Grayson County TXGenWeb
Grayson County Schools


1840s




Cold Springs School




Built by six families who were waiting on their land grants from
the state of Texas.  Located at the intersection of Crawford Rd and
Harvey Lane. Named because of the ice cold springs that were
nearby.  The first teacher was Miss Maudie Mangrum.  The school
was used until the families moved to their own land, when it was
sold to Mr. C.L. Holder.  
Now located in the Grayson County Frontier Village.
1849
First School, Sherman
Located on west side of 100 block N. Crockett. It was a log room
with a dirt floor; taught by B.W. Bradley.

Austin College Named for Stephen F. Austin was founded in Huntsville, Texas
by Dr. Daniel Baker of the Presbyterian Church.
1851

Taylor Boarding School

established by Mrs. Barton W. Taylor on site of the Methodist Church,
N. Travis St.  After its close, the main Sherman school was in the
Union Church & Masonic log building at the northwest corner of
Pecan & Travis St.
1854
Free Public School
Law authorized by Fifth Legislator & approved by Gov. Elisha M.
Please, provided for the first public school in Texas.
1858

Texas Law

Texas law revised to permit parents to organize a school,
employ their own teacher and receive status funds from
the County Treasurer.
Oct 5, 1858

Sherman Seminary

Opened with Prof. O.D. Howe principal.  Three sessions of 14 weeks
each was the school term.  Courses included music, preparatory
courses, mathematics, science, classics.
1858
Whitesboro
First school was a log building on Main St. with Mrs. Armstrong
as teacher
1861 The Odd Fellows Male & Female Institute War Between the States caused the school to close

Kentuckytown School Built with desks to accommodate two pupils

Capt. White's Hotel, Whitesboro Was a school room in early days of the War
1865 Basin Springs Log school house erected

Whitesboro School Was taught in a log house erected for a Masonic Hall, later it was
held in the "Old Long School House"

Collinsville School Taught by Mrs. L. B. Collins
1867 Private School Prof. Woods opened a private school
1868
Private School
Miss Sallie Mayfield opened a private school on S. Montgomery
Rev. William P. Petty opened a private school
1869 Private School Odd Fellows Hall on Walnut St. was used as a school
1871

Sherman Private School

Founded by Cap. J.H. Le Tellier
Tuition fee was $3 per month.
School closed with Le Tellier's death, July 24, 1913

North Texas Female College Taken over by the Methodist Church of Texas.
J. C. Parks was the first President
1872 -1879
Basin Springs Academy
Considered one of the best in the county.
School closed because of lack of railroad facilities
1873 Freed slaves ...who came to Sherman attended a school on W. Houston

Grandpa's Lindsay's school Located in the 100 block of Houston St.
1874 Educational Institute, Denison Established October 12th as the first graded public free school in Texas
1876
St. Xavier's Academy, Denison
Opened by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Belgium
Doors closed after declining enrollment

Austin College (1849) Moved to Sherman
1876 - 1879 Shiloh Baptist Institute Established in Whitesboro

One-room school teachers


Carey Lane on Montgomery St.
Mrs. B.P. Smith's log house, Sherman
Miss Mary Stamp's school, Sherman
Ann Spearman on site where Howe is now located
1877 St. Joseph's Academy Opened in Sherman by the Sister of St. Mary of Namur, Belgium
1877 - 1888 Centennial Institute Opened in Canaan; discontinued when it burned in 1888
1877 - 1891
Sherman Female Institute
Later known as Mary Nash College, was a successful girls school.  
Property later acquired by Kidd Key College
1878 - 1882

Whitesboro Normal School

Established by Prof. J.M. Carlisle; had an average attendance
of 100 pupils per year.  School closed in 1882 when Prof. Carlisle
was elected Superintendent of Whitesboro public school.
1880 - 1879 Bell's Academy Opened by John Cobb; later absorbed by the public school
1886 Business College Conducted by Prof. J. A. Mahan in Sherman for several years.
1886 - 1912

Grayson College, Whitewright

Founded by H. L. Piner, F. F. Anderson and F. E. Butler; co-educational
school erected by private citizens of Whitewright.  In 1912 the building
was taken over by the city of Whitewright and used as a public school.
1888
North Texas Female College
Mrs. Lucy A. Kidd became President
Enrollment reacher ed 500 in 1906
1889


Columbia College


Columbia College established in Van Alstyne, which included
eight large and elegantly furnished room, a stage, and a chapel.  
H. L. Piner was the first President, serving until 1895.  A fire caused
the closing of the school.
1890
Denison Teachers

1894

Carr-Burdett College

Opened by Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Carr as a college for girls and was a
bequest to the Christian Church of Texas.  At the death of Mrs. Carr
in 1907 the Christian Churches of the State took over the school.

Sherman Business College Established by H. A. Ivy


District school system established in the county
1894 - 1896 Adair Normal School Operated in Whitesboro by C.L. and Noah Adair.  Closed by its owners.
1919

Kidd-Key College

The name of North Texas Female College was changed to
Kidd-Key College in honor of Mrs. Kidd who married Bishop Joseph S. Key in 1893
1967 Grayson County College Founded; first President was Dr. Cruce Stark
1978 Independent School Districts  Established

Rural Independent Schools Districts Established

Independent School Districts Established:
  • Bells
  • Collinsville
  • Denison
  • Howe
  • Sherman
  • Tom Bean
  • Van Alstyne
  • Whitesboro
  • Whitewright
Rural Independent School Districts Established
  • Gunter
  • Pottsboro
  • Sadler-Southmayd Consolidated

Source : Grayson County Frontier Village.  History of Grayson County, Texas, Vol. I, c1979,  pgs.40-45




Grayson County History

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