History of Pleasant Hill District Number 23

District Number 23, under the name "Little Elm," was organized in 1893 by the consolidation of Districts Numbers 12 and 13. At this time the north boundary of the district was the Jones County line. In 1894 the size of the district was somewhat reduced and the old site on the Abilene-Merkel road, where the old Little Elm building still stands, was chosen. Shortly after the year 1900, the site on the Caps road was selected, other changes having been made in the boundaries of the district, and the new school was given the name "Pleasant Hill," because of its brighter prospects and its slight elevation. The patrons of the school raised sufficient money for a one-room building, but did not have enough funds for equipment. To raise additional money for this purpose a box-supper was held; it was a most pleasant and successful affair, though those present had to sit around on boxes and a few chairs, thus making it a "box"-supper in truth. The first teacher in this new building was Miss Bershia O'Neal. In 1911 another room was added, but because funds for its construction were very limited, a canvas curtain was used for a partition.

In 1919, a twenty-five hundred dollar bond was voted and the following year another thousand dollar bond was added and a fifty cent tax voted. The present building was erected in the summer of 1920; it is a mo4ern three-room structure, the small room being now used for a library with the hope of its being able soon to be converted into a domestic science room. This building is well-arranged and well equipped. It has a good stage with a roller curtain and acetylene lights, which mean much for the success of school entertainments. Pleasant Hill now votes a seventy-five cent tax and has had this year, 1921-1922, a - very successful school, with Mrs. W. P. Welch and Miss Maurine Nisbett as teachers.

Class Roll

J. W Harrolson	Judd Kennedy	Beaman Dawkins		Anna L. Walker
Lee Savell	Opal Avery	Curtis Thornton		Gertrude Roberts
FIRST GRADE	Lillian Walker	Aaron Archer		Mabel Robinson
		Lena May Savell	Nora Dawkins		Arlene Hooker
		Thelma Graham	Lynn Robinson
Melton Roberts			Marie Wood		SEVENTH GRADE
C. L. Avery	THIRD GRADE	Deiphia Kennedy
Vernon Leverett			Beatrice Thompson		Clayton Hardwick
Harold Roberts	Marlin Hardwick				Leslie Roberts
Garland Wood	Luke Wetsel				Archie Roberts
Gordon Wood	Tom Savell	FIFTH GRADE		Hobart Grahain
Dorris Wetsel	Mabel Harber	Bush McCleskey		Loyd McCleskey
Ida May Mason	Ima Lee Harber	Graydon Roberts		Pearl Graham
Essie Thornton	Gomez Graham	Ralph Mason		Lenice Wetsel
Bessie Thornton	Wilma Roberts	Pressley Thornton		Rena Thornton
Fay Pennington	Leona Wetsel	Elton Wood
Oneita Spencer	Velma Pennington	Pearl Harber		EIGHTH GRADE
		Louvernia Spencer	Bessie Savell		Marvin Harber
SECOND GRADE	Mason Hubbard	Trudia Pennington		Lee Robinson
				Luther Kennedy		Birdie Bourland
Clyde McCleskey	FOURTH GRADE				Nora Archer
Alvie Dawkins			SIXTH GRADE		Lena Roberts
Chub Hardwick	Claude McCleskey				Audrey Thornton
Troy Lee Wood	Willie Graham	Gladys Roberts		
Sherman Pennington Charley Wetsel	Zenobia Graham	

Reference: The Buffalo Trail 1922