1892. The oldest continuously used public school in NC. Statesville's only public grade school for the first 23 years of the school system. The two-story brick structure was built facing Bell Street with the bell tower also on Bell Street and was named Bell Street graded school. The bell was saved during a 1955 remodeling and became a part of the sign that hangs in the front yard when the bell tower was torn down. On Arbor Day of March 1893 the Vice President of the US, Adlai E. Stevenson, planted a maple tree on the grounds. A 1921 remodeling changed the main entrance to Mulberry Street, adn renamed the school Mulberry Street School.