Comments on: George Hildebran High School — Connellys Springs, North Carolina

By: dennis carson

dennis carson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:49:51 +0000

Hello, I went to george hildabran in 1965 thru 1974..then I went to east burke in high school..as far as my african american family that a community called maple grove…( 1 mile and a half ) south on hwy 18, we enter at the school in 1965, or 1964..a lot of african american in the south may have faces adversity when going to a all white school..but we didn’t..there might have been a one on one incedent, but nothing major..my whole time there, I was treated very good like my white friends..we we’re. Like family..my family before me knew everyone…before george hildabran, my older brothers and cusin had went to school in newton, north carolina for so many years..from 1940′s to 1964..before that my dad and others older family. Had went to a small wooden school with one room in it in the community ( maple grove)..yes george hildabran. Is well know in its basketball program, and baseball program..it was the smallest school in burke county..when I was there..the population from kindergarden thru 12 grade was only over 700 pupil…the basketball program have won a lot of championship and other sports as well.. george hildabran. Has people that migrated from hickory, morganton, shelby, lincolnton, and lenoir..a peacesful cummunity. ( god country) that I love calling home..

By: Cheryl Shuffler

Cheryl Shuffler — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:01:45 +0000

Patty,
I’m working a story about George Hildebrand vs. George Hildebran (with a “d” and without a “d”.) Thanks for posting your information. Send me an e-mail with your full name, if you don’t mind, so I can use you as a source for the story. cshuffler@morganton.com.
Thanks,
Cheryl

By: Patty

Patty — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:19:51 +0000

TO Dave Saunders, thank you very much .. I attended this school as did my Mother and my Aunt . and other family members. All as well as myself graduated. At the time of my Mother’s graduation the school’s in Burke County only went to the 11th grade for completion of studies and graduation. I graduated in 1966… There were many dedicated teachers in that school. A big thank you to MIss Juanita Ramsey as far as my high school years went. She was a real gem..

By: DaveSanders

DaveSanders — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:52:01 +0000

Excellent information! Thank you.

By: Patty

Patty — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:19:54 +0000

The lower picture was erected in 1925. The school was named for George Washington Hildebrand who was an outstanding farmer, operater of a cotton gin and manager of sawmill and planer operations in Lower Fork township where he was a resident and son of it’s pioneer settlers and great grandson of Conrad Hildebrand soldier of the Revolution who fought at Kings Mountain. George W. Hildebrand was interested in politics and the community. He built a wooden frame school house on the same parcel in 1890. It was moved and the brick school was then built. He served on the Burke County school board for 42 years. This school was for grades 1 thru 12 then later K thru 12. Several generations of families attended this school. The school and the churches were the center of all activities in the community.
The picture at the top was built later. I do not know the exact date. It had gym, shop and most all of the high school students had classes at this building. The cafeteria was at the lower building. The inside of the school was warmed with coal heat and had beautiful wood floors. It had an auditorium. There are several schools in Burke County that were built around the same time period and they resemble this school. Mr. Hildebrand’s funeral was conducted November 23, 1936 in the auditorium of the George Hildebrand School. I do not know when the D was dropped from the name of the school. I believe the upper picture which was the high school is now a primary school or elementary school at this present day. This school is in the Lower Fork township of Burke County.