Old Schools of Sebastian County, Arkansas

Massard-Maness School

Submitted by Gina Caperton Ervin
GG Granddaughter of William Thomas and Martha �Mattie� Temperance McAllister ( McAlester ) Bugg

In the 1820�s, President Monroe awarded William Jackson McAllister ( McAlester ) and wife Elizabeth Holcomb McAllister a land grant. The Mazzard/Maness school houses were eventually built on land from this grant. The land was donated by William Jackson�s daughter Martha �Mattie� Temperance McAllister and husband William Thomas Bugg. The first school structure was a log building located a half-mile east of the current building. Sometime later, a white frame building was built to replace the log schoolhouse. This schoolhouse was called the Mazzard Schoolhouse because it was located on the Mazzard Prairie. It burned and was replaced with the existing stone structure (3rd picture) Again, the land on which the school sat was donated by the Bugg family. Their home place was on the site where the Janet Huckabee Nature Center now sits. They owned many acres in that area until Chaffee was established. UAFS is considering the site to establish a botanical garden with plans to keep the old school house in tact. It is on the National Historical Register. My great aunt, Leota Bugg Heathcock, attended Maness School . (2010)She is 99 years old and I believe is the only remaining/living student who attended. She is in Mercy Crest Nursing Home but sharp as a tack.

Of other historical note, Martha McAllister William Thomas Bugg also donated the land for Steep Hill Cemetery � along with Martha�s sister Louisa E. McAllister and husband James William Rutherford.