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Westminster
The Westminster post office opened on June 15, 1899 with George Hullinger as postmaster. Ibbie Eastin became postmaster in 1918 and was still in office in 1957. The post office has since closed. The area was originally called Seven Points. When the Seven Points College changed its name to Westminster, the town around the college became known as Westminster.
Westminster Remains Village, Missed by Railroads, Highways
VAN ALSTYNE, Texas, Sept. 22- Known years ago as a school town, Westminster, eight miles southeast of here, today is an inland village that was missed by the railroads and main highways.
Mail service was established there in 1898. E. S. Williams and J. M. St. John were pioneer merchants. Early settlers included William L. Martin, J. P. Coffey, D. H. Roland, W. J. Ingram and D. R. Clark. Mr. Clark now lives south of Westminster.
The town was called Seven Points when J. M. Harder built and taught a private school in 1887. He sold the frame building to I. P. Rosser. In 1890 the Protestant Methodist Church bought the building for $450 and changed the name to Westminster College, after which the town adopted its name. The school offered two years of college work. C. O. Stubbs was first president.
In 1902 the Baptist Church bought the building and the Methodist College was moved to Tehuacana, where it is still called Westminster College. The Baptist Association would not accept the old building, so plans were made for a new one for an academy. The cornerstone was laid in 1907 and a fifty-room building was completed fourteen months later. The top floor had twenty-five rooms that were used as a girls' dormitory. The building is of concrete and cost $75,000, besides donations of rock, sand and labor.
Charles Thompson, now living at Rush, was first president for this school. The institution closed its doors during the 1914-15 term. Through the efforts of the Rev. George Airhart, now of McKinney, and others, the building became the property of Collin County Baptists and is now used as a church.
In 1914 the Graybill and Westminster school districts were consolidated and a new public school building erected.
The Methodist Church came into being in Westminster with consolidation of Blackman's Chapel Church at Sedalia and the Graybill church.
J. L. Chapman, now of Farmersville, helped to organize a bank in 1910, capitalized at $10,000, with the late John Stewart as president. Will McDougal, vice-president, is still a resident of Westminster. J. T. Hartness, also living there now, was president for a period.
The Rev. J. H. David was the first man to borrow from the bank and Mrs. W. C. Brinlee, now living in Van Alstyne, was the first person to make
WESTMINSTER ENTERPRISE.
Possess Real Artesian Well-Two New Stores.
J. W. Atterberry and wife of Westminster are in McKinney today, attending the picnic. Mr. Atterberry is a prominent real estate dealer of northwest Collin, who is a decided success. He has great confidence in Westminster for which thriving little school town and surrounding section he always has a good word to say. In reply to a reporter's query as to the town's progress, he said that Westminster was the possessor of a real artesian well. Water was recently obtained at the depth of 703 feet. It flows over the top. In fact it flows strongly enough to rise through a pipe twenty foot above the surfaced and discharge into an elevated tank. The water possesses mineral attributes of a health-giving nature and is expected to prove of excellent quality for general utility purposes. Mr. Atterberry also informed us that two new store buildings are under construction in his town. One of W. F. Ashmore's and the other belonging to John Taylor.
Mute Reminder Of Early Days In Westminster
By Noble Wright
North Texas Baptist Academy is no more. Today the building that housed it stands a mute reminder of this once busy school. It is an outstanding landmark at Westminster in northeast Collin County.
At this place, in the year 1888, Rev. J. M. Harder founded a school known as Seven Points College. Five years later it was sold to J. P. Rosser, then to the Methodist Protestant Church. The Westminster Baptist Church bought the school in 1902 and deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. Under the auspices of the Baptist it operated until 1917. The school operated under local support for its last school year of 1917-18.
Today the building is used for the Baptist Church congregation. Mr. M. L. McGee, teacher of the men's Bible class at the Baptist Church knows much of the history of the school.
Mrs. W. A. McDougal, who lives near the school, has four children who attended the school. Two daughters are: Beulah, now Mrs. C. M. Vardaman, of Tyler; and Beatrice, now Mrs. J. R. Goddard, of Corpus Christi. Two sons are: Aaron McDougal, now of Kingsville, and employed by Humble Oil Co.; and Roscoe McDougal, Tulsa, Okla., employed by Carter Oil Co.
A literary magazine called "The Sketch Book" was printed in the Academy's own printing shop. Mrs. McDougal has several issues of this magazine which was published monthly during the school year.
Local merchants supported the magazine liberally with their advertisements. Some of these advertisers have since gone to their reward. In the year 1911 the First State Bank of Westminster (no longer in operation) advertised as having a capital of $10,000. Listed as president was J. S. Stewart and J. M. Kirby was listed as another official. Clarence Stewart of McKinney is the son of the J. S. Stewart mentioned. C. W. Geer advertised as tailor in the same year and today he is Westminster's druggist. W. A. Pace, who lives now in McKinney, was Westminsters' druggist in 1911 according to the same copy of the "Sketch Book."
