HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN PASCO COUNTY
Other Schools
Some pictures of schools are on the West Pasco pictures page and the East Pasco pictures page.This page was last revised on July 5, 2008.
ALLIANCE SCHOOL
School board minutes of July 3, 1899, have: “The patrons of Alliance School filed a petition asking the appointment of the teacher elected by the patrons. No action was taken in the matter as the school was discontinued.”
ANCLOTE SCHOOL
According to History of Tarpon Springs by Robert Franklin Pent, soon after his marriage on Jan. 5, 1875, H. F. Pent (his father) homesteaded a tract of land on the Anclote River and constructed a small wood building which became the schoolhouse, church, and place for public gatherings. R. F. Pent writes that he and his sister Sadie walked two miles or more to attend the school, which was about 50 feet north of the Anclote road and 50 yards east of the Baptist Church road. R. F. Pent also writes:Harry Ferguson was a young school teacher from Charleston, South Carolina. He came to Brooksville, and since there was no means of further transportation, walked from Brooksville to Anclote, a distance of nearly 50 miles, arriving in the village probably in the year 1878. Like many other young men who came to Anclote, he found a wife. Mr. Ferguson married Miss Mamie Reeves Meyer. As there was not much a young married man could do in this undeveloped country, he started a school and taught the children of Anclote, a village which had begun to expand. Incidentally, Mr. Ferguson had settled on the south side of the river.
An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows Anclote school in operation that year from Oct. 8, 1877, to Jan. 25, 1878, with M. A. Aderhold as the teacher and trustees S. E. Hope, W. A. Cobb, and H. B. Hill.
The 1880 census shows J[ohn] M. Craver, a 23-year-old school teacher living in the Thomas Gibney household in Anclote.
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows Miss C. M. Crosby as the teacher at the Anclote School. Pasco County School Board minutes on Oct. 1, 1887, show a school in Anclote with teacher M. A. Aderhold. On Aug. 10, 1894, the Tampa Weekly Tribune mentioned Mrs. M. E. Shaw, teacher at the Anclote School in Hillsborough County. School board minutes of Dec. 3, 1906, report that a special school was granted at Anclote. The minutes of Sept. 2, 1907, report that the board instructed the superintendent to notify the trustees at Anclote school not to interfere with the pupils attending Tarpon School. School board minutes of July 15, 1909, show Jewell Eden was appointed the teacher. Minutes of Sept. 1, 1913, show Miss Ada Godwin was appointed. Minutes of June 6-8, 1914, show Mr. J. G. Thompson was appointed. Minutes of May 11, 1915, show Miss Flora Williams appointed. Minutes of Nov. 1-2, 1915, show that the school board accepted the Anclote School building. A 1915-1916 directory shows the teacher at Anclote was Miss Minnie Jones. Minutes of July 3-5, 1916, show Miss Ada Godwin was appointed. Minutes of Aug. 6, 1928, show Beatrice Scruggs was appointed. On Sept. 5, 1930, a newspaper article reported that Miss Jessie May Stevenson will be the teacher for the coming year. Minutes of Aug. 16, 1932, show that Jessie M. Stevenson was appointed the teacher.
A 1927 map located the Anclote school in the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 34.
ARGO SCHOOL/ARIPEKA SCHOOL
The Gulf Key post office was established on Oct. 9, 1883. It was renamed Argo on Nov. 12, 1886, and renamed Gulf Key on Dec. 24, 1892. On Feb. 11, 1895, the Aripeka post office was established and on Jan. 6, 1896, the Gulf Key post office was discontinued.The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows Miss Dora Agincourt as the teacher at Gulf Key.
On Dec. 3, 1888, school board minutes show Argo School No. 33 with 19 students enrolled and an average attendance of 9.5.
On Aug. 8, 1889, school board minutes show J. G. Guthrie as the teacher at Argo School, No. 33.
A deed dated Sept. 28, 1889, transferred property in S6 T24 R17 from J. H. Pinkerton and Annie E. Pinkerton to the school board.
On July 7, 1892, school board minutes show Argo School No. 8.
On Aug. 7, 1893, school board minutes show G. W. C. Littell as the teacher at Argo School, No. 33.
School board minutes of Mar. 24, 1916, refer to a school at Aripeka: "Superintendent reported on matter of Aripeka school, and upon motion duly seconded, Board granted appropriation of $100.”
School board minutes of May 1, 1922, indicate that Harvey and Cobb of Aripeka offered to furnish lumber for a school in return for tuition for county line pupils. Minutes of Aug. 21, 1922, indicate the board agreed to pay its pro-rata share for conducting a school at Aripeka.
Apparently, an Aripeka school was closed by the Hernando County school board during World War II, and students were bused to a Pasco County school.
BAYONET POINT JUNIOR HIGH/BAYONET POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL
This school began with its students attending in the Gulf Junior High School
building in the afternoon session. The new Bayonet Point Junior High School
building opened on March 10, 1975, allowing both schools to end double sessions.
The school was built in a joint contract with Hudson High School, which
had an identical design, and was one of eight new schools that were
built from the proceeds of a $16-million bond issue approved by
Pasco County voters in September 1972. The principal at the time
of the opening of the new building was Gordon Tucker.
The school was designed for a maximum capacity of 1200 students but opened with
1307 students. Tucker said that the school would not be overcrowded as long
as the county used the 45-15 year round school program because no more than 1100
students would be in school at any time.
BETHLEHEM SCHOOL/BEE TREE POND SCHOOL
Bee Tree Pond School appears in an 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools.A deed shows that Randall Rewis transferred property in S35 T26 R17 to the school board on Feb. 15, 1886. The school was located near the intersection of Hudson Ave. and Hays Road, near the old town of Sagano.
School board minutes of Aug. 6, 1888, have: “The petition of [illegible] J. H. Dicks and others of the Bethlehem School was read and duly considered. The Board would advise that the Bethlehem and Vereen Schools unite by moving one or the other of the school houses to a location more central and convenient for both neighborhoods in order that one good school be established instead of two weak ones.”
School board minutes of Sept. 3, 1888, show the board decided to close the Bethlehem School, as it appeared patrons were willing to attend the Vereen School instead. Minutes of Oct. 1, 1888, show that the trustees of the Bethlehem School presented petitions requesting that the school be reopened. The board decided that the school superintendent should visit the area and make a decision.
School board minutes of May 6, 1889, have: “The next matter under consideration was a petition from the Bee-Tree School signed by W. J. (?) Hilliard (?) (trustee), D. Keen, S. F. (?) Douglas (?), E. Frierson, M. H. Hurst, Jane Ruis, and Green Goodman, asking that an appropriation be made to cover cost of a bill of lumber to be used for the purpose of erecting a new school-house, and also asking that the present school site be retained. The matter was laid over under the rules.” School board minutes of June 3, 1889, have: “The matter of the Bee Tree School was taken up after discussion was tabled until further information could be obtained relating to the matter.”
School board minutes of Aug. 7, 1893, show J. H. Ryals recommended as supervisor of the Bee Tree Pond School. (Bee Tree Pond is located near the intersection of Hudson Ave. and Hays Road; presumably these are the same school with different names.)
BLANTON SCHOOL
On Oct. 6, 1884, the Hernando County School Board approved a request by the trustees of the Spring Valley School to change the location and name of the school to Blanton. [The Spring Valley School was in operation by 1879, although it apparently did not operate continuously.]According to information provided by Lora Blocker on the Blanton Town web site, the first Blanton school, built in 1884, was located east of Blanton Lake. It was the first school built with lumber in Hernando County. The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows R. M. Ray as the teacher.
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show Blanton School, no. 7, with trustees James R. O'Berry, W. N. Dowling, and Jno. O'Berry.
School board minutes of Dec. 3, 1888, show Blanton School, no. 7, with a total enrollment of 50 pupils and an average attendance of 30.
Some of the first teachers were: Mrs. Minerva Murphy, Charles Copenhaver, Blackburn Wray, and Mrs. Edmund Blocker. Edmond O'Berry was the substitute teacher.
School board minutes show Cooper Stanley appointed the teacher on July 1, 1901, Alna Gregg appointed on Aug. 6, 1903, Ida Govereau appointed in Aug. 1904.
School board minutes of July 3, 1905, show that the board agreed to sell the Blanton School, and on Sept. 4, 1905, the minutes show that the schoolhouse was sold for $36.
According to the Blanton web site, in 1905 a large two-story school was built on land donated by John O'Berry on what is now Sweetwater Road. Mr. O'Hara was its first teacher. He later returned to Blanton and lived with his family teaching there until about 1922. During that time Mrs. Buck served as primary teacher.
School board minutes of Oct. 8, 1907, show that the school board insured the Blanton School.
A 1915-16 directory shows Miss Eugenia Shumate as the teacher at the Blanton School, with 29 students enrolled.
On Apr. 8, 1927, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss Mary Lou St. Clair was appointed teacher of the Primary Department of the Blanton school to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mrs. Prudence Getty.
School board minutes show these teacher appointments: Miss Mattie Lou Mayo on July 5, 1921; H. A. Hammer on June 16, 1926; H. A. Hammer and Mrs. Lula Hancock on July 2, 1928; Mrs. Lula Hancock on July 3, 1930; Louise O'Neal on Aug. 31, 1931; Mrs. Freida Eiland on June 4, 1934; Mrs. Louise Blocker (as music teacher) on Dec. 21, 1936; Maude O'Berry on Aug. 2, 1937; Vera Goodwin on July 5, 1938; Myra O'Berry on June 7, 1943; Cora Mickler on Aug. 16, 1943.
