Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
NOTES 2019
Winter

GALLERY: NOTES – 2019 Winter

It is our hope with this addition of the notes, to highlight some of the remarkable women who have sacrificed so much in order to establish and steward this most special place. –Preston Jones

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TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 2019 Winter

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NOTES FROM THE
 PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN * HARLAN COUNTY * KENTUCKY
Winter           Preston Jones, Director               2019

As I write to you, a thick blanket of freshly fallen snow cover the ground. And from my window I can see Pine Mountain’s ridgeline boldly highlighted in white, revealing every detail of its rugged form. Undeterred by winter weather, our committed staff and community volunteers have been busy preparing for the annual Nativity Play which was recently presented in the School’s Chapel. Just as you would expect, the play was wonderful and this year’s attendance was so great that a third showing was necessary to ensure all of our more than 500 visitors were given an opportunity to see the one of a kind performance.

This season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ and reflect on the selfless love He embodies, let us also consider how we can put others before ourselves and strive for the betterment of those around us. The mission of Pine Mountain Settlement School has long been focused on lifting up and providing opportunity to those in need—a work which began more than a century ago, continues still today. Indeed, let us not forget those who have served others through this incredible institution, these many years. For it was by their sincere desire to create a brighter future for the children of the Kentucky mountains and the action which emanated from that selfless vision, that our beloved Settlement School came to be and it is by this love that the School continues to thrive.

It is our hope with this addition of the notes, to highlight some of the remarkable women who have sacrificed so much in order to establish and steward this most special place. Continued on pg. 2 >

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We are forever indebted to the sacrifices of women like Sally Creech, Katherine Pettit, and Ethel de Long Zande who left all things familiar and comfortable to carve out new beginnings in the wilds of Kentucky, all with a hope that others would benefit from their work for generations to come. The contributions of women like Mary Rockwell Hook who designed our amazing campus and buildings, the literal foundation for Pine Mountain’s outreach. And Mary Rogers who served the School in so many ways for more than fifty years, helping to forge numerous core programs still operating today. Not only does the School have a long history of service to the region but this practice of selfless service to others carries on with the work of women like Joyce Scearse and Judy Lewis who have served the School faithfully for the past three decades. With Joyce ensuring that thousands of students who visit our campus annually are fed nutritious and healthy meals and that our facilities are always clean and ready for use. And with Judy who ensures that our various community programs reach as many of our neighbors as possible and that cherished community traditions such as the Nativity Play are preserved.

It would be impossible within the constraints of a single addition of the Notes to honor all who in their work for Pine Mountain, have devoted themselves to service or to describe the full extent of dedication that even one of these individuals have exemplified. My simple wish in writing to you is that we all can find a way to honor those who in selfless love, have sacrificed for us. And with our own contributions, let us do what we can to ensure a brighter future for the Kentucky mountains, the entire Commonwealth, and beyond.

Yours in the Spirit of Pine Mountain,
Preston Jones

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Sally Creech (Aunt Sal Creech)

Born 1846, Died 1925
Donor & Founder (with husband, William Creech Sr.)

In 1868 Sally and William packed their meager household and three babies on horses and moved to the 700 acres of “wild land” at the head of Greasy Creek. During the first year of hard work clearing land, raising a crop, and building a log home, they also added another baby to their growing family. Surrounded by thick forest Sally worked side by side with her husband at the many daily tasks involved in maintaining the new homestead.

Believing strongly in the advantages of education for their people, Aunt Sal and Uncle William donated land to Katherine Pettit and Ethel de Long for the building of Pine Mountain Settlement School, signing the deed in 1913.

[Illustration: “Sally Creech” at her spinning wheel.]

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Ethel de Long Zande

Born 1879, Died 1928
Co-Founder & Co-Director—1913-1928

Katherine Pettit

Born 1868, Died 1936
Co-Founder & Co-Director—1913-1930

In 1911, Miss Pettit a native of Lexington, Kentucky was introduced to local mountaineers, “Uncle William and Aunt Sal” Creech, who wished to donate land in a remote area of Harlan County for a new school that would address the area’s lack of educational opportunities and moral guidance. With this incentive, Miss Pettit, along with Miss Ethel de Long, a New Jersey native who had worked with Pettit as a principal at the Hindman school for two years, began a new project.

Miss Pettit’s strength, energy, and farm experiences as a child served her well in supervising the work at Pine Mountain. As she directed the clearing of land, planting of crops, the physical construction of buildings and landscape, she also saw to it that the natural beauty of the land was disturbed as little as possible.

[Illustration: “Ethel de Long Zande.”]

