Swayback School
Swayback School #33
Walnut Grove
South side of Jameson Branch
Rhea’s Mill, Texas
Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church
Sway Back School was established in a log cabin around 1848 and was used for both a school and church. It was located 10-12 miles west of McKinney on the southeast side of Jamison’s Branch about 1 mile south of the Walnut Grove Church. Students took water from a spring in the branch for water. The name Sway Back was chosen because the roof of the school sagged in the middle, and it is not clear whether it was a school first or a church. However, in 1848 a Methodist Church was organized in the building. In 1853 when Robert Rhea, his wife and five children came to Collin County they settled near the “Old Sway Back School.” Lucy, James M. and B.F. Scott attended school in the building.
Walnut Grove was said to be one the best farming sections of the county in 1880. The teacher was J. T. Chambers. In 1890 the school had 54 students. In 1898 Walnut Grove had 75 students with Nora E. Johnson as teacher. Miss May Agnes Cooke was the teacher at Walnut Grove in 1901 and Miss Hallie Potts in 1905. The school had 49 students in 1912, 54 in 1925 and 56 in 1940.
In 1918 the County Superintendent of Schools said this about Walnut Grove School:
“The Walnut Grove school house is not properly arranged and is not what this community deserves. They have no local tax. I hope that they will soon vote the limit. They have enrolled 35. Miss Mabel Denton is the teacher and she is working hard to give them a good school.”
Walnut Grove
South side of Jameson Branch
Rhea’s Mill, Texas
Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church
Sway Back School was established in a log cabin around 1848 and was used for both a school and church. It was located 10-12 miles west of McKinney on the southeast side of Jamison’s Branch about 1 mile south of the Walnut Grove Church. Students took water from a spring in the branch for water. The name Sway Back was chosen because the roof of the school sagged in the middle, and it is not clear whether it was a school first or a church. However, in 1848 a Methodist Church was organized in the building. In 1853 when Robert Rhea, his wife and five children came to Collin County they settled near the “Old Sway Back School.” Lucy, James M. and B.F. Scott attended school in the building.
Walnut Grove was said to be one the best farming sections of the county in 1880. The teacher was J. T. Chambers. In 1890 the school had 54 students. In 1898 Walnut Grove had 75 students with Nora E. Johnson as teacher. Miss May Agnes Cooke was the teacher at Walnut Grove in 1901 and Miss Hallie Potts in 1905. The school had 49 students in 1912, 54 in 1925 and 56 in 1940.
In 1918 the County Superintendent of Schools said this about Walnut Grove School:
“The Walnut Grove school house is not properly arranged and is not what this community deserves. They have no local tax. I hope that they will soon vote the limit. They have enrolled 35. Miss Mabel Denton is the teacher and she is working hard to give them a good school.”