On Aug. 17, 1944, the school board voted to discontinue the Blanton School. According to the Blanton web site, the school building was torn down due to decay around 1963.
BRUSHY BRANCH
Brushy Branch is shown in a list of Hernando County schools in operation in 1877-78, with E. S. Benson the teacher. The trustees were J. W. Jackson, Jno. W. Platt, and W. S. Holton. [An article has J. S. Jackson.]
CALUSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Calusa Elementary School is located at 7520 Orchid Lake Road in New Port Richey, near Ridgewood High School and Marchman
Technical Education Center.
At its meeting on May 15, 1979, the Pasco County School Board voted 3-2 to name the school Calusa Elementary School. Board member Agnes Deal picked the name from more than 200 suggestions made by students who would be attending the school. The name was proposed by Mindy Anderson, a sixth-grader at Anclote Elementary School. After board members were informed by a teacher that the Calusa Indians did not live here, several members expressed second thoughts about the name, but Mrs. Deal said, “Surely they wandered up here at some time or another.”
Principals of Calusa Elementary School are:
Sara Best (Hollander),
Patty Smith,
Marti Meacher (1978-1981),
Richard Tauber (1981-1991), Henry "Chip" Wichmanowski (1991-1997), Deborah N. Minshew (1997-2000),
Christopher Dunning (2000-2003), and DeAnna DeCubellis (2003- ).
CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Centennial Elementary opened in October 1987, a few months after the school year began. Students briefly attended the old Moore Mickens Middle School in Dade City at the start of the school year. The school was named Centennial Elementary because it opened on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Pasco County.
| 1987-1989 | Sandra Ramos |
| 1989-1997 | Susan Rine |
| 1997-2004 | Charles R. Rine |
| 2004- | Scott Mitchell |
CHASCO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS
These two schools are located on the same site on Ridge Road in Port Richey. They were
officially named by the school board by a 5-0 vote on March 7, 2000.
Chasco Elementary School opened in August 2000. The first principal was Dr. John Mann. In 2007 Delores Gauvey became the principal.
Chasco Middle School opened in August 2001. The first principal was Lawrence Albano. In 2007 Christine Wolff became the principal.
The two schools share a gymnasium. There are separate cafeterias for the two schools,
although cafeteria workers prepare lunches for both schools in the same kitchen.
CHESTER W. TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| 1997-2002 | Frances B. McCrimmon |
| 2002-2005 | David Scanga |
| 2005- | Eva Hunsberger |
CHILDERS
School board minutes of July 1, 1893, have: “On motion a school was established two and one half miles S. E. of School #22 - as the children in that section can reach no school. H. D. Ryals appointed supervisor. Name - Childers School #12.” [#22 was apparently New River.]An early map shows the Childers School about a mile west of Bramlett, which was located just southeast of Zephyrhills. According to a source, Childers was an earlier name for Bramlett.
CLAY SINK (RIVERLAND/SLAUGHTER)
A historic marker here reads:Harrison and Martha Ann McKinney Slaughter acquired 120 acres in this area from Jesse Sumner May 20, 1862. The settlement that developed here was first called Slaughter after this pioneer family. Over time it became know as Clay Sink, after the clay sinkhole that is in the area. This cemetery was established on this hill of moss-draped oaks in 1873 when the Slaughters buried their infant daughter here. It is now maintained in perpetuity by the Clay Sink Cemetery Association Inc. On Feb. 19, 1897, the Clay Sink Missionary Baptist Church was organized with 21 members, with Elder G. A. Bryant, moderator. In 1904 a wood-framed building was erected on this site and served the congregation until the present pine building was constructed in 1956. The one-room Slaughter/Clay Sink school building was built in 1912 on Cobb Slough and moved in 1915 to this site that was donated by William Henry and Joanna Slaughter Boyett. It became the fellowship hall for the church in 1943 when the school closed due to consolidation. The teacher's raised platform remained a part of the structure. Some of the early settlers who were charter members of the church were Slaughters, Sumners, Boyetts, Sapps, Robbins, McKinneys, Hardins, Mobleys, Gays, and Weeks. Descendants of these families still live in the area.
A deed shows that Harrison Slaughter transferred property in S24 T23 R22 to the Hernando County School Board on Oct. 3, 1885.
School board minutes of Oct. 3, 1887, have: “Mr. Harrison Slaughter appeared in behalf of the patrons of Riverland School No. 30 regarding the appointment as trustees for their School [illegible] H. Slaughter and Chas Bryant. Upon motion their petition was granted. The trustees of said school recommended Mr. S. R. A. Kemp to teach the School. Upon motion the formality of an examination was waived and Mr. Kemp was appointed to teach the school under a 2nd class certificate.”
A 2005 St. Petersburg Times article has: “[Vera Boyett] gathered documents about the church that go back to 1862 and found one showing that her husband's grandfather, Harrison Slaughter, purchased the Clay Sink property. In 1885, Slaughter donated a few acres to Hernando County for a church and school. Pasco didn't exist yet. Slaughter School was a two-teacher schoolhouse and, after 1887, Pasco's first voting district. The cemetery dates to 1873, when Slaughter's infant daughter was buried in the first grave. Three Civil War veterans are buried there, along with six generations of Slaughter descendants.”
A St. Petersburg Times article on Feb. 23, 2005, has: "Pasco County commissioners voted Tuesday to add the Clay Sink Baptist Church, school building and cemetery to the county's register of historic resources. The property is on 2 acres in the Withlacoochee State Forest near the Hernando County line. The school building, now a church fellowship hall, was built in 1912 and served as the county's first voting precinct. The cemetery is a private graveyard, bearing the graves of about 500 people from the area's pioneer families.”
CLAY SINK (CENTRAL PASCO COUNTY)
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show Clay Sink School (No. 5) utilizing the Twin Lakes post office. A 1915-1916 directory shows a Clay Sink School utilizing the Pasco post office. A local researcher believes this school may have been located in the area of Hancock Lake. A recently-drawn map shows the school in S14 T24 R19.At the school board meeting of July 3-5, 1916, Mrs. H. B. Hope was appointed teacher at Clay Sink.
CLEAR LAKE SCHOOL
Isaac Washington Hudson Jr. (1870-1972) recalled in an interview that he attended school at Clear Lake, living with the J. L. Portner family. He recalled the log house where school was held three months of the year. His teacher was a Mr. Benson.Webb's Historical, Industrial and Biographical Florida (1885) refers to a Clear Lake High School in San Antonio, Robert O. Carter, principal. The same directory lists Clear Lake as one of three academies in Fort Dade and implies Dr. Pringle is the teacher.
A deed indicates W. L. Mobley transferred property in S6 T25 R21 to the trustees of Clear Lake School on July 13, 1886.
The Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1886-87 lists Charles A. Preston as a high school teacher in San Antonio, although it does not name the school.
School board minutes of Oct. 3, 1887, have: “Mr. M. B. Weaver appeared in behalf of the patrons of Clear Lake School preferring charges against B. L. Ray as trustee of said school for allowing his religious prejudices [illegible] in the discharge of his public and official acts.” The charges were later dropped after Ray resigned as trustee of the school.
The school board minutes of Nov. 6, 1893, have: “On motion the Supt. was instructed to draw a deed conveying to W. L. Mobley the site of Clear Lake school No. 14 - said school having been discontinued.”
COOTIE SCHOOL/COOTIE RIVER SCHOOL
In 1887, school board minutes referred to a Cootie School. The school was named for the Pithlachascotee River, often
called the Cootie or Cotee River. The school was probably located east of what would become New Port Richey.
School board minutes of May 7, 1888, have: “The action of the Supt. in establishing the Schools at Cootie and at Argo
was endorsed.”
School board minutes of Aug. 4, 1908, reported that on motion the Board granted a special school for the term “on
Cootie River.” School board minutes of Aug. 2, 1909, show Della White was appointed the teacher.
In June 1913 school board minutes show Cephas Geiger as the teacher at the Cootie School.
A 1915-16 directory shows Harold Stephenson as the teacher at the Cootie River School, which had 11 students.
Pupil rosters indicate that the teachers at the Cootie School included:
Flora Williams, 1912-1913;
R. E. Hatch, 1914-1915;
Bessie Godwin, 1920-1921;
Ellen Heath, 1921-1922;
Katie St. Clair, 1922-1923.
COTEE RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cotee River Elementary School at 7515 Plathe Road in New Port Richey opened at the beginning of the 1994-95 school year. A majority of the students and teachers transferred from Richey Elementary School.In 2007, the school's library was named the Joan F. Palma Media Center, in honor of the first principal, who had died earlier in the year.
| 1994-1997 | Joan Palma |
| 1997-2005 | Carole Baird |
| 2005-2007 | Hope Schooler |
| 2007- | Barbara Kleinsorge |
CRYSTAL SPRINGS SCHOOL
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Ivan B. Whitehead was appointed to teach at the Crystal Springs School.
DADE CITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL/RODNEY B. COX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The school that existed on the corner of 14th Street and
Church Avenue became a grammar school when the brick high school was built.
