NECHES NORMAL INSTITUTE *************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Transcribed by Mary Lou Laird Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald - scottfitzgerald@tyler.net East Texas Genealogical Society, 1st Vice-President 18 April 2007 *************************************************************************** Originally published in The Tracings, Volume 5, No. 2, Summer 1986, Pages 51-59 by the Anderson County Genealogical Society, copyright assigned to the East Texas Genealogical Society. FIRST ANNUAL CATALOGUE ANNOUNCEMENT Of NECHES NORMAL INSTITUTE Neches, Texas To The Public The feasibility of building a school of high grade at Neches is unquestionable for at least two reasons: 1st. A few years ago a flourishing school was in operation here; 2nd. All the necessary facilities are here now that were here then, i.e., an excellent location-a prohibition town [see"Location"], a cooperative and school-loving people, cheap board, and a good corps of teachers. We recommend our teachers to parents and pupils. While our principal, Mr. Hamil, holds no diploma, he has taken courses in Latin, Higher Mathematics, Natural Science, Literature, Etc., in East Texas Baptist Institute and the National Normal University. He enjoys a good reputation where has taught. We have known him for several years and do not hesitate to recommend him to the public. Mr. Clary comes to us highly recommended by the President of Furman University, Greenville, S.C. of which University he is an A.B. graduate. He is a teacher of considerable experience. He did not seek the position, but we sought him to fill it. Miss Graham will have charge of three departments-Music, Elocution and Art. We have made this arrangement because we do not hope for either of these departments alone to sustain a teacher the first year. Miss Graham has studied piano under graduates of German institutions and native Germans at New Orleans, La., and Meridian, Miss. She took vocal under teachers from Boston and Cincinnati at the National Normal University, where she also too elocution and lessons in art. Mr. Elrod is well known and needs no introduction. We prefer to promise less than the school is able to do than to make pretensions and have pupils come here and become dissatisfied. With this idea in view we submit to you the succeeding pages of this catalogue. The school will do collegiate work, but will make specialties of preparatory work and training teachers. Better give your children and education than money. Send them to Neches Normal Institute and we promise you that every effort possible will be put forth to advance them, not only intellectually, but morally, religiously and in polished social life, and that every precaution will be taken to shield them from evil influences. Yours for education, J.T. Seale, M.D. Chm'n § E.A. Edgeworth, Sec'y § Trustees T.J. Posey, Treasurer § FACULTY W.C. Hamil, Principal Amos Clary, Greek and Higher Mathematics [To be Supplied]-Primary Department Miss Rose Graham, Music, Elocution and Art L.B. Elrod, Lecturer in Chemistry Motto: The peaks are aloft, climb higher. CALENDAR First term opens September 26, 1898 Christmas holidays, Dec. 24, 1898-Jan 1, 1899 First term closes January 20, 1899 Second term opens January 23, 1899 Closing exercises, May 11 and 12, 1899 HISTORICAL In 1866, James S. Hanks, P.W. Ezell, Bennett Posey, L.G. Suggs, M. McDonald and others established and had chartered a school which the named Stovall Academy for its first teacher. The house stood three miles from where Neches now stands. In 1872 the I.& G.N. railroad was built and the school house was moved to Neches. Part of the time since then it has been called Neches High School. We have seen fit to change the name to NECHES NORMAL INSTITUTE. During the early history of Stovall Academy pupils were in attendance from Palestine, Rusk, Tyler, Starrville and other places. LOCATION Neches is a small station on the International and Great Northern railroad twelve miles north of Palestine and sixteen south of Jacksonville. It is destined to become a good shipping point for fruits and vegetables. Many acres are already set with peach trees and the interest of fruit culture is growing. The soil is adapted to the growth of tomatoes, melons, etc., and there's no reason why this industry should not become prominent here. Improved land may be had for $5 to $10; unimproved for $2 to $5. Land may be rented on various terms. We extend a cordial invitation to all who want to move near a good school to visit Neches and investigate. The principal and trustees will do what they can to assist you in making satisfactory arrangements. NECHES HAS NO SALOONS, billiard tables, tenpin alleys and kindred evils. The local option law is well enforced. Your sons will not be subjected to these temptations at Neches as at larger towns. We think this is one of the most commendable features of our location. This is one of the most healthful little towns in Texas, there being excellent drainage and an abundance of the best of water flowing from