The Council Bluff School was erected in 1903 near the top of Sand Mountain on the Valley Head Road. The land was donated by several prominent men in the community. Mr. Sam Cordell drove the first nail and helped with the construction.
In 1924 Council Bluff joined with Stamp, Central and Hawkins Chapel to form a new school at High Point. The county board minutes of 1935 show that a delegation from Council Bluff met with the county board to rescind their decision and remain the way they were, but the school board elected to have the school remain with High Point. After the consolidation, Council Bluff School was used for sacred harp singings and school reunions organized by Aileen Ott Hartzner and her brother Troy Ott. Some of the teachers at Council Bluff included: Chris Crawford, Hester Smith, Jenny Lowery, Annie Bell Rice, Arthur Igou, Joe Keith, Tony Wilson, Ruth Dejarnette, Forest Stinson, Garfield McCurdy, Gladys Vaughn, Inus Blake, Berry Summerour, Harvey E. Elrod, Illa Wilks and Mollie Clemons.
Council Bluff School is the last one-room school houses still standing in Dekalb County and is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.The property has been deeded to Landmarks for restoration. Progress is ongoing, but we need your help. Council Bluff has a new roof and plans for preserving the rest of the building are underway.
A geocache is located at the Council Bluff School, along with several other Landmark’s sites.
The Council Bluff School is located in a very rural area, down a small, unmarked road.
Driving Directions
(Directions from Fort Payne, Alabama)
- Go north on I–59 to Hwy. 117 (Exit 231) and turn left onto Hwy. 117.
- Go approximately .5 miles to CR 120 (first CR on the left) and turn left.
- Stay on CR 120 for approximately 1.6 miles. Turn left on small, unmarked road just before yellow sign warning of sharp curve ahead. This sign is just before CR 120 takes a sharp turn to the right. If you pass CR 114 on the left, you have missed the road and gone too far.
- The Council Bluff School is down this road on the right.
