Highland - north of Melissa
The community of Highland was established in the mid 1800's approximately 2 miles north of present-day Melissa. It was possibly the second oldest community in Collin County. A post office was established there in September of 1853. The old Cedar Springs-Bonham Road went through it. In the 1860 - 90 period, there was a school at Highland, which also served as a church. Around 1858, Charley H. Wysong donated land for the church and cemetery. A meeting house was built about 1860. It was used by the Methodists, Baptists, Christians, and Presbyterians. Besides the church/school, Highland was also a stage stop. C. H. Wysong had a blacksmith shop and Thad Parris had a corn and wheat mill, wool carding mill and a grist mill. After the railroad bypassed Highland and created the towns of Melissa and Anna, the churches and families moved to those communities. Anna Baptist Church and Melissa Baptist Church were created out of the Highland church. The post office was discontinued on May 16, 1873.
Highland, situated Midway between the present towns of Anna and Melissa, (both named for daughters of an official of the H. & T. C. railroad), stood on a high point at the site of the present Highland Cemetery. The school building, a one room log house, was used for both the school, and as a "meeting house" for the Friendship Church, and had for seating purposes split logs. McGuffey readers, the blue black speller, and a slate for writing and doing sums were the principal equipment. Old timers prided themselves on their penmanship, reading and spelling. One of the social customs was the "spelling bee" where there was a bit of competition between the "best spellers."
The McGuffey readers were so treasured that the pages were protected by "thumb papers." when in use. The square of heavier paper placed between the pupil's thumb and the printed page of the book as he held it. One young student complained because the teacher kept him on the same page so long that he wore out several thumb papers.
Mantua school, north of Highland, was attended by many of the early settlers of North Celina. An old photograph made at a reunion of this School shows the teacher, "Captain Greer" and many pupils who became pioneers of Collin County and whose names are now revered.
Highland, situated Midway between the present towns of Anna and Melissa, (both named for daughters of an official of the H. & T. C. railroad), stood on a high point at the site of the present Highland Cemetery. The school building, a one room log house, was used for both the school, and as a "meeting house" for the Friendship Church, and had for seating purposes split logs. McGuffey readers, the blue black speller, and a slate for writing and doing sums were the principal equipment. Old timers prided themselves on their penmanship, reading and spelling. One of the social customs was the "spelling bee" where there was a bit of competition between the "best spellers."
The McGuffey readers were so treasured that the pages were protected by "thumb papers." when in use. The square of heavier paper placed between the pupil's thumb and the printed page of the book as he held it. One young student complained because the teacher kept him on the same page so long that he wore out several thumb papers.
Mantua school, north of Highland, was attended by many of the early settlers of North Celina. An old photograph made at a reunion of this School shows the teacher, "Captain Greer" and many pupils who became pioneers of Collin County and whose names are now revered.
