This rare surviving country schoolhouse has been used as a barn for years, but is relatively well-maintained. Lorraine Fussell writes: My maternal grandmother taught in this school around 1912-1914, and my mother and her siblings attended school here in the 20’s-30’s.
This schoolhouse in Wray has been used for various purposes since I married into the Johns family in 1961. Enoch and Thelma Johns bought the farm in Wray from Sage Harper which also included a residential dwelling. The schoolhouse was used from the time I married Clyde Johns in 1961 for farming purposes and storage. I remember “taking tobacco off the sticks” in the school house where sheets of tobacco were also “graded”. Enoch Johns used it for other farming purposes as well such as storage. He added a lean to shelter onto it at some point which is still there.
The school house has had minimal upkeep but the tin roof and the exterior have been painted and the windows boarded since 2016.
My mother, Lottie Griffin Royal, spoke of the school house many times and knew people who attended the school.
There is also the original train depot on the Johns farm that is need of repair but still has the original sliding door where passengers exited to enter the train. It was originally located at the crossroads in Wray near the train track.
The historical society of Georgia has been contacted about this school house. I would like to see it restored. Paula Day Johns March 11, 2022
My maternal grandmother taught in this school around 1912-1914, and my mother and her siblings attended school here in the 20’s-30’s. Thanks for documenting this treasure.