On Aug. 14, 1925, the New Port Richey Press reported that residents of Dade City voted 117-8 in favor of the issuance of bonds in the amount of $125,000 for the purpose of constructing a new building for the grammar school and otherwise improving the educational facilities of the district. The school opened in January 1927.
The school was renamed Rodney B. Cox Elementary School for Superintendent and former Principal Rodney B. Cox who died of cancer in March 1973. He had assumed the position of Pasco County Schools Superintendent in January 1973, and had served only 77 days in that office.
In 1989, some community leaders in Dade City appealed that a black principal be named to replace Rozalyne Wright, the only black principal in the county, who had resigned. However, school superintendent Thomas Weightman said that there were no blacks currently eligible to be appointed.
In his notes, McCormick has: “1915 Paul McWherter—8th grade teacher - Dade City Grammar.”
| May 21, 1921 | J. W. Sanders Assist. Principal |
| July 12, 1924 | J. W. Sanders |
| July 6, 1925 | David A. Daboll [was principal by Jan. 1925] |
| April 17, 1950 | D. G. McPherson |
| June 22, 1951 | Doc Carl Cripe |
| May 12, 1959 | Rodney B. Cox |
| 1972 - 1976 | Charles Lease |
| 1976 - 1981 | Robert Hatfield |
| 1981 - 1989 | Rozalyne Wright |
| 1989 - 1995 | Linda Rodriguez |
| 1995 - | Leila J. Mizer |
DADE CITY ELEMENTARY, GRADES 5 - 6 - 7
Dade City Elementary School closed at the end of the 1954-55 school year. It was replaced by the new Pasco Elementary School.Principals
1951-55 Joe B. Benson
DENHAM OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| 1995-1997 | Ruth T. Biggs |
| 1997-1999 | Carole Geibel |
| 1999-2006 | Freda Malphurs |
| 2006-2007 | Nancy D. Waters |
| 2007- | Mardee Kay Powers |
DREXEL
MacManus has: “In the early days, there was a school near the railroad crossing, but it was later moved to a site on what is now U. S. 41. Most of the people settled east toward the road that became U. S. 41.”
EAST ZEPHYRHILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
According to Madonna Wise, in 1959 Thomas McCree became Principal.School board minutes of Apr. 11, 1961, and Apr. 10, 1962, show Charles A. Henderson appointed Principal.
School board minutes of April 24, 1963, show Ferd Renninger appointed Principal. He was Principal until 1967, according to Madonna Wise.
The 1973-74 personnel directory shows James B. Walker was the Principal.
EHREN SCHOOL (WHITE)
MacManus has: “Traveling down Ehren Cemetery Road, before actually arriving at the cemetery,
one would pass a one-room school house. The pupils were reported to be a wild lot. One male teacher
brought his pistol to school every day. Predictably, he did not have discipline problems! The Census lists Edward Little
as the teacher, but he was not the one who 'packed the pistol.'"
MacManus has: “White children attended Ehren School, located on Cemetery Road, halfway between Ehren Cutoff Road and the cemetery. In the early 1900s, the school burned and another was built on the same location. In 1939 it was moved to a spot along U. S. 41.”
School board minutes of Sept. 1, 1902, have: “The patrons of Ehren School filed a petition showing that a large majority of the children of said school resided in New Ehren and asked that the school be removed from Old Ehren to that point. As the present school building is reasonably suited for a school house and as the patrons did not offer a suitable building free of cost to the Board, the request was refused.”
A deed dated May 16, 1913, transferred property in S31 T25 R19 from Fannie C. Griffin and her husband to the school board.
A 1927 map shows the Ehren school in the SE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 31.
[The photo is from MacManus. The caption
for the photo reads: "John Hodges Douglas drove this Ehren School bus, 1932.”]
EHREN SCHOOL (BLACK)
MacManus has: “A school for Ehren's black children was located on Cemetery Road. Rev. and Mrs. Byrl Dawkins and the Bowen, Marshall, and Will Brown families all sent their kids to the school. Ola Mae Dawkins McClendon remembers being taught by Claudia Lewis, a lovely black woman who lived near Odessa but spent the week in Ehren during the school year.”School board minutes of Jan. 7, 1901, have: “A petition was filed by the colored people of Ehren, stating that there were in that district twenty one children with the school age and asking the Board to grant a special colored school at Ehren. On motion the School was granted. On motion B. H. McMorris was appointed to teach in Colored School No. 3 and Geo Members was appointed the supervisor.”
School board minutes of Jan. 5, 1903, have: “Colored citizens of Ehren filed a petition asking the Board to grant a colored school at Ehren; Request was refused, as the Board had not made an estimate for a colored school at said point.”
School board minutes of March 21, 1907, have: “The patrons of colored school at Ehren petitioned board for an assistant teacher. As the school had 61 children the board granted the request and assigned J. D. Moore assistant teacher for the unexpired (?) term, provided the attendance holds up well.”
A deed dated Sept. 24, 1927, transferred property in S29 T25 R19 from trustees Frank Phillips and L. G. Bowers to the school board. According to Jeff Cannon, who provided the deed, this was the Ehren Colored School, and it was sold to George Reigler on Apr. 28, 1953.
EILAND
McCormick has "Daniel Eisland at home" in a list of early schools in the Blanton area.
ELLERSLIE
An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows teacher Miss Belle Meacham and trustees J. G. Wallace and P. R. Weaver.The Fort Dade Messenger of July 11, 1884, carries an advertisement: “Ellerslie Academy! This school opens its next term on the 1st day of Oct. The usual english branches taught. Tuition thorough. Terms very moderate. Vocal Music, (with instrumental accompaniment), taught without extra charge. Board can be had in less than a half mile of Academy building, by those who come from abroad. J. G. Wallace, Pres. Bd. Trustees.”
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer indicates Ellerslie has a school and shows Mrs. L. D. Austin as a teacher.
Ellerslie is shown as school No. 1 in the minutes of Nov. 7, 1887.
A deed dated Jan. 25, 1889, shows a two-acre lot in the town of Ellerslie sold by Industrial Machine Works of Duval County to the Pasco County School Board for $74. The location was S12 T25 R21.
At the school board meeting of July 3-5, 1916, Mrs. E. D. Dodson was appointed the teacher at Ellerslie.
ELLUSTIE
An 1885 directory shows Ellustie as one of the three academies at Fort Dade. This could be an alternate spelling of Olustee or a misspelling of Ellerslie. It implies that Robert O. Carter, Esq., was the teacher.
EMMAUS
An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows teacher R. E. Bell and trustees J. W. Jackson, G. G. McKendree, and J. S. Glass.Before Pasco County was created, Hernando County school board minutes show that Robert O. Carter appeared before the board and promised to give up intoxicants if the board would give him a school, so they assigned him to teach at the Emmaus School.
In March 1920 the school board members, county superintendent, and attendance officer inspected the schools in western Pasco County. Their notes show: “EMMAUS, attendance small, account sickness. Work in school was good.”
FIVAY SCHOOL
The 1910 census indicates that Henry A. White, age 23, was the teacher for Aripeka Saw Mill.On Apr. 29, 1910, school board minutes show that John A. Brady, W. A. Hayes, and E. J. Carraway were elected trustees for the Fivay District. Minutes of May 1-3, 1916, show that N. D. Eiland, E. J. Carraway, and J. D. Middy were elected as trustees. Minutes of Dec. 2, 1918, show that A. E. Lane was the teacher at Fivay.
The minutes of the school board meeting on Sept. 4-5, 1916, have: “Board authorized trustees of Fivay No. 29 to make arrangements for the schooling of the children of the district either by transportation or otherwise, said expense to be met from the special fund.”
School board minutes of April 1-2, 1918, indicate that the board voted to discontinue the Fivay school at the close of the fifth month on account of attendance as per the request of trustee J. D. Middy.
A deed dated Aug. 16, 1918, transferred property in S6 T25 R17 from N. D. Eiland and his wife to the school board.
A 1927 map shows the Fivay school in the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 6 (in Range 17). This is approximately a mile north of what is now State Road 52 and about 1½ miles NE of the marked center of the town of Fivay.
On Apr. 29, 1927, the Dade City Banner reported: "The Fivay school, under the able management of Prof. Emmet Jenkins, closed Tuesday noon with a delightful program, followed by a picnic lunch and fish fry on the grounds. Supt. E. B. O'Berry delivered the address to the graduating class composed of Frank Lessig, Charlie Murkle and Miss Catonne (?) Lessig.”
Minutes of July 6, 1931, show that Mrs. Della M. Gay was appointed the teacher at Fivay.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Mrs. Beatrice Stanley was appointed teacher of the Fivay School.
FIVAY JUNCTION/TUCKER SCHOOL (WHITE)
Minutes of Dec. 8, 1908, report that the board granted school #2 “at Fivay Junction on Cootie River.”A 1913 roster of pupils shows Leona Sherfey as the teacher at the Tucker School.
A 1914 roster of pupils shows Sophie Elslander as the teacher at the Tucker School.
A deed dated Dec. 16, 1914, conveyed property in S8 T25 R18 from the Aripeka Saw Mills Co. to the school board for one dollar.
At the school board meeting of July 3-5, 1916, Chas Mikel was appointed teacher at Tucker.
In March 1920 the school board members, county superintendent, and attendance officer inspected the schools in western Pasco County. Their notes show: “TUCKER, attendance small on account of measles and influenza in community. Work progressing nicely. Board took note of needed repairs on steps of building, toilets and blinds, also took note of the well being incomplete (no water in yard). Board provided for waterby having man to fix well.”
