Great attention was paid to spelling. By the light of candles, the spelling "bees" or tournaments were held in the old building. The silhouette of the old schoolmaster could be seen with the tattered old United States spelling book in hand as he pronounced the words to the line of contestants on the platform at the end of the room. The audience, composed of friends and relatives of the contestants, would render their applause at the victory of the successful speller. This community had two members who generally vere rivals for the victory. No one vas barred from the contest. The line, at the beginning was a long one, and as a word vas misspelled, the teacher would say, "Next!" The word vas then passed on to the succeeding speller until the word was spelled correctly. The one missing the correct spelling would drop out, thus the line would dwindle until the two contestants, Harmon Crow and Tup Shipley would remain. Those two vere well-posted in all the words of the Bible. Sometimes the laurels rested on the brow of one, sometimes on the other.

John Blair Robinson, M.D., wrote from Mt. Vernon, Iowa in 1930 about his early education as follows: "There has been some inquiry as to persons now living vho attended subscription school at the old Universalist Church and school building. John Robinson of Moundsville whose wife was a Miss Sharp, taught a subscription school there in 1857. That was ny first attendance at school. I stayed vith my grandfather Harris and my Aunt Eliza Jane Harris was my pilot. The pupils I remember at that school were: Eliza Jane Harris, Webster Harris, Mahala and Agnes Harris, John and David Founds, a Miss Founds, Wylie and J. C. Arnold, James Nixon, Joseph Logsdon, Eb Earliwine, Eli Huggins, and John Logsdon. One morning the larger boys barricaded the door against the teacher, and demanded a treat. The teacher, good naturedly consented and shortly afterward gave the finest treat I ever saw: stick candy, large red apples, ginger cakes, and sweet cider. There was plenty for all.

In the fall of 1865, a Mr. Moss opened a subscription school in the old building. My brother and I attended the school for one month, walking from Blairs Ridge every day. The walk proved too much and we gave it up. The pupils attending this session were: Meggie Cummins, Bess Crow, Frank Crow, John Pierce, Sam Pierce, Roe Farliwine, Luther Fry, Joe Crow, Jane Crow, Ab Lowe, John Lowe, Webster Harris, Mahala and David Harris, Arthur and John Robinson. I believe that was the last subscription in the old church."