The Toluca (N. C.) School by D. T. Shireman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 16, 1908

The Toluca (N. C.) School

By D. T. Shireman

This school was brought into existence some five years ago, when several of the leading citizens of this place earnestly requested the writer to come and start a school in their neighborhood. While visiting the place a meeting was called, and it was then decided to put up a building, the neighbors present donating lumber, labor, and some money. A lease of land was secured for a term of twenty-one years, paid up for the whole time, with the understanding that the land could be bought at a reasonable price. A good number of the citizens cut logs and hauled them to the mill, and inside of four days a building twenty by twenty-four by sixty-six feet, of seven rooms was being raised for a schoolhouse and a teachers’ home. Since then we have erected another building containing sixteen rooms as a home for students and a few orphan children. These buildings are nicely located in sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains, away from the din and the influence of town or city. There is no debt on the buildings or furnishings. We have fourteen acres of land to farm, a good barn, and two houses. In a short time we shall have two cows, a wagon, a buggy, and a few farm implements, with a very small capital in the bank to draw from. We have received some means from friends who are interested in our work, and to these we feel deeply grateful. We pray the Lord to reward them for their kindness.

We have sold our own home and are using the means to support students and workers, and while our means last, we shall continue the work, but we do not expect to go in debt. One lady has promised to pay the expenses of one of our boys who is lame. I trust she will never regret her generosity.

This work is quite an undertaking for a man seventy-four years of age, but as we look over the past eleven years spent in this kind of work, and see some of our students doing work in the harvest-field, sowing seeds of truth, we feel well paid for our effort. We feel thankful for the good work the following persons have done, teaching both at Hildebran and at Toluca schools: Wm. Johnston, Miss Naomi Worthen, Miss Anna Nicholan, Mrs. C. D. Wolf, Mr. Henry, Miss Minnie Holms, and Mr. Harry Smallwood. Eternity will show the faithful work done. Several hundred children have passed through these schools during the past eleven years. The writer has often wished that he could have had one year in such a school as this during the days of his wandering, when a homeless child. If any one who reads these lines desires to assist this work, such help will be appreciated.

D. T. SHIREMAN.