On May 7, 1926, the Zephyrhills News mentioned Gladys Hood as the 24-year-old school teacher of Fivay Junction.
A 1927 map shows the Tucker school in the NE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 8, about ½ mile north of Fivay Junction, the crossing of the Tampa Northern Railroad (later Seaboard Airline Railroad) with Cross County Road (now State Road 52). The school was west of the Tampa Northern railroad tracks.
MacManus has: “Tucker School was also used as a church. When the school burned, it was rebuilt on the southwest corner of the Gower's Corners, at the present-day intersection of U. S. 41 and S. R. 52. Among those attending the old school were Carl Thomas and Roscoe Stafford. At different times Tucker and Greenfield merged churches, schools, and post offices.”
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss Mittye Pierce was appointed teacher at the Tucker School.
The school building is believed to have been moved to Dade City, where it was used as a church.
FIVAY JUNCTION/TUCKER SCHOOL (BLACK)
School board minutes of Dec. 2-3, 1918, show Julia V. Lennox was paid for services as the teacher at the Tucker colored school.On Nov. 30, 1934, the Dade City Banner reported that Mr. Hill was authorized to set up a colored school at Fivay Junction at the school board meeting of Nov. 5.
School board minutes of Aug. 5, 1935, show that Mr. Tom Hill was authorized to arrange facilities for colored pupils at Fivay.
In the early 1940s records show Bessie Barefield as the teacher at the Fivay colored school.
FLAT FORD
School board minutes of Sept. 3, 1894, have: “On motion a colored school was granted to be taught at Flat Ford and T. L. Scriven was appointed supervisor.” A local researcher believes this community may have been a few miles from Lumberton. The name of the Pedrick Post Office was changed to Flat Ford on April 26, 1892. The post office was discontinued on July 6, 1896, with service continuing from Richland.
FLOYD ACADEMY
Floyd Academy was a four-room black school located at Moss Town, near Lacoochee.A 2007 Tampa Tribune article by Imani Asukile reported:
A school for blacks existed in Cummer and Sons Sawmill Housing Quarter, but the Rev. William E. Floyd wanted a better school. A school was established a stone's throw from the tracks and named in his honor, according to Theresa Pressley, a Lacoochee native, and Issac Whitter, a graduate of Floyd Academy. ... Vera Lucas Goodwin, a member of one of Dade City's oldest black families, served as principal for 22 of the 23 years the school was open. She was also the school's musician and penmanship teacher. You can tell she had formal training from the commencement's musical repertoire, which was truly American. If you didn't know Floyd Academy was a black school, you would never know from any activity listed on the program. Goodwin and her staff were preparing students for life. I can see traces of a diverse education in the program. Instead of the Negro spirituals - songs composed by slaves, often based on Biblical themes - the program is replete with European music composed by greats such as Franz Schubert and Carl Orff. The program has a liturgical feel to it and even includes the Sanctus, an ancient hymn sung in Latin.
The famous baseball player Jim “Mudcat” Grant, who was born in Lacoochee in 1935, attended elementary school in a converted row house in Lacoochee and later attended Floyd Academy. In his book The Black Aces, Grant wrote about Vera Goodwin: “She never let the threadbare, impoverished conditions in our small schoolhouse dampen her passion for education or her passionate and loving drive to see her students learn and flourish. ... She was the one who identified and fostered my ability to sing and perform. ... She gave me my first record, a recording of Johann Strauss, and then gave me albums by Eddy Arnold and by John Lee Hooker.”
In Asukile's article, Issac Whitter recalled a teacher named Etta Burks.
Floyd Academy closed on August 4, 1970.
| 1947-64 | Vera L. Goodwin |
| 1964-65 | Littleton Long |
| 1965-70 | Vera Goodwin |
FORT BROOME
Fort Broome was located “out two and a half miles a little southeast of Dade City near a pond just below the E. S. Larkin farm,” according to Hendley.An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows the Fort Broome School operated that year from Oct. 15, 1877, to Jan. 18, 1878. The teacher was Robert J. Marshall. The trustees were J.G. Wallace, Robert Sumner, and Isaac Lanier.
The Sunland Tribune reported on June 19, 1879, that John Raymond was the teacher at the Fort Broom School at Ft. Dade. It reported that he today closed his first session with by giving a public examination which was opened with a prayer by Parson Barns. To contribute to the occasion, patrons and friends furnished a fish fry picnic dinner.
FORT DADE
The famous author and soldier Francis Calvin Morgan Boggess (1833-1902) taught at the Fort Dade Academy in the early 1850s. In his autobiography, Boggess wrote:When the author landed in Fort Brooke the country had but few settlers and it was impossible to get employment. He had no money but found a gentleman and lady from Alabama and lived with them as one of the family. Mr. Gideon Tyner, who lived at Fort Dade came down to Tampa to catch a supply of mullet. He had no school in his vicinity and he prevailed on Mr. Boggess to go and teach school for them.School teaching was repugnant to him but as there was nothing else to do he accepted and went home with him.
The school house had only one door in the end, had no benches to sit on or to write. With the aid of the young man, as there were several older than the teacher, benches were made and he taught a successful school for three months making thirty-five dollars a month.
After school was out he returned to his old Alabama friends, Mr. and Mrs. Oats and James Stanfield, on whose boat he had come from Key West to Tampa, had accepted to get out two sets of maple tenpins for John Grillon, of Key West. Mr. Boggess went with him in the woods, got out the timber and turned them and with Captain Dick Turner went over carrying some chickens, potatoes and the tenpins which were sold for forty dollars.
The life of a sailor suited Mr. Boggess and they went back again and by exposure he contracted a severe case of inflammatory rheumatism, which lasted until winter, when all of his money was gone. Mr. Tyner came for him again and he went up to Fort Dade and taught there three months more. There seeming to be nothing better than teaching, he took a school on the Alafia River and taught almost continuously for three years in the same neighborhood, and taught the first free school, for forty days, that was ever taught in South Florida.
The following is taken from Teachers and Schools on the Tampa Bay Frontier (1997) by Canter Brown Jr.:
In one case, the teacher became the benefactor. The event occurred in 1875, in the Fort Dade neighborhood of today's Pasco County. A Mr. P. Wilkins arrived from North Carolina and, in a resident's words, “opened a small school with a view to instruct the little ones, but his kindness, generosity, and earnest efforts in their behalf, soon increased the school to such an extent, that his small house could illy afford room for his pupils.” The account continued, “With a heart abounding with love for his charge, he intimated to the citizens of the neighborhood that he would gladly furnish the means to purchase a tract of land and build thereon a large, neat and comfortable house, and donate the same in perpetuity to the neighborhood.” A community meeting proclaimed that Wilkins's "noble act will never be forgotten by the good people of Fort Dade, and long after his earthly race is run and his soul has crossed the deep waters the young beneficiaries of his munificence will rise up and bless the name and deed of P. Wilkins.”
A footnote gives the source of this information as the Savannah Morning News, Nov. 22, 1875.
The Fort Dade Seminary in Hernando County is mentioned in the Sunland Tribune of Jan. 6, 1877.
An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows the Fort Dade Seminary operated that year from Oct. 1, 1877, to Dec. 22, 1877, with W. C. Dodd the teacher. The trustees were A. C. Sumner, N. A. Carter, and W. L. Mobley.
An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows a Cartersville Academy with teacher J. A. Cunningham and trustees N. A. Carter and A. C. Sumner.
The Fort Dade Messenger of July 11, 1884, has an advertisement: “Fort Dade High School! Tuition in this school embraces the various branches taught pupils in all high schools. Terms Liberal. Pupils from abroad can obtain board in the town of Fort Dade in convenient distance. S. L. Hancock, Charles Croft, Henry Jordan, Trustees.”
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows M. A. Murphy as the teacher at Fort Dade.
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show N. A. Carter, Jss. N. Sumner, Isam D. Howell as the trustees of Fort Dade Academy, No. 8.
A deed dated Nov. 9, 1889, transferred property in S30 T24 R21 from Levi Eiland and his wife to the school board.
On Sept. 5, 1898, school board minutes have: “A petition was filed by the citizens living in the neighborhood of the old Fort Dade School house asking that a school be established at the old school building; on motion it was refused, as it comes within the three mile limit.”
School board minutes of Oct. 3, 1898, have: “On motion a special school was granted at Fort Dade.”
School board minutes of Oct. 6, 1902, have: “Mr. J. M. Mitchell informed the Board that the Fort Dade school house had fallen down, was badly decayed and in almost a worthless condition, and offered one dollar for the same; on motion his offer was accepted.”
School board minutes of July 1, 1912, show that a school was granted for Fort Dade.
FOX HOLLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Fox Hollow Elementary School, at 8309 Fox Hollow Drive, Port Richey, opened at the start of the 1991-92 school year.
Two other schools opened at that time—River Ridge Middle/High and Thomas E. Weightman Middle School.
When Fox Hollow opened, Pasco County schools moved sixth grade students from elementary to middle schools. The first
principal was Richard Tauber. In 1999 he was succeeded by Arlene Moreno. In 2005 Lisa Miller became the principal.
GILLETT SCHOOL
A 1917-1918 roster of pupils shows Cora Cripe as the teacher at the Gillett School, no. 40.
