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Quoting in part from Hensley's account: The city of Bay City was born in the month of September, 1894 without a house or tree to mark its site or evidence of its future greatness. During the fall and winter of the same year there gathered a population of several hundred, a large portion of whom dwelt in tents. In the spring of 1895, a school teacher named M. J. Stephenson rented a small room and undertook to conduct a school, but after about two months effort gave it up.
A decision of the higher courts rendered about
that time, held that the available fund could be used only for
payment of teachers and could not be used for rents, furniture,
fuel, or any other purpose. In the meantime the scholastic
population had steadily increased and the demand for a good school
became so urgent that a mass meeting was held in the temporary
courthouse and a subscription taken to provide means for erecting a
building. The Town Company generously donated a block of land
besides making a contribution. Some $425 was subscribed in cash
besides labor enough to The land donated was Block 48 bordered by Avenues C and D and Eighth and Ninth Streets. The small two-room schoolhouse erected in 1895 was situated at the corner of Avenue D and Eighth Street. By 1899 another room was added. Jacob L. Ladd, a young lawyer, and his family moved to Bay City from Missouri in 1894. He, with his daughter, Mable, taught the first two terms in Bay City's first public school. They presented the first school program to the public in the new Matagorda County courthouse on May 7, 1896. Following the program an ice-cream supper was given. The 1897 school term was conducted by a young man from Alabama named John Reed (Reid). His assistant was Eudora Moore, a sister to D. P. Moore. She later wrote her memoirs of Indianola and of life along Tres Palacios Creek and also, told experiences of visiting her brother at Elliott's Ferry Crossing on the Colorado River just west of present-day Bay City. In July, 1898, the Bay City ISD was organized, and later in the same year an election was held which authorized the issuance of $5,000 in school bonds. These bonds did not receive the approval of the attorney general until April, 1901, owing to insufficient taxable values in the district. The first school board election was held in April, 1898, and the following men were elected as trustees: M. E. Gibson, A. R. Benge, J. T. Bond, J. D. Moore, and J. W. Gaines. The teachers selected were Professor E. F. Taylor, principal, and Tenie Holmes, assistant. After the election, the school trustees reported they had nearly $1,000 and had decided on a seven-month term, paying the principal $75 and the assistant $25 per month. The first graduating class was in 1900 and consisted of two students, Mellie Sims and Donald St. Clair Taylor. Donald St. Clair was the son of Professor Taylor, who died with tuberculosis in 1909 in Devine, Texas. The Taylor family had come to Bay City from Indiana. The trustees in 1901 were J. M. Sims, A. R. Benge, J. D. Moore, J. W. Gaines, J. T. Bond, Amos Lee, and Henry Rugeley. In the fall of 1900 enrollment had increased and the school board was compelled to employ three teachers. Professor J. E. Cowles was hired along with Minnie Mayes and Tenie Holmes. By the end of that term, the school had outgrown the original two-room school. In August, 1901, the school board exchanged Block 48 in the Original Townsite for a 300-foot-square block out of the 19.4-acre tract in the Ike Towell First Addition paying $300 for the property. This land, situated at Cottonwood and Eighth Streets and at the edge of the Bay City townsite, was considered "out in the country." There were no roads in the area. Before a school could be erected, Towell was given permission to harvest his strawberry field which was on the site. A fence had to be placed around the school to keep the livestock out! Julia Beasley became the fourth teacher, joining Minnie Mayes and Tenie Holmes. Professor J. E. Cowles served as principal from 1901 to 1904 and was followed by Luther B. Gill, who was principal for one year (1904-05), and by then there were seven teachers in the system. This school site, purchased in 1901, is owned today by the Bay City ISD and is the oldest property in the district. It is the site of Cherry Elementary School. This impressive two-story frame structure had eight separate rooms, halls, and cloak closets. According to Ruby Hawkins, a teacher there in 1904, there was no Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and very little amusement. There was no piano and, of course, no band. There was no assembly room so every program was held in its separate room and enjoyed only by the students of that room. The salary was $30 per month (for as many months as the board was able to pay). There were very heavy restrictions placed on the teachers. They had to sign a pledge or contract not to dance during the term, not to play cards, and not to date except on Saturday nights with a curfew of 10 P.M. Bay City's population continued to grow because of many factors: the coming of three railways, the rice industry, and developers from the northern states bringing in settlers. As the population grew, the need for a larger school arose. In 1904 the cornerstone was laid for the third school building-a two-story brick building at Avenue L and Fourth Streets. The building was completed in 1905, and the trustees at that time were: D. P. Moore, A. D. Hensley, L. J. Gartrel, G. B. Harris, W. E. Hariss, W. S. Holman, and Dr. J. E. Simons. The new school was named the "Jefferson Davis School" by the E. S. Rugeley Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. The two-story frame school which had been at Eighth Street and Cottonwood was moved to the north end of town for the black children. A. G. Hilliard I was the professor and his assistant was Phoebe Allen. The school became known as the Booker T. Washington School. At the time the two-story brick building was erected on Fourth Street, it was modern in every way. It had an auditorium which would seat 450 people. W. T. Pollard became the superintendent and served until 1908. Prior to this time the superintendents were called principals or professors. During Pollard's term the faculty doubled. He published a catalog for the 1907-08 term which included a picture of the four members of the 1907 graduating class: Ira Herbert Ayres, Mary Payne, Bertha Wallace, and Estelle White. Also, this publication told of the school library: In October of 1906, we organized a library association, to membership in which teachers, pupils and graduates of the school are eligible. We now have a membership of 100, each paying an admission fee of 15 cents and 5 cents per month dues. With these small funds, the sum of $15.00 received from a school concert, a few old books belonging to the school, and about 60 nice volumes donated by the Y. M. C. A.; we have realized about 200 volumes for the collection. In 1907 there were 185 students in the school system. Tenie Holmes resigned in the middle of the year. Pollard left the school at the end of the term to operate a broom factory. He returned in later years to become the superintendent of schools for Matagorda County. In 1908 L. T. Frizell, a faculty member, became superintendent, followed by E. C. Quereau in 1909, and in 1911 R. E. Scott was elected superintendent, a position he held until 1917. During those years a band was organized, the school sponsored a football team, and the high school annual, "The BullFrog," was published. An addition to the brick building was erected in 1912, and 34 seniors graduated from high school that year. W. H. Butler became superintendent in 1917, when there were 17 teachers on the faculty; followed by D. R. Hibbets in 1919; and B. F. Phelps in 1921. The members of the board of trustees for those years were W. E. Austin, Thomas E. Lewis, J. E. Simons, W. D. Wilson, Bon H. Smith, Joe Mangum, and A. B. Head. In the early 1920's, Ora Cash became the first woman to serve on the school board. W. E. Moreland served as superintendent from 1922 until 1925. He later became superintendent of the Houston ISD. In the 1924 annual, "The Arrozal," pictures of Keye Morgan, Eunice Justice, and Onella Morrison were shown as new teachers; they remained to make Bay City their home. In 1925 the Junior - Senior reception was held in the Hamilton Building; a building still in existence on the northeast corner of the square. There were now 28 teachers and 1,024 students. By 1926 the school trustees realized Jefferson Davis School was too small to take care of both the elementary and high school. The chief supervisor, Mary Jo Popplewell, from the State Board of Education in Austin, Texas, visited the school that year on an annual inspection tour. She wrote in her report that "Jefferson Davis School had very undesirable conditions under which pupils and teachers had to work." She further reported that the rooms were overcrowded and poorly lighted and ventilated. In her formal report to the Bay City trustees, she stated that the patrons and citizens of the community should be made aware of the critical problem existing. Superintendent Roy Whisenhunt and the board of trustees, with C. A. Erickson as president, attempted to make improvements by moving in temporary buildings; but similar reports came back the