Atlanta Catholic Centennial

In 1837 when Terminus was first located there were no Public Schools in Georgia. Private schools and Denominational schools were the means employed outside of private homes and tutors for the education of the children.

From its birth until 1845 we find no record of schools of any kind being operated in the new settlement. It seems it was customary in the early days of this city to call private schools by the name of “Academies,” regardless of what they taught or how advanced were the studies taught.

In 1845 a lady by the name of Miss Martha Reed opened a private school in a small shanty built where the new Municipal Garage is now located. (The Municipal Garage is located on the Georgia Railroad, between Martin and King Streets.) This was probably the settlement's first school. She ran this schools for several years.

The Union Church and School, a picture of which appeared in our July edition was generally regarded as the first school. It was built in 1845. A number of boys who later became prominent Atlanta citizens attended it. Professor McGinty was the first school teacher. He was succeeded by Professor A N. Wilson. This schools was a log building about 15 by 30 feet and was located about the present northeast corner of Pryor and Houston Streets.

In 1847 Dr. N. L. Angier, a prominent man of his day, erected a building and opened a school. The building was unfinished on the inside. It did, however, have a school bell, which formerly was an important part of a school building. Following is an advertisement, which appeared in Southern Miscellany of December 4, 1847, for Dr. Angier's Academy. The last line in this ad must be a typographical error (or did they make them at that time?), where it says “Atlanta, October 23, l846.” The Southern Miscellany did not start publishing in Atlanta until July 2, 1847, although it had been published in Madison, Ga., for six years previous, and also Dr. William N. White, the principal, did not come to Atlanta until October 20, 1847.

From these early beginnings the Schools and Academies increased in number and size as the town grew into an important city. Atlanta Military Academy, Atlanta Medical College and Atlanta Female College were some of the early beginnings of a higher and more varied education in Atlanta, which boasts today of some of the finest educational institutions in the country.