerk, or "executive offi¬
cer." of die County Board of Edu¬
cation. One of the liist things he
did was require that all teachers be
given written examinations prior
to lK-ing issued teaching certifi¬
cates. Prior to that, some county
commissioners and magistrates
hat! issued certificates without
examinations, as [xilitical favors.
Eddins' pay for that first year as
head of the school system was $-16. He met
widi die county commissioners four days a
week, kept his office open on Saturdays
during the school term, and examined
teachers. Issued certificates and signed
vouchers six days a week.
But his strictness with regard to teach¬
er examinations cost him the office. 1 le
sensed the opposition of county offi¬
cials and did not seek re-appointment
The Eddins family occupied the tuv-slory main section of the house
while girl hoarding students lived in the one-story addition on the left.
13
