In the very late 1800's the Meridianville Community, so named because the eighty-seventh meridian runs directly through the community, decided it was time to begin a school. John M. and Maria O. Hampton gave land for this purpose. The deed signed on the 17th of September 1892 reads as follows:
This indenture made and entered into this the 16th day of September 1892 by and between John M. Hampton and his wife Mary O. Hampton, of the one part and R. M. Strong, G. N. Jones, James A. Strong, W. J. Potts, Charles H. Powell, John P. Hampton, Frank Smith, and Alexander Mitchell as Trustees of Hampton Spring Bluff Academy of other part.
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It is described as:
Beginning at the center of the Pike an [and] Meridian line on the west boundary of the SW ¼ of Sec. 19, T. 2 [S], R. 1 east and running along the south boundary of the lot owned by S. D. Warz and M. A. Bently S 89 degrees E 9 chains and 45 links to the SE corner of said lot, thence S ¼ degree W 5 chains and 30 links to a stake, thence N 89 degrees west 9 chains and 45 links to center of Pike on Meridian line thence along said Meridian line 5 chains and 30 links to the place of beginning containing five acres.
The purpose stated as, "erecting thereon a school building to be conducted as an unsectarian and undenominational school for white people". According to an unfinished manuscript started by Madison County School teachers, "it was to cost not less than $2500..." Also J. M. Hampton gave "a donation of money. Thirty-seven additional citizens gave donations to help build this school" in the form of stocks.
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"The school was built in 1898" as stated in the unfinished manuscript, The History of the Schools of Madison County and used until 1910 when it burned. The following article is taken from page 4 of the Feb. 9, 1910 issue of 'The Weekly Mercury, a newspaper of Huntsville, Alabama:
Meridianville School Burns
Hampton Spring Bluff Academy Goes Up in Smoke
Origin of Fire Unknown
Blaze Lighted Up Heavens Sunday Night
and Firemen Were Called Out.The Hampton Spring Bluff Academy at Meridianville was burned to the ground Sunday night entailing a loss from $2,500 to $3,000. The blaze started from a light used by crap shooters who secretly entered the house.
The blaze lighted the whole country from miles around as the burning structure was located on a commanding eminence. From the central part of Huntsville it looked as if the fire was in the northern part of town and an alarm was turned in to headquarters, the fire department making a run out to Patton Grove, where the mistake was discovered.
The Hampton Spring Bluff Academy was used as the public school of Meridianville district and owned by an association. Its value was almost $3,000 and the insurance carried on it amounted to about $1,500. It was erected about a dozen years ago on land donated for the purpose of the late Dr. Hampton and in this, the recognition was desoignated [sic] as the Hampton Academy. Prof. Parks was principal. It was the pride of the Meridianville district and the people of that thriving community will lose no time in taking steps looking to rebuilding."
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The community lost no time replacing the burned building. This new building was a two-story frame structure which became known as "The College" according to Grimwood Sketches. Also stated in The History of Madison County Schools "…there she [Emma Grimwood] took Latin, geometry, trigonometry, and Literature. Duanna Ellen White Grimwood, sister to Fleming Muir White also attended school there, states Bill Grimwood, her grandson, who was amazed she was able to help him with his algreba and other homework," It also states "At this time the school taught grades one through eleven and offered Latin, geometry, algebra and literature."
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This school continued in operation until around 1917 when it was turned over to the Madison County Board of Education. At this time it became known as the Meridianville High School but was actually used by grades one through twelve. In the late 1940's the building was once again replaced with a concrete block structure and used as a Junior High School. It ceased to be a school around 1981 when the property reverted back to the Hampton family heirs. It is now a ball park for the children of the Meridianville Community.
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The author and Betty Wikle Ratchford Merchant were classmates in the 1940's in the old building pictured earlier. At this time there were four classroom's for the nine grades, two up and two down, with front and rear staircases, an auditorium upstairs and a library down. Each room was heated with a potbellied stove, water was obtained at the pump-house in front, with outhouses for boys and girls behind. Students rode the bus to school and brought sack lunches.
The author further wishes to thank Betty Merchant for her kind and willing assistance in allowing the author to photograph her family photographs and paintings, etc. and generous gift of the stock certificate plus much information.