A Short History Of Genoa School
Fulks Run, Virginia

The school at Genoa was built in 1919 to replace two older schools in the neighborhood that were very old and in need of replacement. Myrtle Bennett was the last teacher at the Oak Grove School and Ethel Tusing was the last teacher at the Shoemaker School.

Land for the new Genoa School was purchased from Rev. & Mrs. George Fulk and the Shoemaker Family--Seymour and Lena Shoemaker, John C. Shoemaker (bachelor), Myrtle E. Shoemaker (spinster), and Mary C. Shoemaker (widow of Arclaim Shoemaker, deceased). The 1919 recorded deed also states that the Fulks were paid $171.87 for 137.5 poles of land. The Shoemaker Family received $50.00 for 16.5 poles.

The two room school was constructed by John I. Lee at a cost of $2200.00. The school was completed in October of 1919. Iva Cooper (Gordon) and Myrtle Bennett were the teachers for the first session of the new school. A complete list of teachers assigned from 1919 to the final session follow:

1919-20 Iva Cooper (Gordon), Myrtle Bennett
1920-21 Iva Cooper (Gordon), Hazel Ball
1921-22 Naomi Kiser, Esther Garber
1922-23 Charles C. Turner, Mrs. C.C. Turner
1923-24 Fannie Holsinger, Mary Holsinger (Shank)
1924-27 Edna Landes (Will), Virginia Miller (Armentrout)
1927-29 Edna Landes (Will), Miriam Miller (Hoover)
1929-30 Dorothy Miller (Myers), Miriam Miller (Hoover)
1930-31 Edna Wampler, Miriam Miller (Hoover)
1931-35 Andrew J. Thomas, Miriam Miller (Hoover)
1935-36 Andrew J. Thomas, Rachel Roller (White)
1936-37 Preston Moyers, Rachel Roller (White)
1937-38 Edna Turner, Rachel Roller (White)
1938-44 Edna Turner, Frances Good (Whetzel Barnhart)
1944-45 Edna Turner, Mrs. Paul Sanger
1945-46 Edna Turner, Evelyn Bare (Driver)
1946-47 Edna Turner, Lucille Shank
1947-48 Austie Rever, Gussie Turner (Custer)
1948-50 Elsie Lehman, Gussie Turner (Custer)
1950-61 William Clegg*, Gussie Turner (Custer)
Andrew Thomas

*For the 1950-51 session, William Clegg was appointed as principal but resigned. Mr. Clegg was a member of the U.S. Reserves and was called for service in the Korean Conflict. Andrew J. Thomas returned to Genoa to take his place and remained at the school until it closed in 1961.


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