Petersburg School
Petersburg School #77
1205 South Tennessee Street and Elm Street
McKinney, Texas
The Petersburg School was started in the 1890s. It was located at South Tennessee Street and Elm Street in present-day McKinney where Finch Elementary School is today. McKinney was district #77 before it became an independent school district around 1900.
Around 1900 the Russellville School district combined with the Petersburg district. At that time, neither school district was inside the McKinney city limits nor was either district part of the McKinney School district. The combined district covered a large area including everything east of the railroad tracks and everything south of the city limits and east of Tennessee Street.
In 1903 the Petersburg and Russellville districts petitioned the city of McKinney to expand its city limits to include the two school districts. A year later in 1904 the Russellville district petitioned the County Commissioners Court to allow it to separate from the Petersburg district. The reason given was to make their school facilities much more convenient. It was at this time that Petersburg became district #77 and Russellville became district #87. The M. K. & T. railroad was the dividing line between the districts, and the Russellville Christian church was used as a school building. In 1905 both the Petersburg and Russellville districts petitioned the McKinney School Board to become part of the McKinney school district.
In September of 1901 Miss Mattie Coats entered her second year at Petersburg school. Prof C. C. Cross enrolled 67 pupils and had Mrs. Cross as his assistant. By November of 1901 Petersburg had three teachers: G. P. Gadberry, Mrs. A. A. Borum and Mrs. Eva Cross. Prof. M. C. Cunningham was the teacher in 1904.
Enrollment at Petersburg in 1905 was 133 students. Prof. M. C. Cunningham was the principal, assisted by Mrs. Hadie Puitt and Miss Lizzie Gullett. Miss Mary Pearce opened a subscription school in Petersburg on March 30, 1905
After the Petersburg and Russellville districts were admitted into the McKinney School district in 1905, a question was asked as to who owned the school facilities – the school district or the city. The state school superintendent said the building and grounds belonged to the city.
In May 1905 a double header baseball game was played between the Petersburg and Fairfield teams. The games resulted as follows: first game 17 to 2 in favor of Fairfield; second game 16 to 3 in favor of Fairfield.
The Petersburg School building was torn down around 1912 and eventually replaced with the South Ward School in the same location. In 1924 a petition was filed to change the name of the South Ward School to Fannie Finch School. The Fannie Finch Elementary School is still active today. There was also a Petersburg Colored School.
1205 South Tennessee Street and Elm Street
McKinney, Texas
The Petersburg School was started in the 1890s. It was located at South Tennessee Street and Elm Street in present-day McKinney where Finch Elementary School is today. McKinney was district #77 before it became an independent school district around 1900.
Around 1900 the Russellville School district combined with the Petersburg district. At that time, neither school district was inside the McKinney city limits nor was either district part of the McKinney School district. The combined district covered a large area including everything east of the railroad tracks and everything south of the city limits and east of Tennessee Street.
In 1903 the Petersburg and Russellville districts petitioned the city of McKinney to expand its city limits to include the two school districts. A year later in 1904 the Russellville district petitioned the County Commissioners Court to allow it to separate from the Petersburg district. The reason given was to make their school facilities much more convenient. It was at this time that Petersburg became district #77 and Russellville became district #87. The M. K. & T. railroad was the dividing line between the districts, and the Russellville Christian church was used as a school building. In 1905 both the Petersburg and Russellville districts petitioned the McKinney School Board to become part of the McKinney school district.
In September of 1901 Miss Mattie Coats entered her second year at Petersburg school. Prof C. C. Cross enrolled 67 pupils and had Mrs. Cross as his assistant. By November of 1901 Petersburg had three teachers: G. P. Gadberry, Mrs. A. A. Borum and Mrs. Eva Cross. Prof. M. C. Cunningham was the teacher in 1904.
Enrollment at Petersburg in 1905 was 133 students. Prof. M. C. Cunningham was the principal, assisted by Mrs. Hadie Puitt and Miss Lizzie Gullett. Miss Mary Pearce opened a subscription school in Petersburg on March 30, 1905
After the Petersburg and Russellville districts were admitted into the McKinney School district in 1905, a question was asked as to who owned the school facilities – the school district or the city. The state school superintendent said the building and grounds belonged to the city.
In May 1905 a double header baseball game was played between the Petersburg and Fairfield teams. The games resulted as follows: first game 17 to 2 in favor of Fairfield; second game 16 to 3 in favor of Fairfield.
The Petersburg School building was torn down around 1912 and eventually replaced with the South Ward School in the same location. In 1924 a petition was filed to change the name of the South Ward School to Fannie Finch School. The Fannie Finch Elementary School is still active today. There was also a Petersburg Colored School.