GREER SCHOOL
The History of Zephyrhills 1821-1921 by Rosemary W. Trottman has:
The Greer School was established at the beginning and some of the county's best teachers taught there. One of the most loved was Miss Fannie Mobley, whose sister Miss Mattie Mobley was tax collector for many years. Later Miss Fannie taught in Dade City grammar school until her retirement. Miss Althea Collins was a favorite of the Greer family. Another was Olive Tucker, sister of Linton Tucker, well known in Zephyrhills. She taught in Greer some years after the smallpox outbreak in which Mattie Bedgood Greer died. She became the second Mrs. J. L. Greer.
According to McCormick, Greer was a sawmill town with a two teacher school. Mr. Martin taught 4 - 5 - 6th grade and his daughter, Vera, taught 1 - 2 - 3rd grade. When Sand Pond closed, the students transferred to Greer.
The following is excerpted from It Took A Lot of Living to Fill Those 90 Years, ©1996 by David I. Cripe:
It was in 1914 that the Cripe children attended the institute of learning known as the Greer School. A Mr. Martin was the Headmaster that year, and his daughter Vera Martin taught the primary grades in the smaller room which was attached to the main structure. Mr. Martin also had a son Laury who attended the school, and the three of them travelled daily from their home in the northern part of Dade City, in a top-buggy propelled by a black horse. During the day, the horse was tied to a tree with a box nailed to it. In the box was some grain to charge up the horse for the trip home in the evening. Really he parked the horse behind the building but if I placed him there in the picture, you would not be able to see him. Mr. Martin wrote with a flourish of beautiful letters and although I tried hard, I could never nearly match it. He was also the first person I had seen with an artificial (or glass) eye as we called it in those days.The road running by the school was a sandy dirt road which wove its way south-westerly through the woods, over the hill, and around a small lake to the small metropolis of Phelps Station. The settlement included the Herndon Post Office and a turpentine still operated by the Powell brothers, also about a dozen houses for employees.
According to information provided to this website by a local researcher, the Greer School was located approximately 5 1/2 miles south of Dade City, on the east side of US 301, near the bottom of the south side of Greer Hill.
The minutes of the school board meeting on Sept. 4-5, 1916, have: “Upon motion of Mr. Roberts seconded by Mr. McKendree, board voted to appoint Miss Miriam Ross as teacher for the Greer school, provided Miss Ruth Davis refuses to accept. Said appointment being made, recognizing the authority of Trustees to nominate elapsed with the appointment of Miss Ruth Davis.”
GULF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL/GULF MIDDLE SCHOOL
Gulf Junior High School began as a part of Gulf Junior-Senior High School, including grades 7 through 9.
Pierce Junior High School operated in the late 1950s, with the same principal as Gulf High School, in the red brick
building on Main Street which had been Pierce Elemntary School.
Gulf Junior High School opened as a separate facility on Sept. 7, 1971,
with Thomas Weightman as Principal. The school was a new building located on Ridge Road (since renamed School Road),
although seventh grade students initially attended the Gulf Junior High Annex on the Boulevard.
In 1972 the school board considered changing the name of Gulf Junior High School, concerned that there was confusion among the names Gulf Junior High School, Gulf High School, and the old Gulf High School, which was then serving as a junior high school annex. However, a survey revealed that teachers and students at Gulf Junior High were satisfied with the name and wanted to keep it.
On Feb. 9, 1973, Beverly Daniel Herold, 22, a physical education teacher at Gulf Junior High School, was killed in an auto accident.
At the start of the 1977-78 school year, Gulf Junior High and Gulf High switched buildings, with Gulf Junior High moving to the building on Louisiana Ave.
At the start of the 1983-84 school year, the school became a middle school, teaching students in grades 6 through 8.
| 1971-1973 | Thomas Weightman |
| 1973-1975 | James E. Campbell |
| 1975-1977 | Dr. Arthur O'Donnell |
| 1977-1978? | Dr. John Joyce |
| 1978?-1979 | John Best |
| 1979-1995 | Richard Koop |
| 1995-1998 | Greg Wright |
| 1998-2003 | Raymond Bonti |
| 2003- | Stan Trapp |
HARRY SCHWETTMAN EDUCATION CENTER
The Schwettman Education Center opened in August 1993 at 5520
Grand Boulevard, in the building originally occupied by Gulf High School.
The school is for those students who are unable to function
in a normal school environment because of academic or
social difficulties.
Harry William Schwettman was a community activist and founder
of WESPAC, a coalition of homeowners and civic associations.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1896, and died on Dec. 31, 1984. He grew up in Cincinnati and started working at age 13.
He attended night high school and college while working in various departments of the Gruen Watch Co.
The 1930 census shows that he was a production manager, working in watch manufacturing.
Schwettman retired from Gruen after 42 years.
He came to Florida in 1959.
He was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1972 by the Greater New Port Richey Chamber of Commerce.
He served on a committee which recommended that
the abandoned old Gulf High School building should be renovated and used as a vocational school.
Earlier, the Schwettman Adult Education Center operated in the same building.
| 1993-1998 | Alan Knight |
| 1998-2003 | Randall Koenigsfeld |
| 2003-2004 | James W. Michaels |
| 2004-2005 | John Letvin |
| 2005- | Mimi Foster |
HEBRON SCHOOL
An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows trutees M. W. Page, N. A. Williams, and A. M. White.School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show Hebron School, no. 2, with trustees M. W. Page, N. A. Williams, and A. M. White. The school was located near Macon (now Trilby) and was apparently conducted at a church having the same name.
HERNANDO COLORED SCHOOL
The list of Pasco County schools from the minutes of Dec. 3, 1888, shows a Hernando Colored School, with an enrollment of 14 black students. The other schools in the list show only white students enrolled. A local researcher believes this school was near the Pasco-Hernando County line near Trilby. He notes that census records before 1900 show the Trilby-Blanton-Spring Lake triangle was the only area in Pasco County with a significant black population.
HUDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The following is from The Story of Hudson, Florida (1973):During the early 1960's the school population was on the upswing. This was evident to everyone except the educational authorities. A bond issue to build new schools in the western part of the county was defeated because there was no provision in it for a school in Hudson. A revamped proposal, including facilities for this area, was submitted to the voters and passed. Even in the face of this the school people dragged their feet on the local building which had been authorized by the bond referendum, although they immediately began to work on the other schools which were included in the vote. Finally a group of Hudson citizens threatened a suit to stop all building unless Hudson was included. During the 1966-67 term classes were organized for the Hudson school but taught in New Port Richey, pending completion of the building here. There were 199 pupils in the classes which included the first six grades. This was quite a change from the 12 children in the same number of classes only eleven years before. The school opened here the next year with 314 children on the rolls. There were eight classrooms with a normal capacity of 240 pupils. More space was added through the following years, but always the increase in children outstripped the building program. During the latter half of the 1972-73 term, the pupil count reached 1500. Classrooms were still being built and space in the cafeteria and storage rooms was being utilized. All classes were then on double sessions.
David H. Clark Jr. was named Principal of the school when it opened in New Port Richey apparently in the building which is now Schwettman Education Center. In a newspaper interview he recalled that the school started with 180 students. It moved to Hudson, just off U. S. 19, in 1966. He recalled that the enrollment grew to 1620 and the school operated on double sessions before Shady Hills, Schrader, and Northwest Elementary Schools were opened, after which the enrollment dropped to 740.
Arthur F. Engle was principal from 1979 until he died in September 1986, at the beginning of the school year.
More recent principals of Hudson Elementary School are Dalne Dola, Margaret Lewis, John Shafchuk, Kathryn Rushe, and Linda McCarthy.
HUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
On March 2, 1982, the school board voted 4-1 to build a new middle school adjacent to Hudson High School. It was projected to serve 1200 puils in the seventh and eighth grades. Construction cost was set at $6.5-million. The school was projected to open in September 1984.
INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL
The History of Zephyrhills 1821-1921 by Rosemary W. Trottman has:The completion of the F. R. & N. made some changes in Abbott. Mr. Phelps moved his distillery across the tracks and the Hodson-Donnaly team did the brick work for resetting this first turpentine distillery. Mr. Herndon, who had a sawmill in the pines to the east of Lake Buddy, moved South to locate at Phelps, which became a flagstop on the railroad. The workers who lived in more or less temporary homes about both the mill and the "still" attended the Independence and Sand Pond schools. Appolonia Osburn, soon married to Brantley Smith, taught at what in the last year of life she called the Phelps School, but in school records is Independence. She told of a visit the superintendent made to the school. He said, “I was told they had a very good teacher here.” Then seeing four large boys in the four corners of the room, he asked, "Are those your bad boys?" "No,” Appie answered, “Those are good boys who just want to make sure that if they break a rule they will be punished. When they sit down they will know I mean what I say.” [...]At the end of the 1909-1910 term, the one-room schools in the area closed their doors forever. Miss Lillie Geiger, who taught Independence School for many years, said little on that last day there beyond reminding the pupils to empty their desk and leave them clean. The older girls had washed the small paned glass windows that only a few years before had replaced wooden shutters. At noon they had carefully swept the floor and stood at the door as the children filed in afterward to see that the careless ones brushed their feet on the corn shuck mat on the first step.
