By William “Skip” Deegans
This week’s photograph was most likely taken in Lewisburg’s Bolling High School library in the early 1940s. The young man on the far right appears to have a letter sweater with a “B” on it. Recently, the Greenbrier Historic Society was gifted a large collection of photographs that are believed to have been made in the early 1940s by J. M. Carroll, a professional photographer. None of the photographs are labeled, and very little is known about the photographer.
The Bolling School was the only high school for Greenbrier County African Americans until the county schools were integrated in 1963. Originally known as the Lewisburg Colored School, in 1907 the County Superintendent of Schools, Mr. C. L. Tabscott, said he had visited one hundred and fifty schools and found the school to be one of the best in the county. He said “he was not surprised as they had one of the best qualified teachers to be found.” In 1933, the school was renamed Bolling Junior High and Elementary School for Edward A. Bolling, Greenbrier County native and the school’s principal. The school was again renamed in 1935 as Bolling High School and was one of only four high schools in West Virginia for African Americans. The school burned in 1936, was rebuilt, and is now the Greenbrier Community School.
Photography courtesy of the Greenbrier Historical Society.
Sources: Greenbrier Independent, Mountain Messenger, Clio.
