Pine Mountain Settlement School

Pine Mountain Settlement School is located on Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. The settlement school focuses on Appalachian and environmental education.HistoryFounding"A National Historic Landmark, Pine Mountain Settlement School was founded in 1913 as a school for children in the commonwealth's remote southeastern mountains and a social center for surrounding communities. The school was the dream of a local man, William Creech Sr., who was troubled by the area's lack of educational opportunities, and the prevalence of social problems and rampant disease. He donated land for the school and recruited two women, Katherine Pettit of Lexington, Kentucky, and Ethel DeLong, New Jersey native, to establish and run the new institution. These two women enlisted the help of architect Mary Rockwell Hook of Kansas City to draw up plans for the campus and its buildings."UsesPine Mountain Settlement School grew out of the settlement movement, which established institutions such as Hull House. The school has served many purposes in since its founding nearly a century ago. From 1913 to 1930, Pine Mountain served as a boarding school for children of elementary and middle school age. In 1930, Pine Mountain became a boarding high school, encouraging vocational and artistic development as well as academics. In 1949, Pine Mountain and the county educational system began to jointly operate an elementary school. In the 1970s, Pine Mountain began to focus its efforts on environmental education. In addition to operating as an educational institution, Pine Mountain Settlement School has served its community in other ways. For example, during Pine Mountain's time as a high school, it sponsored Work Experience Training, which gave men job training and helped them find employment. Pine Mountain has also operated as a farm, health clinic, and a supporter of local music and crafts. Today, in addition to cultural and environmental education, Pine Mountain Settlement School offers assistance to local low-performing students.