Upper Rowlett School
Upper Rowlett School #16
El Dorado
Frisco, Texas
Established circa 1859 this two-room wood frame building was heated by a coal burning potbellied stove. There were two Rowlett Schools in Collin County north of SH 121 – referred to as “Lower” and “Upper” – because of their location on Rowlett Creek. There was also a Rowlett Creek school located south of 121 in Plano.
Upper Rowlett Creek was a two-room school located west of McKinney and established in 1861. Both Rowlett and Upper Rowlett Schools were #16 of the Collin County School District. Upper Rowlett was included on a list of Collin County School Districts in 1880. The teacher was W. H. Buchanan. It was said to be good corn country. There were 70 students in 1890; 77 students in 1891 and 80 in 1892. W. D. Hight was the teacher in 1901 and Miss Bess Tenning in 1905. The school had 28 male and 25 female students in 1908. There were 65 students in 1912.
In 1918 the County Superintendent wrote:
“No district in the county has a finer community that this one and it is equally true that no district needs a new house worse than this one. The enrollment is large, amounting to 64. They have no local tax. They need a new house well equipped and two teachers. This is a large District in territory and I believe the parents of school will not long be content with present conditions. This is a fine place for some one of the large land owners of the district to take the lead in showing his love for future generations by giving largely to this school. Who will take the lead: Miss Marguerite King is the efficient teacher of this school and I hope that by next year she will have the help and equipment that will enable her to show just what can be done with these fine boys and girls.”
In 1925 the school had 129 students. There were 59 students in 1940. The school had a year book entitled “The Blue Jacket” was started in 1940. The students took sack lunches until about 1940 when a cloak room was converted to a small lunchroom. The school had swings on the playground. An outdoor stage was built on the east side of the building.
One of the known teachers was Joseph W. Baines, maternal grandfather of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Other teachers were Mr. Bean, Billy Elkin in 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Sam McAllister, Mr. Mahan, Mr. Mahan, Miss Rhett Mahan, Hugh Mauldin, Naomi Morgan, Miss Claudie Reece, Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson, Miss Jimmie Stiff, Blanche Hobson and Miss Bessie White
Not only students attended Rowlett School, but one dog named “Poochie” was considered a student and attended Rowlett School with his owner for three to four years. Children often entertained themselves by tying a rope to trees on opposite sides of the creek. An old well pulley with a short rope tied to a stick hung down from the rope across the creek. By holding on to the stick, you could go from one side of the creek to the other.
El Dorado
Frisco, Texas
Established circa 1859 this two-room wood frame building was heated by a coal burning potbellied stove. There were two Rowlett Schools in Collin County north of SH 121 – referred to as “Lower” and “Upper” – because of their location on Rowlett Creek. There was also a Rowlett Creek school located south of 121 in Plano.
Upper Rowlett Creek was a two-room school located west of McKinney and established in 1861. Both Rowlett and Upper Rowlett Schools were #16 of the Collin County School District. Upper Rowlett was included on a list of Collin County School Districts in 1880. The teacher was W. H. Buchanan. It was said to be good corn country. There were 70 students in 1890; 77 students in 1891 and 80 in 1892. W. D. Hight was the teacher in 1901 and Miss Bess Tenning in 1905. The school had 28 male and 25 female students in 1908. There were 65 students in 1912.
In 1918 the County Superintendent wrote:
“No district in the county has a finer community that this one and it is equally true that no district needs a new house worse than this one. The enrollment is large, amounting to 64. They have no local tax. They need a new house well equipped and two teachers. This is a large District in territory and I believe the parents of school will not long be content with present conditions. This is a fine place for some one of the large land owners of the district to take the lead in showing his love for future generations by giving largely to this school. Who will take the lead: Miss Marguerite King is the efficient teacher of this school and I hope that by next year she will have the help and equipment that will enable her to show just what can be done with these fine boys and girls.”
In 1925 the school had 129 students. There were 59 students in 1940. The school had a year book entitled “The Blue Jacket” was started in 1940. The students took sack lunches until about 1940 when a cloak room was converted to a small lunchroom. The school had swings on the playground. An outdoor stage was built on the east side of the building.
One of the known teachers was Joseph W. Baines, maternal grandfather of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Other teachers were Mr. Bean, Billy Elkin in 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Sam McAllister, Mr. Mahan, Mr. Mahan, Miss Rhett Mahan, Hugh Mauldin, Naomi Morgan, Miss Claudie Reece, Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson, Miss Jimmie Stiff, Blanche Hobson and Miss Bessie White
Not only students attended Rowlett School, but one dog named “Poochie” was considered a student and attended Rowlett School with his owner for three to four years. Children often entertained themselves by tying a rope to trees on opposite sides of the creek. An old well pulley with a short rope tied to a stick hung down from the rope across the creek. By holding on to the stick, you could go from one side of the creek to the other.
