10/16/2026
*History Blast*
Liberty School
Laura Johnson, Green County Public Library
Early in Green County’s history, one-room schools began to spring up in little communities all across the countryside. Just north of Crail Hope, Liberty School opened its doors well before the turn of the twentieth century though the exact year is unknown.
The school was also known as Thompson School due to the large number of Thompson families living nearby. Many of the students and even the teachers were Thompson relatives.
Many dedicated teachers were called on to educate students at the school. Names of the earliest teachers have been lost. Beginning in the 1930s, they included: Atha Dobson, Gertrude Scott, Bertha Mitchell, Lillian Cassidy, Helen Mitchell, Beulah Nell Lane, Hazel Hicks, and Violet Faulkner. The 1940s: Virginia Thompson O’Banion, Beulah Lane Church, Verna Blevins, Alice Higgason, Noel Keltner, and Rual Wilcoxson. The 1950s: Joseph Humble, Alice Higgason, Rual Wilcoxson, Ilah D. Adkins, and Odiellia Curry. This is a mostly complete list, but teachers were not identified for three years.
Due to consolidation of rural schools with low attendance, the school was permanently closed at the end of the 1959-1960 school year. The only student to receive an eighth-grade diploma that year was Betty Sue Atwell, the daughter of James E. Atwell and Wilma Thompson Atwell.
Photo:
Liberty School, October 27, 1916 – First row, left to right: Reuben Robertson, Raymond Asbury, Ezra Huffman, Malcolm Asbury, Garnett Powell, Aubra Thompson, Alline Atwell, Marjorie Asbury, Herbert Asbury, Duluth Thompson, America Asbury, Corine Powell, Davie Kidd, Catherine Kidd, Beulah Hedgespeth, Jasper Hay, (baby) Ellis Thompson. Second row: Claude W. Mays, Roy Kidd, Rufus Robertson, Virgil Asbury, Thurman Asbury, Lathey Huffman, Homer Hedgespeth, Adaline Powell, Opel Thompson, Zulen Thompson, Nella Thompson, Lura Thompson, Vera Asbury. Third row: Vora Thomas Mays, Harvey Kidd, Caston Robertson, Perry Kidd, Elmer Kidd, Eddie Kidd, Laura Thompson, Idalene Hay (teacher), Wallace Thompson, Alta Kidd, Iva Thompson, Lalan Boston, Vera Thompson, Lois Huffman. Fourth row: Minnie Robertson, Arthur Thompson, Bessie Bale, Lara Asbury, Ray Thompson, Berdie Curry, Luther Huff, Beulah Thompson, Aubra Asbury, Hovey Hedgespeth, Fannie Kate Asbury, Ona Bastin, Grace Thompson, Nellie Thompson, Lillian Thompson, and Maple Robertson.
