ROCK HOUSE, a school, church, and Masonic Lodge combined, was built about 1873 by Dr. Stout, who deeded the land to the school. William "Bill" Snell and William T. Claunch oversaw the construction of the two story rock building 6 ˝ miles northeast of Hamilton . The Masonic Lodge used the upper story for their meetings for about two years, and the ground floor was used for school and church services.  The first teacher was a Mr. Burton who had to carry his pistol to school with him because Indian raids were still frequent.

September 1, 1879, L. C. Snow, who had a second-grade certificate, was employed to teach in Rock House School Community No. 4, until the public school funds of that district were exhausted. Snow’s salary was set at seven and one-half cents per pupil per day, not to exceed $40 per month. The trustees were T. D. Nee, R. C. F. Stout, and Edward Jasper Wyatt.

Rock House was  classified as an intermediate school in 1911 with seven grades. The teachers in 1924-25 were Miss Fannie Thompson and Mrs. Minnie Myrtle Sills Craig and the school board members were F. L. Richardson, J. T. Appleby, and W. F. White. Teachers in 1936 were Miss Faye Henderson and Mrs. Frank Craig, while the trustees were K. C. Key, Charlie Cozby, and R. P. Krueger. 

Rock House Teachers 1940 to 1944 From Charlene Livingston's Report Cards


Teacher Grades 1 to 5
1940-1941 Mrs. D. G. Nelms
1941-1942 Mrs. D. G. Nelms
1942-1943 Miss Francis Evans
1943-1944 Miss Irene Waddill

Teacher Grades  6 &7  and Principal
1940-1941 Mrs. Lillie Duncan
1941-1942 Mrs. Lillie Duncan
1942-1943 Miss Lillian Sellers
1943-1944 Mrs. Pauline Hancock

When the Rock House School consolidated with Hamilton in 1945, its building was the oldest school building in Hamilton County. This historic building was torched for fun by some local juveniles in the 1980's.