Mountain Schoolhouse Reminds Of Vanished Community
Clem’s Branch School | Grayson County, Virginia | c. 1870-1941
This idyllic little red schoolhouse in a Virginia pasture is one of the only sites left to mark the community of Clem’s Branch, also called Central, that used to be here. A place where mills, stores, and farms were once plentiful, but now are long gone. But thanks to the effort of one local family, this piece of history has been preserved to help us remember. The earliest land grant I’ve found for this area is from 1783 for a 2,150-acre parcel on Clem’s Branch of Fox Creek. It isn’t clear where the name Clem’s Branch originated, but a school was built here about a century later that took this name.
Clem’s Branch School is Built
Clem’s Branch School was built in 1870 and also served as the post office (sometimes spelled Kilm’s Branch). I found a few stories where former students shared their memories of attending school here. Many of them mentioned the “water fountain” which was actually a water barrel. Each student had their own metal cup which hung from the rim of the barrel.
The school consists of one large room, with two smaller rooms that were likely used as a coast room and auxiliary teaching space. Inside the large classroom, there is an elevated platform where the teacher would stand, but could also stand in as a stage for school performances. The old blackboard still hangs on the wall and if you look closely, you can see the place in the floor where the pot belly stove was and the old holes from the screws that held the student desks in place. The old school bell still hangs above the entryway.
Life at Clem’s Branch Community
A snapshot of what this community looked like in 1880 can be made from old census records. According to these records, L.F. Russell was the postmaster of Clem’s Branch, M. Dildee was a millwright here, and G.F. Parks ran a community corn and flour mill here. That same year, records show that the community had 3 merchants: J. Grubb, A.C. Hash, and J.T. Rusell. Andrew Sells was a wagon builder her and James Collins made saddles and harnesses. Most other male residents reported that they were farmers. Their names were: W.W. Roberts, M.M. Nelson, F.B. Parks, W.H. Herrington, J.R. Shular, J.M. Ross, Nelson Anderson, W.W. Parks, H.S. Long, E.C. Long, J.N. Ross, W.C. Parks, D.F. Roberts, Long Hackler, Peter Younce, B.P. Long, W.J. Cornett, James Lindsay, and Eli Long.
A Church is Built at Clem’s Branch
By the early 1900s, the community of Clem’s Branch had grown enough that they needed their own church because the ride to the closest churches, at Flatridge or Livesay Hall, became too burdensome. So it was decided that a church would be built between the two existing churches and it took the name, Central Church- built between 1905 and 1907. The community it served became known as Central, too.
The Central Community Cemetery
One of the earliest families to settle here was the Cornetts who established a family cemetery nearby in 1844. In later years, this cemetery was expanded and came to be known as the Central Community Cemetery after burial sites were offered to other families. Today, The Central Community Cemetery and Clem’s Branch School are the most visible reminders of the community of Clem’s Branch, also called Central, that used to be here. If you are looking for information on the Central Community Cemetery/Old Cornett Family Cemetery, you can learn more here.
Clem’s Branch School is Closed
School was taught continuously at Clem’s Branch until 1941 when schools were consolidated and students were bussed into larger, more modern schools nearby. Since then, the former school has served as a hardware store and workshop for the former owner, Levin Smith. In recent years, the schoolhouse and nearby historic Cornett home were completely restored by new owners, the Meecum Family who are proud to maintain this piece of Virginia history.
If you are able to visit this special place, please be respectful. The property is monitored and well cared for.