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Both women encouraged the Appalachian people to be proud of their heritage and to work to preserve their arts, folk songs, and customs. Miss Pettit learned about raising sheep, spinning wool, weaving traditional patterns, and using natural vegetable dyes from families who practiced the traditions.

It wasn’t easy for Pettit and de Long, two women who grew up in more prosperous circumstances, to make the second start at Pine Mountain and to start a school in an even more remote location than Hindman. The record of their early struggles are, however, filled with the details of life in the remote location, but liberally punctuated by the exuberance, excitement and success of their efforts.

One of the most creative and beloved of Miss de Long’s efforts was the Nativity Play, which she and her students wrote around 1915. It became an annual community tradition and has been presented by the School every December since its introduction.

[Illustration: “Katherine Pettit.”]

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Mary Rockwell Hook

Born 1877, Died 1978
School Architect and Consultant 1913-1968
Member, PMSS Board of Trustees

While working as an architect in Kansas City, Missouri, Mary Rockwell was recruited by Ethel de Long and Katherine Pettit in 1913 to design the campus and buildings for the new Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, Kentucky. Over one hundred years later, her buildings continue to be appreciated for their attention to place and their harmonious blending with their natural surroundings, an innovative approach for an architect of her era. Her site plan and buildings are now part of the National Register of Historic Places and have a solid place in the history of American woman architects. She was one of the first—in many areas.

[Illustration: Mary Rockwell Hook, building plans, Big Log]

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Mary Rogers

Born 1914, Died 1993
Housemother 1942-1945
Teacher, Artist, Naturalist, Volunteer Librarian,
EE Supervisor, Community Outreach 1947-1993

In 1942 after having taught in India and China for several years, Mary Rogers along with her husband Burton were in search of “a rural setting that offered education beyond standard academics.” They indeed found the ideal workplace at Pine Mountain Settlement School and, in June 1942, came to Pine Mountain, Burton as a counselor and teacher, and Mary as a housemother at Far House.

Over the course of five decades, Mary served the School and community in so many capacities. Her love for nature and artistic ability was well known and Mary was instrumental in establishing one of the first outdoor Environmental Education programs in the state of Kentucky. The program I which is still in operation profoundly affects thousands of students each year.

Having just presented the Nativity Play this December, we can’t help but think of Mary’s commitment to the task of continuing the annual presentation and all the work she did to ensure that our environment and traditions were preserved for future generations to enjoy.

[Illustration: “Mary Rogers”]

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Highlights from 2019

Thanks to your help, we have…

Completed our most significant infrastructure project in more than three-quarters of a century, providing remodeled bathrooms and an entirely new plumbing system for the West Wind Dormitory along with a new HVAC system for the Draper Classroom Building [Photograph: Draper Building]

Developed new courses on sustainable food production, traditional Appalachian folk skills, and wild edibles for our acclaimed Environmental Education program, serving over 3,000 students annually [Photograph: Mushroom]

Expanded our summer Reading and Day Camps, giving local children access to excellent summer enrichment programs that build academic and social skills [Photograph: children with garden produce and sheep]

Continued serving more than 40 families through our Community Agriculture program, which over the past 10 years has helped hundreds of people grow, market, and eat more than 500,000 pounds of healthy organic produce [Photograph: Two students working with a beehive]

Pine Mountain also served as a technical assistance provider for the USDA, facilitating access to more than $400,000 in free high-tunnels for market growers and small-scale farmers throughout our service area. [Photograph: Rows of cabbages in a high-tunnel]

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Judy, our community coordinator, sits with local cast members after a recent Nativity Play practice. She has directed the play for many years now, ensuring that this wonderful tradition continues. Judy works year round to make sure that all of our various community events, social activities, and educational programs are reaching as many of our neighbors as possible. [Illustration: “Judy Lewis” with cast members]

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Joyce and the kitchen staff prepare to serve a hearty home-cooked meal to students. In fact they serve thousands of fresh and nutritious meals to our guests each year. The ladies always strive to include the best ingredients available, many of which come directly from our farm or are purchased from local farmers. A majority of their recipes have been passed down through the years and include the famous Pine Mountain bread and yeast rolls. Joyce and her team work tirelessly to ensure that all of our visitors get a taste of genuine Appalachian hospitality and tradition. [Illustration: “Joyce Scearse” and kitchen staff]

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Happy Holidays
[Photograph: Fireplace and Christmas tree in a PMSS interior]

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 See Also:
BIOGRAPHY – A-Z
HOLIDAY GREETINGS From PMSS Archives 2019

Return To:
NOTES Index