Rhymer School
Rhymer School #112
Rhymer Springs
FM 455
Anna, Texas
Rhymer School was not included on the list of county schools in 1880.
In 1890 Rhymer School had 51 students. The Rhymer Post Office opened in 1895.
Excerpts from “A Turn of the century Rural Texas School”
By Lorenzo Dow Hendricks (Dow Hendricks was Superintendent of Schools for Collin County from about 1930 to 1955)
“The Rhymer Community was sometimes called Rhymer Hill because of a steep hill was on the east side of the community, or Rhymer Spring, which was located near the hill.
“The school was about ¼ mile west of Rhymer Hill on an acre of land in the northeast corner of the John Roper Home Place.The land was deeded to the school by Jim L. Hendricks, who sold the farm to Mr. John Roper.
“The building was about 32’ long and 16’ wide, with four windows on the north and 4 opposite them on the south. The north windows were painted, so that pupils might not be attracted by passing horseback riders, wagons and buggies.
About 1901 shutters were put on the windows, they were really hinged doors, that were fastened back during school but fastened inside at night. This was because too many panes were broken by rocks or bullets.
“The only paint on this building was the white on the windows, and the black on the inside walls for black boards. There were between the windows on the sides and all the way across the back part or the west end of the house. A stage about 10 inches high and 6 feet wide extended across the west end of the room. This was used for recitations, and plays, for Fridays and programs on the last day of the school year.
“In the center of the building was a stove that burned wood that was 3 ½ feet long or less, over the stove was a round drum about the size of the stove, around which the smoke circulated before it went out through the stove pipe. The outside of the building, consisted of boxing planks running vertically, whose cracks were covered with 1” by 3” material. On the inside walls were 6” car siding, and the ceiling was 10” shiplap.
“There were no black board erasers. The pupils took old rags of jeans, and other materials to erase the painted wall black board. I suppose dustless crayon had not been invented, for when everyone erased at the same time, pupils could hardly breathe or see each other for the crayon dust fog.
“The only door to the building was in the center of the east end. Just outside the door was a landing about 4’ by 6’ that had no roof. Just inside the door on the south was shelf on which two galvanized buckets usually sat with four tin cups by them. All pupils drank water from these buckets and cups.
“Most of the school seats were double, manufactured, desks. The “Home-made” desks were of boxing board, about 24 inches from the floor, at each end of the seat a 12” plank came up to the plank sat on, then it tapered, to a point about 14” from the sitting place. At the back, between the two-pointed pieces, was a 1” by 4” to lean back against. Four sat on that seat. You could not be pushed off the end, for the upright held you.
“The first book was a primer, on the first page was the picture of a cow’s head; at the side was written, “My Cow.” Under the picture was, “I can see the cow.” On the second page of my primer was “I can see the pig.”
“There were 5 rows of double desks, two long rows on each side of the stove, a few seats back of the stove, a few in front. The girls sat on the south side and the boys on the north. At the front just off the stage were long recitation seats, where pupils sat during their class periods.Reading and spelling classes never sat on them.
“Professor W. Less Roper was one of the early teachers at Rhymer School. He and his wife both taught. Dr. W. S. Wysong helped one year.
“Mr. W. Less Roper taught ten grades in 1901-02 and 1902-03 terms. Other teachers included Mr. George Eubanks; Mr. W. Less Gunnell; Miss Addison; Miss Myrtie Smith in 1905; Miss Della Smith and Miss Nell Burks in 1908 and 1909. When Prof. Henry E. Kerby taught at the Rhymer School in 1914, the school was among the largest schools in the county being taught by a single teacher.”
In 1901 there were 59 students; 63 students in 1912; and 77 in 1914.
Around 1918 the White Rock School was formed by the consolidation of the Chambliss (Stony Point), Rhymer and Wooddale schools. White Rock High school was located one and one-half miles north of Chambliss and south of Rhymer. It is a four-teacher school.