Other notices were printed for the late G. W. Howell, barber, and the late J. M. St. John, groceryman. Geo. A. Taylor was listed as dealing in real estate.
In the Academy's catalogue for the season of 1910-11 there was a total of 120 students on the roll.
Clarence Stewart and Mrs. Lee Eubanks, both of McKinney, were once students of this school.
Mr. A. M. Turner, operator of a Cities Service Station at Anna, was a graduate of the class of 1907. Following his graduation he helped in the razing of a the wooden building and the construction of the permanent type of structure that stands today on the old Academy grounds.
When Harder was head of the school that was the forerunner of the Academy, there was a seven point star in the east end of the two-story wooden structure that housed his college. At that time the community was known as Seven Points and it was not until the Baptists took charge of the school in 1907 that the settlement's name was changed to Westminster.
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, October 1, 1949 Centennial Edition
by Betty Jean Giles
Westminster was originally known as Seven Points. What is now "The Square" of Westminster was then a field in cultivation. Some of the older residents here remember picking cotton there.
At the turn of the century Seven Points was a thriving community with an increasing population. Already a free school had been established under the direction of J. M. Harder. People were building where once there were fields of cotton and grain. Businesses were established: grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, tailor shop, bank, garage, filling station, barber shop, drug store, and a gin. The first store was owned and operated by Mr. Hullinger in 1902. The first banker was J. M. Kerby and the first gin in Westminster was built by W. A. McDougal in 1908. The first gasoline sold in Westminster was brought in barrels on a wagon drawn by four horses.
By 1902 there was a post office and Lillian King was post mistress. It was about this time that the name was changed to Westminster. It got its name from Westminster Abbey in England.
All this time there had been a school in Westminster. For about two years a private school was carried on under I. P. Rosser. There was a Protestant Methodist school from 1900 to 1903, then it was sold to Baptists. Westminster Academy was built in 1907 and carried on until 1914. The school was moved and the building is now the Baptist Church.
In 1914 Gray Bill and Westminster schools consolidated. Now in Westminster there is an affiliated high school and three churches: Baptist, Methodist and Church of Christ.
All through the years Westminster was just an average little town. Then along came the war in 1941. Men and boys were called into service; people moved out and took jobs in defense plants. The town was just a skeleton of what it had been but the people who remained kept things going.
Now the war is over; people are moving back and the town is growing once more. Westminster is looking forward to many prosperous years to come.
VAN ALSTYNE, Texas, Sept. 22- Known years ago as a school town, Westminster, eight miles southeast of here, today is an inland village that was missed by the railroads and main highways.
Mail service was established there in 1898. E. S. Williams and J. M. St. John were pioneer merchants. Early settlers included William L. Martin, J. P. Coffey, D. H. Roland, W. J. Ingram and D. R. Clark. Mr. Clark now lives south of Westminster.
The town was called Seven Points when J. M. Harder built and taught a private school in 1887. He sold the frame building to I. P. Rosser. In 1890 the Protestant Methodist Church bought the building for $450 and changed the name to Westminster College, after which the town adopted its name. The school offered two years of college work. C. O. Stubbs was first president.
In 1902 the Baptist Church bought the building and the Methodist College was moved to Tehuacana, where it is still called Westminster College. The Baptist Association would not accept the old building, so plans were made for a new one for an academy. The cornerstone was laid in 1907 and a fifty-room building was completed fourteen months later. The top floor had twenty-five rooms that were used as a girls' dormitory. The building is of concrete and cost $75,000, besides donations of rock, sand and labor.
Charles Thompson, now living at Rush, was first president for this school. The institution closed its doors during the 1914-15 term. Through the efforts of the Rev. George Airhart, now of McKinney, and others, the building became the property of Collin County Baptists and is now used as a church.
In 1914 the Graybill and Westminster school districts were consolidated and a new public school building erected.
The Methodist Church came into being in Westminster with consolidation of Blackman's Chapel Church at Sedalia and the Graybill church.
J. L. Chapman, now of Farmersville, helped to organize a bank in 1910, capitalized at $10,000, with the late John Stewart as president. Will McDougal, vice-president, is still a resident of Westminster. J. T. Hartness, also living there now, was president for a period.
The Rev. J. H. David was the first man to borrow from the bank and Mrs. W. C. Brinlee, now living in Van Alstyne, was the first person to make
WESTMINSTER ENTERPRISE.
Possess Real Artesian Well-Two New Stores.
