KNOXVILLE SON RECEIVES OVATION AS HORACE MAYNARD SCHOOL IS DEDICATED

Maynardville, Tennessee December 17, 1923

The Horace Maynard school was dedicated Sunday morning by Dr. James M. Melear, of Athens. In an impressive ceremony with the faculty, county superintendent, county judge, and members of the school board, and many visitors present.

Following the dedication ceremony Dr. Melear preached effectively from the text: •Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man." Mr. Melear's discourse was eloquent and impressive.

When the audience assembled in the afternoon Prof. W. F. Weir, the principal, made a brief statement, reviewing the history of the school. He told of its organization, official designation as Horace Maynard school by the board, and the presentation of the portrait ot Horace Maynard by Chairman Paris Walker, of the county court, to be hung in the auditorium, which was done at the beginning of the school with appropriate ceremonies. This portrait was painted by Lloyd Branson (See the Lloyd Branson Article) and presented to Union County by James Maynard on October 4, 1909, since which time it has been in the office of the county judge. Prof. Weir then introduced James Maynard of Knoxville, son of Horace Maynard, the distinguished Tennessean.

Mr. Maynard arose amid the cheering of the audience and talked for about forty-five minutes. He reviewed the life history of Horace Maynard from his early boyhood. He recounted many incidents of his early life. Among the interesting incidents related was the placing of the "V" over his door when he entered Amhurst College in 1834. He presented a framed picture and clippings from a magazine published some years ago. The picture shows young Maynard in the act of nailing the "V" over the door, the clipping giving an account of the incident and reciting the success of his four-year effort to be the valedictorian of his class.

This picture and clipping will be hung beneath his portrait in the auditorium.

He told of his father's coming from Westbury, Massachusetts in 1838, traveling a large part of the distance on foot to take a position as a member of the faculty of the East Tennessee college, which is now The University of Tennessee. He threw many interesting side-lights upon the life and career of Horace Maynard, speaking in modest terms of the carious phases of his political career after he had so distinguished himself as to become a national figure. He touched briefly upon the Civil War period of his career and passed to the five-year period during which he was minister to Turkey. He spoke interestingly of his service to his country while acting in that capacity, especially of one period at which was threatened between France and Russia, which would have precipitated a world war, but was averted by diplomacy.

He read from an address delivered by Rev. James Park on University Day,TM April 20, 1903, before the trustees, faculty, alumni, students, and friends of The University of Tennessee.

Mr. Maynard was a Christian--a Christian ex amino. He was a sound orthodox believer in the one living and true God; in the divine authenticity of the sacred scriptures as the revelation of God; in Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and man; in Christ crucified as the all-suffering ascrifice for sins, and in justification through faith in His blood. He believed in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the final judgment--in which grand assze "every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

His name is written upon the scroll of Tennessee's most worthy and illustrious sons, and his example may well serve to stimulate the energies and encourage the aspirations of every young man who is laboring under the disadvantages of poverty, or lacking the favorable opportunities of the more fortunate in entering upon the duties of life.

In concluding his remarks, Mr. Maynard expressed his gratitude for the manner in which Union County always has revered the memory of his father. He then exhibited a large family Bible measuring twelve inches by four inches, edited by Rev. John Brown, D.D., and published by Johnson, Fry & Co., 27 Beekman Street, New York.

The fly leaf bears the following inscription:

Mr. and Mrs. Horace Maynard, from their friend George Simmons, Christmas, 1870. William Parsons Washburn and wife, from his very affectionate aunt, Mrs. Horace Maynard, Washburn, Christmas, 1883. The Bible was presented to the school by James Maynard as a gift from his nephew, Ed Maynard, of Knoxville.

He next produced a large engraving of Abraham Lincoln and read the following letter:

The Abraham Lincoln Patriotic and Educational League, Knoxville, Tennessee, December 15, 1923.

"Dear Mr. Maynard: The Lincoln engraving you carry to Maynardville, is, no doubt, the last one of the kind to be had. This league at my expense, has placed a number of these in public schools in this state and other states. This engraving is for the Maynardville school named in honor of your father, and it gives me pleasure to know you can present it to the school." Yours, C. W. LESTER.

In his own behalf he left with Professor W.F. Weir a set of books consisting of five small volumes entitled "The Art of Writing and Speaking the English Language, by Sherwin Cody. These books are to be kept till the close of ttie spring term of school and then presented to the pupil making the highest grade in English. Mr. Maynard expects to be present at that time, when he will autograph and present these volumes to the successful contestant for this prize. Mr. Maynard was accompained to Maynardville by Mrs. Maynard and Miss Maynard, their niece, daugher of Ed Maynard.

The memory of Horace Maynard, more than that of any other public man, always has held a high place in the affections of the residents of Union County. The weight of his influence and the strength of his ability as a lawyer won for Union County the contested right to administer her own affairs. It was due to his broad sense of justice and fair play that Horace Maynard gave his services to the resident of this county. As a congressman he added fresh laurels to his career, his friends recall with pride.

WGT NOTE: The above article appeared in the Knoxville Journal on December 17, 1923. Horace Maynard High School was constructed on land purchased from T. H. and Ollie Kitts for $600 on January 18, 1922. When completed, the building boasted eight classrooms, four industrial rooms, and an auditorium seating 500 people. The dedication ceremony was held in the school auditorium on December 17, 1923. The school faculty 1923-25 consisted of Mavis McCloud, Bill Browning, Hazel Stooksbury, and W. F. Weir as Principal. The first graduation class of 1924 included Robert Johnson, Lester Petree, Jim Wolfe, Credla Snodderly, and Irene Butcher. The 1925 graduating class included Bonnie Palmer, Fonzie Donahue, Sallie Palmer, Harmon Monroe, Mattie Palmer, and Kate Stooksbury.

For more information on this article or any article or publication of the Union County Historical Society please write them at:

Union County Historical Society
P.O. Box 95
Maynardville, TN 37807

Or
E-mail the Union County Historical Society.

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