following year, and by 1928, when E. O. Hutcheson became the new superintendent, the school was in danger of losing its accreditation. The school board worked closely with the State Board of Education and in following their suggestions began plans for a new high school to be erected on the old property situated at Cottonwood and Eighth Streets. In the early part of 1930, with the passage of school bonds totaling $175,000, a new high school was erected and a remodeling program converting the old Jefferson Davis School into an elementary and junior high school was begun. The Daily Tribune dated July 25, 1930, had a front-page feature article telling about the "beautiful new Bay City High School" to be formally opened that September. Quote: The dream however is now a reality and the new building out there north of the city is a little short of a dream. Within four short weeks the portals will be open and the ideal institution of learning will welcome some 300 students to come glean an education. The building is ultra modern in every sense of the word, not the simplest convenience or furtherance of slightest necessity for use now nor in the near future had been neglected. From the foundation to the top of the beautiful tile roof, you taxpayers, we taxpayers and the taxpayers of the next generation can look with pride and boast that the school structure erected in 1929-1930 is one of strength and character, and one of endurance, built by men interested in the project as if it were their own-and in truth it is their own-yours and mine. On the cornerstone of this historic old building, which served first as Bay City High School, second as Bay City Junior High School and finally as Cherry Elementary School, are the names of the members of the 1930 board of trustees: R. Q. Pegram, president; Robert L. Baker, secretary; L. M. Matchett, vice-president; Lurline Andrews Wadsworth; Vance Porter; W. C. Lloyd; F. A. Thompson; and E. O. Hutcheson, superintendent. In 1986 two of those early members were living: Lurline Wadsworth in Bay City and E. O. Hutcheson, age 91, in Weatherford, Texas. In 1930 there were 33 teachers in the system and 1,143 students. The average annual salary was $823.26, and the budget for the school year was $53,482.47 for the three schools-Bay City High School, Jefferson Davis School, and Booker T. Washington School. In 1938 the students from Matagorda and Gulf were transferred to Bay City, and once again the high school was too small, so an additional three rooms and a study hall were added to the west wing of the building. The early 1940's brought another crisis to the school system. Camp Hulen brought many soldiers and construction workers to the area. Not only did it affect Palacios, but it caused an increase in enrollment in the Bay City schools. Superintendent Hutcheson, working with the school board and the Chamber of Commerce's coordinating council, chaired by Richard C. Gusman, requested financial assistance from the federal government to build more and better schools for the community. They made application for $245,000 through the Defense Public Works program under the Federal Works Agency. The proposed project called for construction of a new high school building, alterations and additions to the building used for primary grades, repairs and alterations to the junior high building, a new colored school, and repairs to the existing high school. In the application the population of Bay City was given as follows: 3,454 in 1920; 4,070 in 1930; 6,475 in 1940; with an estimated population of 11,000 for January 1, 1942. The school population was given as 3,800 in 1920; 4,750 in 1930; and 7,600 in 1940. The application included a report by A. G. Hilliard II, principal of Hilliard School, listing the existing conditions of the Negro school in Bay City. He wrote, in part: The present ancient two-room frame structure, which houses our many students, consists of six rooms. We have had to convert the auditorium into two additional classrooms; consequently, we must hold all our assembly programs out of doors. We have no provisions for library, cafeteria, science room, manual or vocational training, storage rooms, athletic rooms, inside lavoratories, or bathing facilities. The one exit in case of fire-down the stairway-causes us to wonder how soon a tragedy, comparable to those at New London or Natchez, Mississippi might happen here. This building was formerly a school for white children, but was moved to our section twenty-five years ago. [NOTE: It was moved in 1905 which would have been thirty-five years ago.