McKnney Collegiate Institute
McKinney Collegiate Institute
J. H. Hill School
Lamar and Board Streets
McKinney, Texas
J. W. Melton was President and teacher at the McKinney Collegiate Institute, which was a co-educational, non-denominational school for primary grades through college. The goal for the institute was to prepare students for commercial work or to go to college or university after graduation. One-hundred stockholders bought shares for the building fund. In 1889 the building was constructed on G.A. Foote’s land on Lamar Street. It was a two-story brick with nine rooms and an assembly Hall and heated by hot air flues, the first of its kind in McKinney. Miss N.M. Wakefield was principal and Miss Fanny Shipe was principal of primary education. Miss Alma Anderson taught art and Miss Miria Saddler, music. Teachers could board on Foote Street for $10.00 a month.
The institute was sold to C.C. Perrin who ran it as Hawthorne College from 1898 to 1902. The building then sat empty until 1904 when it was leased to Professor F.G. Jones who ran it as the McKinney Training School.
In 1907 Jones sold the school to McKinney Independent School District and it was occupied by the Central Ward School until the 1950s with Mr. McCasland as the principal. In later years it became the J. H. Hill Elementary School
At one time McKinney had 5 Ward Schools.
J. H. Hill School
Lamar and Board Streets
McKinney, Texas
J. W. Melton was President and teacher at the McKinney Collegiate Institute, which was a co-educational, non-denominational school for primary grades through college. The goal for the institute was to prepare students for commercial work or to go to college or university after graduation. One-hundred stockholders bought shares for the building fund. In 1889 the building was constructed on G.A. Foote’s land on Lamar Street. It was a two-story brick with nine rooms and an assembly Hall and heated by hot air flues, the first of its kind in McKinney. Miss N.M. Wakefield was principal and Miss Fanny Shipe was principal of primary education. Miss Alma Anderson taught art and Miss Miria Saddler, music. Teachers could board on Foote Street for $10.00 a month.
The institute was sold to C.C. Perrin who ran it as Hawthorne College from 1898 to 1902. The building then sat empty until 1904 when it was leased to Professor F.G. Jones who ran it as the McKinney Training School.
In 1907 Jones sold the school to McKinney Independent School District and it was occupied by the Central Ward School until the 1950s with Mr. McCasland as the principal. In later years it became the J. H. Hill Elementary School
At one time McKinney had 5 Ward Schools.
- North Ward was at Sherman Street and Heard Street. Recently that has been the Art Academy at J. L. Greer School.
- East Ward was at Louisiana and Murray Streets at what was the Russellville School. Today it is Webb Elementary School.
- South Ward was at the location of present-day Fanny Finch Elementary School at South Tennessee and Elm Streets.
- West Ward was at 1801 Hill Street, which is currently Burks Elementary School.
- Central Ward was at Lamar and Board Streets. In later years it became the J. H. Hill Elementary School. The school there was razed in the 1960s.
