Midway School
Midway School #31
Pecan Acres Drive
Climax, Texas
The earliest mention of the Midway school house in the newspapers was in 1888. It was located about a mile northeast of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church and Cemetery. It would be roughly halfway between Princeton and Blue Ridge.
In 1890 the Midway school had 91 pupils. A “Disciple of Christ,” and a Methodist locked horns in a debate over spiritual matters at Midway school house, and the way the “furr flew” was a caution to behold, but a general calm followed the storm and our “city by the brush” (Brushy) and its surrounding country was moving on in its steady course of prosperity.
On October 22, 1891 the On the Wing reporter was escorted to Midway school house, where a crowded house of the good people of Midway greeted Mr. Branch, the alliance speaker of the evening. For over an hour Mr. Branch held the wrapt [sic] attention of the audience, during which time he poured forth volley after volley of hot shot against the enemies of the order and successfully sustained alliance demands. The Midway school house burned in February of 1892. It was supposed to have been burned by an incendiary.
Midway school was making good progress in the 1900 term. In February of1901 the Midway school was highly entertained by the presence of the much-esteemed county superintendent, J. H. Hill. Hill’s lecture was so appropriate to school work, aside from the fact that it had a tendency to elevate the youths of the land by admonishing them to cultivate not only their mental faculties but moral character, which “in itself constitutes the noblest types of man and womanhood.” Miss Gertrude Bell was the teacher in 1901.
Harry P. Bell was the teacher at the Midway school from 1902-1905. The trustees in 1902 were Ben Clark, Harve Spaugh and Jordan Maynor. Miss Alta Harris was the teacher in May 1907. Prof. Mitchell was teaching the Midway school in December of 1907.
Miss Rena Womble was the principal of Midway school in 1913.
John McMurray taught the Midway school in 1913-14. Claud Long took up his work as second teacher in the Midway school in November of 1914.
In 1918 the County Superintendent of Schools said about Midway:
“The trustees of this school have improved the house some but it is still far from being what the community deserves. This is another good place where some consolidation can be profitably done. If this is not done, I hope to see the tax limit voted and a modern house put up. The enrollment is 50. The school has had lots of sickness and in this way the average attendance has not been so great. Miss Eva Williams and Miss Mamye Griffin are the teachers.”
Midway school district had its two-room house in the course of construction in December of 1919. Midway school had 68 pupils in 1925. In 1935 Miss Isabel Henslee accepted the position as principal of the Midway school. Miss Dorothy Nickles, who had occupied the position for the past few years had accepted a position elsewhere.
A play was given Thursday night and another play Friday night to mark the end of the 1936 school year. Miss Henslee was principal and Mrs. Bud (Ferrell) Carr was assistant. The enrollment was 35. Mrs. Carr taught the first four grades. The salary was $30 a month.
A school carnival was held at Midway school on December 4, 1936. Stew and ice cream were served. The proceeds went to the school. Midway had 36 students in 1940. The school building was sold by 1948. The students went to the Farmersville school.
Pecan Acres Drive
Climax, Texas
The earliest mention of the Midway school house in the newspapers was in 1888. It was located about a mile northeast of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church and Cemetery. It would be roughly halfway between Princeton and Blue Ridge.
In 1890 the Midway school had 91 pupils. A “Disciple of Christ,” and a Methodist locked horns in a debate over spiritual matters at Midway school house, and the way the “furr flew” was a caution to behold, but a general calm followed the storm and our “city by the brush” (Brushy) and its surrounding country was moving on in its steady course of prosperity.
On October 22, 1891 the On the Wing reporter was escorted to Midway school house, where a crowded house of the good people of Midway greeted Mr. Branch, the alliance speaker of the evening. For over an hour Mr. Branch held the wrapt [sic] attention of the audience, during which time he poured forth volley after volley of hot shot against the enemies of the order and successfully sustained alliance demands. The Midway school house burned in February of 1892. It was supposed to have been burned by an incendiary.
Midway school was making good progress in the 1900 term. In February of1901 the Midway school was highly entertained by the presence of the much-esteemed county superintendent, J. H. Hill. Hill’s lecture was so appropriate to school work, aside from the fact that it had a tendency to elevate the youths of the land by admonishing them to cultivate not only their mental faculties but moral character, which “in itself constitutes the noblest types of man and womanhood.” Miss Gertrude Bell was the teacher in 1901.
Harry P. Bell was the teacher at the Midway school from 1902-1905. The trustees in 1902 were Ben Clark, Harve Spaugh and Jordan Maynor. Miss Alta Harris was the teacher in May 1907. Prof. Mitchell was teaching the Midway school in December of 1907.
Miss Rena Womble was the principal of Midway school in 1913.
John McMurray taught the Midway school in 1913-14. Claud Long took up his work as second teacher in the Midway school in November of 1914.
In 1918 the County Superintendent of Schools said about Midway:
“The trustees of this school have improved the house some but it is still far from being what the community deserves. This is another good place where some consolidation can be profitably done. If this is not done, I hope to see the tax limit voted and a modern house put up. The enrollment is 50. The school has had lots of sickness and in this way the average attendance has not been so great. Miss Eva Williams and Miss Mamye Griffin are the teachers.”
Midway school district had its two-room house in the course of construction in December of 1919. Midway school had 68 pupils in 1925. In 1935 Miss Isabel Henslee accepted the position as principal of the Midway school. Miss Dorothy Nickles, who had occupied the position for the past few years had accepted a position elsewhere.
A play was given Thursday night and another play Friday night to mark the end of the 1936 school year. Miss Henslee was principal and Mrs. Bud (Ferrell) Carr was assistant. The enrollment was 35. Mrs. Carr taught the first four grades. The salary was $30 a month.
A school carnival was held at Midway school on December 4, 1936. Stew and ice cream were served. The proceeds went to the school. Midway had 36 students in 1940. The school building was sold by 1948. The students went to the Farmersville school.
