Choestoe School House

Address: 1034 Collins Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512

Description: Historical school house that educated the children of the once "most college-educated rural militia district in the United States", including Supreme Court Justices, a famous poet, and other legislators

History: Once considered to be the "Most College Educated Rural Militia District" in the United States, the Choestoe School House once served as the school for children in the Choestoe District of Union County for many years. The exact establishment of the school is not exactly known, but what is known is that the school closed down in 1954 after consolidating with Union County Schools. Throughout it's tenure as a school, many students turned out to become very prominent and even famous Georgians, including M.D.(Mauney Douglas) Collins(The State of Georgia's longest ever serving State School Superintendent of Schools and architect of today's public school infrastructure), William Henry Duckworth(the State of Georgia's longest ever serving Chief Justice of the Georgia State Supreme Court), and Byron Herbert Reece(A famous poet) just to name a few. There were also many teachers at the school throughout the years, including Ethelene Dyer Jones, who, with her son, Keith Jones, fought to save the school from demolition after being in deteriorating condition after years of abandonment. It is because of the efforts of Ethelene, and her son, Keith, that the school was saved and moved to It's current location where it sits today. Today, many small events such as weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers are hosted at the school house.

Fun Facts: 1. The school no longer sits in It's original location, being moved and saved from demolition. 2. The former schoolhouse now serves as an event space. 3. "Georgia's Mr. Education", M.D.(Mauney Douglas) Collins, the man responsible for today's Georgia public school system infrastructure, and was the state's longest ever serving State School Superintendent was educated here as a child. 4. Georgia's longest ever serving Chief Justice of the Georgia State Supreme Court, William Henry Duckworth, was educated here. 5. Famous Union County poet, Byron Herbert Reece, was educated here as a child.