The following is an excerpt from the Smith County History Book. The book was published in 1986 by the Smith County Homecoming ’86 Heritage Committee. To purchase a digital copy of the Smith County History Book, contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce or the Smith County Heritage Museum.
By: Sue W. Maggart
Many of the buildings constructed for the subscription schools also served a dual role as a house of worship. Trinity Church is an example of this custom. Prior to 1871 there was a school on Indian Creek near Enigma called Silver Lake. On May 19, 1871, friends of the project of erecting a new school house with church privileges to the Methodist E.C. South, the Cumberland Presbyterians, and the Missionary Baptist Churches on the land where Silver Lake school house stood, gathered at the old school house for a meeting. Those present were William Robinson, T.C. Williamson, A.I. Clark, G.W. Apple, Andrew McDonald, and J.C. Apple. J.C. Apple was elected President of the Board of Trustees, and L.D. Apple, Secretary. A building committee composed of William Robison, A.I. Clark, and L.D. Apple was appointed to contract for construction of the building.
On May 26, 1871, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees: Resolved that with the aid of a subscription list made for the purpose of erecting a school house with church privileges on a lot of ground conveyed by H.W. Sadler and upon which stands a small school house on Indian Creek known as Silver Lake School House, we agree to build a frame building 30 X 52 feet to be fitted up in a good style….”The Board employed L.D. Apple at the rate of $1.25 per day to contract for materials and labor and supervise construction of the new building.
On December 22, 1871, the Board of Trustees convened for the first time in the new school and church house on Indian Creek. On motion “Trinity” was adopted as the name of said house. At this same meeting Z.T. Brown was elected to fill the vacancy on the board because of the death of Dr. William Robinson. It was agreed to increase the board to nine and L.D. Clark, John Apple and H.B.C. Vaden were elected to serve. In 1891 it was agreed that the Board of Trustees should be constituted of four members each from the Presbyterians and Methodists and one member for the Missionary Baptists. In that year the Methodists were represented by J.C. Apple, N.B. Brown, John H. Apple and S.W. Robinson; the Presbyterians by John Apple, Andrew McDonald, J.C. Cowen, and John A. Shepherd; H.B.C. Vaden was the Baptist representative.
The first school in the house was conducted by J.D. Ewell who contracted with the Board o f Trustees to teach a session o f five months beginning on the third Monday in February in 1872. Just how long Ewell taught the school is not recorded, but in 1875 it was again determined by the Board that there was a demand for a school in the neighborhood. W.B. Lee was elected teacher to “ begin at the earliest period possible.”
In 1881 the Board set aside a lot upon which a school house was to be erected to be used for school purposes only.
In 1906 the Board of Trustees met to consider the request of the “ Holiness” people to erect a shed, etc. for the purpose of holding a camp meeting. The request was granted, and a contract was drawn up. Under the terms of the agreement the committee of construction could erect such buildings on the grounds “to be used exclusively for religious purposes, provided that the Methodist E. Church, the Cumberland Presbyterians and Missionary Baptists shall still have access to the use of said property when not in use by the “Holiness People.”
Only the hollow shell of the old Church stands as mute tribute to Silver Lake School, Trinity Church and School, and the “ Holiness Campground.”
