Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mather Academy and Browning Home This School Established Soon After the Civil War, Is Now ' Among the Highest Ranking Institutions of Its Kind. Near the west approach to the city of Camden stands a most impos ing. building, over which guests of Camden citizens and the many tour ists passing through often exclaim. I This structure is the latest in the group known as Browning Home and Mather Academy, an Industrial home and school for Negro children. . Just at the close of the Civil War j Miss Sarah Babcock of Massachusetts : purchased an old southern mansion with eighteen acres of land in the then small city of Camden. Here she opened a school for Negro child ren, and she herself maintained it un til as the wife of Rev. James^ Mather she went hack to New England to live. For a few years the school was adiscontinued. ?In 1880 the Woman's Home Mis sionary Society of the Methodist Epis copal Church was organized. Because Mrs. Mather was deeply interested in | A. R. COLLINS LICENSED EMBALMER A Graduate of Renourd Training School for Embalmers In New York City.? Is Well Qualified for Work. The funeral directing and embalm ing business of A. R. Collins was founded in Camden in 1914 by Collins Brothers. This concern is equipped with the latest and most modern equipment for conducting funerails in a dignified and repsectful atmosphere. The funeral parlors are located in a quiet residen tial section, include a "chaipel, which has a seating capacity' of 60, a well furnished show room and a sanitary 1 preparation room. A. R. Collins enjoys the distinction of being the only colored licensed em balmer in Kershaw. He is a gradu ate of the Renouard Trainng School for Em/balmers, of New York City. In 1921 he passed his examination with the South Carolina State Board of Embalming, and is the holder of em balmer's license number 235. The Collins company uses the latest type of motor equipment. , A. R. Collins Is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, ia a I Mason, an Odd Fellow, member of . the Knights of Pythias and many other fraternal organizations. He i gives personal attention to all calls, either day or night. Collins was ap pointed a Notary Public by Governor John G. Richards in March, 1927. the purposes and plans of this oi'pyin ization, she granted to the Society ?the use of the mansion for a Negro school and she gave an acre of land on which to build a dormitory. The latter was completed in 1888 and was named Browning in honor of the largest donor, ^at year^ twenty girls entered the HKxme and were taught home-making in all its phases as well as the rudiments of learning. In 1889 the entire estate became the property of the Womans Home Missionary Society. The mansion was repaired and a day school opeued that year. The first graduates of the school claim 1893 as the year of their graduation. At that time the day school numbered 160, and there was also a night school with 42 enrolled. Obher building were added as need for such increased. One of these, the school building, known as Hubbard Hall, was the gift of Samuel Herbert Tingley of Providence, R. I., as a memorial to his wife, who with her husband was greatly interested in the Negro as proved by thedr donations to Claflin College and other Negro institutions of learning. The large brick building which oc cupies the center of the campus and is flanked at either end by Mather Dormitory and the school * building was constructed by the Woman Home Missionary Society in 1928 at a cost of $135,000. This structure, though not yet completely furnished, ha added to the possibilities of the work in both the Home and the school. In this beautiful three^story building ar? found a spacious chapel, a gymnas ium, laboratory and recitation rooms for Music? Domestic Science and Do mestic Art Departments of the school, as well as dormitory sipace for eighty girls and fifteen faculty mem bers) thd parlors, dining rooms, kitch en, laundry and other rooms needed in any home. . The number of students enrolled has varied from year to year, as the cotton crop3 have increased or failed. -As the new buildings were added, it became possible to add higher grades. In 1913 the school numbered' ten grades; in 1923 the eleventh grade was added; tfnd in 1928 there was graduated the first class from twelfth grade. Since 1905' boys have been regularly enrolled as. Day pupils. At present the school is 'orfianized with six grades in the elesmentary and six in the high school depa rtments. Pupils in both Junior and Senior high schools have the same teachers, all of which are college graduates. The South Carolina Course of Study for schools is followed. On account of the high grade of work done the high school since 1929 has been accredited by the State Department of Educat- 1 ion of South Carolina. The present enrollment is 276, of which 167 are in the Junior and Senior High Schools. 