Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Qualla Graded School - early Jackson County school

  • wcu_picturing-3335.jpg
  • This undated photograph shows Qualla Graded School (in use 1851-1980), also called Qualla School, Qualla High School, Quallatown School, and Shoal Creek School. Robert L. Madison served as principal in 1885. The school met in a traditional wood-frame building until 1927 when a new and larger stone school house was built. Renovations to the school building in 1952 included a deep well water system, two classrooms with restrooms, and a new heating system. In 1980, Qualla School closed and consolidated with Log Cabin Association Elementary School to form Smokey Mountain Elementary School (currently in use since 1980). Qualla School’s newer building was demolished in 2005 to construct the new Qualla Fire Department building.