Union Grove Schools

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Union Grove Schools, up in Upshur County. Now, every school's got to start somewhere, and this one started about as humble as it gets. The earliest recorded school in this area wasn't in a schoolhouse at all.

It was held right there in the home of a pioneer settler by the name of John O'Byrne. No bell tower, no chalkboard you'd brag about. Just a man's home, and the determination to get some learning done.

Then, in 1888, a proper public school opened up, with J.H. Sheppard stepping in as the teacher. That's your foundation right there.

But the story doesn't stop at 1888, not by a long stretch. The first half of the twentieth century saw something worth paying attention to. Growth, real growth.

In 1907, Union Grove Common School District Number 42 was created, giving the whole operation an official name and an official purpose. New buildings went up in 1909, then again in 1920, then again in 1933. Three times they built, because three times they outgrew what they had.

And then came the 1930s oil boom. That boom greatly increased the tax base and the population of the district, and Union Grove kept right on expanding. Over the years, the campus grew to include elementary, junior, and senior high schools.

An auditorium. A cafeteria. A library.

Shop buildings. And a football stadium, because this is Texas, and some things are simply understood. Then, in 1965, Union Grove became an independent school district.

From a pioneer settler's front room to a full independent district with a football stadium to prove it. That's not a short story. That's a community deciding, over and over again, that their kids deserved more.

What the marker says

The earliest recorded school in this area was held at the home of pioneer settler John O'Byrne. In 1888, a public school opened with J.H. Sheppard as the teacher. The first half of the 20th Century say much growth for Union Grove schools, with the creation of Union Grove Common School District No. 42 in 1907; the construction of new buildings in 1909, 1920 and 1933; and the 1930s oil boom, which greatly increased the tax base and population of the district. Over the years, the Union Grove school campus expanded to include elementary, junior and senior high schools, an auditorium, cafeteria, library, shop buildings and a football stadium. In 1965, Union Grove became an independent school district.