Thornton Schools

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Thornton Schools. Now settle in, because this one's got railroad towns, a doctor who moonlighted as a schoolmaster, two buildings that didn't make it, and a community that kept on teaching through all of it. That's a story worth the telling.

The town of Thornton got its start in 1871, when the Texas Central Railroad established it right here in Limestone County. A post office followed by 1873, and by 1880 the place had grown to around two hundred residents, three churches, several businesses, and a Masonic lodge. Not bad for a young town still finding its footing.

Now, schools were on people's minds early. In 1877, a man named Edward Coke Chambers, a physician and a teacher both, founded the Thornton Male and Female Institute. That school came with a wood-frame classroom building, student housing, and Chambers' own home right there on the grounds.

People also knew it as Thornton College, which tells you something about the ambition behind it. The Institute received its charter in 1881, and in 1884 it merged with the school of a man named Henry P. Davis.

Then in 1889, Chambers sold the Institute to Davis himself, who kept the school running until 1891, when he sold it to the newly formed Thornton Independent School District. So the school changed hands a few times, but the teaching never stopped. Now, here's where the weather and bad luck step into the story.

In 1903, a storm destroyed the school building. Gone. They built again, and in 1920, the second school building burned.

Gone again. The third schoolhouse, though, that one they built of brick, and it was completed in 1921. Brick has a way of making a statement.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Thornton kept growing its reach, consolidating with several rural districts, including all or part of Mill Creek, Prairie View, Pleasant Grove, Davis Prairie, Beulah, and Eutaw Springs common school districts. The community was pulling together. But time brings its changes.

In the early 1960s, the student population was declining, and Thornton began to close its schools. African American students, who had for many years attended a Rosenwald School on Ellis Street, began traveling to Groesbeck for classes. High school students from the White campus did the same.

And in 1965, Thornton consolidated completely with the Groesbeck Independent School District. Now here's the part that lands just right. When they made that transfer, the community stipulated that the main school building and grounds at this very site be deeded to the city, for use as a community center.

They may have closed the schools, but they made sure the place still belonged to the people. That's Thornton.

What the marker says

Thornton was established in 1871 by the Texas Central Railroad and had a post office by 1873. By 1880, the town had approximately 200 residents and three churches, as well as several businesses and a Masonic lodge. Early schools included the Thornton Male and Female Institute, founded in 1877 by physician and teacher Edward Coke Chambers. The Institute, known also as Thornton College, included a wood-frame classroom building, student housing and Chambers' home. The school received its charter in 1881 and in 1884 merged with the school of Henry P. Davis. In 1889, Chambers sold the Institute to Davis, who continued to operate the school until 1891, when he sold it to the newly formed Thornton Independent School District. In 1903, a storm destroyed the school building, and in 1920, the second school building burned. The third schoolhouse, built of brick, was completed in 1921. During the 1930s and 1940s, several rural districts consolidated with Thornton, including all or part of Mill Creek, Prairie View, Pleasant Grove, Davis Prairie, Beulah and Eutaw Springs common school districts. In the early 1960s, with a declining student population, Thornton began to close its schools. African American students, who had for many years attended a Rosenwald School on Ellis Street, began traveling to Groesbeck for classes, as did the high school students from the White campus. In 1965, Thornton consolidated completely with the Groesbeck Independent School District, stipulating in the transfer that the main school building and grounds at this site be deeded to the city for use as a community center. (2004)