The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-15
SOME EARLY EDUCATORS
Who Taught the Young Idea to
Shoot
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF HOUSTON.
The Forcfunncrs of Houston.s Pres.
ent Magnificent School system.
The Early schools.

brief sketch OF the early schools of Houston
and the pioneer teachers may be OF inter-
est to those who have now reached the
afolescent state. and who may recall in
some of the names below their early pre-
ceptors.
The first school established in Houston
was conducted by Mrs. Dempsey. This
was in 1889. only few years after Hous-
| ton was laid out and when the then in
| rant town was composed of tents and but
a few houses, mostly clustered about Main
street and extending no farther out than
| Rusk. Mrs. Dcmpsey's school Was located
| on Capitol avenue. between Milan and
| Louisiana streets. The building was scarce
ly more than shanty the front room
having puncheon floor, while the rear
room had no floor at all. The girls were
assigned the better apartment. while the
boys conncd their lessons upon The bare
bosom of mother earth. Mrs Dempsey has,
OF course. long since passed to her re-
ward. but there are vet living citizens in
Houston who received from her the rudi-
ments of their education.
| Other schools followed and next in point
of priority was the school of DR.. II. +.
Gillette, who died but short while since,
and whose entire lie was devoted to cdu-
cational pursuits. his last active work be.
| Ing in charge of the Bayland Orphans
home, before that institution was removed
| to Houston. MIR. Gillette's first educational
work In Houston was in a small building
| opposite the market house. After his first
| term the citizens constructed a building for
him on the corner OF Travis street and
Texas avenue, near tho present site u the
| Shearn Methodist church. This building
was subsequently occupied as school by
Mrs. Bigeow, Miss Avorile and Professor
ID. =. Jewett This was probably the first
building erected in Houston for school pur-
| poses. Dr. Gillette continued to teach there
for about a year and half, after which
he left Houston, but returned in 1886 and
taught for session in diapidated build
Ing near where the old county jail now
stands. He and others then moved the
school building that had been erected at
the corner OF Travis and Texas avenue to
site opposite the Episcopal church, and
here it served the double purpose OF a
school and place of worship for the Epis-
copal congregation, pr. Gillette being also
an Episcopal minister.
Another OF Houston's early schools oc-
ciipied site on Travis street, about the
center OF the block between Preston and
Prairie. on the north side OF the street. At
that time the ground between this building
and the Capitol hotel was vacant and filed
with stumps
Another of the old schools was located
back of an old thoater that stood on Con-
gress avenue, opposite Market square. and
this school was taught by Mr.. Anders. the
father OF Judge Anders, who in recent years
occupied the position Of county judge.
Opposite the present location of Turner
hall was another Of Houston 8 early schools
The building was originally constructed for
a residence but afterwards used for schoo
purposes.
In lSi7-4S Mrs Longley came to Hous-
ton and opened the first free school in the
vestibule of the old Presbyterian church
which she continued for some time, ably
supported in her work by Mrs. Wilson. Mrs
Sellers and Mr.. Lawrence. Professor jew
EFT also taught in the same place.
Early in the fifties the old Masonic TEN
pie, a three-story frame structure. which
stood on the site now occupied by the pres
ent Masonic Temple. became the principa
seat of learning in the city and was pre-
sided over by many who have since held
high and honorabl epositions-among then
the late Judge C. b. Sabin Judge OF thu
United States court, and Hon. NJ. S. Quay
since distinguished as United States sen
ator from Pennsylvania.
In 1886 James Stevens. then n wealthy
merchant of Houston. died, leaving by hi
will a bequest of $4,000 to aid in the found
ing of a school in Houston. Ten years Later
this fund with other money raised for thu
purpose was used In the construction o
the Houston academy, a large brick struc
ture but recently torn away TO make room
for the magnificent High school building
that occupies the same ground. TIL,
building cost 100000 and was completed II
. 1857, and the next year was opened by tina
polished scholar and diplomat, the late DIR
Ashbel Smith.
The late b. A. Shepherd was the frs
, president of the board of trustees o: thi;
: school. and of the original board Messrs. A
]. Burke and Cornelius Ennis are the onl,
one still living. Or. Smith was succeede,
by Professor Pettitt followed by the lat
, Professor Hancock. father of w. J. Han
cock OF this city, and the late DR.. j. r
Hutchinson. In the summer Of 1864 thu
building was taken by the military au.
, thorities of the Confederate government
and for two years was used as a soldiers
hospital After the war Professor b, s
Fitzgerald who now resides in Houston
' took charge as superintendent and con
Quoted IL as a private school for seyern
years.
When the city inaugurated its presen
system of public schools this property WI
turned over 10 the public school authorities
and has since ueen used as high school
and after the death OF Superintendent Clop
' ner, one of the early superintendents o
| the Houston SCHoOis IL was HdiHth III III
honor Chopper Institute.
Soon after the war Colonel DeGress at
, tempted q system OF public schools II
Houston. but the effort proved abortiye.
Among the latter day schools OF proni
nence none were more popular than {
[ school for young ladies. that was success
fully conducted for number OF years b.
) Miss Browne on Mckinney avenue ant
Crawford street.
Miss Kate Aldridge. now Mrs. Georg'
Kidd Judge Henry Cline, DR.. Horace
Clarke. recently deceased the late 4. w
Taylor Mrs Abbey, Miss Brooks. Mrs. No
BILE are all names that are favorably re
D mombered as the last stepping stones IL
: the educational pathway that led to Hous
2 TONS present free school system. the frs
J. superintendent OF which was Professor II
II. Smith, the father OF Hokc Smith o
Georgin. who was succeeded in turn. b,
Superintendents Chopper. Foute and DOW
all of them now dead: like other Of the oil
teachers Of Houston they have left brtgn
and cherished memories. Many OF thos'
Who were enrolled ms the pupils OF thcs
early schools have since become pron<asn
. and worthy citizens and have exercised