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Old Vidalia Academy

SC PICTURE PROJECT 4 Comments

SC Picture Project / Dillon County / Old Vidalia Academy

This simple building in Latta signifies the importance of education in South Carolina’s rural farming communities. Local farmer Herod W. Allen saw a void in education in Dillon County and built a one-room school house on his property in 1877 with the help of his farmhands. Fifteen children originally enrolled here at Vidalia Academy, with their parents paying an annual tuition of $3.50 for maintenance and overhead.

Vidalia School

Benton Henry of Latta, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Within two years the school was moved to the property of Dr. F.M. Monroe to make room for a growing student population. The growth required the addition of another room to the building – said to be used as a music room – in 1883. Fifteen years later this school house had exceeded its capacity to house the large student body, and the school merged with a new school in town. The old school house was then utilized by Methodists as a meeting place, used a sharecropper home, and even housed a chicken coop until the mid-twentieth century.

Old Vidalia School

Benton Henry of Latta, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The original school building was then moved to the site of the old Latta High School and renovated. It was then moved again and stored while Latta High School underwent rebuilding efforts. Preservationist A. LaFon LeGette, Jr. eventually took up the cause of restoring the building in 1966. He donated the old school house to the town for use in the park downtown, where it still stands stands today.

Latta Schoolhouse Park

Benton Henry of Latta, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

More Pictures of Old Vidalia Academy


Latta Vidalia Academy Night

Benton Henry of Latta, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Vidalia School Plaque

Benton Henry of Latta, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Vidalia School Interior

SCIWAY, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Old Vidalia Academy

Where is Old Vidalia Academy located?
Address: West Main Street, Latta, SC 29565
GPS Coordinates: 34.338950,-79.433804
What else should I see?
Old Latta Post Office 0 mile
Latta Library 0.1 mile
Dillon County Museum 0.1 mile
McMillan House 0.2 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Latta Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Schools
    Old Vidalia Academy Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judy Culbertson says

      June 28, 2019 at 9:50 PM

      Why was this school named “Vidalia” Academy? I grew up in Vidalia, Georgia which began to be settled about 1850 and was established as a town in the late 1800s. There is also a Vidalia, Louisiana.

      Reply
    2. Preston Haselden says

      February 19, 2019 at 10:34 AM

      Amazing!

      Reply
    3. Melissa Sackett says

      June 22, 2016 at 6:01 PM

      Cool.

      Reply
    4. Harold Vivian says

      February 13, 2015 at 4:01 PM

      Where did the name “Vidalia” Academy come from?
      Thanks, Harold

      Reply

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    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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