PROSPER HIGH SCHOOL
IN DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS
OF PROSPER HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS OF THE PAST, PRESENT,
AND FUTURE
HEREWITH IS THE HISTORY OF YOUR
SCHOOL
by Juanice Stanton, November 25, 1963
Prosper School Open House
The original building of Prosper
School had its beginning in 1902, when the first school house was built on the
land where the old school campus now stands. The first building, a two-story,
four room, frame building, stood where the present frame gymnasium now stands.
The school consisted of three
teachers. The principal was J. B. Henderson and his first assistant teacher was
Miss Anne Keen, who married C. E. Beanland and lived in Prosper for the
remainder of her life. Second assistant teacher was Miss Leta Higginbotham, who
later married Reverend Glen Sneed, a Presbyterian minister.
The first term of the school
began early in January - 1903, with an enrollment of approximately one-hundred
students. That building was sold in 1910 and was moved to the "Ma Webb Corner"
and was operated as a hotel for several years.
In 1911, a two-story red brick
building was constructed on the same plot as the present old school building now
stands. The school had advanced to a five teacher school.
The building was destroyed by a
fire in 1923. Injured in that fire was Mrs. Tom (Maggie) Talkington and Mrs. V.
D. (Lois) Settle when they leaped from the second story of the burning building.
The year of 1924 saw another
two-story, red brick, 9 classroom building constructed on the same foundation to
replace the burned out building. Also added to the campus was a frame building
from Hutchinson (White Elephant), which was converted into the present frame
gymnasium. Another frame unit was moved from Walnut Grove; this served as the
first and second grade rooms. Still another frame building was moved from
Pleasant Ridge (Possum Trot); this building housed the homemaking department. An
agriculture building, with shop facilities, was constructed on the campus in
1951. A five stall, tin, bus shed was added to the school complex.
Each of three buildings has
served its purpose well and will continue to do so in the future; but, under
different environments.
The people of the Prosper
district voted a bond issue, 6-1 in favor of a new school in May, 1962. The bond
issue for $320,000 was approved. This included repairs and improvements of the
colored school at Rock Hill, plus a ten-acre tract of land for the new school
plant. Of the total approved, $315,000 was spent on the project.
The 20th day of November, 1963
saw a complete new school campus and location, as the 237 students, 14 teachers,
and 7 auxiliary workers traveled approximately three blocks farther to enter the
building for the regular functions of a school.
The new school building is placed
on a gently sloping site so that each building unit is on a different level. It
is a sprawling, one-story, orange-red brick with a total of 30,700 square feet.
Contained in this unit are six
elementary classrooms and nine classrooms for the junior and senior high
students, a cafeteria and auditorium combination, an administrative wing, and a
gymnasium....
All classes are conducted in the
new building, except shop, which will continue to be in the old shop.
Superintendent W. H. Moseley
stated that discussion was underway as to the utilizing of the old campus. It is
hoped the building which formerly housed the first and second grades can be
moved to the ball field downtown and be used for a field house. The old
gymnasium & cafeteria will be open to the community for large scale, supervised
functions and activities. The bus shed will continue to shelter the buses. The
other frame building and the old brick school building have not been designated
at the present time....
School Index
- Recommended citation:
- "Prosper School
- SCHOOLS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy
Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13 13:37:28 US/Central 2004 ].
| 