-EDITOR] The wood stoves in this building give us a heating problem We have a membership of 351 students who overflow the capacity of our building. A good number of our problems come as a result of location. The school is located on the north side of Bay City, but approximately 90% of our students live one and one half miles away on the south side. The school is too far out for gas, sewage or phone connections .... After consideration and study by the federal government, the application was denied as there were other areas in more critical need of federal assistance. Hutcheson retired from the school system in 1944, and John H. Cherry, principal of the elementary school, was promoted to superintendent. That year the monthly base pay for teachers in the high school was $145 and in the elementary, $135. In 1946 H. J. McAllister became the first business manager. The concentrated effort for more and better schools by the school board, Chamber of Commerce, and the town's coordinating council was not in vain, because in 1948 the community voted bonds to build a new schoolhouse for the black children and a new high school for the white children. In 1948 the Bay City Lions Club contributed $5,000 toward a new stadium which was completed by the fall of 1949. In 1953 Mary Withers Pierce and Tenie Holmes Elementary Schools, along with cafeterias in each, were ready for occupancy. In 1954 cafeterias were added to Bay City Junior High School and Hilliard. The Jefferson Davis School was demolished in 1955, after 50 years of continuous service. The Bay City High School auditorium was named the Keye Ingram Auditorium in 1974 for this teacher's long tenure and dedicated service to the school system. John H. Cherry retired from the superintendency in 1960 to be succeeded by H. J. McAllister, who at that time was Matagorda County auditor. During the 1961- 62 year, the Linnie Roberts Elementary School for black students was erected on Whitson Street. The new Bay City Junior High School on Sixteenth Street was completed that same year, and the junior high at Eighth and Cottonwood Streets became the John Cherry Elementary School. In 1961 the tax rate was $1.85 per $100. Bay City High School graduated 159 students in 1961. The school census showed 3,296; the budget was $1,568,610.00; and there were 168 teachers, 6 principals, 26 cafeteria workers, 27 janitors, 7 secretaries, and 1 attendance officer. McAllister died on June 17, 1963, of a heart attack, not living to see many of his projected plans bear fruit. Dr. Rodney Cathey was hired in August, 1963, as the new superintendent. During the early 1960's, the members of the board of trustees were Henrietta Krumholz, Dr. H. C. Matthes, Alma Mehrens, Dr. Dean Smith, Thomas R. Gordon, and Francis Savage. B. E. Liston succeeded H. J. McAllister as business manager in 1949 and served until 1965. Dr. Cathey was superintendent from 1963 until 1968. During this time the Bay City schools were integrated, and the federal program assisted schools with an abundance of materials in both audio visual hardware and software which created many innovative programs. Jack B. Daniel was the business manager in 1965-66, followed by Jack L. Darnell, and in the fall of 1969, Eddie J. Jecmenek. In 1966 there were a total of 334 employees. The net cost of operation per student was $416.54, and the total assessed valuation of $84,141,840. The trustees were Dr. Robert Kelley, Dr. H. C. Matthes, Henrietta Krumholz, Fred Friday, Vernon Harrison, Jim Powers, and Tommie LeTulle. Dr. Cathey resigned in 1968 to become superintendent of the McAllen ISD. Dr. Clarence Ham followed Dr. Cathey as superintendent, and after five years he resigned to become superintendent of the Kileen ISD. Under Dr. Ham's tenure, the school continued to grow in numbers and services offered. In the 1970-71 school year, there were 395 employees and an enrollment of 4,113. The assessed valuation was $109,741,950; the total tax levy was $1,975,353; and the tax rate was $1.80 per $100. By 1972 all the buildings were air-conditioned. McAllister Junior High School was completed by 1969, and that fall Eddie Jecmenek became the first principal. He was followed by Sam Maglitto. The school board members at that time were Vernon Harrison, Jim Powers, Tommie LeTulle, Stanley Keathley, Dr. Fred Matthes, Harley Savage, and Dr. Wayne Slone. Dr. John Briggs became the 20th school superintendent in 1974. He was here during the American Bicentennial in 1976, when all the schools participated in a giant celebration for the entire community. A community education program was initiated in 1974, under his guidance, with Suzy Thompson as director. In the 1976-77 school year, there were 461 employees to serve 4,218 students. The trustees for those years were Dr. Wayne Sloan, Dorothy Birkner, Robert Bell, Frank