History of Transportation to Rush Strong School
The Rush Strong Elementary School draws its students from Rocky Valley, Hodges Station, the Upper and Lower Bends of the Holston River, and from the vicinity of Strawberry Plains. In addition, the seventh and eighth grade students of Piney and the high school students of Cherry Hill and Dumplin attend Rush Strong School. Transportation has always been furnished free to elementary students. It was $1.50 per month to all high school students until 1932, when it was reduced to $1.00 per month. The July Court of 1934 appropriated enough money to give free transportation to high school students. This is one of the reasons that the school year of 1934-1935 has witnessed the greatest increase in enrollment in the history of Rush Strong High School.
From the Lower Bend of the River -- The first transportation furnished by the County for students of Rush Strong School seems to have been for the students of the Lower Bend of the River. Their school house, The Jackson School, had been torn down and the students were walking to Strawberry Plains or furnishing their own transportation. In 1924, the second year of Rush Strong School, Bill Gilbert began operating a hack for the county and operated it for one year. During the following two years, a hack was operated buy J. O. Cook. A third hack was operated by Jake Cain in the school years of 1926-1928. These men owned their hacks and operated them under a contract with the county. During these times, the road was so bad that a motor vehicle could not be operated during the winter months. A better road was built, however; and, in 1929 C. H. Duignan began operating a Chevrolet bus, which he has continued to operate until the present time. This bus makes two trips each morning and afternoon.
From Hodges and the Upper Bend of River -- In the fall of 1925, the students who had been going to the Beaver Creek School and to the Hodges School were transported to Rush Strong School. A Mr. Morgan operated the first bus. It had a closed top at the beginning of the year, but after a period of time, it was changed to an open top truck. This bus had curtains along the sides, and the seats were placed like car seats. The doors opened at each seat on both sides of the bus.
The second bus was operated by Will Glover, a resident of Strawberry Plains. It was an old White truck with curtains and heavy wires on each side. The seats were placed lengthwise in the truck. Mr. Glover ran the bus until 1928, when Bill Owsley, of Rocky Valley, took the contract. He hauled the students from the Bend in a 1925 model Dodge truck for three years, while the students from Hodges rode in a 1928 model Chevrolet truck, which hauled the Rocky Valley students on its first load. Then, for two years, he hauled the students from the Bend in the Chevrolet and the Hodges students in an old Studebaker Safety coach, on which the Rocky Valley students rode on its first trip in the morning and on its second trip in the afternoon. In 1933, Earl Cate began operating a Chevrolet with a special-built body of wood. From that time since, the Hodges students and those from Sweet Gum Bend have ridden the same bus.
From Rocky Valley -- The first bus to be operated out of Rocky Valley was a Model T Ford truck owned by Will Glover. It ran two years, 1926-1928. Paul Hoosier drove the first year, and Jim Shakleford the second. About two months before school was out in the second year, the motor ruined from a freeze; the students were transported in the White truck, which Mr. Glover operated from Hodges and Sweet Gum Bend. He made the second trip for the Rocky Valley students. The bus ran to the junction of the road near Kerr's Store. In 1928, Bill Owsley began operating a Chevrolet bus, on which he transported the Rocky Valley students and made the second trip for the Hodges students. In the afternoon, he made the Hodges trip first, taking the Rocky Valley students home on the second trip. In 1931, he used an old Studebaker safety coach for Rocky Valley and Hodges, making two trips, and used the Chevrolet truck for Sweet Gum Bend. In 1933, Earl Cate began operating a large Chevrolet bus, on which Rocky Valley students rode on its first trip in the morning and on its second trip in the afternoon. The same arrangements have existed for the past two years.
From Dumplin and Cherry Hill -- The elementary schools at Dumplin and Cherry Hill were not discontinued for consolidation with Rush Strong School; but, in 1926, the county began furnishing transportation for the high school students from these communities. Before this time, the high school students from these communities had been going to Dandridge, Sevierville, Rush Strong and Carter High Schools, providing their own transportation.
The first county-operated bus to run from Dumplin to Rush Strong High School was owned by John C. Bonds. It was used for six years and driven by his boys, Jay and Hollis. It was a Model T Ford truck. The average number of students hauled each year was 25. In the fall of 1932, Arthur Cate began operating a Chevrolet truck with wooden bus body. The wooden body was replaced by a steel body in January, 1935. The seventh and eighth grades from Piney School also ride this bus. The average [number] who ride this bus is about thirty. It is driven by Harold Cate.
