Raynal Elementary School was built in 1891 at 500 E. Morton.  In 1923 the original building was torn down and a new facility, seen in the photograph below, replaced it.

Raynal Elementary School
1925-1926

The school was named after Frenchman, Justin Raynal, whose generosity benefited Denison and his namesake school, as well as the entire Denison school district.  Raynall came to Denison when the city was just beginning.  He built a two-story wooden hotel, The Grand Southern, at the corner of Main and Austin in 1873.  This establishment included a saloon, a restaurant, also called "The Grand Southern."  However, the hotel was destroyed by fire in the early 1880s.

Justin Raynall

Raynal was a bachelor who did all he could to advocate for education for children and did all he could do to benefit Denison school children.  Elected in 1877 as City Councilman for the fourth ward, he was in a position to do more for the children in town.

Upon his death, his entire estate was left to the Denison public school system to be used for the betterment of Denison.  He also willed the school system his property at 202 E. Main St.  A monument with only "Raynal" on it was erected by the Denison PTAs about 1910 in his honor.  The monument was destroyed when a motorist struck it.

The Denison Press
1958

In 1974 Raynal school had a traveling cook, Imogene Ferguson, and her assistant, Rosalee Sheffield, who also prepared meals at Lamar after it reopened two years after the fire of 1974.

Raynal Elementary School was closed in 1975 and the doors were locked.  About 170 students wee transferred to Lamar Elementary.
The Raynal Building is still located at 202 West Main Street.  The "Raynal" name remains prominently atop his historic building, as dictated in hiw will.  He left the building to the Denison public schools.

A description of the school in its later years is: 1st & 2nd grades - bottom floor 3rd grade - second floor, west end 4th grade - second floor, east end 5th grade 6th grade

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