our rock-ribbed, iron-begirt hills. We are also high enough to get pure, invigorating air, the Gulf breeze being one of our special blessings. From the front porch of the home of one of our citizens the electric light on the court house in Palestine can be seen. This gives an idea of our elevation. Our hotel and church advantages are ample for a town of this size. THIS INSTITUTION Is co-educational and non-sectarian. It is almost universally agreed that it is best to educate boys and girls together. The Institute receives no support from any religious organization as such, and no sectarianism shall be taught. BUILDING AND CAMPUS Our building is well-lighted, two-story, wooden building with sufficient room for 200 pupils. With some repairs that we expect to give it soon, it will be an excellent building. The rooms are seated with patent desks. The building is situated about a quarter from the depot in a gradually sloping oak lawn. The grounds are sufficient for ample exercise, having room for the usual games. A well affording splendid water is within a few steps of the doors of the building. BOYS BOARDING HALL The principal himself will manage the Boys' Boarding Hall on the messing plan. In this way board will be reduced to actual cost. $5.50 per month will be about the average cost of board including table-board, room-rent, cook-hire, etc. If the boys prefer, they may bring their provisions from home. They may also bring their beds and bedding and furnish their own rooms according to their own taste, and if at the close of the session they wish to sell their bedsteads, matresses, chairs and table, the principal obligates to himself to buy them. The board will not be fine, but the principal knows from experience that it will be wholesome and sufficient and will himself share it with the boys. The Hall will be well regulated as to good conduct, being under the personal supervision of the principal. GIRLS' BOARDING HOME This is at the home of Mr. Bennett Posey, one of our oldest and best citizens. Miss Mannie Posey will have direct oversight of the girls and we assure parents that they will run no risk in placing their daughters under her care. She will co-operate with the faculty in all of the regulations. The rate, everything furnished, is $8 per month. BOARD For both sexes can be had in private families at $8 to $10 per month, with the provision that boys and girls must not board at the same place. LAUNDRY Work can be had done at reasonable rates. It is owing to the person as to how much it will cost per month. Some persons require more than others. Girls may arrange to do their own washing and ironing if they wish. DISCIPLINE Pupils must behave themselves and work or they must leave. Mild measures will be used till severe ones are required-reasonable ones in every case. Prudent restrictions will be made as to the mingling of sexes. LITERARY SOCIETIES This is an important feature in educational work and will have the personal attention of the faculty. NORMALISM Normalism is much abused. We shall not give an extended treatise on it here. True Normalism does not consist of short terms and superficial work as many suppose. There is much so called Normal work that isn't Normal. In dealing with every subject Normalism emphasizes the three phases of mind- growth: Acquisition, Reflection and Expression. The Neches Normal Institute will advocate and practice this system. LECTURES We are pleased to announce that Mr. Lawrence B. Elrod, a practical chemist, has agreed to visit us once a month during the session and deliver illustrated lectures in chemistry. The object of these lectures will not be so much to teach chemistry as to impress great moral truths in a philosophical way. Mr. Elrod is a master in this line. He will use ample apparatus and will delight the children as well as the other ones. His experiments will unfold some of the hidden secrets of nature and thereby create on the part of the pupils and others a thirst for more knowledge and a desire for independent personal investigation. It will have a tendency to draw the minds of young people away from the frivolities of life and lead them to something more substantial. IF YOU Want an education, come here. We shall do our best for you in price and training. EXPENSES Tuition (according to advancement) $1 to $3 per month Music, chorus class (vocal) free Music, instrumental $3 per month Music, special vocal $3 per month Elementary Elocution free Special, Elocution $3 per month Art $3 per month Board in Boys' B. Hall $5.50 per month Board in Girls' B. Home $8 per month TUITION Is payable in advance. No deductions will be made for loss of time except for two or more weeks of protracted sickness or other providential causes. FREE SCHOOL Children in this district, and transfers, will have the benefit of public funds any time during the session for as many months as the free school runs. COURSES OF STUDY Scholarship No. 1: Primary---$1 per month FIRST GRADE Reading-Charts, Stickney's First and supplementary Spelling-Words of reading lesson Numbers