 The Denison Daily Herald
Sunday, April 21, 1906  "History of Denison's First Free Public School"
by Pauline Everett An Interesting Ceremony Unveiling of a Marble Slab Commemorating Erection of First Free Public School Building in Texas Yesterday afternoon at the high school building a very interesting celebration took place when a marble slab was unveiled which will in future announce to every passerby the fact that the Washington building, now known in the city as the high school, was the first building erected in the State of Texas for a free public school. This fact is becoming more widely known with the growth of the city, and is a fact of which every true Denisonian is justly proud. Realizing the distinction of such an honor, the State Historical Association, which recently made Miss Ollie Bird of this city an honorary member, has asked her for a brief resume of the incidents relative to the erection and subsequent use of the building, for publication in the official organ. An interesting article was read yesterday afternoon at the unveiling ceremony by Miss Pauline Everitt, high school '06, bearing on this subject. With much accuracy she interviewed old residents, consulted records and newspaper files for the information, many details of which have been forgotten even by the participants. In recognition of the common interest attached to this building a part of the article prepared by Miss Everitt is given here. "It is certainly something to be proud of when we think of our fathers directing all their energies toward procuring us educational advantages out here on the frontier, for that was what it was in 1872 when the high school building was first thought of. In the early days of 1872 and 1873 free schools in the South were not highly esteemed, but in all the towns those children whose parents could not give them an education where the state provided sufficient funds for their tuition for 3 or 4 months of the year. "This plan, however, was not liked, for the free scholars were always snubbed, and did not have the pleasant school life we have. Besides the shortness of the school term did not permit of much knowledge being gained. Yet the men who had the honor of being our first councilmen knew that the town could not erect a public school building on merely an educational basis. When the matter was looked into it seemed a good business proposition, for there were no free schools at Ennis nor through the Territory. These men saw that a public school would bring the better classes of people as residents, and thus the plan was started. "Denison was founded September 23, 1872, and incorporated March 10 of the next year, when the legislature appointed L.S. Owing as mayor, with Charles Maurice, J.M. Stratton, N.C. Taylor, N.H. Day and B.C. Murray as aldermen, with permission to issue $50,000 worth of bonds. "The plans of J.W. Wheelock of Sherman were accepted, and May 25 of that year the council selected block 19 in the western portion of the city for the site of the new building. The size of Denison then can be appreciated when it is known some selection was too far out of the city. The bid of Koehler & Keffer of $19,850 was accepted and work began, but had to be stopped before completion on account of lack of funds. During Ed Perry's administration as mayor $30,000 in bonds were issued to provide more funds. On February 21 the bid of Ely & Meddors of $9,550 was accepted to finish the work, and an election was called to vote on the proposition whether to issue $15,000 in bonds or to levy a special tax on property holders. The Daily News, edited by B.C. Murray, gave a good plea for the issuance of the bonds rather than the levying of the taxes on account of the people's financial condition the tax could not be collected. "The scholastic census of this time showed 306 children of school age in the town, and the board of trustees arranged for a school to be carried on from 4 to 5 months in the year. The teachers employed were Prof. Fernall, Mrs. Christie, Mrs. Shallanberger, Mrs. Boles, Miss Elliston and Miss Hume. The school opened March 11, the enrollment at the end of the first month being 291, besides 35 in the colored school. Meanwhile work was continued on the building. An interesting feature of a closing program of those early days is in the fact that Miss Gene Rue, now Mrs. G.L. Blackford, gave the valedictory address, and Miss Rose Withrow recited. "The doors of the Educational institute, as the school was then called were thrown open Monday, October 12, 1874, under the direction of the trustees, Drs. Morris and Washington. The required enrollment of 100 pupils was reached, enabling the school to receive aid from the Peabody fund and keep the school open 10 months in the year. It was discovered later that help from this source must be asked a year in advance, and if they wished to continue the school fresh funds to carry out their side of the contract must be procured. Accordingly a small tax was levied on property holders. The school continued and the attendance increased so much the south room in the basement, which had been used as a music room, was fitted up as a school room. During the spring entertainments were given, to secure funds to buy a bell, charts, map, etc. In the first, a play, "Among the Breakers," are found familiar names, Misses Emma Rue, Lizzie Simpson and Kate Becker. On April 8, an operetta was given for the same purpose under the direction of Miss Lillie Andrews, now Mrs. W.M. Nagle. On the 26th the county superintendent visited the schools and reported the work in good condition. A cut of the building was printed in the Great Southwest Journal and the statement made that it was the finest school building in the state and had the largest attendance. At the end of the year there were 600 pupils enrolled, and the janitor reported that at the opening of the doors there were 2,121 visitors. For the next term, J.S. Nan Peeten was appointed superintendent, Mrs. Ingerton, principal, and the teachers as follows: Miss Conell, Mrs. Purdam, Mrs. Shallenberger, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Christie and Miss Legate, now Mrs. Brutsche. Everything moved along smoothly until the president of Austin College, then situated at Huntsville, made the proposition to move it to Denison or Sherman. The council was in favor of turning the new building over to the college as an inducement to come here, but after the citizens had thought it over, they decided it would be no help for them as the college was not a free school and was only for boys. An election was called to decide the matter, but it may not have been held, for Sherman's offer was accepted. For the next term Prof. Sommerville was appointed superintendent and he made the school a decided success and helped to get it on the firm basis which together with the other buildings that followed form a strong public school system."  Educational Institute History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |