The Jeff Davis College—Pittsburg’s first Public School Building

The Gilmer Mirror published an article later printed in the Gazette on July 30, 1897. In this publication, Gilmer noted, “One of the greatest men in Southern history was Jefferson Davis, late president of the confederacy….His memory should be honored in every way, and we are therefore happy to know that our friend Prof. W.S. Burks has chosen this illustrious name for his new college at Pittsburg, Texas.”

As a man with experience as a teacher and “indomitable energy”, Professor Burks was hailed as the man of the hour and perfectly capable of guiding the teachers, staff, and pupils in this first college in Pittsburg, Texas. Built in 1896 and originally to be known as the Jeff Davis Institute, the Jeff Davis College was built by the city as Pittsburg’s first Public School Building. It was sold to the trustees of the college, accepted by the city at a later date, and eventually given back to the same Jeff Davis group. The college was moved to a new building by 1909, but was finally demolished, it is believed, in the 1930’s.

An earlier school was the Pittsburg Academy, which was chartered by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1864. It was a small shack serving only a handful of students, erected on Mt. Pleasant Street. Prof. Hardy was the principal. It was destroyed by fire in 1871, but teaching was continued for that year in the Baptist Church. In 1872, the Methodist Church was used for a school building until a frame school house was erected in 1874 by the Odd Fellows. It was this school that was replaced by the Jeff Davis College.

The old Jeff Davis School was located on the corner of Mt. Pleasant and College Streets north of the Methodist Church, which area became the Circle B Grocery parking lot in the 80’s, and is now the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church activity center.

Jeff Davis College held classes from first grade through twelfth, and included a teachers’ course as well, which offered all the classes required for Texas teacher certification.

The college opened its doors to a public gathering, the first in the building, just a few days before the first term began on September 13, 1897. Mayor Goodjohn, on behalf of the City Council, formally presented the building to the board of trustees. Hon. E.A. King responded on behalf of the board, and the evening was enjoyed by selected speeches and musical performances.

A year later in 1898, the graduating class was one Miss Ethel Carlock of Winnsboro. Her diploma was presented by Hon. E.A. King, chairman of the board of trustees, and was the crowning event of the evening. The Gazette noted that King’s address to the pupils “was the pure gold of rhetoric gemmed with rich jewels of thought.”

Sometime before October 1899, electric lights were installed, and it was no longer necessary to work by daylight or lamplight.

Mrs. Leota Trotter of Winnsboro was teacher of the first and second grades in 1902, and Miss Anna Page was teacher of the fifth and sixth grades in the same year.

By August 1912, the Jeff Davis College had a property evaluation of $5,000, and opened in the fall with an attendance of 175.

There were also several private schools, but the first school house in Pittsburg was built in 1858 east of Mrs. Reynold’s flower shop. It consisted of one room, 30 by 40 feet, and was rough and unsealed. Prof. Mose Stamps taught there about five years. In 1860, a two-story building was erected on Mt. Pleasant Street. Among the pupils enrolled were Gus Turner, Molly Moreland, Sue Hanson, Will Aldredge, Bell and Sue Caton, Billie Harrell, Alice Rogers, Molly Cox, Eddie Yarbrough, Kate Bledsoe, Joe Sparks, Mary Ofiel, Hattie and George Aldredge, Will Hightower, Annie Nelms, Willie Adair, and Bas Lamar.

In those days, teachers frowned on social affairs during the school week. Not even the teachers were permitted unlimited freedom in entertainment. Dances and cards were especially tabooed.

The big event of the year was an elaborate play, followed soon with an all day picnic.