Williston Schools

Irvin Willis Personal and Political Notes

This section includes a few of the letters Irvin Willis as a member of the Carteret County School Board. He held that position for at least 7 years we know of by the dates on the two letters shown here. The 1916 letter concerning the school opening date was apparently being delegated to Irvin by the superintendent to stop the mail from parents he was receiving. To honor the public demands he did not want school to open before the last of October.

The issue of students working in the fields and fish houses has been replaced with students working in tourist related businesses. Still a century later it is a child labor issue.

Here is a clipping from the Carteret County News Times announcing the school calendar for the school year 2005-2006, which illustrates the changing times.

Another letter here is the 1923 letter from the school superintendent concerning the Smyrna School land acquisition and building materials deal. The 1993 all school reunion was a 70 year event. If that is right somebody built the Smyrna School in a hurry.

Other items include wedding invitations, a tax bill, a bank statement, and current items that reflect upon those early 20th century events.

The house shown in a 2005 photo is the George Washington Piner house left to Eula Lee Piner and William Irvin Willis. The house is still occupied and has been in the same location for over a century.