Drawing and slate work Scholarship No. 2--$1.50 per month SECOND GRADE Reading-Stickney's Second and Supplementary Spelling-Benson's Language-Oral exercises Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Lower (begun) Drawing and slate work THIRD GRADE Reading-Stickney's Third and Supplementary Spelling-Benson's Language-Hyde's Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Lower Geography-Rand-McNally's Elementary Drawing and writing. FOURTH GRADE Reading-Woodward's Fourth and Supplementary Spelling-Benson's Language-Hyde's Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Lower Geography-Rand-McNally's Elementary (finished) Physiology-Hutchison's First Book FIFTH GRADE Texas History-Davis Primary Spelling-Benson's Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Lower (finished) Language-Hyde's Geography-Rand-McNally's Grammar School U.S. History-Primary Physiology-Hutchison's First Book (finished) Writing and Supplementary Reading SIXTH GRADE Texas History-Pennybacker's Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Higher Grammar-Hyde's Geography-Rand-McNally's Grammar School U.S. History-Cooper, Estill & Lemon's Physiology-Hutchison's Second Book Spelling-Benson's SEVENTH GRADE Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Higher Grammar-Hyde's U.S. History-Cooper, Estill & Lemon's Government of Texas-Garrison SCHOLARSHIP No. 4: High School-$2.50 per month EIGHTH GRADE Arithmetic-Sutton & Kimbrough's Higher (finished) Grammar-Whitney & Lockwood's Civil Government-Peterman Letter Writing-Westlake Algebra-Milne's Elementary [second term] Algebra-Milne's Elementary [finished] Physical-Geography-Maury Rhetoric-Genung Plane Geometry-Wentworth [begun] Beginner's Latin-Collar & Daniel SCIENTIFIC COURSE-$3.-per Month First year-First term Physics-Shaw, Avery Plane Geometry (finished)-Wentworth Caesar- History of English Literature-Kellog Complete Algebra-Wentworth (begun) First year-second term Chemistry-Williams Solid Geometry-Wentworth Virgil American and Southern Literature Complete Algebra-Wentworth (finished) Second year-First term Botany-Wood Plane Trigonometry-Wentworth Cicero General History-Myers Beginner's Greek-White Second year-Second Term Zoology and Geology-Steele Spherical Trigonometry-Wentworth Sallust Astronomy-Steele Xenophon's Anabasis ENGLISH COURES-$3 per Month The English Course is the same as the Scientific Course with the exception that Literature and History will be substituted for Zenophon's Anabasis and Spherical Trigonometry. CLASSICAL COURSE-$3 per Month First Term Ovid Logic-Jevons-Hill Xenophon's Memorabilia Essays in English and Roman History Psychology-Putnam, Baldwin, Hewitt Second Term Livy, Horace or Tacitus Homer's Odyssey or Iliad Political Economy Moral Philosophy-Winslow, Genet Essays in_______ These courses are subject to revision. DIPLOMAS The degrees in Bachelor of English (B.E.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) will be given those completing the English, Scientific and Classics courses respectively. TEACHERS' COURSE All branches required for Permanent Certificate, besides training in professional work. DRESS Don't "dress up" to come here. No need of it. Come plain. LAST YEAR'S ENROLLMENT (1897-98) Bazzell, Charlie Neches Bazzell, Sammie Neches Bazzell, Mae Neches Bell, Clyde Neches Blaylock, Willie Neches Blaylock, Katie Neches Banks, Bertie Missouri Banks, Edwin Missouri Congleton, Alonzo Neches Congleton, Matthew Neches Congleton, Lucy Neches Congleton, James Neches Cook, Walter Neches Cook, Edgar Neches Conerly, Katie Neches Cadenhead, Minnie Neches Chandler, Pearl Neches Chandler, Ola Neches Chandler, Robert Neches Christie, Willie Neches Christie, Maggie Neches Christie, Cora Neches Doss, Bertie Neches Dunn, Lora Neches Dunn, Lizzie Neches Dunn, Elbert Neches Doan, Blanche Neches Doan, Mae Neches Doan, Claude Neches Edgeworth, Mark Neches Edgeworth, Myrtle Neches Edgeworth, Edwin Neches Edgeworth, Allie Neches Edgeworth, Bettie Neches Eagle, Eugene Neches Eagle, Lillie Neches Evans, Floyd Neches Evans, Albinns Neches Funderburk, W.O. Birdston Fite, Bertie Neches Fite, Will Neches Hopper, Robert Neches Hopper, Imo Neches Hassell, Zack Watt's School Hassell, Augustus House Hassell, Dora House Hassell, Sammie House Harrison, Albert Neches Harrison, Arthur Neches Hafner, Della Neches Hafner, Luther Neches Jones, Freddie Neches Jones, Lillie Neches Kelley, Joel Fitzgerald Martin, Albert Neches Martin, Joe Neches McBride, Lillie Neches McBride, Lee Neches McElyea, Cleveland Neches Newbill, Laura Neches Newburn, Curtis Neches Newburn, Columbus Neches Posey, Alton Neches Posey, Preston Neches Perkins, Lizzie Neches Perkins, Dora Neches Perkins, Silas Neches Perkins, Charlie Neches Price, Adella Jacksonville Reichster, Reiman Neches Reed, Lonnie Neches Reed, Furman Neches Reed, Pearl Neches Reed, Marvin Neches Seale, Daisy Neches Seale, Frank Neches Thompson, W.E. Fitzgerald Todd, Elvis Neches Todd, Edwin Neches Todd, Willie Neches Todd, Walter Neches Todd, Augustus Neches Williams, Hiram Neches Total enrollment 83