 Overton
School, also known as Pinchum, was located 7 1/2 miles northwest of
Pottsboro between Locust and Fink. Mr. Overton bought land around
1900 and gave two acres for a school. A one room school was built.
Men made the seats that the children sat on. As the seats became worn and cracked, they 'pinched' the children when sitting on them. Thus, the school was named "Pinchum". Water was carried from Dump Clountz's place. Students carried in wood to heat the school. The Red River was about three miles from the school. When the weather was nice on Friday, teachers would take the pupils to the river of Spout Springs. When the weather was bad on Friday, the students would choose sides and have spelling, arithmetic, or geography matches. Games played at recess were black man, pop the whip, or ante over. When another room was added to the building, entertainment went on at the school house. There were big dinners given followed by dialogues or plays one or two times per month. A man named Thurman had a show. He would travel by wagon pulled by a jenny. At Christmas time, pies were sold at pie suppers. The money was used to buy fruit that was put in sacks and placed under the tree. Each child was allowed to get a sack. In the 1940s, the two-room school building was torn down and replaced by a rock one built by the WPA. A water well was also dug. On June 28, 1980, a school reunion was held at Flowing Wells Resort with about 150 ex-students, teachers and families attending from the states of California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.  Overton School History Schools Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |