The Bostick Schoolhouse
A One-Room School and a Hickory Stick!
Reading, Riting, and Rithmetic – taught to the tune of a hickory stick! 
Some 159 years since it was founded, the Bostick School’s structure has once again emerged from an old shed on the Jerry & Jane Carriker property on Clayton Carriker Road in Ellerbe, NC.
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The building, which was in a state of disrepair, has been restored as close as possible, and structurally sound, to the last original building used as the school. The majority of the work at restoration has been done by Woodford & Lillian Sherrill and Carol McLean.
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It was a slow process beginning with the removal of hay, machinery and tools. At various times, the old building had been used as a peach packhouse, tobacco barn and tools shed. Except for one area near a tree, a shed had been extended out from the sides. Once everything was removed down to the main building, work began first with the leveling and stabilization of the foundation. Before that, it was leaning south and east.
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With the assistance of many interested citizens, the old Gaston Green House, donated by Martha McInnis, was torn down and material that was to be used in the restoration was moved to the school site. Over 2000 board feet of material was cleaned of old paint. Some other wood used in the restoration came from the old Hamlet Ice House. It was donated by Ms. Roy Berry.
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It has been a long and tedious process to restore the schoolhouse, particularly due to the fact that there was no electricity available for power tools to be used in the effort. It took the Sherrills about 5 weeks to install the tongue and groove ceiling. Since the boards were from several different places and had different grooves, they had to be forced together, which was quite time-consuming.
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With the assistance of many interested workers representing the Richmond County Histrocial Society, the building is now on the National Register of Historic Places. A job well done!
Richmond County Historical Society
P. O. Box 1763
Rockingham, N.C. 28380
910-895-1660