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Submitted by:

Kay Cunningham

FROM THE BEGINNING

TO A FIRE

IN 1900

     EARLY SCHOOLS IN THE FALLS COUNTY VICINITY, An historical book, "Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World," published in 1893, recorded, "The first school taught in the Brazos-falls region, as far as information can be obtained, was one at Coleman Prairie in the ' 40s with J. W. Jarvis as teacher. This covered the settlement east of the river ," Location of Coleman Prairie may never be known.

Some believe it was in the vicinity of Coleman street, Marlin, which may have obtained its name from the same source. Earlier citizens spoke of a stagecoach inn and "eating place," operated by a family of Colemans at the site of the former Arlington Hotel northeast comer of the Coleman street and Winter streets intersection,

     As far as known, this is the only reference to schools in the Brazos-falls vicinity prior to the 1850s. It is illustrative of the meager educational facilities of that time, When Texas was annexed to the United States in 1846, education began receiving attention and successive Legislatures labored to provide and encourage educational progress. In 1850 Falls County was created with Marlin as its county seat, The heretofore mentioned historical book noted that the county seat was the center of early educational matters and the "next one (school) was one by Dr, G, W. Cain, who also taught in the old log courthouse after the county was created-. After the old Union church was built about 250 yards west of the courthouse, school was held by Judge W, R. Reagan, who was elected judge of Falls County in 1865. He later moved to Reagan which was named for him."

     Minutes of Falls County Commissioners Court support evidence of Mr. Reagan having taught such a school. A notation of May 17, 1857, does not indicate where he taught, but reads, "The Court-examine the books of W. R. Reagan, teacher in the Male and Female Marlin Academy-," Later, in the same minutes, it was ordered that Mr. Reagan "be allowed the sum of $137.00 out of the school fund now in the county treasury and that the treasurer-pay the same-."

     It is not known where Male and Female Marlin Academy was located, when it started and how long it served. In memoirs of William Shelton, former Falls County teacher, county judge and Marlin mayor, in possession of Mrs. Lela Shelton, widow of a son of Mr. Shelton, was a leaflet showing it was active in 1874. The leaflet, headed "Marlin Male and Female Academy," announced school would open, January 14, 1874, for a "session of twenty-four weeks according to the following:

   "Spelling, reading and writing                               $2.00 per month

     Intermediate class                                                  3.00 per month                                                                                                           

     Latin, Greek, algebra or science                         4.00 per month

    Music, piano or guitar-teachers' charges Incidental expenses per session   .50              

   "All scholars will be charged from the date of entrance to the close of the session.

   "No deduction except for protracted illness.

   "Tuition paid monthly in advance. Those who cannot pay in advance are expected to give satisfactory assurances that their bills will be paid at the expiration of the session.

William Shelton, Pr'n."

     The history continued, "After this (school) taught by Reagan there were various schools known as 'subscription' school, one in the old Bartlett building (site of Marlin's city hall in 1960), where a man by the name of Patton taught.

     "This shows the beginning of education's affairs in Falls County and the slow growth at that time. Those who were wealthy enough depended on the best schools abroad and the county never encouraged any noted private schools."

Commissioners Court minutes refer to other early schools, but details are lacking. For instance, those of November, 1853, refer to a road "leaving the public square-running by the north street and by the school house-entering Brazos bottom-northerly to Rock Dam-for Waco." This indicated an early school was taught north of the courthouse.

     In May, 1855, a petition with "signatures including names of a school committee" prayed for donation of "-town lot- known as Lot No. Eleven-on the south side of the public square-deed to be to the school committee-lot situated about a quarter of a mile on the west side of the public square- the school committee to buy the school house on it."

     Further evidence of schools were references in the minutes of Commissioners Court of school lands in Wise County, land near Fort Belknap and in Cook, Archer and other counties- belonging to the county.

     In the 1850s, payments were authorized to the following; probably for teaching, schools not indicated: W. R. Reagan, J. W. Loughridge, Les Quincy, John McBride, R. W. Mosly, N. B. Temple, I. J. Barton, John Forbes. Mr. Reagan, of course, was referred to as "teacher in the Marlin Male and Female Academy."

