History of Science Hill Community Henderson County Texas Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bunny Shumate Freeman ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** History of Science HIll Community Henderson County Texas Copyright © 2001 by Bunny Shumate Freeman. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. Fourls1223@aol.com Science Hill A group of Pioneers from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana founded the Science Hill Community when they arrived in this area in 1846. Their hope for the settlement was that it would become a cultural and educational center for the county. Soon after their arrival, the residents started mills, cotton gins, merchantile businesses, churches and schools. The decade of the 1850s was one of growth and progress for Science Hill. A methodist Church was organized by the Rev. William D. Sansom, and the Science Hill Masonic Lodge began meeting in 1857. Members of the Lodge and other citizens helped found Science Hill Academy, which opened in 1858. The first school of higher education in Henderson County, the Academy offered classes in arithmetic, geography, history, elocution, Latin, Greek, natural science, and logic. Educator A. J. Fowler (1815-1889) was instrumental in its founding and served as first principal. During the harsh years of the Civil War and Reconstruction, families began moving away from Science Hill. The Academy closed in 1872. By 1878 the Masonic Lodge had only 12 members, and its charter was surrendered. Science Hill became a ghost town, leaving only its history as a reminder of the community. Contributed by Elizabeth Bell Abbott (1916-2001) TX AGO Spring 1988