One little girl made a mental picture of her teacher as she stood behind her desk that day and reproduced it from memory more than fifty years later. "She wore a crisp white summer shirtwaist with a net and lace collar kept high under her chin and ears by stays under each ear and at the back closing. Tiny tucks provided fullness below the shoulders. It was closed down the back with tiny pearl buttons from neck to belt, but red-brown curls obscured the two that fastened the collar. They always escaped from the upswept hair coiled neatly atop her head. There were curls too about her forehead and plump cheeks. There were stays in the belt of her black shirt which neatly cleared the floor. On the left side of the belt in front was an invisible pocket in which she placed her small thin gold watch. It was also secured by a fine gold chain about her neck. This chain had a sliding clasp that brought the chain into adjustment on her breast. Her right hand strayed to it in moments Of impatience or tension.”
At last there was nothing left to be done. A soft tinkle of the hand bell announced the end. As the little girl stood up, reached for her Ginn & Company geography, her Baldwin reader, speller, and Milne's Arithmetic, she was suddenly gripped by a new sensation, an awareness of history. She looked at the clean blackboard, the outlines and nail holes that indicated where the map of the United States, the number chart with its decimals that she had not studied yet, the chart showing the sounds of letters and combinations of letters titled PHONICS, had so recently hung. She looked to see them neatly rolled up and standing on end beside the iron stand which held the now closed Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. It stood in the corner just off the raised platform which held an empty recitation bench and the teachers desk and a drooping flag on a pedestal. As she filed out with the others she saw the empty pegs on the walls where the girls hung their coats and wraps on one side of the door and the boys hung theirs on the other. The wooden bucket still damp and its long handled dipper still within set on its accustomed stand nearby.
Outside they said subdued farewells and took each his trail toward home while the teacher locked the door, thanked her older nephew who had harnessed her horse to her buggy, and stood holding the rein until she gave the horse his signal to start home. They were losing some quality of living at school that the little girl sensed they would not find in the new school at which most of them would meet again in the fall.
Doubtless pupils of Childers, Union, and Wesley Chapel were experiencing similar closings. Some pictures of such schools remain, but so far as is known no picture was ever made of the Independence School.
JAMES IRVIN EDUCATIONAL CENTER
James Irvin Center was designed to assist those students who were discipline problems in the other area schools. The school was named for James Irvin (1909-1993). Irvin moved to Dade City from Georgia in 1920. As part of the Dade City business community, Irvin and his brother-in-law founded Main Street Cleaners in 1945. The first black Boy Scout troop in Florida was chartered by Irvin. His dedication to children led him to volunteer as an umpire for the Dade City Little League and raise funds for black schools in Pasco County. Irvin committed his time to the Pasco Public Schools Foundation, the Alliance for Race Relations and the County Historic Society. [Information from a St. Petersburg Times article.]
| 1995-1998 | Linda Montgomery |
| 1998-2004 | Alan Knight |
| 2004-2005 | Jim Davis |
| 2005-2006 | Monica Ilse |
| 2006- | Rick Saylor |
J. W. MITCHELL HIGH SCHOOL
J. W. Mitchell High School opened at the start of the 2000-01 school year, although there was no senior class until
the second year of operation. The school, designed to relieve overcrowding at River Ridge and Gulf High Schools,
was constructed adjacent to Seven Springs Middle School on Little Road.
The school consists of separate buildings originally designed for each of the five learning communities.
From the beginning, classes met according to a modular schedule which allowing longer classes which do not
meet every day. The school is named for James Mitchell, a rancher, community leader and businessman.
His wife Dorothy served on the school board for about 20 years.
The first principal was Tina Tiede. She was succeeded in Sept. 2005 by Ric Mellin.
By 2006 the enrollment had increased to the point that 29 portable classrooms were in use.
In the Oct. 1, 2006, newsletter, the Principal reported that enrollment stood at 2,555 students.
KALEN SCHOOL
An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools indicate that this school was established on Oct. 1, 1882. The teacher was R. S. Pringle and the trustees were Steve Weeks, Harrison Slaughter, and J. E. Mills. This school may have been located in what is now Pasco County.
LACOOCHEE COLORED SCHOOL
In 1950 a state auditor's report on transactions of the Pasco County School Board was critical of the building of a black school in Lacoochee for $40,431. The auditor said the school cost almost twice as much as it should have, and the school was built without requesting bids or letting a contract. The school board released a statement blaming the State Department of Education for requirements for the school which were "extravagant and elaborate.” The statement also said the school had to be built quickly because the owners of the buildings then in use demanded possession of the buildings. Circuit Judge John U. Bird summoned a grand jury panel to convene on July 31 to investigate the auditor's report.
LAKE BUDDY SCHOOL (WHITE)
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows Miss Emmit Forbes as the teacher at Earnestville.School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show that a temporary school was granted to be called Buddie Lake School, no. 27.
School board minutes of Oct. 1, 1888, show that "trustees of Buddie Lake School presented a petition asking for thirty (30) dollars to assist them in paying for material used in the construction of their School house.”
A deed dated Sept. 29, 1899, conveyed property for one dollar from John Stewart to "The school trustees of district No. 8, and their successors in office...” The property is described as follows: "One half acre in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section fifteen (15) township twenty five (25) South, range twenty one (21) East.” The property was located on the east side of Fort King Road. According to a local researcher, it is on the north or northwest side of Sand Pond, depending on how high the water was at the time. The deed was recorded in 1904.
The significance of this deed is unclear. A local researcher suggests two possibilities: (1) the school might have been built on private land which was later deeded to the trustees in district 8, or (2) there were two different Buddy Lake Schools, in which case the latter one may have been known as the Sand Pond School and would have predated the two schools described in the Sand Pond entry on this page.
McCormick's summary of school board minutes show that Lake Buddy School was discontinued in 1905. This community was later served by the Sand Pond School.
LAKE BUDDY SCHOOL (BLACK)
School board minutes of Sept. 1, 1890, have: “Alex Brandon came before the Board asking that a school for colored children be established on the south side of Lake Buddie. By motion a special school was granted and the sum of $20 per school month granted as salary of the teacher. Alex Brandon who was supervisor of the Dade City Colored School resigned his position and was appointed supervisor of the former school.”School board minutes of June 6, 1892, have: “Alex Brandon (col) came before the Board asking that a special school for colored children be established near Lake Buddie. The Board decided to grant the school and provide a teacher at $20 per school month on condition that the attendance is kept up.”
School board minutes of Oct. 9, 1893, have: “On motion Ben Baisden was appointed Supervisor of col. school No. 12 - vice Alex Brandon deceased. On motion Mrs. E. V. Powell was appointed teacher of said school.”
LAKE MYRTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Lake Myrtle Elementary School, located at 22844 Weeks Blvd., Land O'Lakes, is one of 34 Florida schools to earn an A from the state every year from 1999 to 2007.
| 1985-2003 | Monica Joiner |
| 2003-2007 | E. John Abernathy |
| 2007- | Kara McComeskey |
LAKEVIEW SCHOOL
In his notes, McCormick has "1924-25 Lakeview School - Mary Briney - teacher.”
LAND O'LAKES HIGH SCHOOL
On Feb. 21, 1973, H. Leroy McClain, assistant principal at Pasco Comprehensive
High School, was named the first principal of the new Land O'Lakes junior-senior
high school. He was assigned to work as a special assistant at Sanders
Memoral School first, to become acquainted with the area. McClain had been
employed by the Pasco County school district since 1968; before then he was
a principal of Brazelton Junior High School in Paducah, Kentucky.
The school board approved the name Land O'Lakes Junior-Senior High School on April 3, 1973.
According to the web site of the school, “Construction of the school building began in 1973. Classes were held on double sessions at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O' Lakes during construction. In July 3, 1975, the doors opened. That fall 1400 students attended Land O' Lakes Junior and Senior High and Community School. In June of 1976, Land O' Lakes graduated its first class of 97 seniors. By 1978, the school had become too crowded to continue serving grades 7 through 12. PineView Middle School was built for grades six through eight.”
In 1999, the football team under Coach John Benedetto had its first undefeated regular season. That year, a 59-yard field goal by Justin Geisler helped the Gators to a 20-7 win against Zephyrhills.
In January 2000 the International Baccalaureate Organization approved an IB diploma program for Land o'Lakes High School. (A pre-IB program had started there earlier.)
In 2002 the football team under Coach Benedetto had a 10-0 record with quarterback Drew Weatherford. During his four seasons at Land O'Lakes, Weatherford threw for more than 7,500 yards and 79 touchdowns.
In August 2003, the school adopted a staggered schedule to ease overcrowding. Students in grades 10 through 12 attended school from 7:35 a.m. to 2 p.m., but most freshmen attended from 10:25 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
In 2005 the school became the first high school in Pasco County to earn an A grade from the Florida Department of Education. Land o'Lakes High earned an A again in 2006 and 2007.
At the start of the 2007-08 school year, with overcrowding reduced because of the opening of Sun Lake High School, Land O'Lakes High School returned to a traditional schedule, with seven periods, one of which was lunch.
On June 5, 2008, 591 students graduated at the USF Sun Dome. It was the largest graduating class ever in Pasco County.
| 1975-1985 | Herman LeRoy McClain |
| 1985-1997 | Albert Bashaw |
| 1997-2003 | Max Ramos |
| 2003-2006 | Raymond Bonti |
| 2006- | Monica Ilse |
LENARD
Minutes of the Hernando County school board meeting of Nov. 3, 1885, show that a school was granted, and the teacher was J. E. Erwin.
LOYCE
An 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools shows a Loyce School.The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows Mrs. Nina Tracey as the teacher at Loyce.
