Winstead Davie
During the year 1853, Winstead Davie, who
owned most of the land which is now the site of the City of Anna and
Col. Lewis W. Ashley, Division Engineer, who had come into possession
of a portion of the same tract, determined to lay out a town at this
point. The proper surveys were made by Francis H. Brown, the County
Surveyor, and lots were laid out on both sides of Main Street and the
railroad. Mr. Davie decided to name the town in honor of his beloved
wife Anna and under this name the plat was entered upon the county
records on March 3, 1854.
Public Schools
The city of Anna has ever been justly proud of her public schools.
The first schoolhouse, built in 1854, on the corner of Franklin and
Monroe Street, was destroyed by fire. The city then built the frame
schoolhouse on Lot 28, donated by Winstead Davie, and adjoining the
fair grounds around 1860. In this building, the youth of the city were
educated, from 1860 to 1870, under the instruction of Mr. Young, Mr. Congor, William
Cochran, E. Babcock, J. M. Brisbin, John Green, C. L. Brooks, H.
Andrews, A. Inman, W. H. Hubbell and J. H. Sanborn. In 1869 the city
felt the need for a new building and larger accommodations. The
district directors C. W. Wilcox, Cyrus Shick and L. P. Wilcox,
issued bonds as needed, an elegant three-story brick edifice on Lot
23 in the northwestern part of town, was built at a total cost of
$22,500 including furniture.
On Wednesday, January 5, 1870, the children were moved from the
small frame building before mentioned, where the total enrollment was
126 pupils, to the new house, where the number was increased to 237
pupils, with J. H. Sanborn as Principal in charge.
The building served as a public school until it was closed in 1996
and sat empty until it was bought by Gary and Andrea Dahmer (present
owners) in 2002. The Dahmer's have spent many hours in a combination of
restoring and remodeling to created an Inn with all the modern
conveniences yet still leave the atmosphere of the old school house.
Each room still has an original chalk board and book case. The
original hardwood floors still show ruminants of where the student
desks left their marks. Each room also has a whirlpool tub and air
conditioning, not something you would find in a grade school class
room.
1949 Davie School - 1st Grade - Photo submitted by: Joyce Fear Bell
1952 Davie School- 5th Grade - Photo submitted by : Barbara Walton
Throgmortin
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