Rhymer Springs
FM 455
Anna, Texas
Rhymer School was not included on the list of county schools in 1880.
In 1890 Rhymer School had 51 students. The Rhymer Post Office opened in 1895.
Excerpts from “A Turn of the century Rural Texas School”
By Lorenzo Dow Hendricks (Dow Hendricks was Superintendent of Schools for Collin County from about 1930 to 1955)
“The Rhymer Community was sometimes called Rhymer Hill because of a steep hill was on the east side of the community, or Rhymer Spring, which was located near the hill.
“The school was about ¼ mile west of Rhymer Hill on an acre of land in the northeast corner of the John Roper Home Place.The land was deeded to the school by Jim L. Hendricks, who sold the farm to Mr. John Roper.
“The building was about 32’ long and 16’ wide, with four windows on the north and 4 opposite them on the south. The north windows were painted, so that pupils might not be attracted by passing horseback riders, wagons and buggies.
About 1901 shutters were put on the windows, they were really hinged doors, that were fastened back during school but fastened inside at night. This was because too many panes were broken by rocks or bullets.
“The only paint on this building was the white on the windows, and the black on the inside walls for black boards. There were between the windows on the sides and all the way across the back part or the west end of the house. A stage about 10 inches high and 6 feet wide extended across the west end of the room. This was used for recitations, and plays, for Fridays and programs on the last day of the school year.
“In the center of the building was a stove that burned wood that was 3 ½ feet long or less, over the stove was a round drum about the size of the stove, around which the smoke circulated before it went out through the stove pipe. The outside of the building, consisted of boxing planks running vertically, whose cracks were covered with 1” by 3” material. On the inside walls were 6” car siding, and the ceiling was 10” shiplap.
“There were no black board erasers. The pupils took old rags of jeans, and other materials to erase the painted wall black board. I suppose dustless crayon had not been invented, for when everyone erased at the same time, pupils could hardly breathe or see each other for the crayon dust fog.
“The only door to the building was in the center of the east end. Just outside the door was a landing about 4’ by 6’ that had no roof. Just inside the door on the south was shelf on which two galvanized buckets usually sat with four tin cups by them. All pupils drank water from these buckets and cups.
“Most of the school seats were double, manufactured, desks. The “Home-made” desks were of boxing board, about 24 inches from the floor, at each end of the seat a 12” plank came up to the plank sat on, then it tapered, to a point about 14” from the sitting place. At the back, between the two-pointed pieces, was a 1” by 4” to lean back against. Four sat on that seat. You could not be pushed off the end, for the upright held you.
“The first book was a primer, on the first page was the picture of a cow’s head; at the side was written, “My Cow.” Under the picture was, “I can see the cow.” On the second page of my primer was “I can see the pig.”
“There were 5 rows of double desks, two long rows on each side of the stove, a few seats back of the stove, a few in front. The girls sat on the south side and the boys on the north. At the front just off the stage were long recitation seats, where pupils sat during their class periods.Reading and spelling classes never sat on them.
“Professor W. Less Roper was one of the early teachers at Rhymer School. He and his wife both taught. Dr. W. S. Wysong helped one year.
“Mr. W. Less Roper taught ten grades in 1901-02 and 1902-03 terms. Other teachers included Mr. George Eubanks; Mr. W. Less Gunnell; Miss Addison; Miss Myrtie Smith in 1905; Miss Della Smith and Miss Nell Burks in 1908 and 1909. When Prof. Henry E. Kerby taught at the Rhymer School in 1914, the school was among the largest schools in the county being taught by a single teacher.”
In 1901 there were 59 students; 63 students in 1912; and 77 in 1914.
Around 1918 the White Rock School was formed by the consolidation of the Chambliss (Stony Point), Rhymer and Wooddale schools. White Rock High school was located one and one-half miles north of Chambliss and south of Rhymer. It is a four-teacher school.