A deed dated Sept. 13, 1889, transferred property in S10 T24 R18 from D. E. Winham and M. E. Winham to the school board.
A 1927 map shows the Loyce school in Section 10, centered north-south and on the eastern edge of the W ¼. This is about two miles NNW of the town of Loyce on an unnamed road running roughly parallel to State Hwy 5 (now U. S. 41) and about 1½ miles west of U. S. 41.
MACON/TRILBY (WHITE)
A post office was established at Macon in 1885. The post office was renamed Trilby in 1901.
An 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools shows a Macon School.
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows A. I. Wyatt as the teacher at the Macon free school.
School board records show a request for a school at Macon in 1887. The minutes of Feb. 6, 1888, have: “Mr. D. T. McLeod appeared, asking the board to pay him $26.00 (?), amount that he claims to have assumed & will have to pay towards the building of the Macon School house.”
An article by Charlotte Tyer in East Pasco's Heritage has:
In 1910 the school was a two-story wooden building on the west side of present Highway 301, across from Cummer Road. It burned on a cold night with frozen ground; the sixty-odd students weren't too unhappy. The grownups built another two-story schoolhouse of brick, which later burned too. Earl Tyer's garden on that spot will turns up pieces of desks and old square ink bottles; he irrigates from the old schoolhouse well. Trilby School in those days was the center for political rallies and for social life. Cliff Couey remembers one special softball game when the fat women played the skinny men, with proceeds going to the school. Everybody went to Friday afternoon programs or plays once a month, there being no electric light for night activities.
According to McCormick, the first school was built in Trilby in 1905. Sometime later the building burned. In 1910, the school was a two-story wooden building on the west side of the present highway 301 across from Cummer Road. This building site was located on the Earl Tyer property. A second two story brick building was constructed and housed grades 1-10. This building burned and the children were sent to the Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge until the present building was built in 1934. This was a three-classroom school with inside restrooms, lunch room, and auditorium with a stage.
At the school board meeting of July 3-5, 1916, Prof. E. B. O'Berry was appointed Principal of the Trilby school. Miss Lena Mickler, Miss Sidney Curry, and Miss Laverna Hughes were appointed assistants.
The minutes of the school board meeting on Sept. 4-5, 1916, have: “Board considered plans and specifications for the building at Trilby. Upon motion duly seconded Board voted to adopt plans and revised specifications submitted by Mr. C. H. Glass, said adoption of board subject ot validation of bonds issued by the district.”
A 1926 Dade City Banner refers to the Trilby school as a high school.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss Ila O'Berry was appointed Principal of the Trilby School, and Mrs. Bethel Revels, Miss Pearl Epting, and Mrs. Ruth Byrd were appointed as teachers.
On Aug. 10, 1945, the New Port Richey Press reported, “A contract has been let by Board of Public Instruction, Pasco county, to E. C. DeLong for the construction of a school building in Trilby, to replace the building destroyed by fire in October 1943. The contract, which is for $16,116, calls for the building to be completed by the first of the year. Preliminary work has already begun in preparation for the construction which is to be of concrete.”
On Aug. 23, 1946, the New Port Richey Press reported that William Whitney Lavender was appointed principal of the Trilby Elementary School.
According to McCormick, in 1965 the Trilby Elementary was closed. The building was vacant two years and the Pasco County Head Start moved to the building and continued until 1978.
| July 3, 1905 | Edmund B. O'Berry |
| Aug. 2, 1920 | Prof. Fogg |
| Jan. 4, 1921 | J. W. Sanders |
| June 6, 1921 | G. H. Tompkins |
| June 14, 1923 | J. Perry Hodge |
| June 12, 1924 | I. P. Blanton |
| June 6, 1927 | Fred O. Revels |
| July 2, 1928 | M. G. Donaldson |
| May 5, 1935 | J. A. Osteen |
| July 1, 1935 | Loran L. Sheely |
| May 19, 1937 | Ila O'Berry |
| April 3, 1939 | Gerald Hatch |
| Sept. 6, 1943 | Alice N. Atwater (acting) |
| April 17, 1945 | Alice N. Atwater |
| April 21, 1947 | L. Q. Rogers |
| May 6, 1948 | Eugene Hester |
| May 2, 1949 | Mrs. Ella Dayton |
| April 17, 1951 | Mrs. Alda Goodman |
| April 13, 1954 | William R. Laurie |
| March 28, 1956 | Moss Farmer |
| March 20, 1957 | Rodney B. Cox |
| April 8, 1958 | Robert D. Gray |
| May 12, 1959 | Frances Peacock |
| March 30, 1960 | Morris Olive |
| Sept. 13, 1960 | Eldon J. Smith |
| 1962-63 | James L. Turner |
| 1963-64 | Sue Richardson |
| 1964-65 | Frances Peacock |
Principal William R. Laurie (b. Nov. 4, 1930, Winter Haven) attended school in Winter Haven through 8th grade and moved to Dade City in the summer of 1942. He attended 8th grade at Dade City Grammar School and graduated from Pasco H. S. in 1948. He attended the University of the South in Tennessee and the University of Florida. He taught at Dade City Grammar School after Trilby. He later founded American Reading Service, American Heritage School and American Academy in Plantation, Florida.
MACON (BLACK)
School board minutes of July 7, 1892, have: “A petition was read from colored patrons at Macon asking for the establishment of a school at that place. On motion the matter was deferred to the 1st Monday in August.”School board minutes of Oct. 9, 1893, have: “On motion a special school for colored children was granted to be taught at Macon. Salary of teacher to be $20 per month and George Bu...y to be supervisor.”
Minutes of March 1, 1897, have: “A letter showing that there were thirty five colored children of School age in Macon district and asking the Board to grant them a school was filed. On motion the School was granted, and J. D. Moore appointed teacher.
MIDWAY SCHOOL
The History of Zephyrhills 1821-1921 by Rosemary W. Trottman quotes James Theodore Campbell Jr. as follows:While we were living at The Cedars, as we called the Pedrick place near Lumberton, Robert and I attended the Midway School A Mr. Shearer from Dade City was the teacher. The Z. T. Roberts children, Junior, Bascom, Lena and Grace; Exa, Mary and Darlington Philmon; Jodie and Josie Stafford; Roy Tanney; Walter and Paul Miller whose father was an immigrant from Hungary also attended the Midway School. During the 1940's Walter was living on Seventh Street East. Some Johnson children also attended Midway.When the teacher, Mr. Shearer, was a small boy, he made a toy windmill on a stick. While running with this toy in his mouth he fell and the stick so damaged his throat and nervous system that he was partially paralyzed. So it was that one day while he was teaching in the classroom at Midway, the mail carrier stopped at the school to give Mr. Shearer a letter. As soon as he read it, he dismissed school for the day, asking the two Campbell boys to remain to be given a message for their father who was school trustee in addition to owning the only automobile in the immediate region. He requested that Mr. Campbell take him to Dade City where he was scheduled to appear before the draft board that afternoon. He was exempted from service, of course, and the children were back in the Midway School next day.
Finally so few pupils attended that no teacher could be found who would accept a position there. It was last offered to Marguerite Pillar who had graduated from Zephyrhills and was attending normal school. It was decided that Dewey Hudson who had just returned from service in World War I should take the two Campbell boys and any others from Midway district to the Zephyrhills School. There both Campbell boys were taught by Miss Verdie Roberts from O'Brien, Florida. She taught both second and third grade pupils in a small building just east of the main building. In the other half of this building the first grade was taught by Miss Lillie Geiger. Both buildings faced Sixth Street.
In addition to serving as trustee of the Midway District, and serving as emergency chauffeur for the entire community, our father was lay preacher. He preached for the community schools and churches that had no regular pastor. Mr. Z. T. Roberts had a brother who lived alone. When he died, Mr. Roberts asked my father to serve as minister at the funeral service.
MILLER
McCormick has: Miller near Sweetwater or Frank Collura's place. Blanton area.
MOORE-MICKENS MIDDLE SCHOOL/MOORE-MICKENS EDUCATION CENTER
A history of black schools in Dade City is here.
In 1970, black students integrated into the local schools. Mickens students moved to Pasco Jr. and Pasco Comprehensive High School.
Melvin Dennard became principal in 1973 and remained principal until June of 1981.From 1981 to 1986 Moore Mickens was a middle school. During that time the principals were Dr. Robert Dellinger, George Avadikian, and Charles Rine.
In 1987, Moore-Mickens became Moore-Mickens Adult Education Center. Mrs. Greta Adams served as principal. In 1995, Mrs. Adams retired and was succeeded by Steve Cox, who was still the Principal in January 2005.
|
MOORE - MICKENS MIDDLE - Grades 6-7 1970 - 74 O. K. Mickens 1974 - 81 Melvin Dennard 1981 - 83/84 Dr. Robert Dellinger 1983/84 - 86 George Avadikian The building was closed for renovation.
MOORE MICKENS EDUCATION CENTER |
MYRTLE-DENHAM SCHOOL
MacManus has: “When the one-room school at Myrtle got too crowded, a decision was made to build a larger, two-room structure to be named Myrtle-Denham School. Mike Riegler, a school district trustee at the time, donated five acres for the school. While the Myrtle-Denham school was being built, the younger students attended school in the Lake View United Brethren Church building while the older ones continued studying at the Myrtle School. Myrtle-Denham School, built in 1934, was located on S. R. 54 just east of U. S. 41. It functioned until 1948 when its students were transferred to the newly opened Sanders Memorial School in Land O'Lakes. The old school became a residence, then was torn down in 1997.”On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Mrs. Gertrude Godwin was appointed teacher at the Myrtle-Denham School.
