Verona School
Verona School #71
Mississippi
FM 1377 and CR 571
Blue Ridge, Texas
The community of Verona was 5 miles northeast of Princeton and about 3 miles due south of Altoga. A school was started there in 1880 and first named Mississippi because of the number of settlers that came from Mississippi in the 1870s. The name was changed to Womble because the family built a general store, gin, grist mill, and started the school. The community was also called Verona because Verona was the daughter of A.R. Womble.
One of the first Verona school teachers was Mr. T. A. Parris from Anna. He meant a great deal to the young people of the community, for it was in his literary society they learned debating and public speaking. Other early teachers of the Verona school were Mr. Jim Gober, Mr. Charley Rutledge, Miss Mollie Battle, Miss Lizzie Lishman, and Mr. Webb Jones. All of these teachers had an influence for good on the life of the community.
Verona School was on the 1880 list of Collin County schools. The article said the soil was rich and very productive. Verona was thickly settled and had mostly timbered land. The teacher T. A. Parris.
Sixty-eight students were enrolled in the school in 1890 and 81 students enrolled in 1901. There were 50 males and 31 females in 1909; 56 students in 1912; and 49 students in 1925. Verona School had 6 grades.
Miss Alma Key and Miss Cassie Clark taught at Verona in 1901; T. A. Stroup and F. McGee in 1905; Prof. Albert Stroup and Miss Hunter in 1908; and Prof. Claud Huckaby, and Miss Flora Francis in 1913.
The County Superintendent of Schools said this about Verona School in 1918:
“Verona School had two teachers and an enrollment of 84. The house is in very poor condition. The children and teachers were unable to say at school during some of the bad weather that we have been having. We are glad to note that there is a general determination among the parents for a new house before another school. This is not a large district when it comes to acres, but is a good one so far as the number of children are concerned. This is a good community, and they are going to do some real school work before another year. Miss Bertha Strickland and Miss Kate Johnson are the teachers. This school has a fine number of the young people of the community in attendance.”
In 1918 at a meeting of the patrons of the Verona school district, $900 was subscribed to aid in building a modern school building. A bond issue was submitted and they hoped to have a new school building completed for the fall term of the school.
The Verona school closed Friday, April 25, 1919 with a public program and dinner on the ground. The school has a successful term and the Misses Holloman were greatly appreciated as teachers by that splendid community.
Prof. Weldon Cowan and Miss Edith Press were the teachers in 1936; Mildred Richardson, primary, and Miss Faye Hudson, principal, in 1939. Miss Faye Hudson was the principal from 1938 until 1940. In 1939 the softball team defeated the White Rock team on home court. The score was 20 to 11. Verona had 33 students in 1940.
On March 28, 1941, a fire of unknown origin totally destroyed the frame school house at Verona. All text and library books, furniture and other contents were completely destroyed and the loss was estimated at $3,000.00. It was said some insurance was carried. Miss Mildred Richardson was teacher of the school. There were 24 pupils enrolled.
A little club house on the school campus was used temporarily until a new building was erected. It consolidated with Blue Ridge in the 1940s.
Mississippi
FM 1377 and CR 571
Blue Ridge, Texas
The community of Verona was 5 miles northeast of Princeton and about 3 miles due south of Altoga. A school was started there in 1880 and first named Mississippi because of the number of settlers that came from Mississippi in the 1870s. The name was changed to Womble because the family built a general store, gin, grist mill, and started the school. The community was also called Verona because Verona was the daughter of A.R. Womble.
One of the first Verona school teachers was Mr. T. A. Parris from Anna. He meant a great deal to the young people of the community, for it was in his literary society they learned debating and public speaking. Other early teachers of the Verona school were Mr. Jim Gober, Mr. Charley Rutledge, Miss Mollie Battle, Miss Lizzie Lishman, and Mr. Webb Jones. All of these teachers had an influence for good on the life of the community.
Verona School was on the 1880 list of Collin County schools. The article said the soil was rich and very productive. Verona was thickly settled and had mostly timbered land. The teacher T. A. Parris.
Sixty-eight students were enrolled in the school in 1890 and 81 students enrolled in 1901. There were 50 males and 31 females in 1909; 56 students in 1912; and 49 students in 1925. Verona School had 6 grades.
Miss Alma Key and Miss Cassie Clark taught at Verona in 1901; T. A. Stroup and F. McGee in 1905; Prof. Albert Stroup and Miss Hunter in 1908; and Prof. Claud Huckaby, and Miss Flora Francis in 1913.
The County Superintendent of Schools said this about Verona School in 1918:
“Verona School had two teachers and an enrollment of 84. The house is in very poor condition. The children and teachers were unable to say at school during some of the bad weather that we have been having. We are glad to note that there is a general determination among the parents for a new house before another school. This is not a large district when it comes to acres, but is a good one so far as the number of children are concerned. This is a good community, and they are going to do some real school work before another year. Miss Bertha Strickland and Miss Kate Johnson are the teachers. This school has a fine number of the young people of the community in attendance.”
In 1918 at a meeting of the patrons of the Verona school district, $900 was subscribed to aid in building a modern school building. A bond issue was submitted and they hoped to have a new school building completed for the fall term of the school.
The Verona school closed Friday, April 25, 1919 with a public program and dinner on the ground. The school has a successful term and the Misses Holloman were greatly appreciated as teachers by that splendid community.
Prof. Weldon Cowan and Miss Edith Press were the teachers in 1936; Mildred Richardson, primary, and Miss Faye Hudson, principal, in 1939. Miss Faye Hudson was the principal from 1938 until 1940. In 1939 the softball team defeated the White Rock team on home court. The score was 20 to 11. Verona had 33 students in 1940.
On March 28, 1941, a fire of unknown origin totally destroyed the frame school house at Verona. All text and library books, furniture and other contents were completely destroyed and the loss was estimated at $3,000.00. It was said some insurance was carried. Miss Mildred Richardson was teacher of the school. There were 24 pupils enrolled.
A little club house on the school campus was used temporarily until a new building was erected. It consolidated with Blue Ridge in the 1940s.
