A memorial spot across the Pine Mountain is the "Big Log House," the first one to be built in connection with the historical school. The house was known as Miss Pettit's house. Miss Katherine Pettit was one of the first teachers there. The logs were hewn from timbers nearby. The log at the top of the door extended from one side of the house to the other.

miss Pettit invited the women of the neighborhood in to a "working". They spent many days hackling flax, spinning, carding and weaving. Pine Mountain has always been a busy little community. A place where many projects are carried on.

The little sleepy community nestled among the hills is anything but sleeping. Evidence in the picture show that many years ago the pioneers were up and about their work at "break of day." Some of the women have pails, men have tools and one of them woven baskets.

At the foot of the mountains on the "head of Greasy Creek," the long line of mountains make the school site beautiful. The natural setting is near the head of waters of three creeks and at the forks of three roads.

Plenty Of Farming Ground

The valley is wide with plenty of farming ground. It is an ideal spot for the school. The "house seats" were laid out on the little spurs.

William Creech, Sr., the founder fo Pine Mountain Settlement School, was born on Poor Fork in 1845 and his wife Sally Dixon Creech in 1846. When "Uncle Will" and "Aunt Sal" as they are best know first married they took their belongings on their backs and moved at the head of Greasy.

He bought 600 acres for $50 and 100 acres for $90. "Uncle Will" built a small log house for his family and patched the windows and doors with boards. He cleared patches of land so he could put out a crop.

All day long he worked clearing land while "Aunt Sal" stayed at home and took care of the children. She spun and wove cloth to make their clothes. Some times she was afraid of the Indians. For days and days she never saw a white person pass by her cabin.

Tanned Hides

In his spare time "Uncle Will" tanned hides to make leather for their shoes. He raised corn, rye, flax and buckwheat, and used a little hand mill to grind their corn for bread.

A few more log houses were built and a few families gradually moved into them. "Uncle Will" acted as herb doctor and bone setter for the little community when they couldn't find anyone else.

One day he heard that two women from Hindman, Ky., wanted to start a school over there across the mountain. They were Miss Katherine Pettit and Miss Ethel De Long Zande. He offered them land to build the school.

Months Of Labor

months and months of hard labor lay ahead. The task of clearing the forest and making roads was tremendous. When it was completed the "Big Log House" of Miss Pettit's was built and a few other buildings.

Picture.......MISS PETTIT'S HOUSE--The "Big Log House" across pine Mountain was the first school building to be completed there. It was known as Miss Pettit;s house. "Uncle Will" Creech, the man with the long beard, was the founder of the school; Miss Katherine Pettit beside him was one of the fore runners of the school. "Aunt Sal" Creech and wife of the founder is standing fourth from the left. Standing on the porch with his hat in hand is Jeff Cheek and Jim Hoskins near him. Joe Creech is the other man on the porch. Jim Sergent by the steps and Henry Wilder dressed in overals. Abner Casey can be seen from the upstaies window.

Sunday June 28, 1953

Volume 52 Number 149

page 1

Click Here to return to Main Harlan County Page