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HISTORY OF KNIFLEY COMMUNITY AND KNIFLEY'S SCHOOLS "The school has been at the center of the Knifley Community for over 100 years" Several photos accompany this story. A number of essays from the last graduating class now follow the introduction. A biography of Joseph Knifley is scheduled. Additions and corrections are invited. By Jennifer Hardin and Donald Knifley, and the last graduating class of Knifley Grade Center Around 1800, Phillip Knifley, along with his wife Sarah who was from Ireland, began to acquire land along the Northeast side of Roley Road, along Casey Creek, which was known back then as the "Knifley Fields". Phillip and Sarah had five children. One, who was named Joseph, later became a minister and one of the founders of Knifley Christian Church. The Knifley children's families began to grow, and they remained living in and around the same area. The community then became known as "Knifley". The first post office in this community was named "Knifley" after Phillip Knifley. No doubt, about that same time, the Knifley community started having schools to educate the children in the area. This local community of family members and friends grew and developed gradually through the years that followed. It has withstood many changes, yet still continued to flourish as a community. Even the Civil War divided families, yet the Knifley community survived, as well as the school. Thanks to photography and the memories from those near and dear to the community, the history of Knifley and the school has been preserved. The following captions explain the numbered photographs that show some of the history of the community. The photos follow this story. Photo No. 1: 1902, a Fourth of July community celebration in Knifley.Many changes have taken place since the Phillip and Sarah first acquired land here Throughout the years since Phillip and Sarah Knifley first acquired the lands which eventually became knows as the community of Knifley, many changes and developments have taken place, both positive and negative. Yet the small community of knifley has survived and has always been a community.As evidenced in the pictures the schools have continued as well, despite the wars, the moving of the town (for the lake) and the other changes. However, this will be the final year for the county/community school, Knifley Grade Center, and it will be a tremendous adjustment for the students, their families, the teachers, and the community as a whole. "After this school closes down, there will be nothing really to identify the community." As one 8th grader, Chelsea Beard, stated, "After this school closes down, there will be nothing really to identify the community." Knifley school has been a big center of the city and the community will be nothing now except for the fire department and a few local gas stations or community stores. We can't carry on the history of Knifley Grade Center. It stops with our class being the last graduating class for our school." Nicholas Humphress, another 8th grader, who, when viewing the pictures of the older Knifley ball teams, expressed his thoughts about there being no more KGC teams to be identified. He feels that the students will blend in with the newer teams in town, once the schools are combined and will in a sense, lose their identity. Still, the sadness continues to be expressed for future students in the community who will not be able to attend this school as Amanda Greer stated, "Our children won't be able to come here and that's sad." Many students are from families who have attended the school for generations Many of these children come from a line of descendants who have attended the school in Knifley throughout the years and it is sad, as Amanda stated, that this won't be continued. Hopefully the memories that have been made at Knifley Grade Center in the more recent years, just like those shared from the history since the beginning of the first community school, will continue and be passed along to future generations so that they can understand and see the value of such a small community learning environment. The school has been at the center of Knifley for over 100 years The school has been at the center of the Knifley Community for over 100 years and has withstood and overcome numerous battles. Yet, this final battle for the community seems to be one that couldn't be won. It remains to be seen whether or not the community will survive the closing of its school at the end of this school year. Hopefully the memories, however, will still go on. pen their thoughts on the closing of KGS Essayists are in alphabetical order "I think that the small community schools give more attention to the kids. . . " I am very sad that Knifley is closing. My reasons are the history and the heritage that the Knifley students carry, but I know that alumni of Knifley wil always take the memories with them. I felt bad for the little kids having to ride the bus a long way. I think that the small community schools give more attention to the kids and the classes are smaller. The way that children learn is through attention, and I don't think the new school will give as much. "I will have to leave all my friends" I hate that Knifley is leaving. The reason why is that I will have to leave all my friends. Knifley has given us a good education, probably better than the new school can give. Our children will not be known as Knifley Kids. They will be known as Town Kids. Then, too, Knifley has given me a lot of memories that will be treasured for the rest of my life. These are the reasons that Knifley Grade Center should not be shut down. "Knifley is like a big house filled with family" From barefeet to Nike Shocks, Knifley School has come a long way. In fact, it has been in session since 1904: 102 years! Unfortunately, this long-lasting, fun-filled school is sadly coming to an end. My classmates and I will be the last graduating class from this memorable school. It is an honor and it is upsetting, all at the same time. This is my 9th year at Knifley, and what a wonderful nine years it has been. I've made so many friends, I've learned how to deal with problems, Knifley is where I learned to deal with problems, and I grew up here. Knifley is like a big house filled with family. The teachers are the moms, teaching us what's right and wrong, and the students are my brothers and sisters. I'm sad to sad that I will be the last generation of the Greer family to have the privilege of attending Knifley> I think shutting Knifley down is the worst mistake anyone could ever make, but I guess a good thing can't last forever. I