     Information and recollections of conversations of veterans of the War Between the States (Civil War), 1861-65, and their families revealed educational progress in Falls County was at a standstill at the outbreak of the war and continued so throughout Reconstruction-from about 1860 to 1875. During the war the county was drained of its young men and some of its older ones and those at home, including women and children, were completely occupied "keeping the home fires burning" and supplying their men in the armies with essentials they could get only from home. After the war everyone was undergoing a great emotional crisis, was "broke" and handicapped. Schools languished.

     It is known that soon after Reconstruction, a revival of interest in education arose dramatically. Children, young and old-and parents-Hocked to available schools. Many new people arrived in the county and educational demands sky- rocketed. The free Negroes posed problems, because they are unaccustomed to "going to school" and were reluctant to go. This discouraged people in providing schools for them. However, by 1875, education in the county was receiving its just attention and schools arose rapidly.

     Especially contributive to education was William Shelton, not only as teacher and school administrator, but as county judge and mayor of Marlin. He was active in education from immediately after the war to over five years after 1900.

     Among his memoirs is a copy of his official "appointment as principal" of Marlin's schools, dated September 11, 1871; also notification of his having received a first class certificate for teaching in the same year. He had been previously active and Marlin's schools were classified in 1871 in a favorable bracket among Texas schools. It is interesting to note that he was paid $125 a month for his services as principal.

     It has already been mentioned that Mr. Shelton had headed the Marlin Male and Female Academy about the

time that school was discontinued. A leaflet indicated he was principal and Miss Annie Lang was assistant of the "Marlin High School for Girls and Boys" for the tenth session, commencing September 1, 1874. It was probably a private school, for Mr. Shelton was known to have conducted both private and public schools. On the back of the leaflet he had penned, "It is my intention to discontinue my school after the expiration of this term -." He explained one of his reasons-"that the citizens may arrange a school building." He also wrote, "I will state my building is for rent or sale."

     In September, 1875, a THE MOVING BALL newspaper- clipping among papers of Mr. Shelton-told of a mass meeting of citizens that month to seek financial assistance from the Peabody Fund for "Professor Shelton's new seminary." W. L. Patillo was selected treasurer to receive funds, including those necessary for preliminary work. A. E. Watson, W. W. Hazelwood, B. L. Aycock, Mrs.' Kate Parker, Mrs. Ann Scogins, William O. Smith, W. M. Brown, Jesse Scruggs, H. H. Fortune and W. 'A. J. Nicholson were appointed a committee to solicit funds and promote the movement-and probably receive funds if they were advanced by the Peabody Fund.

     In November, 1878, Mr. Shelton's report on Marlin High School Community No.5 showed, among other things, that 120 children were enrolled and "fourteen children-names not on the list"; teachers' salary per month was $129.00; average tuition per pupil was $1.50; and the school building, etc., were in good condition.

     According to THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT (newspapers), the late Mrs. William McComb, nee Mary Alice Killebrew, related she went to school as a small girl in the 1870s in the home of Mrs. Bates at what was called "Bates Hill." She said Mrs. Bates operated a boarding house and stagecoach inn at which north-south coaches stopped for passengers to dine and horses to be changed. Bates Hill was located about a half-mile north of Marlin's city limits, 250 yards east of Farm Road No. 2117 (Marlin to Rockdam) where the home Mr. and Mrs. Louis Neumann stands in 1960.

     Mrs. McComb 'related also she attended a private school near a branch on Perry street, north of the courthouse; and that another school was in operation in a church a short distance west of the courthouse. This may have been the school referred to as being "in the old Union church."

     Dates of organization and life of an early school, known as "Stafford Military Academy," are not known. The school was located on the present-day (1960) site of the home of Miss Roberta Falconer, 433 Agnes street. Miss Falconer said her father, W. L. Falconer, purchased in 1886 a large tract of land, including the site of her home and the L. A. Robinson home at the corner of Agnes and Walker streets, extending northward a considerable distance. Records in the county clerk's office showed that Mr. Falconer bought such land from the City of Marlin when William Shelton was mayor.