J. W. Atterberry and wife of Westminster are in McKinney today, attending the picnic. Mr. Atterberry is a prominent real estate dealer of northwest Collin, who is a decided success. He has great confidence in Westminster for which thriving little school town and surrounding section he always has a good word to say. In reply to a reporter's query as to the town's progress, he said that Westminster was the possessor of a real artesian well. Water was recently obtained at the depth of 703 feet. It flows over the top. In fact it flows strongly enough to rise through a pipe twenty foot above the surfaced and discharge into an elevated tank. The water possesses mineral attributes of a health-giving nature and is expected to prove of excellent quality for general utility purposes. Mr. Atterberry also informed us that two new store buildings are under construction in his town. One of W. F. Ashmore's and the other belonging to John Taylor.
Mute Reminder Of Early Days In Westminster
By Noble Wright
North Texas Baptist Academy is no more. Today the building that housed it stands a mute reminder of this once busy school. It is an outstanding landmark at Westminster in northeast Collin County.
At this place, in the year 1888, Rev. J. M. Harder founded a school known as Seven Points College. Five years later it was sold to J. P. Rosser, then to the Methodist Protestant Church. The Westminster Baptist Church bought the school in 1902 and deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. Under the auspices of the Baptist it operated until 1917. The school operated under local support for its last school year of 1917-18.
Today the building is used for the Baptist Church congregation. Mr. M. L. McGee, teacher of the men's Bible class at the Baptist Church knows much of the history of the school.
Mrs. W. A. McDougal, who lives near the school, has four children who attended the school. Two daughters are: Beulah, now Mrs. C. M. Vardaman, of Tyler; and Beatrice, now Mrs. J. R. Goddard, of Corpus Christi. Two sons are: Aaron McDougal, now of Kingsville, and employed by Humble Oil Co.; and Roscoe McDougal, Tulsa, Okla., employed by Carter Oil Co.
A literary magazine called "The Sketch Book" was printed in the Academy's own printing shop. Mrs. McDougal has several issues of this magazine which was published monthly during the school year.
Local merchants supported the magazine liberally with their advertisements. Some of these advertisers have since gone to their reward. In the year 1911 the First State Bank of Westminster (no longer in operation) advertised as having a capital of $10,000. Listed as president was J. S. Stewart and J. M. Kirby was listed as another official. Clarence Stewart of McKinney is the son of the J. S. Stewart mentioned. C. W. Geer advertised as tailor in the same year and today he is Westminster's druggist. W. A. Pace, who lives now in McKinney, was Westminsters' druggist in 1911 according to the same copy of the "Sketch Book."
Other notices were printed for the late G. W. Howell, barber, and the late J. M. St. John, groceryman. Geo. A. Taylor was listed as dealing in real estate.
In the Academy's catalogue for the season of 1910-11 there was a total of 120 students on the roll.
Clarence Stewart and Mrs. Lee Eubanks, both of McKinney, were once students of this school.
Mr. A. M. Turner, operator of a Cities Service Station at Anna, was a graduate of the class of 1907. Following his graduation he helped in the razing of a the wooden building and the construction of the permanent type of structure that stands today on the old Academy grounds.
When Harder was head of the school that was the forerunner of the Academy, there was a seven point star in the east end of the two-story wooden structure that housed his college. At that time the community was known as Seven Points and it was not until the Baptists took charge of the school in 1907 that the settlement's name was changed to Westminster.
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, October 1, 1949 Centennial Edition
by Betty Jean Giles
Westminster was originally known as Seven Points. What is now "The Square" of Westminster was then a field in cultivation. Some of the older residents here remember picking cotton there.
At the turn of the century Seven Points was a thriving community with an increasing population. Already a free school had been established under the direction of J. M. Harder. People were building where once there were fields of cotton and grain. Businesses were established: grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, tailor shop, bank, garage, filling station, barber shop, drug store, and a gin. The first store was owned and operated by Mr. Hullinger in 1902. The first banker was J. M. Kerby and the first gin in Westminster was built by W. A. McDougal in 1908. The first gasoline sold in Westminster was brought in barrels on a wagon drawn by four horses.
By 1902 there was a post office and Lillian King was post mistress. It was about this time that the name was changed to Westminster. It got its name from Westminster Abbey in England.
All this time there had been a school in Westminster. For about two years a private school was carried on under I. P. Rosser. There was a Protestant Methodist school from 1900 to 1903, then it was sold to Baptists. Westminster Academy was built in 1907 and carried on until 1914. The school was moved and the building is now the Baptist Church.
In 1914 Gray Bill and Westminster schools consolidated. Now in Westminster there is an affiliated high school and three churches: Baptist, Methodist and Church of Christ.
All through the years Westminster was just an average little town. Then along came the war in 1941. Men and boys were called into service; people moved out and took jobs in defense plants. The town was just a skeleton of what it had been but the people who remained kept things going.
Now the war is over; people are moving back and the town is growing once more. Westminster is looking forward to many prosperous years to come.
