Graniteville is known as the South’s first cotton mill village. Development of this community began in 1846 after industrial visionary William Gregg purchased nearly 8,000 acres of land here for his Graniteville Manufacturing Company and began the construction of an entire town. His plan included a canal, the factory, churches, housing for employees, accessible stores, and a school.
The first school built for his employees’ children was called Graniteville Academy and was completed in 1847. Gregg, who saw himself not only as a champion of industry but also an overseer of morality, stipulated that his factory workers send their children to this free school or face a hefty fine. School was held in a Gothic Revival-style building that complemented the other structures in the new village, including the mill houses and St. John Methodist Church.
By the early twentieth century, the success of the mill dictated that a newer, larger school be built to accommodate the increasing student body. Leavelle McCampbell School, a two-story brick building named for a Graniteville Mill board member and eventual president, was built in 1922. The school served elementary-aged students from Graniteville as well as from the surrounding communities of Vaucluse and Warrenville until it became Graniteville High School in 1954.
The mill sold the school property to Aiken County in 1960. The school remained a high school until 1980 and then became Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, as it is today. However, the school is slated to relocate into a new building by then end of the 2016-2017 school year. The fate of this historic building following the move is yet undetermined.
My mother, Christine Eubanks Johnson, grew up in Graniteville. She was born in 1931, and I was trying to figure out where she went to elementary school. My grandparents eventually moved to Aiken and she went to Aiken High School. She won the May Queen contest her last year there I believe. If someone could help me with my request I would sincerely appreciate it. I am her youngest daughter, Julie Anne Johnson. You may call me or text at 843-513-0386 or email me at johnsonjulieanne6@gmail.com. If there is anyone who knew my mother, I would love to talk with you. Thank you. Julie A. Johnson
Great Page! Love Graniteville, SC & all of its history! Thank you, Sharon Grealish Reynolds, GHS 80!
I attended middle school at Leavelle McCampbell, my son now attends the new school. He started sixth and seventh and now has transitioned to the new school. I have so many fond memories of Leavelle McCampbell Middle. Many friends that I still have. Seemed crazy when I registered my son and seen so many people that I attended school with. It has been a joy to have had the experience of seeing generations of my family go to school there. My mother also attended when it was Graniteville High. I am proud of where I grew up and the people I have met along the way, and still today, their kids and mine attend Leavelle. I wish they would make it a library, and museum. Graniteville is a part of history. From the mills, to the train wreck, to our towns rebirth and how we all stayed and made our town come back to life. I am a proud Warrenville resident and don’t plan on ever leaving Aiken County. I would love to see possibly a Salvation Army or food service for the low income seniors and kids in the area in the old cafeteria. And the gym could defiantly be used for meeting, board meetings, and for graduation of local schools with not enough space for all who attend. Example Warrenville Elementary has grown in population not in size. Assembly’s, award ceremonies and graduations would be much more accessible by parents and visitors at the old Leavelle gym instead of the small cafeteria that Warrenville Elementary has. We can’t even fit everyone in the doors. People are standing everywhere and it is hard to even see the stage or your child because we are all cramped into the cafeteria.
Was a pleasure to read that, you have many great ideas! We think those would be wonderful to see as well.
I walked the old football field today. The booth is still up! I sure would like to see some pictures of the field in it’s hay days!
GHS CENTRAL – FB page and our alumni assoc is for all who ever attended LM as a high or middle school. Check out all the good things and fun we had together. Stay in touch with your roots and memories.
Graniteville High School was the first school in Aiken County to integrate and that was the school year of 1965-66. I was a 7th grader and remember it well.
I went to Leavelle McCampbell from the 6th grade up to graduation in 1967. My Mom and Dad both worked for the Graniteville Company and I received a college scholarship from the Swint Foundation. Some of my most fondest memories of times I spent at GHS (Graniteville High School). I played basketball starting in the 7th grade and moved up to Varsity in the 10th grade. I still have many Friends that were schoolmates at GHS even though I live 125 miles away now. We just had our 50 year class reunion this past Saturday.
That’s wonderful! It is always nice when you can keep in touch with people despite distance. The internet has certainly been a beautiful tool for this very reason. So glad to hear the comradery is still going strong!
I attended 1973-1979 after moving into town. I was welcomed and had the best years of my school life. It felt like a true community school. Teachers were invested in student lives. The success in my college career was not only because of the academics they taught but because they believed in me. The school will always have a special place in my heart.
That is always wonderful to hear, Lisa! We are firm believers that communities should care about each other and really invest time in believing in one another. Made us glad to see your comment!
I would love to see the old school as a museum.
Now that would be a fantastic use for the building!
I attended 1968-1969. First Black varsity basketball team player and Paul Quiller was the first to play varsity football.
Coach Knight was a good coach. Given the challenges of the time period, Mr. Nobles was a good principal with a tough job. There were challenges naturally but I still have friends of both races that I have maintained until today. The guys I played with were great. I think I grew as a person from my experiences there at Leavelle McCampbell HS.
Can you tell me exactly when the school was integrated and approximately how many students the first year of integration. Also, will the building possibly become a historical site?
Hi, Addie. Aiken County schools did not desegregate until 1970. We are sorry that we do not have a record of the number of students and do not know the answer to your second question. If we learn anything, we will let you know.
Addie Ross I graduated in 1968 and we had three blacks (good friends) who graduated with me – a boy and 2 girls.
I attended Aiken High School my senior year 1966-67 only, but we had 3 black students, two girls and a guy. The guy was a star football player.
I would like a copy of a couple of the annuals for the yrs 1970 to 1974. Please contact me via email. Ty!
I attended school there from 1969 to 1974. The school had a football team named The Rocks. The principal was Troy Nobles. The coach was Knight. Great memories except for the Nobles principal. He was for the rich kids. Not fair either.
My Mother may still have Leavelle McCampbell Yearbooks from some of the years you are looking for. They belonged to my Daddy, the late Coach Duke Kight. If you are interested, I will check with her and see if she still has them. In all fairness though, I must disagree with your impression of Mr. Troy Nobles. He is a wonderful man, and quite the opposite of your description. I am sorry that you felt that way.
A comprehensive historical archive of GHS (Leavelle McCampbell) High School football has been produced by the official Leavelle McCampbell School Alumni Assn…And, can be seen by viewing via this link
http://home.earthlink.net/~okbennett/GHS/FootballDVDOrderForm.pdf
A comprehensive historical archive of GHS (Leavelle McCampbell) High School football has been produced by the official Leavelle McCampbell School Alumni Assn…And, can be seen by viewing via this link
http://home.earthlink.net/~okbennett/GHS/FootballDVDOrderForm.pdf
I’ve tried to access the site by the link you have posted and have been unable to access it. It keeps telling me that it’s forbidden. If there is another way to access it I would really appreciate any information you might have. Thanks Marc.
Hello Marc, sorry about that! The link looks to have changed. We have it updated now to the correct one: https://www.acpsd.net/Domain/13
Does anyone know when varsity football started at Leavelle-McCampbell High School?