 Key Events 1878 Whitewright
founded and first lots auctioned off. 1880 First free public
school established in Whitewright. The building was frame. 1887 Whitewright
incorporated. 1887 Grayson College,
owned by H. L. Piner and James F. Anderson, chartered by the State of Texas.
Though privately owned, the new school represented an expansion of the
Whitewright public school and included primary and elementary grades, high
school, and college. At first it occupied the old school building, but that
burned shortly after the founding. Then a new two-story frame building was
erected. Known affectionately as the “Old Dirt Dobber” school, it had thirteen
rooms and an auditorium that seated 650 and had a large stage. 1888–89 This year there were
438 pupils. Boarding pupils numbered 109. 1890 “Young Ladies
Home” erected; all non-local female students had to live here or with
relatives. 1893 Subdivision laid
out north of the city and lots sold. Proceeds finance construction of a new
three-story brick building Grayson College nearby. At this time the school
becomes a college preparatory school and establishes an affiliation with the
University of Texas. 1893 Old wood “Dirt
Dobber” building sold to City of Whitewright, which assumes responsibility for
public elementary and high schools. They will be housed here until 1918. 1894 Grayson College
owned by Anderson, F. E. Butler, and Rev. J. L. Truett, “an instructor from
North Carolina.” Major E. T. Kemp teaches the boys’ drill team. 1904 Peak enrollment:
740. Frances E. Willard and Henry W. Grady Literary Societies most active. 1904 February 16.
College building destroyed by fire started in chemistry laboratory. Citizens
raise $15,000 to fund a stock company to rebuild. 1905 Grayson College
reopens; enrollment is 236. New three-story brick building is similar to the
old one but more modern, with good science laboratories. 1912 September 24.
Grayson College closes. President B. L. Phipps accepts post in Greenville,
Texas. 1912 Frame “Dirt
Dobber” school building burns. A new brick public elementary school building is
built on the same site. (This building was razed in 1950. The foundation proved
so strong that, when Earnheart Funeral Home was built there, it utilized the
old foundation.) 1914 Carlisle Military
Academy founded in former Grayson College building, under ownership of J. M.
Carlisle, who moved the academy here from Arlington, Texas. He also served as
Whitewright’s superintendent of schools for a time in 1916. 1917 Carlisle Military
Academy closes. 1918 City
of
Whitewright purchases 4 acres of land out of the Granger McDaniel
survey of Grayson College Addition to the City of Whitewright and known
as Grayson College campus, also all buildings and equipment therein.
Bids were to be received by September 20, 1918. (The Whitewright Sun, Friday, September 13, 1918, pg.8) Main building and chemistry building are
retained, gym and dormitory demolished. After remodeling, public high school
opens here in 1920. 1939 September 3.
Grayson College Ex-Students Association formed. Annual meeting through 1971. 1966 New Whitewright
High School building erected.
1976 Main brick
Grayson College building demolished, leaving only gymnasium and laboratory
Grayson College History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |