Tags
African-Americans, Appalachia, Claiborne County, Confederate Army, Davis Creek, education, Felix Zollicoffer, George Shutter, history, photos, Powell Valley Male Academy, Sam Monday, slavery, Speedwell, Speedwell Academy, Tennessee
Powell Valley Male (later Speedwell) Academy, built 1827, at Speedwell in Claiborne County, TN. During the Civil War, it served as headquarters for Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer. 30 May 2013.
George Shutter, a German immigrant who settled locally from Pennsylvania about 1800, believed strongly in education. He supplied the money and slaves necessary to build the academy. 30 May 2013.
Slaves supervised by Sam Monday made the bricks from nearby Davis Creek and erected the building. 30 May 2013.
Once the building was completed, students relocated from an earlier log building. 30 May 2013.
Students boarded with neighborhood residents or upstairs in the building. The professor lived upstairs. 30 May 2013.
The Powell Valley Male Academy operated until sometime around 1900 when it was reorganized as Speedwell Academy and served both male and female students. 30 May 2013. For more history, follow this link: http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/speedwell.html
Brandon Ray Kirk 
Brandon,
I posted some info about my family a few years ago. I found this picture of my grandpa (Charles Spencer; 1890-1972) with his aunt Josie Cline and her brother Mont Spaulding. I just wanted to share it.
Scott S. Spencer
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Hi, Spencer. I would LOVE to see that photo. If you don’t mind sharing it, send it to my email address at brankirk@yahoo.com.