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Farming For A Better Future, page 268
2.
DETAILS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PLACES OF INTEREST
11
Alabama Fork School*
The Alabama Fork School was located at the intersection of present-day Cross Key and Elkmont roads. It was founded in 1915 by members of the community including George, Sam, and Joe Barbee,
(Below) Fig 1. 1935 USGS/TVA Topographic Map, Athens, Alabama Quadrangle
* Indicates a Historical - Non-Extant Resource
Joe Nance, Dick Sloss, John Swopes, and George Woodruff. According to a history written by the school system in 1947, the school and a church were built on land given by Maggie Barbee specifically for this purpose.
In 1918, the school building was destroyed by a storm. The salvaged materials were made into a church, while the school was moved to Piney
Chapel (later called Sampson's Chapel) to the northwest. By 1933 the school was reestablished in its original location. In
1947, Alabama Fork School was in a new building and Mrs. Cede Re Wichard was the teacher.
The community members who originally organized the school were all landowning farmers of color. Maggie Barbee was 24 years old in 1915 when she gave land for the school. She was living with her father, Robert, who was the lawful owner of the land. Robert L. Barbee (1843-1928) was born a slave in Lawrence
County, Alabama. At 21 years old he enlisted with
the Union Army and served as a musician for the KEY 40th USCT Company A.
| COMMUNITIES
| CEMETERIES
| CHURCHES
| PLANTATIONS
| SCHOOLS
(Above) Excerpts From the 1910 Federal Census Showing the Households of Robert, Martha, Maggie, Joe, Sam, and George Barbee (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) - (4796)