Mossy Grove Schoolhouse
by
Amanda Gallatin
The Mossy Grove School House Restaurant in Troy is a popular dinner spot with a long history.
Locals James Curtis, James Lee, and Joseph Blackmon founded the school in 1856 after receiving a deed from landowners Abraham and Chastity Black. The lot was full of giant oaks draped with Spanish moss, so the co-founders named their school Mossy Grove.
Mossy Grove began as a one-room, one-teacher school. The government did not furnish supplies, so families purchased textbooks and passed them down from child to child. Students used writing tablets and copper pencils.
Mossy Grove is from the official Mossy Grove Facebook profile picture
In her autobiography, Donie Curtis Ellis (who attended Mossy Grove and whose grandfather, James Curtis, co-founded the school) described the classroom as it appeared in 1915.
“In the center of our one room was a pot-bellied stove. Parents took turns bringing a load of wood to the school. At the front of the room was a low stage across the width of the room. It was here that the teacher had her desk and a long bench where she called classes to recite their lessons. There were slate blackboards behind her desk and on each side of the room there was a small one.”
Attendance grew, and the trustees decided to add an additional classroom to Mossy Grove. Today the original room and “New Room,” as the students called it, are used as dining rooms in the restaurant.
Ms. Ellis goes on to describe the exterior of the building.
“The owners have improved the schoolhouse inside and out. When it was used as a school, it was always painted white and the inside walls were never painted. There was never an outside chimney, no curtains at the windows, no banisters on the porch, no partition walls, no paved walkway or driveway and never a big bell outside. The privy was much farther away than the impression that is given to the restaurant’s patrons today.”
Mossy Grove picture is a family photo owned by Amanda Gallatin. Donie C. Ellis is in the middle row, 3rd from the left – right of the boy holding the hat. (the boy and Donie would later get married – picture from author Amanda Gallatin)
Mossy Grove closed in 1920 when the county consolidated the area schools. In the years following it was used as a community center, private residence, and rental property. It was renovated in 1978 and turned into Mossy Grove School House Restaurant. The restaurant is famous for its hushpuppies and white beans served family style with every meal. The menu is full of local favorites, a fitting nod to the long and important history of the building known as Mossy Grove.
Source:
Backtracking, by Donie C. Ellis, 1992
We have had a meal here.
We held a family reunion here. Great food. Family members are buried at the cemetery next door.
Is our great grand daddy in this pic?
He could be. I don’t think there are pictures of him.
Wouldn’t that be cool?
Been there several times.
It was not Mossy Grove when it first opened as a Restaurant. The original restaurant was called Miss Blossoms School House Restaurant. It was opened by my sister in law and her first cousin. They were also school teachers
That is really interesting, Tonya. I never knew this part of history for Mossy Grove School House. Thank you for sharing!
Miss blossom’s food was fantastic– much better than now !
Looks Like My Family.
Absolutely love this article and the history of this place. The little girl referenced in the picture and the boy standing next to her are my grandparents, Donie C. Ellis and Emory Curry Ellis. A true Pike County and Troy, Alabama piece of history. My Nana spoke often of this school. She was a teacher for many, many years and would be honored that her great-granddaughter, Amanda has honored her memories.
Earl
I ate there years ago. The food was great.
I’ve always wanted to eat there but i go by at the wrong time.
Ate there one time last year. They are very generous with the oil in the food.
I live cross the road from it, ate there when it was operated by the Blossom sisters. Have family buried in the cemetery.