Second Site of the Old Wayside School

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. You know, some places earn their history quietly; no battles, no famous names shouted from the rooftops, just a community that kept showin' up, decade after decade, to make sure their kids had somewhere to learn. The Old Wayside School is exactly that kind of place.

It starts in 1883, out in the Dozier community, on a piece of land given by a man named W.E. Boswell. That's the first site: a donor, a community, and a school taking root in Texas soil.

Then comes 1898, and the school moves. It settles onto land given this time by A.W. Moore, and over the years it occupies not one but two successive buildings on that ground.

Two buildings. Which means at some point between 1898 and 1948, one wasn't enough, or wasn't standing anymore, and they built another. The marker doesn't linger on the details of that transition; it just notes the fact, matter-of-fact, the way Texans tend to handle things that had to be done.

And 1948 is where that chapter closes. Fifty years on Moore's land, two buildings, generations of students. Now, here's where the story turns into something a little bigger than a one-room schoolhouse.

The Old Wayside School eventually finds itself folded into the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw District. And that district (that same district) is home to W.E. Boswell High School, named in honor of the man who donated that very first site back in 1883.

The donor of the first piece of ground ended up with his name on a high school. Some legacies, it turns out, have very long roots.

What the marker says

Founded 1883 on site in Dozier community, given by W.E. Boswell. Situated 1898-1948 in 2 successive buildings on land given by A.W. Moore. Now in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw District, which includes W.E. Boswell High School, named in honor of donor of first site.