yesterday's tennessee

From The Porch

by Jeanne Crews Taylor

contributed by David Austin

As the Civil War ended and conditions began to settle, communities could once again concentrate on educating their youth. Better schools were established as a resurgence of educational enthusiasm prevailed. Once again there were sounds of learning and laughter - - children at school!

Scotts Hill was no exception. By 1895, such interest and educational growth had occurred that residents of the Scotts Hill area, under the leadership of Bernard A. Tucker, met the challenge to erect a larger school that included a college department. Total cost of the facility was one thousand dollars. Tuition would be paid by each student in order to hire better teachers and provide maintenance. Mr. Tucker, as director, would receive $45 per month as salary.

Ben Tucker, as he was known by friends and family, was born in 1861 in the Concord community of Decatur County. His parents were Jane Haney and John Washington Tucker. John's parents, George Washington Tucker and Millie Davis Tucker had moved here from North Carolina.

When the Civil War began, young John enlisted to fight with the Confederacy. This left Martha Jane and little Ben at home where Martha taught him to read by using the bible, the only book they owned at the time. By the time Ben's dad returned, Ben was old enough for school, which for him was the Haney School in Decatur County. It was said that his dad plowed a furrow as a path to the school make sure he found the way.

Later, Ben's brothers and sisters included: John, Nelus (who became postmaster of Scotts Hill before 1919), Fe(s)tus (who moved to Texas), Emily Tucker Keeton (they ran Keeton Store), Ann Rains (who lived near Dunbar), Jenny Maness (married Bill - father of Jake and Erwin), Katherine (who married a Welch, he later died and she married Mel Brock), and Estalee (married Bascum Stevens of Dunbar. They later moved to Texas).

As young Ben matured his academic talents became obvious. He excelled in all subjects, yet math became his passion. His great interest in math often led him to challenge others to present math problems for him to solve. It seems he always lived up to the task!

From the Haney School, Ben enrolled at Southern Normal in Huntingdon. About this same time, he married and in time five children were born. These were Ben Jr., Lois Tucker Raines, Jessie Tucker Tuten, Lena Tucker, Strom, Liza, whose husband's name is unknown.

The old Scotts Hill College was located on what is now Majors Street. The school as a stately white frame structure with a cupola on top. Two large rooms made up the second floor. This area could also be divided into classrooms. The stage usually use for special events such as plays, musicals, contests, and holiday programs could be divided into classroom space, as well. Tuition ranged from one dollar to two-fifty per month. Though the school was K-college, degrees offered were B.S., BA and L.I. The school sent notifications to both Nashville and Memphis papers as the opening dates, curriculum changes, and special events. Students came from far and near to attend as word spread of the school's high academic standards. Students who boarded were taken into homes for an average cost of four or five dollars per month. Some of these boarded at the Scotts Hill Hotel which burned in the great Scotts Hill fire of 1918. Dr. James Graham of Abilene, Texas recalled how his dad, John C. Graham came to Scotts Hill to attend the Tucker College (as it was sometimes called) and met his wife, Myrna Turner. They were married and remained in Scotts Hill for many years.

At one time, the enrollment reached two hundred, which included some oof the best students of the time. Male students were often referred to as "scholars" and co-eds, though pretty and fashionable were expected to live up to high standards of morals and manners.

Activities at the college included a fan dance group (much like a drill team, today), and a dramatic club. Debating was also popular in those days and singing groups.

A "dinner bell" rang as the signal to begin classes Heat came from a wood-burning stove, and water for students came from a spring.

Some students at the college included: L. L. Brigance, who later taught at Freed-Hardeman; Gordon Turner, John Allen Deere, Ellis Maness, Una Bobbitt, Ida Butler, and Cora Fanning.

Some early teachers were Jim C. Duck, Mintie Turner, Minnie Woodard, Perry Patterson, Myra Turner, E. D. Deere, and Festus Tucker.

B. A. Tucker is buried in Concord Cemetery. His mother's parents were David Haney and Sarah White. Rueben White was Sarah's father. He was one of the first settlers in the Dunbar community and donated the land for the cemetery.

B. A. Tucker's parents are buried near the old Keeton Store. His grandparents on his mother's side were also buried there.

Mrs. Pauline Wright now 90 years of age, and niece of Ben Tucker gave an interesting account of the Tuckers. She is the daughter of John Nelus Tucker, a brother to Ben.

Because she was only one year old when he died, she doesn't remember her Uncle Ben. Her family lived at the present Tom and Margaret Dyer place in Scotts Hill. She remembers it as having a wide yard with many daffodils that came up in the spring.

She attended Scotts Hill School but by the time she was of school age the old college had closed. After she finished the eighth grade, her family moved to Lexington where she attended high school. Later, she attended Memphis Normal (Memphis University) for one year. She then returned to Scotts Hill to teach. She recalls that the two room school in which she taught was so overcrowded that the students had a hard time passing from one part of the building to another. She lived with the Tuckers while she taught at other times visited them often. She and Lois of the Tucker children were especially close. The Tucker home, as she remembers it, was comfortable, and Mrs. Tucker was a good cook. Mrs. Wright says she especially liked Mrs. Tucker's good skillet biscuits that she baked in a special "oven-like" skillet on the hearth.

Mrs. Wright says she visited the old college after her uncle died. She went to school with her two half-brothers, W. B. White and Walter White (the later being no relation to the first she says). While at the school she remembers sitting on the old stage. She says that toward the back on the first floor, there was a water bucket stand. Two rather deep-seated round bottomed chairs sat beside it. As a prank her half brothers sometimes put some water in the seats of the chairs hoping that some unaware person would come along and sit in them!

There was a spring at the bottom of the hill, she says, and one day she went running down the hill so fast she couldn't stop; she fell head-first into the spring. (No doubt this was the spring that fed the old mill pond that older School Hill residents remember so well as being a very popular spot). Baptisms, swimming, and romantic strolls often took place at the old pond. It also furnished power for the town's first cotton gin.

Mrs. Wright married Terry Wright, an attorney in Lexington who served as General Sessions Judge. Mr. Wright is deceased, but she is fortunate to have her niece, Mrs. Ida Jane Bonner Newman, who attends to her needs. Mrs. Newman teaches Adult Basic Education in Lexington. Her father was John Nelus Tucker.

The B. A. Tucker home still stands in Scotts Hill. A spacious house, it is quite Victorian in style. Like most old houses, it sounds of laughter and living have been silenced; it is in need of much repair. At one time however, it sheltered a family who avidly pursued educational and cultural achievement. Because of it significance some have suggested how nice it would be if interested patrons would purchase this old home and convert it into a city library and museum!

Today a monument erected in honor of Ben A. Tucker, stands near the entrance of Scotts Hill School. The community appreciates this great man's hard work, dedication, and abilities. May this monument stand as a beacon of excellence and remind us that, through times change, his positive attributes are still the key to success.