"Treasure of History" - Notes from an Annual Meeting of the Botetourt Community League held in the early 1920's

Source: Typed from a letter pined to an 8” x 6” index card giving the annual report from either 1920, 1921 or 1922. This group that was in place that became the PTA.

Report of Community School Leagues of Botetourt County

We have now 16 community leagues in good working order in our county.

Blue Ridge Springs League has purchased a piano, raised funds for screening the windows of the school building and has secured the services of a janitor.

Buchanan has purchased play grounds and apparatus for said playground and has done a number of other minor things for the school too numerous to mention.

Carvins Cove League has painted its school house and other improvements are going on.

Coyner Springs League is not very active at present but plans are on foot for reorganization and active work.

Cross Roads League has $100.00 in treasury and is planning to paint the school house. Has given a humorous play at three places in the County and received large receipts from each, a part of which will be used for school improvement.

Lithia League is inactive at present but hope to get to work soon.

Midway League is at present raising money for a library.

Ashbury League is inactive at present but hopes to get to work soon.

Mountain View League has $219.78 in Treasury. Money spent on school improvements $166.37. Gave to Red Cross $44.20. Has assisted on work done in front of school. Will soon paint school house. This is one of the most active leagues in Botetourt County and though only a two room school has a membership of 50.

Rail Road Academy League is working to furnish its school with a library.

Valley School League is now inactive, but hope to get to work soon.

East View League is raising money for a library.

Glen Wilton League has purchased a piano for the school.

Fincastle League was organized in October. Has purchased a desk for Principal of High School and also trash baskets for each of the seven rooms. As the present school building is entirely inadequate for its present needs the Fincastle League has as its final goal for the erection of a new school building to be known as THE BOTETOURT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL in honor of the Botetourt Boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War. In this way they hope to have the hearty and active cooperation of Botetourt Post of the American Legion and of Botetourt County.

Historian editorial: note “sacrifice in the World War” refers to the first world war.

We have had the pleasure of having with us Mr. George W. Guy, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Cooperative Education Association, on two occasions and also Dr. M.F. Bryden, Director of Child Welfare and Public Health Nursing of the State Board of Health.

Mr. Guy and Dr. Bryden were with us at our Rally in Fincastle on April 21^st and made most interesting addressed on the work of the Community School Leagues of Virginia and Child Welfare respectively and it is our hope and desire that we may soon have them with us again to inspire us to greater efforts and better work.

Miss Betty Robinson, our Public Health Nurse was also with us on that occasion and gave a most satisfactory report on her work done in the schools of our county and she also gave a very interesting account of her recent Nose and Throat Clinic held in Buchanan when 54 children had their adenoids and tonsils removed by Dr. James Morrison of Lynchburg.

At this Rally we also had the pleasure of having with us our State Senator, Mr. George W. Layman, and also our Delegate, Mr. F.D. Bolton, both of whom addressed the meeting and showed the deep interest they take in the schools of our County and their Improvement.

Mr. E.A. Painter, our County Superintendent of Schools, was also with us at this Rally and expressed great pleasure and satisfaction at the work done and being done by our Community school Leagues.

As most of our school Leagues have been organized but recently we are much pleased and gratified at the work so far accomplished and hope next year to have a Community school League in each school in the County.