| Museum
Memories
Submitted by  The following are "Museum Memories" from the archives of the the Clay County 1890 Jail Museum - Heritage Center, where a collection of stories, newspaper articles and memories are located. These articles have been published in the Clay County Leader and are there for copyrighted by the Clay County Leader & authors. All articles are reprinted with permission as well as the articles posted on this site. Please do not copy or redistribute any articles without the written permission of the Clay County Leader or authors. If you would like to visit the the Clay County 1890 Jail Museum - Heritage Center, please contact for more information about the museum.
Clay
County Leader - Published March 19, 2005
"For the first time since its start
three weeks ago, the search for the lost and forgotten Texas outpost, Fort
Burnham, seems to have paid off. Apparently, Fort Burnham has been
found. And the reason that the oldest pioneers know nothing of the old fort
has also been found...It existed more than 200 years ago in Clay County.
The archives
produced another intriguing article about a little-known Clay County
piece of history.
"Fort Burnham May Have Once Been Spanish Mission" was published in the Wichita Falls Record News, Aug. 26, 1955, by Jim Koethe. "The mystery of Fort Burnham first came to light about 15 years ago when a Henrietta woman, Mrs. St. Andrew Myers, found an old map of northern Texas and turned it over to Mrs. Katheryn Douthitt, who was completing a history of Clay County. "The map located Fort Burnham at the mouth of the Little Wichita River in northeastern Clay County. Since then, Mrs. Douthitt has been in the lookout for information about Fort Burnham...information that seemed lost forever. This week, Mrs. Douthitt’s son, Troy Douthitt Sr., was visiting her and casually mentioned, ‘Next time I’m in Wichita Fall I’m going to stop by the paper and tell that fellow where Fort Burnham is.’ "For 15 years Mrs. Douthitt had wondered about Fort Burnham...she had asked old timers if they had ever heard of it and she had looked through old books and records for some mention of Fort Burnham. Now her own son was talking like he knew about the old fort...and he did. "Douthitt, who had never thought much about the information he had, reminded his mother how years ago she had called him and told him she was disposing of a bunch of old books and that he could have any he wanted. Douthitt selected two small books, took them home, read them and then laid them away. The books were the publication of an old manuscript by Father Fray Juan Augustin Morfi, Roman Catholic priest, which had been found in a monastery in Mexico City, Mexico. "The priest had been commissioned by the Viceroy of Mexico to make an exploratory trip through Texas...and the manuscript, written in about 1745, was a description of this trip. North Texas and the Clay County area was populated by Indians in 1745 and, as far as anyone cares, that’s about all there was in Clay County in 1745. "And its Spanish name was Presidio San Theodoro de los Taovayases...it was located at the same place where the old map shows Fort Burnham to have been, at the mouth of the Little Wichita River. This is proven by a map in the book of Father Morfi, a map much older than the one found by Mrs. Myers...yet, Fort Burnham and Presidio San Theodoro de los Taovayases are located at the same place on the two maps. "Apparently the fort was started and named by the Spanish, later abandoned, and still later renamed by the later pioneers. Douthitt noted that several years ago a Clay County pioneer, now deceased, told him that there were ruins of several old rock foundations on a hill at the mouth of the Little Wichita. These could be, and probably are, the remains of Fort Burnham-Presidio San Theodoro de los Taovayases. "Soldiers were stationed at the fort during its active days in the 1700's and it probably was a Spanish mission as well as a fort. The fort was named after Theodoro de Croix, with the last word in the fort’s name being that of the large tribe of Indians living nearby...thus the literal translation of the fort’s name: Saint Theodoro of the Taovayases. "Much of the mystery of Fort Burnham has now been cleared up, yet there still remains the unknown facts about it...how long did it last? Why was it ever started? And was it used after the Spaniards left? 'The Record News’ search for the old fort stretched across parts of the state and nation. Ruins of an old fort that are still an unexplained mystery were found in Montague County and another forgotten fort was turned up in Clay County. "Congressman Frank Ikard’s Washington, D. C., office assisted in the search by looking for information in the records of the War Department in the National Archives, the Barker Texas History Center, and the U.S. Army Register. Telephone calls and letters about the old fort were also received and investigated and last week a group of Midwestern University students tramped across Montague County looking for a clue to the old fort."
