HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN WHITESBORO

June 2, 1848 a number of homesteaders crossed the Red River. They chose the present location of Whitesboro to settle because the land was hilly and they could protect themselves easier from Indians and storms.
One of the first concerns these early settlers was education. The first school was run by Miss Brink and her brother in a
log house on Guilen Street (now Hall) in 1848.
The next school was taught by Rev. Steed, father of Dayton B. Steed of Sherman. The building was a crude log structure.
Mrs. Armstrong, wife of Dr. Armstrong, conducted the next school.  It was a log building on the street now known as South Union.
All of these schools were taught previous to the Civil War.  During the war, Captain A.B. White, founder of Whitesboro, turned his hotel into a school building. The school was taught by Mr. Taylor, a lame man, who was unable to serve in the army.
After the war, school was held in log cabin erected for the Masonic Hall. It was located on North Union Street.
The first real school house was called the "Tin Pen Alley School House". It was located in the southern part of town. The building was a one room structure about 20x30 feet. As the town grew, additional rooms were added to the building. Three of four were added.  The partitions were on hinges and could be raised and hooked to the ceiling. On Sunday, all denominations gathered here for church and all public gatherings were held here.
At the close of the Civil War, the citizens of North Texas felt the need for education. In 1876, a three story building was planned and built for the Shiloh Baptist Institute. This building was located in Whitesboro. Dr. Tollinger donated the lot for the building, which was modern, well equipped, and it had good ventilation, was well heated and commodiously furnished. Dr.  Trollinger was chosen as trustee.
Professor Berryman was president of the institute. A two years course was offered. College work, languages, and history were taught. Professor Berryman taught Greek; Captain Huey taught mathematics; Captain John Choice taught Latin and his brother, Jack Choice, taught history. The school continued for three or four years, but the funds were insufficient and the number of students small.
After the Shiloh Baptist Institute was discontinued, the same building housed three other schools. After 1909, it was used
as a ward school by the people of Whitesboro. Grammar school included the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades. In 1918 the building was torn down and the present building was erected on the same lot.
The Carlisle Normal School was established in 1878. The old Shiloh Baptist Institute building was used. Professor J. C. Carlisle was president and Professor Euler B. Smith, Miss Lizzie Marck and Miss Myra White were the teachers. The average attendance was one hundred students. The school was discontinued in 1888.
The Adair Normal School was opened in 1894 by Professor C. L. Adair and Noah Adair.
The building in which the Carlisle Normal School had been taught was bought by the town for Public School purposes. The Public School was later moved to a new brick building on West Main Street.
The first real high school that was planned in 1889 was built. Professor Jones was superintendent at the time, but in 1893 Mr. Acton became superintendent and served until 1917.
The building was a two story brick structure, having six rooms. There was a large room on the second floor that could be used for school assemblies. No auditorium was in the building because at that time Whitesboro had an opera house. High school met in two of the rooms on the second floor, and grammar school in the other four rooms. At this time there were only nine grades. In 1905 another grade was added, and in 1915 and 1916, the eleventh grade was added.
The school was so large in 1909 that the old Shiloh Baptist Institute building now used was erected in 1918. The building was Mr. Acton's dream realized. Mr. William Tackett was architect and Mr. J. M. Jones was contractor.  The school house is
a three story brick building. At the time the building was erected there were sixteen rooms.  On the first floor, or basement, was the Home Economics Department and the gymnasium. There were also two class rooms on that floor. In 1920, the gymnasium was first done away with; one of the rooms was used for a store room. Now the store room is used for the dining room and for a music room. On the second floor is the office, Commercial Department, library and four class rooms. Then on the third floor, there are three class rooms and the laboratory. The auditorium is also on the third floor.
At the time this building was erected, Mr. L. R. Sloan was mayor and Mr. F. F. Sugg was secretary. The other members of the city council were Mr. G. H. Wade, Mr. H. C. Reast, Mr. J. W. Hayes, Mr. M. V. Schied, and Mr. L. L. Crabtree.
The school board consisted of Mr. L. L. Sadler, president; Mr. J. C. Jones, secretary; Mr. J. H. Feidt; J. C. Cravens; Mr. J. E. Malone; Mr. R. P. Leamon; and Mr. W. F. Hartsog.
Every subject taught in the Whitesboro High School is affiliated. When Mr. A. E. Boyd came to Whitesboro, only sixteen subjects were affiliated. During the eight years that he was superintendent here, six more subjects were affiliated, and now Whitesboro has twenty-two affiliated subjects.
The faculty now consists of Mr. J. W. Chapman, superintendent; Mr. H. M. Chapman, principal; Mrs. Cravens, first grade teacher; Miss Slegale, second grade teacher; Miss Ware, third grade teacher; Mrs. H. M. Chapman, fifth grade teacher; Mrs. Hogan, sixth grade teacher; Mrs. Gregory seventh grade teacher; Mrs. Price, commercial teacher; Miss Reast, Spanish
and Freshman English teacher; Miss Cravens, English teacher; Miss Martin, History teacher, Miss Sullivan, science teacher; and Mrs. Loftin, home economics.
The members of the school board are: Mr. Charlie Varley, president; Mr. Frank Bass, secretary; Mr. D. F. Huffaker; Mr. C. L. Noland; Mr. Ellory Allen; Mr. Sappenfield; and Mr. Leon Hickman.