A red hill on the W.H. Young farm gave the community of Red Hill its name. The person who decided on this name is not known.
Families began buying land and moving in. Some of the land was selling for $15.00 an acre. A corporation named Spur Farm Land, owned by S.M. Swenson and Sons published a brochure telling all the "grand" points of this newly divided land.
The Will Young family came to Red Hill about 1898. They are believed to have been the first. Between 1898 and 1920 a number of families settled in the Red Hill Community. The John Adams, C. McLaughlin, C.D. Copeland, Will Watson, Jim Blair, J.A. Kerley, Rob Horn, Austin Frazier, John T. Jones, Mike Young, Amanda Wyatt, Lusk family, Fred Joiner and Tobe Westfall to name a few.
School began on the Blair farm. No one knows what year, but it is believed that Mrs. Mike Young was the first teacher. County school records show that on May 8, 1911 Count School District #17, that being Red Hill, was organized. In February 1912 the Swenson's donated two acres for a school, and a one-room school house was built. Some time later a two-room school was built with the other being torn down. County school records show that on August 4, 1930, a petition was brought before County School Board to consolidate with Spur. The upper grades began in Spur in 1930 with the lower grades going in 1931.
Some of the teachers at Red Hill were Bertie Vernon, Margaret Elliot, Vera Roberts, Lou Emma Henry, Ruth Wilmon, Lutie Pickens Rogers, Steve Austin, Miss Bristow and Anna Lavina Warren. Teachers lived in homes of the people of the community. There was also a school on the C.D. Copeland land for the negro children. Mr. Copeland and W.F. Shugart provided teachers for them. School records show in 1929 there were 44 students in the Red Hill school.
In May of 1924 a hail storm struck the community, killing Onita Kerley and hurting several others. School had been turned out early and some of the children got caught in the storm.
There were no church houses in Red Hill. Church of Christ started meeting in a dugout on the Will Young place. No one can remember when this was. Later they met on Sunday afternoons at the school house. The Baptist and Methodist met together on Sunday mornings, also in the school house. A lot of times dinner was served and the entire community would stay all day. Church of Christ was led by Mr. Will Young. The Millard Smith family moved to the Red Hill Community and he preached the morning services. In the 40's both churches disbanded.
Horseback riding, baseball games, domino games and ice cream suppers were plentiful in the community. Singing schools were taught by Bud Warren and Tom Cooner, and were looked forward to eagerly. Plays put on by the children were enjoyed by all, especially those after the school was consolidated. Community rabbit drives were held, and usually the women quilted while the men hunted. Dinner was always served at the school house. Christmas was special with a community party- big tree and Santa Claus.
Second and third generations of the pioneer families still live in the community: M.M. Copeland, Carl Grantham, and Jim Bob Horn. The Horns live where the sh cool house used to stand.
The Red Hill School is gone, but lots of good memories remain.
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