     Early newspapers described the building of the Falconer home on the Stafford Military Academy site, where "-the bell peal heard-" for distances, the newspapers reported in referring to the former academy. The home was described as being of design "closely related to General Robert E. Lee's 'Arlington.'" Miss Falconer said the former school building (of wood), part of which was converted into the Falconer home, was T -shaped having extensions for class rooms to the south, east and west. Before building the home, part of the structure was moved to the farm of George Falconer, brother of Miss Falconer, some distance westward.

     Dates of this school apparently were in the 1870s and earlier. Oscar E. Curry and J. C. Holloway recalled the school, but were not sure whether it was a public or private school. They recalled that some, if not all, students wore uniforms. They did not recall its name. Miss Lalla Branson said she was sure its name was "Stafford Military Academy" for her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Branson, frequently referred to it and its name.

     SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1876. Enumeration of the steps in the evolution of the Texas school system whereby school districts, including "independent" districts, were created cannot be reviewed here. Prior to 1882, people of Marlin had voted against establishment of a public free school, but, following a petition of citizens, another election was held in April, 1882, and a free school was approved by a vote of 128 to 75, according to the minutes of the City Council of Marlin. At that time, school districts and schools in the county increased rapidly. With the coming of mechanical transportation and all-weather roads the number decreased as habits of people changed and more thickly-populated areas were able to provide better schools. At the turn of the last century, Commissioners Court minutes and other records show that over a hundred schools thrived in the county; in 1960, there. were. only eleven, including independent schools of Marlin, Chilton, Lott and Rosebud.

     Under the state Constitution of 1876 (present one) and leadership of Judge E. C. Stuart and Commissioners H. Rickelmann, J. T. Daniel, Leonard Magee and George Harlan, the county was divided into 34 school districts, but people were adverse to changes and the older school system remained practically in vogue. Later, when people were convinced of the wisdom of school districts, the county was divided into 75, some of which remained in existence until 1950. The so-called "community system" of schools, namely, establishment of districts, managed and controlled by people of the respective districts-through trustees and school administrators- enabled the more populated areas to provide better schools and more comprehensive curricula. Most early schools were in a way "independent," but not completely separated from the county and cities. Independent school districts are managed by people of the districts, who set their own curricula and educational standards and provide funds independently for their maintenance.

     MARLIN'S SCHOOLS FROM ABOUT 1867 TO 1900. I "Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World," already mentioned, recorded in 1893, "Marlin is the only independent school in the county. The school took advantage of her school as public schools in 1884-set about securing a good principal, an office which has become enlarged to that of superintendent. Professor J. A. Dunkum was the first one. The next year they had Professor C. W. Welch. Then for the next four years the schools were in the hands of Superintendent E. I. Hall, a Texas educator of such reputation he is at this writing conductor of the Eighteenth Senatorial District Summer Normal at  Franklin (Texas). He has been in charge of Marlin  schools and re-election for of a superintendent. the following year gives evidence that Marlin has found the man she wants to lift her schools to their highest efficiency. Principal J. (Jesse) Washington is at the head of her colored schools.

     "Let some of the features of growth be noticed. In 1889-90 Marlin had 579 scholastic age, this age being from eight to sixteen years. Her total enrollment was 569, about 50 of which were over or under scholastic age. Of the 569 there were 315 white and 254 colored, the average daily attendance of the former being 192 and the latter 104. For these a total teaching force of twelve teachers was employed, eight white and four colored. Of these teachers one had a diploma from a high school, four held college diplomas and three held diplomas from schools outside the State.

     "In the high school there were twenty-nine students, seven being males.

     "The city has four frame buildings with a total value of school property to the amount of $9,500. They also rented two buildings and had a library started. The teachers were paid from $50 to $75 a month. The total receipts to the school fund for that year was $4,745.69, of which $4,199.85 was paid to the teaching forces.

     "The city now has three frame buildings for the white schools, valued at about $7,000, and one for the colored, costing $4,000, a total of $11,000. They have twelve teachers.

     "The first class was graduated in 1892.

