| In the 1920's the state of North Carolina began to build a system of roads. Although the roads were much needed, they took money away from the schools. The state tried to correct this by passing two bills. One of the bills established a special building fund to be loaned to counties to build schools. The second, in 1923, required the adoption of a county wide plan designating high school centers. The county was to establish a plan of consolidation. This was not looked upon with favor.
The people of the Roan Mountain community, Clarissa, Young Cove and the surrounding areas, wanted their own high school. They voted on a tax above and beyond the county tax, built a two story building and consolidated three small schools. The county superintendent even taught high school subjects for free one winter, but all this support was not enough to keep the school running for an eight month term.
To the disappointment of the Roan Mountain community, this difficulty inspired the School Board to purchase theMitchell Collegiate Institute from the Home Mission Board of The Southern Baptist Church, using money from the state's special building fund. The Mitchell Collegiate Institute was then renamed Bakersville High School and became the first "free" high school in Bakersville.
The efforts of the Roan Mountain people kindled a fire in other places. In 1992, led by Jeter C. Burleson, the people of Glenn Ayre voted for a special tax to establish a high school. Ledger also held an election, but there the the tax was defeated by fifteen votes. Red Hill voted down the tax as well and the election in Buladean was called off because it seemed that a "shooting" was imminent.
However, the efforts of the Roan Mountain community in actually establishing the "first" consolidated school should be remembered gratefully for all this activity secured interest in building better schools.
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