Craft, Jimmie Parker, Lynn Quillin, and Taylor Steves. Dr. John Briggs resigned in 1980 to be succeeded by Dr. R. L. McMichael with Eddie Jecmenek as business manager and Sam Maglitto as curriculum director. In the 1984-85 school year, there were a total of 503 employees and 4,597 students with an estimated population of 21,750 in the 158-square-mile school district. The total assessed value was $575,040,371 with a local tax levy of $5,674,700. The budget for the year was $13,365,001. School board members for the 1984-85 school year were Paul Johnson, Douglas Matthes, Arthur Milberger, Gerald Meyerdirk, Andrew Smith, Frank Morales, Sr., and Bill Freeman. A bond issue for $7.85 million dollars was passed in 1985 for many improvements of the school district. Among these were: the construction of a new John Cherry Elementary School, expansion of Bay City High School, re-roofing of McAllister Junior High School and Bay City High School, and the expansion and renovation of the library at Bay City High School. In conclusion, this brief history relates more of the growth of the school district in buildings and numbers rather than telling the story of that intangible, precious gift of educating a child. However, there is a thread of constancy and coherence evident in these 90 years of history to which the Bay City community can point with pride. There has been a constant flow of men and women serving as board members and faculty and interested citizens that have had the dedication and zeal to meet the challenges of each generation. There have been problems to solve especially during the depression, the war years, and as recently as the disaster of fire destroying a portion of Cherry School. In spite of the obstacles, the Bay City ISD has moved forward to greater accomplishments. Beyond all the names of superintendents, principals, school board members, teachers, and citizens; there are the thousands of youthful faces who have gone through the process of education in the Bay City schools and have succeeded in life, and this is the real tribute to any school system. SUPERINTENDENTS OF BAY CITY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
1895 - - M. J. Stephenson Originally, the superintendents were called principals or professors. They received the title of superintendent in 1905.
1905 1908 - W. T. Pollard
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Education for black boys and girls of Bay City began with the founding of the town in 1894. The children met in a small building on the south side of town with A. A. Deleon serving as instructor. Three others, A. G. Hilliard, A. P. Allen and J. J. Grundy, began shortly after the school opened. By 1904 the enrollment had increased and another teacher, Phoebe Allen, was hired. Some of the students during that term were Louvella Taylor-Mills, Nathan Green, Gifford Duncan, Bud Dugard, Gertrude Anderson, Estalla Gee-Bouldin, Maude Hilliard-Herman, and Ezell Spiller. The school was moved to the north end of town to a two-story frame building which had been the white school prior to 1905. There were several curriculum changes, and each term concluded with a commencement program. During the 1920-30 school year, Professor Hilliard became ill and his son, A. G. Hilliard, Jr., withdrew from Prairie View A&M University to take over his father's duties. The name of the school was changed from Booker T. Washington to A. G. Hilliard School in honor of its former principal. Through the assistance of parents and teachers, Hilliard formed a PTA, two new classrooms were constructed, and playground equipment purchased. Another teacher was hired so that children could finish the tenth grade at the school. Sports were introduced into the school system under Cornelius Robinson, Sr., a native of Bay City and a graduate of Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. Robinson coached the boys, and Grace Young coached the girls' basketball team. She was succeeded by Thelma Woolridge who coached championship teams for 12 years. The school had a track and field team which was under the leadership of Tyree Hardeman. Young also directed the glee club, quartets, soloists, and piano students who competed in state competitions. Grace Hayes Banks coached the debate teams on both the junior and senior high levels. In 1932 students wore caps and gowns at commencement exercises for the first time, and the first baccalaureate service was preached that year by the Reverend C. H. Brown, Sr.
During the peak years at Hilliard, total integration took place which brought about many changes. The last class to graduate from Hilliard was in 1967. Daily Tribune, June 19, 1985
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