History of New Hope District Number 53
New Hope was originally a county-line district of Taylor and Jones counties and was organized in 1905. The patrons, at that time were so interested in the education of their children that they contributed money and labor needed for building the schoolhouse. The Rev. W. J. H. Ellis gave an acre of land for the site, and in his own and his neighbor's interest and enthusiasm in this new work suggested the name "New Hope." In 1909-1910, according to records, there were four schools in what was then known as "Little Elm District"-Little Elm (Number One), Pleasant Hill (Number Two), New Hope (Number Three), and Pecan Grove (Number Four). In 1913, the Jones County land was withdrawn and New Hope consolidated with Pecan Grove. Both buildings were moved to the new site, which is the present location and lies about a mile and a half west of the original New Hope location. Preceding this consolidation, the school terms had been very short two or three months and the enrollment about twenty-five or thirty with one teacher trying to teach all grades. After the consolidation the terms were lengthened to six months and two teachers employed; the district is very desirous now of having at least seven months. The present building was erected in 1920 at a cost of $3400; it is modern and well-equipped consisting of two large class rooms, one small one and two hallways. The fifty cent tax was last year increased to seventy-five cents and it is the hope of the district that three teachers may be employed this next school year -1922-1923- to relieve the badly crowded condition that exists with only two teachers and the great number of pupils in attendance. Additional high school work and domestic science are much desired.
Misses Georgia Moore and Claudia Turner have been in charge of the work at New Hope for the two years past, Miss Moore, in fact having been principal for three years. The community has much appreciated the services rendered by these estimable young ladies.
Class Roll
FIRST GRADE THIRD GRADE Ella Stringer Myrtle Fay Harris Ola Frasier Ida Sheppard Ruby Harris Alma Galle Otie Frasier Jewell Franklin Jewel Stevenson Blanche Smith Bertha Boiles Veda Frasier Eva KeeSee Alma Patton Irwin Horn Dona Anderson Franky KeeSee Dollie Knox Albert Boiles Lottie Smith Bob Gilliland Jessie Sheppard Fleet Anderson Edna Smith Wayne Smith Madilene Smith Burton Anderson Maebelle Cole Henry Boiles Claud Rittenburg SIXTH GRADE Jolette Anderson Carl Day Eugene Day Ruth Smith Otho Mills J. H Smith Leslie Franklin King Shaddix Birdie Anderson Willie D. Rice Johnnie Boiles Viola Rice EIGHTH GRADE Kingston Stevenson Alwyne Harris Lorena Horn Truman Boiles FOURTH GRADE Alice Knox Beulah Anderson Cleo Franklin Nettie Galle Blanche Stevenson Lola McKee Clara Harris Lee McKee Helen Sheppard Jessie Boiles Bart Frazier Mae Patton Susie Sheppard Byron Anderson SECOND GRADE FIFTH GRADE Lawrence Knight Terrance Frasier Beatrice Shaddix Ottice Boiles Lillian Mills Hugh Knight Nellie Smith Franklin Harris Elmer Boiles Clarence Frasier Woodrow Shaddix Reattice Boiles Hermon KeeSee Ola Mae Stevenson SEVENTH GRADE NINTH GRADE Livian Harris J.L. Rice Gladys Knox Mattie Anderson James A. Sheppard Frank Rittenburg Lawlie Shaddix Kate Cole Henry Day Fred Horn Reva Frasier Harris Miller Jewell Smith Ora Boiles Gladys McKee Bessie Anderson Lois Smith
Reference: The Buffalo Trail 1922