History of Leavelle McCampbell School
1840 ~ Present
Who knows better about the rich heritage of Leavelle McCampbell Middle School (LMMS) than its students, parents and grandparents, many of whom attended the same school? Their community pride and support in education began in the 1840's with William Gregg, who built a cotton mill and village in the west-central portion of South Carolina. An integral part of the town was a church and a school, The Graniteville Academy.
Believing that every child should be educated, Gregg made attendance compulsory. He paid teachers' salaries, bought books, and even paid the family money equal to what the child would be earning in the mill. He provided students transportation to and from school on the same wagon that hauled the cloth to his mill. On occasion he went out looking for a truant child, whisking him into his buggy and to school.
William Gregg's Academy, now a leisure club for senior citizens, served as the community school until 1922 when the Graniteville Academy constructed Leavelle McCampbell School. Eventually, the school became a part of the Aiken County Public School System, but the Graniteville Company continued to own and maintain the building. In 1954 lower grades were removed to form an elementary school. In 1960 the company sold the building and grounds to the School District of Aiken County, and Leavelle McCampbell became a full partner in the public school system. In 1980 grades nine through twelve became part of a new school. At that time the old Leavelle McCampbell School became LMMS with the responsibility of educating 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
Today Leavelle McCampbell has been consolidated, integrated, reorganized, and its beautiful old granite and brick buildings renovated. It still, however, stands with pride in the heart of Aiken County's textile community. The building itself is located in the physical center of Graniteville, a small unincorporated textile community. Although few students come to LMMS from out of district or from private schools, the majority are from the three elementary schools that feed into it.
With the goals and philosophy of William Gregg, the community, parents, and student pride themselves in continuing their long-standing tradition of excellence in education. The locally-quarried block of granite standing in the hallway of LMMS serves as a reminder of our heritage.
Courtesy of Cecil Atchley, Assistant Principal LMMS
