T.C Henderson: Insight Into His Early Life As An Educator

Thomas Calhoun Henderson was born October 9, 1871 to George and Millie Henderson.  Like his younger brother Charlie, who was featured in last week’s Picturing the Past article, T.C. received limited schooling as a child. 

The Henderson boys were eager to pursue more education though.  They attended Professor A.T. Hord’s private academy in Glenville and then Cullowhee Academy, which later became Western Carolina University.  Throughout his career T.C. would take many additional courses to continue his own education.  His first teaching experience was in a one-room log schoolhouse in the East Fork community in 1897. 

The Henderson boys, a niece and a cousin lived in this cabin 
while attending school at Cullowhee in 1896.
Seated from left: Isaac Henderson, Latha Miller Thomas (niece),
Charlie Henderson.  Back from left: Kennedy Henderson, Mabel 
Peek Watson (cousin), Calhoun (T.C.) Henderson.

Henderson served as the principal of the Croatan Normal School in Robeson County (1900-1905) and was superintendent of The Cherokee Indian Normal School of Robeson County (1917-1923).  The school, which provided education for Native American students during a time of segregation, went through several name changes over the years and is The University of North Carolina at Pembroke today.  According to “Hail to UNCP! A 125-Year History of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke” Henderson is credited for “raising the standard of work” throughout his term as principal and “a surge of progress” during his second stint at the school.

In Transylvania County, T.C. Henderson was first named Superintendent of Schools in July 1905.  Henderson immediately began to push representatives from the 35 small schools scattered throughout the county to comply with state regulations regarding education.  He held mandatory teacher meetings in each district, inviting school committee members and parents to attend, as well.  He advocated for longer school sessions, the hiring of better qualified teachers and major improvements to school facilities.  

To achieve these goals, Henderson purposed a school tax in each school district of the county.  An April 27, 1906 Sylvan Valley News article stated, “So far in the history of this county no citizen has ever paid a cent of tax for public schools—and generally speaking there have been no public schools worth supporting by taxation.”  The special tax was approved in Brevard in April 1906 and other districts soon approved school taxes, as well.

Over the next twelve years, enrollment increased from 75 percent to 82 percent of school age children in the county.  Daily attendance also went up from 54 percent of those enrolled to 65 percent.  The school year was extended from 84 to 123 days overall, and 147 days in districts with a school tax.

The number of teachers increased from 40 to 60 county wide and they were much better trained.  Thirty-seven teachers had attended Normal School for Teachers, as opposed to just six previously. In addition, nine teachers had college diplomas, up from just one in 1905.

 School conditions were greatly improved with numerous new buildings and upgraded equipment and supplies.  There were now two state-aided high schools, ten schools with a piano or organ and 25 rural schools with a library.

T.C. Henderson

Nonetheless, Supt. Henderson wrote a March 16, 1917 Brevard News article titled, “Brevard’s Greatest Need Is High School Building.”  He proposed a 20-year, $25,000 bond to build a high school with at least four traditional classrooms, two rooms for domestic science, an auditorium and office space, plus a lab and manual (vocational) training room in the basement. 

Despite the vast improvements Henderson brought to the schools of Transylvania County when a new school board was elected in 1917 they voted to replace him with Professor A.F. Mitchell, who had served as the principal at Penrose High School for the past three years.

Next week Picturing the Past will look at T.C. Henderson’s second period as Superintendent of Transylvania County Schools and his legacy to the local school system.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. For more information contact Marcy at 828-884-1820 or marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org.