Submitted by Barbara (Caddell) Fox
These photos can also be viewed on Microfilm at the
Waco, McLennan County, Texas Library
The Daily
Democrat
Marlin, Texas
Tuesday, November 30, 1909
County School Notes
BY A. W. E.
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Mr. J. S. Henderson of Central reports the organization of a corn club with the
following boys as members:
Ivan Clawson, Charlie Cobb, Joe Cornelison, Daniel
Harlan, Rupert Harlan, Dewey Owen, Bryan Meeks, Marion Williams, Earl Harlan,
Marvin Cornelison, Leonard Cobb.
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Stranger Among the First.
One among the first schools established in the county was at Stranger, or as
they sometimes called it, Union. Away back in the seventies, Rev.
Lattimore and his accomplished wife, established an academy at this place and
had fine success until failing health made it necessary for him to retire from
the school room. The public school system then came in vogue and since
that time they have had some splendid schools.
At various times they
have had young men as teachers who since then have made names for themselves in
Texas. Supt. J. C. Lattimore of the Waco city schools began his teaching
experience in this school, and left it for the office of county superintendent
of Falls county.
Supt. J. E. Blair of
the Corsicana schools taught his first term in Texas here.
Judge W. M. White, county judge of Freestone county,
taught here two years, and studied law at night.
Prof. J. A. Dunkum of the Marlin State Bank began his
successful career in Texas as a teacher in the Stranger school.
Esq. J. E. Niday, city attorney of Houston, also had
his introduction to Texas as a teacher in this school.
The people have always
had over an average building, but a few years ago the old building was sold and
a new, roomy, two-story one was erected on the present site. They have a
post oak grove of two acres on the hill side, which makes one of the best school
grounds in the county; the building is well kept; it was painted last spring,
and is seated with single seats. (Regret to say the picture was spoiled in
making, but will try again.) Boys Corn
Club, Salt Branch
Mr. Charley Ward is
for the second year in charge and is giving a good school. The order and
work is good, the pupils respond readily in recitation, and get hold of the work
in a convincing manner. The primary department is in charge of Miss Alma
Varnado, who is one of the most careful and painstaking young teachers in the
county. The order and work is good, and the room is making excellent
progress.
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Criswell Still Flourishes.
Four years ago the strip of Falls county east of Big Creek and north of Elm was
organized with a part of Limestone county into the Criswell school district.
Last February the “county line decision” knocked the district out, but by
reorganizing with Erskine district, there has been no serious change. A
very good house has been built and a good little school has been run every since
the organization.
This year the work is in charge of Miss Halley Moore, one of that famous bunch of Lott girls who are teaching all about over the county. They have already had a cleaning day and the house and yards look like “white folks” lived there. The order and work are fine. Lots of work is furnished, and the school is doing fine. Criswell School NOTE: After viewing this photo, Coma Caddell Densman, who was born in 1919, identified it as "The old school that burned when I was in the first grade. The farmers in the area got together and rebuilt the schoolhouse, which is the one still standing today".
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Improvements at Shields.
The house at Shields Academy has been put in good repair, a lot of new desks
ordered, and everything put in shape for Mrs. Pearl Watkins, who is teacher for
this term. Mrs. Watkins is an experienced normal trained teacher, and it
is a pleasure to witness the ease and skill with which she handles a one-room
school. She is putting special stress on reading this time, giving
one-fourth of the day to that subject, and doing all she could to bring out the
pupils. The things she seems to attempt in the reading recitations are,
first, careful study of the new works; second, the story of the lesson is
brought out by skillful questions; third, the pupil attempts to read with as
much expression as possible. The organization of the work is good, and the
order equal to the best. Shields Academy
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A Hard Working School.
A very quiet, orderly and hard-working school has Miss Maggie Strange at Eureka.
She is very thorough and instructive in her methods, and the pupils are
profiting by the work. Eureka
Photo of
November 30, 1909 Newspaper