     "The latest available statistics are for 1890-91, when Marlin was estimated to have a population of 2,500, whose property was assessed at $910,000. Then there were 257 white and 179 colored pupils, a total of 436, to which was added enough outside of the town of school age to make an enrollment of 550 pupils. The whole number in the white schools was 305 and 245 were enrolled in the colored schools. The total aver- age attendance was 324. There were seven white and four colored teachers. The school receipts were $5,910.65 and all but about $1,000 was expended. Of this, $4,593.95 was paid to teachers. The sessions were nine months. The report of that year says: 'The course of study for the high school will compare favorably with those of Waco, Austin and other cities.' The pride in the schools betrayed in the conversations of the citizens in speaking of them shows better than statistics how they have been in their efforts and results."

     At the time of publication of the book (1893), Marlin's school facilities for white children were located on a spacious lot on the north side of Capps street, extending northward to Clay street and from Ward street on the west to Monroe street on the east. It was approximately the site of Marlin's compress in 1960. The land had been donated for schools by Zenas Bartlett prior to 1890, probably in the 1880s or earlier.

     Misses Agnes, Sallie and Andrew Peyton of Marlin recalled that the main building was a frame two-story structure with class rooms on the ground floor and the superintendent's office and class rooms on the second floor. Smaller buildings were on the south and west around about. According to Miss Fannie Pringle, who started to school there, recorded by Mrs. Marjorie Rogers Church in 1950, "there were about five or six desks to the row-." In seating, two pupils occupied each desk.

     "During recess periods," Miss Pringle related, "we played tag, wolf-over-the- river, stealing chips and mumble peg. We had no school band, but did have a little organ which had to be pumped by hand that we used for our exercises in the rooms. It was moved from room to room. I played for singing of hymns and marching. Bessie Owen and Mrs. Tom Clampet, wife of a local attorney, also played for the school- had no Parent Teacher Association in those days-the girls wore hats and sunbonnets to keep their white and fair skin- students took buckets and baskets filled with buttered biscuits, boiled eggs, fruits and other goodies-. School started at nine in the morning and closed at four in the afternoon-hour for lunch and two recesses of fifteen minutes-teachers applied the 'hickory' and required stay-ins after school as punishment for misbehavior-usually a few 'tough bullies' in schools -usually conquered by a razor strap."

     Mrs. Sam Barton, nee Beatrice (Bertie) Bryden, said, "I remember that we did not send graduation invitations and there were no special presents other than flowers given to graduates-presented when names were called for receiving diplomas, donors' (of flowers) names called also."

     Previous to 1892, the school awarded no diplomas and held no commencement exercises. The first commencement exercises were held in 1892, newspapers announcing the program:

 

PROGRAM

Opening Chorus                                             A Merry Christmas to All Salutatory

Salutatory

Overture                                                          Marriage of Figaro

                                                            Misses Gardner, Conoly and Clarkson

Recitation                                            The Polish Boy - Annie Clarkson

Music                                                   Night Blooming - Gerens

                                                            Annie Finks and Susie Battle

Essay                                                 Who Shall Wear the Victor's Crown?

                                                            Miss Mattie Rice

Music                                                  Fairy Dell March

                                                            Susie Battle, Louise Clarkson and Zella McMillan

Recitation                                                       A Medley

                                                            Annie Lou Oltorf

Instrumental Solo                               Lucy Conoly

Essay                                                 Luck vs, Pluck

                                                            Miss Sallie Tomlinson

Song                                                   My First Music Lesson

                                                            Mary Kyser

Recitation                                           The Organ Builders

                                                            Daisy Falconer

Essay                                                             Is All Complete?

                                                            Miss Beatrice Bryden

Music                                                  Easter Lillien Waltz

                                                            Lillie and Millie Frank

Recitation                                           Queen Esther's Lament

                                                            Flora Louis

Song                                                   Matrimonial Sweets

                                                            Susie Battle and John Rogers

Class Prophecy                                 Miss Hattie Hailey and Miss Emma Whitaker

     Thomas B, Bartlett, Sr. of Marlin recalled that one of the rented buildings referred to in the historical book of 1893 was located north of the courthouse, west of the present-day (1960) fire station, between it and other buildings on the corner of Craik and Coleman streets, It was a brick building, housing the first and second grades, When he started to school there, he recalled, his first grade teacher was Miss Una Elam. He did not recall the name of the second grade teacher, but said, "It might have been a Miss Bell."

