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Huntsville Ala, May 10th 70
Col. Edwin Beecher,
Montgomery Ala   [[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 4th inst is at hand, and I now proceed to answer your interrogative. The building in which I taught during the months of January, February, and March belonged to Thomas B. Crawford. It was built of round logs, had a chimney constructed partly of stone and logs. Said house was about 18 x 18-6, i e, 18 ft long, 18 ft wide, and 6 ft high, was covered with common white oak clabboards, for which building I promised to pay him $3.00 per month. I have not paid him nothing yet.
About the last of March, I moved my school over to the new building, in which I am teaching now. This new building is built of oak and poplar lumber. The floor and sides are oak and poplar. The lower joists are all poplar. The rafters are all poplar. The upright studdings are split chestnut, which will last as long as cedar. The land on which this building stands, was purchased by the colored people, and deeded to the township trustees "for the use of a free school, for colored children forever". Therefore you can easily understand who owns this new schoolhouse. The roof is made of white-oak clabboards, and is a very good one. This house is 20 ft wide, 30 ft long and 10 ft high. It alone is valued at $400.00