This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AgB.2ACE/134.1 Message Board Post: Luray was founded in 1889 as a stop on the Tennessee Midland Railroad. The primary factor in the stop's location was the availability of an artesian spring (http://www.henderson-lea.hc.k12tn.net/donahue/he-stuff/luraysp.htm). The community is maybe 3 dozen houses, 2 or 3 churches, a grocery, a gas station, and several empty store fronts. Luray post office still exists but it now serves much of southwestern Henderson County including the Huron and Middlefork communities. Students from the community now attend Westover School in the Juno Community. Before school consolidation, white students in the community attended Russells Crossroads. Black students attended Luray School (http://www.henderson-lea.hc.k12tn.net/donahue/school/luray34.htm). >From the 1940-41 school history (http://www.henderson-lea.hc.k12tn.net/donahue/he-stuff/school.htm): RUSSELLS CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL Eutah was given the name Luray after the railroad was built 53 years ago by the railroad people. The first settler was a Mr. Ried, who located here to have water power to run his flour mill. The oldest house standing is 120 years old and is owned and occupied by Mr. Feek Adcock. The Methodist Church is the oldest church and is still used. The Missionary Baptist and The Church of Christ are the other two churches here now. West Bain owned and operated the first store in Luray. Now, V. A. McNatt, W. A. Webb, Walter Wilkens and G. L. McHaney, have stores here. G. W. Priddy was the first postmaster and Jim Greer (colored) was the first mail carrier. The name Russells was given the school because Mr. Tom Russell lived near the school for sixty-two years. The name Cross Roads was used because of the location of the school. The first school building was built about one hundred years ago. The second building was built fifty one years ago. The third building was built August, 1923. The first teachers names were: Lawson Hedgecoth and Doss. The present teachers are J. A. Lipscomb and Mrs. Mary Nelle Outlaw. The average number of pupils is 46. The present building is 48 x 40 with four rooms, one lunch room and one coat room and is located 1.6 mile northwest of Luray in Second Civil District of Henderson County.