The Chapel

The chapel was the center of the community; it hosted both religious services and the schoolhouse. In the chapel’s doorway hung a bell attached to a rope. Based on the bell’s acoustic structure, it could be heard throughout the community and was used to alert and gather community members. The bell was also rung to commemorate significant occasions, such as the passing of an individual. When someone died, the number of times the bell rang honored the number of years in the person’s life.

The chapel - with its religious services, school, and bell - created a sense of safety and belonging within the community. This sense of safety and belonging are also instrumental characteristics of the modern classroom. According to the fifth Foxfire Core Practice, the classroom should have an atmosphere of trust and equity that promotes active learning.