Jones County Texas Archives - Plainview School - 1927 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford AmericanThursday, June 30, 1927Plainview has good rural schoolPlainview School District (Jones county) has $1,200.00 outstanding bondedindebtedness. Its valuation $143,404.70; local tax rate is 70c, the bond tax 15c onthe $100,000 valuation of taxable property. Its area is 16 square miles. The buildingis located 11 miles northwest of Anson.In 1883 G.H. Brocket settled one and a half miles northwest of where Plainview nowstands, this was the first house built in the present Plainview district. The lumberfor this house was hauled from Abilene.Two years later James Johnson and R.S. Harris took up claims one mile north of theBrocket Ranch. The lumber for these homes was also brought from Abilene as well asall the supplies these early settlers had. During the next few years several otherfamilies moved to this neighborhood and most of them stayed in spite of the hardshipsof pioneer life and the drouth. In the spring of 1886, the farmers planted theircrops, but there was not enough moisture to bring them up until the following spring.In spite of the hardships the people began to want schools and churches. In 1887 thefirst school in the district and probably the first rural school in Jones County wasbuilt just across the road from where Fairview Church now stands. It was calledFairview School. Part of the money to finance this school was secured by G.H. Brocketform his old home in New Haven, Conn. It was a rude one-room building built fromlumber from Abilene. Part of its less than a dozen pupils went eight miles to school.The first two teachers were Miss Edith Ward and Miss Johnnie Colbert. In about twoyears later the Methodist people, under the leadership of Rev. Raymond, built achurch where the present Fairview church now stands. This church was named Fairviewby the popular vote of the people. It had seven charter members but was attended byall denominations for many years. A lot was bought for a cemetery and many of thepioneers of Jones County are buried there. It has been the custom of the people sinceabout 1900 to meet on the first Saturday in May, clean the cemetery and decorate thegraves. This is a much looked forward to event, for all the old settlers for milesaround.In 1902 after the Fairview school had been moved to Tuxedo a new building was builtone mile south of where the present building now stands. It was named Plainview bythe people of the neighborhood at this time, this house was 20 x 30 feet and theseats were homemade. It was all built by donated labor and building, and equipmentcost about $300.00. The first teacher was Miss Eunice Reed; there were about 18pupils the first year and the tax rate was 35c. In 1905 Plainview School wasorganized from a north part of Hanna District and a south part of Tuxedo District. In1906 the house was moved to where it now stands, another room was added and the firstpatented desked used in1908, at this time there were about 20 pupils and twoteachers. The first trustees were Mose Jones, Sr. and Daye and Lem Treadwell.In 1907 bonds were voted and the present school house was built. The tax was then50c, the building cost $2,100.00 and the equipment $1,000.00. The tax was then raisedto 85c, where it is at present; a school term was then five months long. McQuary,Wash Jones and G.W. Weathers. More equipment has been added during the last fewyears. This year there are 85 pupils in regular attendance, all subjects through thefirst nine grades are taught by Principal Miss Willie Steel and Miss Dawn Johnson,assistant and domestic science teacher. The trustees are Wash Jones and John Jenkins.The school is growing rapidly. this year more desks were bought to take care of theincrease. Much enthusiasm is shown in the school work and in athletics. The farmersare very prosperous in this part of the county, most of them own their homes, severalmodern bungalows have been built during the last year, among these are the homes ofT.J. Treadwell and one on the land worked by M.R. Shanan.The soil is rich, and much cotton and grain is grown. John Jenkins, G.A. Hester andM.G. Stamford each have an acre of land that produced a bale of cotton during 1926.Although it is a fine cotton country the farmers are learning to make a living byraising their own food and food for the market.E.C. Hewitt has 24 hives of bees that bring him a good income each year. Mrs. Pottsand son, Olen, also get a good income from their bees. J.J. Donaghey and G.A. Hesterwhich have a fine flock of Rhode Island Red chickens. John Jenkins has 200 WhiteLeghorns, L.V. Goodwin has a flock of Cornish game, E.H. Hewett has Light Brahmas.Although most of the farmers own good Jersey milk cows, more of them own registeredcattle. E.C. Hewett raises hogs for the market.