200 of the enrolled number are Day putpils who pay tuition by the month. Besides the regular Course of Study as outlined by South Carolina the pupils, who enter Mather Academy have several additional privileges. The departments of Domestic Science und Domestic Art are splendidly equipped and each girl from the fifth nrade through the twelfth is given special training each year in one of these. One of the courses offered now by the school is a special Vocat ional Course which gives those en rolled more training in the science of home making. Industrial and manual training for the boys, now greatly needed,, are some of the hopes ? for the near future. A Director of Religious Education supervises all such work in the school and gives training in Bible twice a week to each child in all twelve grades. A worship service is conducted each week in the beautiful chapel auditor ium. The music department is well organized. Public School music is taught each child once a week, and classes in music appreciation, chor uses and Glee olubs form only part of the activities of this department. Physical Education is stressed eac"h week for the girls under a special Director of Physical Education, who is also the school nurse. 18 Years of Faithful Service TO Camden and Kershaw County IN TIMES OF DISTRESS Left ? First Hearse, Horse ''Drawn Purdhased Oct. 1914 Center ? Second Hearse Purchased April 1920 Right ? Limousine P^uneral Coach Purchased June 1923 MODERN EQUIPMENT ChapclParlor Experinced There are times in the lives of most of us when grief and despair enter into our wordly problems and a sym pathetic understanding from those who would serve lessens the grief and despondency. Many homes in Cam den and surrounding territory have been served by us and it is with a sin cere desire to assist that we take charge when the death angel visits. A. R. COLLINS y- '? $: ksS . funeral Director and Embalmer Camden, South Carolina l?r ;,;V i fy x. 1 R. H. Haile, Mortician, ? Has Modern Establishment A Well Known and Respected Colored Citizen and Popu lar With Members of His Race. Seven years of actual experience in ' the undertaking business^ combined with a sympathetic and understand ing nature, has made R. H. Haile one of the best known and respected col- J ored morticians in this part of the state. He first went into the undertaking business in the firm of Champion & Haile, which founded on October 15, 1925. On January 1, 1929, he bought the interest of Champion, and since that time has conducted the bus iness under his own name. The most modern type of hearse and ambulance equipment is a feature of his service. Prompt and efficient ambulance service is rendered at all times of day and nght. This service is extended to many miles in the country and has frequently been the means of saving lives. Years of training are absolutely es sential in the undertaking business, and with the type of training he has had, bereaved families have learned to place their confidence in him, knowing that the last rites will be in tender, competent hands. Every fea ture of a funeral servce in charge of him is given careful attention and ev ery detail is handled in a manner that always proves comforting and accept able to the affected family. R. H. Haile is a member of Trinity Methodist Church, and has served as treasurer for a number of years.. He is also a teacher in Trinity Sunday School, and one of the trustees of the church. He has served many years - as treasurer of the Camden lodge of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a native of Kershaw County and has lived for 35 years in the city of Camden. R. H. HAILE MORTICIAN SEVEN YEARS OF ACTUAL EX PERIENCE IN THE UNDERTAK ING BUSINESS Modern Hearse and Atnbu' lance Equipment EVERY FEATURE OF FUNERAL SERVICES GIVEN PERSONAL ATTENTION R. H. HAILE Camden, ?. C. We Congratulate The Wateree Messenger Kershaw County's Oldest Newspaper On 48 Years of Service to The Commmunity This School has faithfully tried to fulfill its obli gations to the community by sending into lifes work boys and girls who have been taught their duties as citizens and their obligations to fellow man as well as to instill a keen desire for know ledge. We are grateful for the excellent support the community has given to us and we sincerely trust that the citizens and visitors to Camden will call and visit us. It will be a pleasure to have our friends and those whom we would have for friends to call on us. Mather Academy # WVr.V t