Clay
County Leader - Published March 24 & 31, 2005
Another piece of
interesting Clay County history has turned up in the archives that came
from clippings kept by Billie Avis, no date given. Written by Bud
Townsend, retired professor of history at West Texas State University,
Canyon, it is titled "Early-Day College Spurred Growth of
Knowledge."
"In early January, 1893, a gentleman from new York came to the enterprising cattle town of Henrietta, Texas. He announced his plans for the establishment of a college in that western-frontier-city. The westerners knew little about this eastern gentleman but they found out he meant business. In less than two weeks, Professor J. miller Longcoy opened his college. On Monday, January 23, 1893, the doors of higher education were opened for the first time to many Texans. This pioneer educational institution was to leave its mark on Clay County and make contributions to early teacher training. "Professor J. m. Longcoy, a graduate of Princeton College and McGill Normal College, Canada, came west with some sixteen years experience in the educational field. A hall was leased and the college classes were conducted there for a few weeks. By April, 1893, Professor Longcoy had leased the second story of the new Malone building, corner of Main and Omega Streets. The building was partitioned into apartments to suit the different classes. The interior of the building was finished in elegant style and supplied with the latest furniture and equipment. Professor Longcoy gave the college an eastern touch by using electrical lights. Electric lights in 1893 were enough to make even the most skeptical bystanders take a second glance. "The institution consisted of six departments: primary, intermediate, academic, normal, collegiate and music. Both male and female students were taught in the school. Professor Longcoy procured a rather large faculty for his pioneer college. Professor Robert Munchen, A.M., of Berlin, Germany, taught ;German and French. Miss J. Octavia Tutt of Louisville, Ken., a graduate of the School of Oratory, Philadelphia, Penn., was to bring culture by teaching elocution. Miss Mattie Hearne, a graduate of Quachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Ark., was to teach Greek and Latin. Miss Mary Pierson of Henrietta taught voice culture and stringed instruments. Piano was taught by Miss Minnie Smith of Henrietta. Miss Emma Skinner of Henrietta taught English branches. Other teachers and departments were added later. "Teachers training seemed to be the keynote at Henrietta Normal College. An acute teacher shortage existed in Clay County and in West Texas. The curriculum was broad and seemed to be suited for teachers of that day. English, Grammar, Geography, Unite States History, higher Mathematics, Bookkeeping, Commercial studies, Music, Elocution, Phonography, Greek, Latin, German, French, and other courses were offered. The Normal College prepared students for state and county teaching certificates. "Henrietta Normal College completed its first five month term the first of June 1893. Reception to this college had been better than Professor Longcoy and his faculty had anticipated. Local teachers and teachers from abroad requested that Henrietta Normal College be opened for a summer term. The Commercial, Greek, Latin, Elocution, and Teachers Training departments wee opened between June 15 and September 3. Teachers who already held certificates came to the Normal College for additional study. Miss Alice Alley, a school teacher from Hurnville, matriculated at the Normal College in the spring of 1893. Miss Lalla Barton also entered classes at that time. "The Henrietta Independent, local newspaper, praised professor Longcoy for the success he had achieved with his college. The paper also expressed sorrow that Professor Longcoy would not serve in the capacity of principal of the school in the coming fall term. Longcoy was to withdraw from the principalship to accept the position of general manager in the state of Texas for the C. R. Parrish Importation Company of Philadelphia. "Professor J. S. Holaday purchased the college in the summer of 1893 and took over as principal in the fall of the same year. Although Professor Holaday was to build on another man’s foundation, it was under his guidance that the college was to reach new heights. J. S. Holaday was described by a contemporary as a man of profound intellect and broad experience as an educator. The contemporary also said, ‘Professor Holaday, the principal of the school, is a ripe scholar and is peculiarly endowed with teach of imparting instruction of which anyone can satisfy himself by a visit to his class room.’ "Professor Holaday reported that enrollment looked flattering for the fall semester of 1893. He canvassed both town and county and secured enough pupils for a good school. Professor G. F. Short was added to the faculty ;as teacher in the Commercial Department. Professor Short came to Henrietta well in advance of the opening of the school to be assured of enough students for his department. Students who could qualify for advance courses were hard to find. Although there were over 340 students in the public schools of Henrietta in 1893, only five students graduated. With this situation existing, professor Holaday and his colleagues had a difficult time in procuring students. Their endeavor of finding qualified students was a success, and Henrietta Normal College opened on schedule. "Normal College contributed to the culture of Henrietta life in several ramifications. Educational, religious, and social life were enriched by this institution. Miss K. Octavia Tutt, the elocution teacher, conducted readings in the Methodist Church. The public was invited to come to the church for these presentations. Miss Tutt also entertained the public by reading at the court house on Saturday night. "Before Christmas of 1893, the pupils of the college had organized a literary society, ‘The following named persons have been elected officers: A. M. Wagner, president; Miss Gertie Snearley, vice-president; Miss Myrta, secretary; D. E. Barrett, treasurer.’ A program was presented by the literary society on Monday, Dec. 18. The following program must have been rather refined for a cattle town: "Music: Misses Myrna Upham, Lura Brown; Messers. Carroll and Weldon; Recitation-Thad Mosier; Recitation-Myrta Upham; Select Reading-Willie hicks; an oration-Dee Barrett; an Essay-Sam Wedmore; Recitation-Miss Helen Hurn (a sister to Frank Hurn of Hurnville); Debate-Question: ‘Resolved that the white man has more right to America than the Indians’ Affirmative-Finley Weldon, Walter Parrish; Negative-John Clary, Eugene Matlock. Music.’ "Professor Holaday manifested his concern for education in the way in which he encouraged education all over Clay County. Each month he held the teachers Institute of Clay County, made up of teachers from over the county. Professor Charles Carroll and other teachers from Henrietta Normal college served the Teachers Institute in various capacities. Professor Holaday was praised by the secretary of the Institute for a speech made before the county teachers. He is quoted as saying, ‘I want to say to those who missed Prof. Holaday’s recitation, they missed the best thing of the Institute.’ "Henrietta Normal College operated until the spring of 1894. No record is found of its operation after that time. A lack of students probably forced its closing. Sybil Holaday, daughter of Professor Holaday, reported from her home in Dallas that she did not know the reason her father closed the college. Professor Holaday was offered a job in Bellevue, Texas, in 1894. Miss Holaday said that this new job might have been more lucrative than the Normal College afforded. "Many contributions were made by Henrietta Normal College. A multitude of students were given intellectual training. Teachers were trained at a time when they were desperately needed. Foundations for education were driven deeper into West Texas soil. Professor Holaday became the superintendent of the Henrietta school system and later served as county superintendent. For nearly one-quarter century, Professor J. S. Holaday was a champion for education in Clay county. "The great men who died in the Alamo, the early cowboys and Indian fighters are usually considered the men who won the West. Men such as Professor J. miller Longcoy and Professor J. S. Holaday probably did not resemble the conquering heroes who rode the horse and carried the guns but they were every bit as important. "Educators, armed with schools and books, fought ignorance and played an overwhelming role in bringing law, order and civilization to the West. We can stand today and look at the modern educational systems of West Texas and think of men like Professors Longcoy and Holaday and institutions such as Henrietta Normal College and then say with the Hebrew Prophet, ‘Being dead yet he speaketh.’" |