NOTES – 1989

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
Notes 1989
April and November

NOTES – 1989

“Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School”
Spring Letter (April) and Fall Letter (November) 1989

GALLERY: NOTES – 1989 April

The eighties have been such a time for American education, and if the buzzwords of reform have had a familiar ring to Pine Mountain ears, it is because many of the concepts they represent have been tried and proven here over the years. – Paul Hayes

TAGS: NOTES – 1989 April, photographs, Marie Williams, Bill Blair, Betty Elliot, Cooperative Store, Rufus Combs, Ruth Shuler, Mr. Arny, swimming pool, country dance, ballad singing

[Insert] Glyn Morris biography, James S. Greene III, Progressive Education, child-centered, Harmon Foundation film, social reform, guidance, Citizenship Committee

 TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 1989 April

P. 1

PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN     HARLAN COUNTY    KENTUCKY
Telephone: (606) 558-3571 

APRIL             PAUL HAYES, DIRECTOR            1989

SPRING LETTER
1989

[Featured photograph: “Glyn Morris, Director, 1931-1942, meets with students”]

P. 2

Aprils have always been special in the life of Pine Mountain. It was in April that Aunt Sal Creech was born and died; in April that Katherine Pettit took up residence on this side of the mountain and began the work. April has been a time for Board meetings and a time for Wildflower Weekends when the woods have blossomed new and wondrous again after the winter. And April is a time for spring cleaning, for sorting through the old and anticipating the new, for discarding and rediscovering, for taking stock. The eighties have been such a time for American education, and if the buzzwords of reform have had a familiar ring to Pine Mountain ears, it is because many of the concepts they represent have been tried and proven here over the years. This April, as the eighties draw to a close, we want to rediscover one of our own whose career has been always on the cutting edge of education and whose example is at the apex of endeavors today.

My wife Ellen and I, consider ourselves the most fortunate of human beings to have been students at Pine Mountain Settlement School during the tenure of Glyn Morris as Director. A new world of excitement and opportunity was opened to us. Coming from the drab and oppressive coal camps to this unique and beautiful setting, being a part of the special curricula designed by Mr. Morris and his talented staff, was a haven. We feel the impact on our lives and the lives of others, causes us to look more closely at this beloved Glyn Morris.

James S. Greene III, Historian, Educator and a member of the Board of Trustees, has written the enclosed pages. As we read this beautiful and factual account, we ask ourselves, “Was there ever a bolder or more practical approach to educating children and grown-ups.”

We walk in the steps of Mr. Morris. His ideals guide us as we follow along, ever seeking to make the programs and activity here a reflection of what he taught us.

Your help is what keeps us going. We must have your support to carry on the mission, to provide a haven of opportunity and excitement for the youth of our age.

P. 3

Living Together

[Photograph] Citizenship Committee meets
[Photograph] Marie Williams, Bill Blair, Betty Elliot

Man And His Physical Needs

[Photograph] Meeting to organize the Co-op Store
[Photograph] The operation of the Co-op Store

Work Program

[Photograph] Boys do daily chores
[Photograph] Everyone works – 17 hours a week for board and room

Social Responsibilities

[Photograph] Glyn Morris
[Photograph] Rufus Combs, Ruth Shuler

P. 4

Campus Activities

[Photograph] Mr. Arney (sic), Counselor, with student
[Photograph] Summer Fun [Swimming Pool]
[Photograph] Country Dance in Amphitheater
[Photograph] Ballad Singing

*

CALENDAR OF EVENTS — 1989
Pine Mountain Settlement School

WILDFLOWER WEEKEND
April 21-23

ELDERHOSTEL
June 18-24

ELDERHOSTEL
July 30 – August 5

ELDERHOSTEL
September 17-23

ELDERHOSTEL
June 4-10

APPALACHIAN FAMILY WEEK
July 9-15

HOMECOMING
August 13

ELDERHOSTEL
November 5-11

NATIVITY PLAY
December 17

GALLERY: NOTES – 1989 November

It saddens all of us here at Pine Mountain that termites, use and aging over the years, [have] caused this beautiful building [Big Log House] to fall prey to deterioration.

TAGS: NOTES – 1989 November, Big Log, photographs, history, early days, Evening Corner, fireplace, carding, Mary Rockwell Hook, Katherine Pettit, Wild Flower Garden, termites, deterioration

TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 1989 November

P. 1

PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN     HARLAN COUNTY    KENTUCKY
Telephone: (606) 558-3571 

November             PAUL HAYES, DIRECTOR            1989

Fall Letter

[Photograph] Early picture of Big Log House built in 1914
Home of Katherine Pettit and 25 children

P. 2

Fall, 1989

Dear Friend of Pine Mountain,

Do You have a favorite building at Pine Mountain? People who come here always speak of the unusual beauty of the buildings and each person has a favorite.

Big Log has been a favorite from the very beginning. It was designed by Mary Rockwell Hook, who left us a beautiful legacy and a special kind of immortality, a living memorial to a great and gifted woman. She considered it poor economy to build cheap; only the best and native materials were used inside and outside.

Big Log was the first building, completed in 1914. It was called “Big Log House” because of the huge hewn logs contributed by people of the neighborhood. It was the home of Miss Katherine Pettit, founder of Pine Mountain Settlement School, and some of the children.

Miss Pettit, a native Kentuckian, was a woman of action. She strongly believed in learning by doing. In seeking funds to build Big Log, she related the difficulties to surmount. “Hundreds of logs donated were living trees on the ridgesides, which must be measured, marked, cut, hewn, squared by hand, snaked down the slopes by ox team and then floated or hauled to the school grounds. Stone for the foundation and chimneys must be quarried from the cliffs. Shingles for the roof must be hand-riven with fro and mallet. Window frames and glass, nails, lime for the mortar chinking had to be hauled, a three day journey from the railroad, across five ridges, along a dozen rocky creek and branch beds. Furniture must be made in the school shop.” This entire operation was mainly supervised by Miss Pettit.

And there Big Log stands today, the elegant great logs extending its length, surrounded by flowers, many of which were part of Miss Pettit’s “Wild Flower Garden”.

It saddens all of us here at Pine Mountain that termites, use and aging over the years, has caused this beautiful building to fall prey to deterioration.

We need Big Log for many phases of the work going on here. We know we can bring it back to its original gracefulness and dignity with funds donated by faithful and loyal contributors.

We need your help as we undertake this very special labor of love and rejuvenation.

In the spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed]
Paul Hayes, Director
Pine Mountain Settlement School

P. 3

[Photograph] Early days on Big Log porch
Children churning to make butter, knitting, carding wool and a young man with a rifle

[Photograph] Miss Pettit’s “Evening Corner”

P. 4

[Photograph] Fire Place at Big Log
Scene of chestnut roasting, singing and story telling and enjoying being together

[Photograph] Carding at Big Log
*

CALENDAR OF OPEN EVENTS

Nativity Play    December 17, 1989
Elderhostel     March 18-24, 1989
Wildflower Weekend     April 20-22, 1990
Black Mountain Wildflower Weekend, trip to Bad Branch    May 11-13, 1990
Elderhostel    June 10-16, 1990
Elderhostel     July 29-August 4, 1990
Homecoming    August 10-12,1990
Elderhostel    September 23-30, 1990
Fall Color Weekend    October 19-21,1990
Elderhostel    November 4-10, 1990

Previous:
NOTES – 1988
Next:
NOTES – 1990

See Also:
Built Environment GUIDE
HISTORY PMSS Summary 1988-1989

Return To:
NOTES Index