Cottonwood & Area Schools 70 Years Ago - Feb 1939
February 28, 2009 - 10:19pm — CottonwoodTexas
Interesting article on the Callahan county schools from the February 28, 1939 Abilene Reporter News - 70 years ago:
Cottonwood, in the eastern part of [Callahan] county, still maintains its status as an independent district, although the scholastic population has decreased within the last few years. This is one of the oldest schools in the county, being located in an early settled section. There are only 4 teachers, but the four have had, combined, over 100 years of experience. Supt. H. S. Varner, or "Harry" as he is known by his friends, will have completed at the end of the present term 45 years of service in the schools of Callahan county. Miss Missouri Strahan, another teacher here, has taught for a number of years in the county. Last year the Turkey Creek school was transferred to Cottonwood, and two school buses serve the district. The scholastic population is 100 and the valuation of the district is $90,000. An application for standardization has been made this year. Nine grades are maintained, the 10th and 11th being transferred to Cross Plains.
Other schools maintained in the county are Admiral, Dressy, Deer Plains, Atwell and Cedar Bluff.
Admiral is a two-teacher school with R. I. McElroy as principal. Taxable valuations the past year were $238,000. The district contains 46 square miles and is located near the geographical center of the county. Scholastic population is 39. Admiral is a consolidated district made up of Callahan, Admiral and Cedar Grove. ...
Deer Plains is a two-teacher school located north of Cross Plains. Taxable valuation $80,000 and scholastic population of 48. Jack Chapman is the principal.
Atwell, named after Federal Judge Atwell Dallas, is located in the eastern part of the county. Mrs. Leo Varner is principal of the two-teacher school. Seven grades are maintained. High school students are transferred to Cross Plains by bus. Application for standardization has been made this year. Valuation of district $63,000; scholastic population 60.
Cedar Bluff, only one-teacher school in the county, is located north of Cottonwood. Mrs. Mabel Halsell is teacher of this school of seven grades. Valuations of the district amount to 424,000. Scholastic enrollment is 22.
Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, TX 28 Feb 1939
