Three story red brick school built in 1911. Flag Day program, 1917.

The first schoolhouse of record, known to be in use about 1890, was an adobe building across the alley which now runs between Admiral’s Steak House (now Jeanies Kountry Kitchen) and the McKnight Motor Company (empty building west of KK). It had only one room which was situated about where Highway 90 is now. When Mainstreet was surveyed, the adobe was razed. Perhaps this building faced what is now called School Street.

The seats were old-time desks with two in each seat. There were three rows of desks and about eight in each row. The teacher’s table was in the front of the room beside a long recitation bench. The walls were surrounded with blackboards tempting children to chalk and eraser fights.

Drinking water was carried to school in a big bucket with everyone using the same dipper and no thought of germs. School began at 9 and closed at 4pm. Miss Lizzy Savage was one of the first teachers. Students were classified by their level of reading ability, not by age or grades.

About 1900, another school was built on Hominy Hill where the Church of Christ is now located. Hominy Hill derived its name from a family who made hominy in that location. In 1926, the new modern two-story brick highschool was constructed and followed by an elementary school and octagonal junior high school and a new gymnasium. Although the buildings have been maintained and modernized as times changed, many of the facilities are outdated by todays standards. A $14 million dollar bond issue in 2007 promises to bring local schools into compliance and allow Terrell County ISD to regain its former superior position among West Texas community schools.