| 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.
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