Pine Mountain Settlement School

The Pine Mountain Settlement School is a historic cultural and educational institution in rural Harlan County, Kentucky. Founded in 1913 as a settlement school, it now focuses on the culture of Appalachia and environmental education. Its campus is a National Historic Landmark, for its role as the first major effort to translate urban settlement reform work into a rural setting.

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School, photographed by Marion Post Wolcott in 1940
Nearest cityBledsoe, Kentucky
Coordinates36°56′55″N 83°10′59″W
Area54 acres (22 ha)
Built1913 (1913)
ArchitectMary Rockwell Hook; Luigi Zande
NRHP reference No.78001337[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 6, 1978
Designated NHLDDecember 4, 1991

Location

Pine Mountain Settlement School is located in a rural setting about 19 miles (31 km) northeast of Harlan, the county seat of Harlan County, Kentucky, southeast of the junction of Kentucky Routes 221 and 510.

History

Founding

"A National Historic Landmark, Pine Mountain Settlement School was founded in 1913 as a school for children in the commonwealth's remote southeastern mountains and a social center for surrounding communities. The school was the dream of a local man, William Creech Sr., who was troubled by the area's lack of educational opportunities, and the prevalence of social problems and rampant disease. He donated land for the school and recruited two women, Katherine Pettit of Lexington, Kentucky, and Ethel de Long, a New Jersey native, to establish and run the new institution. These two women enlisted the help of architect Mary Rockwell Hook of Kansas City to draw up plans for the campus and its buildings."

Uses

Pine Mountain Settlement School grew out of the urban settlement movement, which established institutions such as Hull House.[2] The school has served many purposes since its founding in 1913, over a century ago. It remains primarily an educational institution.

  • From 1913 to 1930, Pine Mountain served as a boarding school for children of elementary and middle school age.[3]
  • In 1930, Pine Mountain became a boarding high school, encouraging vocational and artistic development as well as academics.[3]
  • In 1937, a pack horse library and community services program was headquartered at Pine Mountain.[4][5]
  • In 1949, Pine Mountain and the county educational system began to jointly operate an elementary school.[3]
  • In the 1970s, Pine Mountain began to focus its efforts on environmental education.[3]

In addition to operating as an educational institution, Pine Mountain Settlement School has served its community in other ways. For example, during Pine Mountain's time as a high school, it sponsored Work Experience Training, which gave men job training and helped them find employment. Pine Mountain has also operated as a farm, health clinic, a hospital, and supported local music and craft initiatives such as Fireside Industries. Today, in addition to cultural and environmental education, Pine Mountain Settlement School offers agricultural, culinary, and arts and crafts programming for adults and students.[6]

Relationship with Alpha Sigma Tau

Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority adopted Pine Mountain Settlement School as its national philanthropy in 1945.

Members of alumnae and collegiate chapters and colonies of Alpha Sigma Tau raise money annually for Pine Mountain Settlement School. The Sorority supports Pine Mountain Settlement School through the Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc.

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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Educators: Katherine Pettit". Women in Kentucky. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  3. "History". Pine Mountain Settlement School. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  4. "WPA Travelling Libraries - Social Welfare History Project". Social Welfare History Project. 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  5. "Mrs. M.A. James President of Asheville A.A.U.W. Group". Asheville Citizen-Times. 28 April 1940. Retrieved 3 September 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Pine Mountain Settlement School". Alpha Sigma Tau. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
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