     SCHOOL TYPICAL OF THE 1890s. Problems of the faculty and pupils prior to 1900, and shortly afterwards, were typical of those of most years, although discipline was probably more difficult. Oscar E. Curry said when he attended school in the 1890s the teachers were generally tolerant and understanding, but one was rather tyrannical, especially when under the influence of strong drink of which he frequently imbibed. He recalled that two lads, probably deserving punishment, were "called to the front." The teacher lectured and grimaced at them a few minutes and then, in a fit of rage, caught the boys by their heads and bumped them together, the snap startling everyone as it resounded throughout the room. The boys carried bumps on their heads for several days. At another time, he recalled, a boy was "put on the carpet" for talking back to teacher. .In another fit of rage, the teacher smacked the lad on the nose with his walking cane. The boy's nose was fractured and the lad "quelled," but everyone thought teacher had "gone too far."

     It is also widely known that after recess one morning another teacher, losing some of his popularity with one or more pupils, was chagrinned when he sat down in his chair, previously liberally supplied with thick, sticky molasses. Teaching was temporarily halted-and a "pupil sitter" called in!

     Mr. Bartlett said while the railroad was under construction adjacent to the school grounds in 1900 or 1901, boys frequently amused themselves by rolling heavy joints of iron drainage conduit up an incline, getting in them and rolling down hill. One lad got on top of one of the heavy rings, fell off and was crushed to death as it rolled over him.

     In the 1890s and for sometime afterwards, Marlin smacked of pioneer times, but progress was under way toward a new era. At that time luxuries were limited; few, if any, telephones were in use; automobiles were unknown; electric lights and power had not arrived and transportation was by animals and animal-drawn vehicles. Kerosene lamps were the chief sources of artificial illumination, although a few "new gas lights" came into use.

     Mrs. Herman Nussbaum, nee Mildred (Millie) Frank, of Galveston, Texas, said she recalled the two-seated desks were in use with narrow separations between the backs of each seat. This made it possible for much kicking of students of one with another. Deskmates frequently drew lines across the tops of desks and "dared each other to move a fraction of an inch beyond it." She recalled beautiful concerts and entertainments held yearly and that at one time Judge (William) Shelton, a former teacher, sent Susie Battle (later Mrs. Charles A. Oltorf) a "leather- bound volume of  ‘The Raven' and me a like volume of 'The Bells' in appreciation of our leading a colorful march at a social affair."

     Mrs. Nussbaum (Miss Millie) recalled that about that time commencement exercises were held in the Opera House in the King building, northeast corner of the Winter street and Live Oak street intersection, upstairs. She vividly recalled burning of the school building on the first Sunday in September, 1900 (September 2). Other evidence supports that date. Cause of the fire may never be known, but people who lived in those days contend one or more headstrong boys set fire to it to prolong their summer vacation, which would have ended next day.

     Dates of building the school structures of the 1890s are not known. Falls County Commissioners Court minutes and minutes of the City Council of Marlin are meager in references to schools. Only three entries appear in the minutes of the Council from the middle 1860s to 1900. One of May, 1857, ordered that teachers were not required to pay an occupation, or license, tax; another dated June 5, 1894, ordered that Billy Rooker be paid $4 for work on the “school houses”; and a third, dated April 17, 1899, that the school trustees met with the Council and advised that "the school tax should be levied as heretofore-50-percent."

     The school building which burned was erected apparently between 1876 and 1887. This is substantiated by a souvenir picture of Marlin scenes, on which is a picture of the courthouse of 1876 and a picture of the school building. If the school had been erected after 1887, a picture of the 1887-1939 courthouse would have appeared on the souvenir. The historical book of 1893 recorded some information about the buildings, but did not mention when they were built.

     Mr. and Mrs. Tom B. Bartlett, Sr., said when Marlin's schools were at Capps street and Ward street, Miss Ida Martin taught the last private school in the city in a wooden building at the foot of the hill on Ward and Clay streets, adjacent to the school property. The school was. in operation in the 1890s and probably abandoned about 1900 or 1901.

     This historical book recorded that the school had a library and Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett estimated it contained about 20 books. Miss Sarah Owen, one of the teachers, maintained a private library for school use with about 25 books. It was probably more popular than the school library, because some of the books in Miss Owen's library were on subjects of fiction while all in the school library were on education or about education.