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The Walker’s Chapel Community
The Walker's Chapel community is located on he Cookeville Highway about four miles north of Smithville. Few people lived in the area until around 1880, when John W. Walker and wife Cyrena Puckett bought 193 acres there, paying 56 cents per acre. As more people moved in, a school was needed, and by 1887, a log building had been built near the road on a corner of the Walker's property. On April 10, 1899, the Walkers made a deed to the school commissioners for one acre, including the Walker's Chapel school building. The deed stated that the building could be used for church services, with the second Sunday reserved for the Baptists. In 1902, the log building was replaced by a frame building, which, with some changes, served for the next 50 years.
Walker's Chapel had only 50-60 pupils, so it was a one-teacher school until 1913, when the enrollment reached 90, and another teacher was added. It remained a two-teacher school until it was discontinued in 1952.
Church services, especially summer revivals, continued to be held there into the 1940's. The ground around the building was used as a cemetery, which is still there today.
About half a mile down the road was a small school for the African-American families of the area. It was listed in 1904 as League's Chapel, and was also used for church services and included a small cemetery. John Walker established a store near his home, and from 1902 to 1904, had a post office called Pearlville (at the time, pearls were being found in the Caney Fork River, and Smithville had several pearl dealers).
In the 1930's, Jim Puckett (who was blind) had a store in the community, and in recent years Robert Rowe operated a store next to the Phillipi Church of Christ. The Phillipi church was established about 1938; Mrs. Claudie Johnson was one of its leading members. Buckner's Chapel Methodist Church, not far from Walker's Chapel School, was established by 1882, and remains an active church today.
The Walker's Chapel school was especially noted in the 1930's and 1940's for its basketball teams. At that time DeKalb County had more than 50 elementary schools, and as interest developed in basketball, a county-wide basketball tournament was held every year in the high school gymnasium in Smithville. Walker's Chapel first took part in 1933; then in 1937 Mr. Floice Vickers came as principal to Walker's Chapel and remained there for 12 years. During that time, except for the first year, either the girls' team or the boys' team (and sometimes both) won the county championship. Many of these players went on to become the best players on the high school teams. In 1945, Jo Puckett, Christine Puckett, Jo Dean Puckett and Rhea Nell Puckett entered high school in Smithville. Rhea Nell married and quit school, but the other three were on the high school's first team until they graduated.
Among the several families that lived in the Walker's Chapel area were the following: Puckett, Ponder, Cantrell, Staley, Maxwell, Ashburn, Pack, Parsley, Malone, Foster, Pedigo and Martin.
Walker's Chapel had only 50-60 pupils, so it was a one-teacher school until 1913, when the enrollment reached 90, and another teacher was added. It remained a two-teacher school until it was discontinued in 1952.
Church services, especially summer revivals, continued to be held there into the 1940's. The ground around the building was used as a cemetery, which is still there today.
About half a mile down the road was a small school for the African-American families of the area. It was listed in 1904 as League's Chapel, and was also used for church services and included a small cemetery. John Walker established a store near his home, and from 1902 to 1904, had a post office called Pearlville (at the time, pearls were being found in the Caney Fork River, and Smithville had several pearl dealers).
In the 1930's, Jim Puckett (who was blind) had a store in the community, and in recent years Robert Rowe operated a store next to the Phillipi Church of Christ. The Phillipi church was established about 1938; Mrs. Claudie Johnson was one of its leading members. Buckner's Chapel Methodist Church, not far from Walker's Chapel School, was established by 1882, and remains an active church today.
The Walker's Chapel school was especially noted in the 1930's and 1940's for its basketball teams. At that time DeKalb County had more than 50 elementary schools, and as interest developed in basketball, a county-wide basketball tournament was held every year in the high school gymnasium in Smithville. Walker's Chapel first took part in 1933; then in 1937 Mr. Floice Vickers came as principal to Walker's Chapel and remained there for 12 years. During that time, except for the first year, either the girls' team or the boys' team (and sometimes both) won the county championship. Many of these players went on to become the best players on the high school teams. In 1945, Jo Puckett, Christine Puckett, Jo Dean Puckett and Rhea Nell Puckett entered high school in Smithville. Rhea Nell married and quit school, but the other three were on the high school's first team until they graduated.
Among the several families that lived in the Walker's Chapel area were the following: Puckett, Ponder, Cantrell, Staley, Maxwell, Ashburn, Pack, Parsley, Malone, Foster, Pedigo and Martin.