Illinois Bend School

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm going to do it justice. Way up in the northeast corner of Montague County, there's a place called Illinois Bend, sitting right in the curve of the Red River like the river itself decided to wrap an arm around it. The community got its official title in 1877, and by the 1890s, cotton farming had swelled the population into something you'd call thriving.

People were putting down roots, building lives, and needing the things every real community needs: a place to worship, a place to learn, a place to gather. Now, before 1845, churches and schools were being conducted in private homes, which tells you something about the determination of the people who lived here. They were going to have those things one way or another.

Then the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas stepped in and set aside provisions to help local lodges erect actual educational buildings. And in January of 1893, they built one right here at Illinois Bend. A Masonic building, raised for fraternal, educational, and spiritual purposes all under one roof.

During the week, the lower level was a one-room schoolhouse. On Sundays, it became a church. All age levels, every child in the community, taught together in that same room.

The first teacher to stand at the front of that room was W.O. Edwards. No electricity.

No plumbing. Not until 1945. Outhouses stood behind the building, and that was simply how it was done.

The school district started out with the name Valley Branch School District No. 14, named for the branch that feeds into the Red River nearby. Over time it became known as Illinois Bend School District No. 14. Same number, new name, same community.

And that lower level did more than schooling and Sunday services. It was the social center of Illinois Bend. Reunions, wedding receptions, gatherings of every kind.

The kind of place where a community shows up for itself. Church services in the lower level ceased in the 1920s as local churches were established. Then came World War II, and with the onset of that war, the school closed in 1944.

By 1968, the building was no longer used on a regular basis. But here's the thing about Illinois Bend. It didn't let go.

A community homecoming has been held there each fall, and it continues to this day. In 1987, the Illinois Bend Community Club refurbished the building, a remnant, the marker calls it, of the community partnerships formed with the help of the Masonic lodge. One building, one bend in a river, and a community that just keeps coming back.

That's Illinois Bend.

What the marker says

Located in the bend of the Red River in northeast Montague County, Illinois Bend received an official title in 1877. By the 1890s, Illinois Bend was a thriving community where cotton farming swelled the population. Many churches and schools were conducted in private homes prior to 1845 when the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas set aside provisions to aid local lodges in erecting educational buildings. In January 1893, a Masonic building for fraternal, educational and spiritual purposes was erected here. During the week, the lower level was used as a one room school and a church on Sundays. The original name of the school district was Valley Branch School District No. 14 due to the location near the branch which feeds into the Red River. Over time, it became known as Illinois Bend School District no. 14. All age levels were taught in the same room and the first teacher was W.O. Edwards. There was no electricity or plumbing in the school until 1945 so outhouses were erected behind the building. The lower portion of the building was also the social center of the community, hosting reunions, wedding receptions and other group activities. With the onset of WWII, the school closed in 1944. Church services in the lower level ceased in the 1920s with the establishment of local churches. In 1968, the building was no longer used on a regular basis; however, an Illinois Bend community homecoming was held each fall and continues today. The building was refurbished by the Illinois Bend Community Club in 1987 and is a remnant of the community partnerships formed with the help of the masonic lodge. (2014)