think if it last 102 years, it can last another 102 years. I had my first fight here, my first friend; I am going to be so sad to leave. I am going to high school next year, but I wanted my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to go here, too. I believe good things should last forever. "I wish they would not shut it down " I am upset that this is the last year that Knifley Grade Center will be open, because when we have kids, they won't be able to send them to Knifley. Knifley means a lot to me. I made a lot of friends here. I hate it that it will be gone. I will miss going to Knifley Grade Center. They taught us well here. I will miss going here where I had a lot of friends. I wish they would not shut it down. This is just a little bit of why I don't want Knifley to close. DANIEL HUMPHRESS "My kids won't be able to go here " I'll feel bad that Knifley is closing. No more good times here! My kids won't be able to go here. There won't be a Knifley basketball team anymore. These are the main things I will miss about Knifley. NICHOLAS HUMPHRESS "There is a lot of history in this school for such a small town. " It is a sad year because Knifley is closing, because our kids will not be able to come to Knifley to school. There is a lot of history in this school for such a small town. Phillip Knifley and Sarah Moore moved here and started the town. WHITNEY JOHNSON "We will all miss stepping into this little school were we all know each other " The closing of the Knifley school has hurt many. Not only students that attend, but parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles that have attended. Now that Knifley is closing down, changes will be coming. We can no longer ride our bicycles to school or walk home from school. We have to ride the bus for 20 to 30 minutes before and after school. I still saw Knifley having a good future ahead of it. The ball teams get better as time goes on. The cheerleading squads gets better and cheered the Greyhounds on more. The news came and everyone was not as peppy and as joyous as they were before. There may have been some times we've all said, "I wish something would happen to that school," but never did we really think it would. Now that it has, those who have said those words regret them. Knifley was good while it lasted and we will all remember it and al the good times we had there. Can you remember back when Knifley first had a schoool? It was back long ago. 1904 to be exact. This was when you only wore shoes to Sunday School. You didn't wear them to school where you learn history, math, science, and spelling. When I look back at my last years at Knifley, I remember lots of events and memories that will be with me so I will tell my children.Those memories that I had at Knifley are not something everyone is going to experience. Not because Knifley would change over years, but because it will no longer be a great place were the local children will join and learn. Back in the 1800s, Phillip Knifley came along and also Dr. Land's very own Sarah. They began to buy land in what is now known as Knifley. Philip and Sarah had five children. One of the five, Joseph Knifley, later became a minister and founded the Kinfley Christian Church. Then later the first post office was built in Knifley and had the name of Knifley. The post office was named after Phillip Knifley. 1861 was a big time in American history. There was Civil War, which tore many families and communities apart. Knifley, as it was known at this time, was not bothered by this war. No matter what Knifley was never thought to be torn apart. Now that Knifley Grade Center is being closed there will be no function in Knifley. We will all miss stepping into this little school were we all know each other. Now we will be going to bigger schools where we will not get the same attention as Knifley gave everyone. Not only is the school going to be dead as night, but the Knifley Area Fire Department, which was where many of the Greyhounds ball games were held. Little League games, ball events, and fun will no longer take place there. There wil be no ball teams, cheerleading, or any other type of club or sport with the beginning name "Knifley Greyhound." Still after years pass and we all get settled we will all still have a missing part of us. That is the feeling of love that only Knifley gave to the children that have or did attend the good, magnificent, caring, loving, fun, and awesome old Knifley. "I have been a student of Knifley for so long " Knowing that Knifley is closing and may never open again makes me feel sad, because I have been a student of Knifley for so long. Also, other people from the past feel the way I do, especially because some of their kids will never be able to go to Knifley, as they did, years ago. It also pertains to to our kkids of the future. They will also not be able to go to we school to which we went. This is my emotion towards the closing of Knifley Grade Center. "I have had great memories here and I will never forget them " Knifley means a lot to me and I hate that it's going to go. I have had great memories here and I will never forget them. I made all sorts of friends here. It was the community school. Now we will no longer have our own school and we will be known as town kids instead of Knifley kids. A lot of smart people came come from Knifley and that's one of the best things for which Knifley is known. In Knifley, it was easier for the teachers because they had fewer kids to teach and everyone would listen most of the time. When we go to a crowded school next year it will be harder for the teachers to teach because they will have more kids to teach and half the class won't be listening. So, you see, Knifley ought to stay so there will be more smart kids next year and so we will each have a good education. These are some of my feeling about what I think about them tearing the school down. It has been here since the 1800s or 1900s. So why are they just now deciding to tear it down and build a new school for all of Knifley, Sheperd, and Sparksville kids. It doesn't make any sense. TOBY PENDLETON "Just think abut it, after this year there be no more Knifley School . . . " I think closing down Knifley School is a bad idea. Everybody I have talked to is sad, because it has been around for about 90 years. Just think abut it, after this year there be no more Knifley School, and there will be no K.B.R. So this is why I think closing the school is a bad idea. Related Link(s): To read Richard Hovious' letter after reading this article, Click Here This story was posted on 2006-04-24 13:22:31
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