NEW PORT RICHEY SCHOOL
In 1914 a public school opened with about 30 students, the classroom being located on the second floor of what later became the Idlewyle Apartments, at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Adams Street in what would become New Port Richey. On Nov. 19, 1914, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported, “Cornell and Poole are painting the McNatt building which is being used for school purposes.” The teacher was Miss Corrine Tate of Dade City. In the middle of the 1914-1915 school year, Miss Minnie Jones became assistant to Miss Tate.
In Sept. 1915 a new wooden, two-story school house opened in New
Port Richey at East Main Street and Madison with about 30 students.
Miss Julia Ellarbee Harn was the teacher and Miss Eva McKeathen was her assistant.
Miss Harn had been Principal of Bagdad Elementary School in Bagdad,
Florida, in 1911. She was born in Georgia, and also taught in Punta Gorda.
A 1915-1916 directory shows Miss Julia Harn as the teacher at the New Port Richey School and Harold Stephenson as the teacher at the Cootie River School.
School opened again in New Port Richey on Sept. 25, 1916, with Miss Nannie Knight of Tampa as teacher and 30 students in grades 1-8, according to an unseen article in the Nov. 1916 New Port Richey Post. In the fall of 1916, Miss Brummette became principal at the New Port Richey school. She resigned in December and was succeeded by Miss Johnnie Davis, who remained until the end of the school year, according to Doris Wright. In the fall of 1917 the New Port Richey school began the school year with Mrs. Brummette as principal and Mr. Frank Ingram as assistant, with about 35 students, according to Doris Wright. In the fall of 1918 the New Port Richey school began the school year with Miss Louisa Leach as principal and Miss Laura Van Poucke as assistant, and about 60 students. On Feb. 27, 1919, the New Port Richey Press shows the teachers as Miss Louise Leach and Miss Laura Van Pouck. In the fall of 1919 the New Port Richey school began the year with Mr. C. W. or C. H. Martin as Principal and Miss O'Berry as assistant, both of whom soon resigned. Then Mrs. George L. Wanner became principal with Mrs. Oren and Mrs. Lapham as assistants. These names are shown as Mrs. Oran or Mrs. Arran for intermediate grades and Miss Lapham for primary department in a newspaper article. In a few weeks, these three resigned their positions. For the next few weeks the school was in the care of Mr. William Lightfoot, after which the year was completed with Mrs. Rachel Kirkman as principal and Miss Bessie Goodman and Mrs. Alice Rosebrough as assistants. There were about 70 pupils. On Oct. 16, 1919, the New Port Richey Press reported, “In addition to the usual primary and normal grades, the 9th and 10th grades of the junior high grade is now being taught at New Port Richey.” An April 1920 school board meeting shows a bill paid to the Dade City Insurance Co. for insurance at the Cootie River School. On Nov. 4, 1920, a newspaper article shows the teachers as Miss Ruth Davis (principal) and Mrs. Carl Cripe.
In April 1920 school board minutes show payments to these teachers at (New) Port Richey School no. 36: Mrs. Rachael Kirkman, Mr. William Lightlin(d/l)y, Bessie Goodwin, Inez Roseborough, and Mrs. Harvey O. Sheldon.
On Jan. 7, 1921, the Dade City Banner reported, based on school board minutes: "Application for an additional teacher at New Port Richey was considered and it was decided to visit the school Wednesday. This the board and superintendent did and found an attendance of 102 pupils and three teachers. They engaged Carl Cripe as principal of the school, with Miss Davis who had been in charge as first assistant.”
In 1921 the Board of Public Instruction had insufficient funds to complete the 1920-21 school year at the New Port Richey school, and the citizens of New Port Richey were called upon in a public meeting at Snell Hall to subscribe money needed for the purpose. A total of $400 was raised and the schools were kept open until the last Friday in May.
During part of January 1922 the New Port Richey school closed because of an epidemic of diphtheria.
On Oct. 16, 1922, a newspaper article had: “D. C. Cripe, Principal. Miss Maree Pinholster, Intermediate. Mrs. Cynthia Albritton, Second Primary. Mrs. Lottie Cripe, First Primary. School opened September 4th with an enrollment of ninety-five pupils and three teachers. The attendance increased until it became necessary to have another teacher and Miss Maree Pinholster was secured for the position.” [The name should be spelled Marie Pinholster.]
On July 6, 1923, the New Port Richey Press reported that Gregg O'Berry, son of superintendent E. B. O'Berry, was appointed principal of the New Port Richey grammar school. It reported, “Mr. Carl Cripe, principal for the last year, will probably go to Sanford.”
On Dec. 5, 1924, the New Port Richey Press referred to the school as Main Street School.
In Sept. 1926 a new brick elementary school opened on the same site on Main Street in New Port Richey. It was named Pierce Grammar School.
NEW RIVER SCHOOL
An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows the trustees were L. Kersey and J. P. Smith.An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows teacher Mrs. Lula B. Austin and trustees H. D. Ryals, James P. Smith, and H. Darming.
OAK-DALE SCHOOL (CHIPCO)
McCormick has "Chipco School — 1876" and "1893 - 1914 Chipco.”Chipco School appears in an 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools.
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer entry for Chipco shows Miss Mattie Roberts as the teacher at the Oakland School in the listing for Chipco.
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show the Oak-Dale School (No. 3), post office Chipco. Trustees were: W. L. Osborn, N. D. Eiland, and Wm. Robinson.
School board minutes of Dec. 3, 1887, show school No. 3 is Oakland, with a total enrollment of 35 and average attendance of 21.
An article about Chipco says, “There was a need for a school and a frame house was built beside the country road opposite the J. N. Nathe home with lumber donated by Mr. Hack. The little school was called Oak Dale and later Chipco and was in operation until 1901, when it merged with Blanton, and in 1905 was sold to the highest bidder for $13.”
A 1972 newspaper article about Archie Burnside has "Archie's last school was the Chipco school, which was across the road from the present home of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Nathe, south of Jessamine Gardens on Jessamine Road and a few hundred yards from the present home of his daughter Myrtle (Mrs. Jerry) Hunt, whose birthplace was adjoining.” A local researcher believes that, based on this description, Chipco School was near the intersection of Nathe Road and Jessamine Road on a 2005 map, probably in the southwest corner of that intersection, give or take a few hundred feet.
OAKDALE (ZEPHYRHILLS)
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show the Oak Dale School (No. 21), post office Richland. Trustees were: A. E. Geiger, J. D. Spivey, M. G. Frizell.The History of Zephyrhills 1821-1921 by Rosemary W. Trottman has:
John Spivey filed for homestead land between Pretty Pond and what is now Lake Zephyr. He built a home and called the place Oakdale. ... John soon started a church, at first holding Baptist services in his home, inviting itinerant ministers to preach and his neighbors to hear. When no preacher appeared, Irvin would read the Scriptures and lead discussions and prayers. He became so proficient at this that most Sabbath days found him leading services at Oakdale and nearby communities. The Spivey home could not contain the crowds; so they constructed an arbor in the adjoining woods. Soon they erected a building which was used for a combined school and church until the Lakeview Baptist Church was built.
Trottman also writes: “The Oakdale school was discontinued and the pupils sent to Childers and Richland schools.”
OAK GROVE
An 1885 directory lists Oak Grove as one of three academies in Fort Dade and implies the teacher was Prof. Eatherly. This is presumably George W. Eatherly (born, April 1854).
OAK POND
Hernando County School Board minutes of Sept. 30, 1882, indicate that Oak Pond School was established by uniting Sea Island School and Spivey School.
ODESSA (WHITE)
School board minutes of Sept. 2, 1907, show that a school was granted for Odessa.
A 1915-16 listing of schools shows the Odessa School with teachers L. A. Penholster and Marvin Roberts and 37 students.
On Oct. 16, 1922, a newspaper article reported: “Mrs. J. P. Howland, Principal. Miss Mattie Lou Mayo, Intermediate. Miss Frances Clark, Primary. The Odessa public school opened September 18th. The opening exercises were held at the church, where Mr. McFarland conducted devotional services, teaching a very impressive message from the Parable of the Talents. Mrs. Howland gave a short talk outlining the policy of the school for the present term. Eighty-two pupils were enrolled at the beginning of the term and the progress made thus far makes the teachers feel much encouraged. Last Saturday afternoon the pupils of the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, chaperoned by their teacher, had a picnic at Calm Lake.”
An article about Odessa in the New Port Richey Press of Feb. 29, 1924, has: “We have just constructed a well equipped four-room school building with a spacious auditorium, and we take great pleasure in mentioning the fact that our school won the prize at the county fair as one of the best three teacher schools in the county.”
A 1927 map shows the Odessa school in the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 27.
School board minutes indicate that at the meeting of Aug. 6, 1928, Mrs. L. D. Eiland was appointed the teacher. On Aug. 16, 1932, Miss Kathleen McGehee was appointed the teaacher. On May 6, 1935, Miss Eleanor Kuhlman was appointed the teacher.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Mrs. Era Johnson Dixon was appointed teacher of the Odessa School.
On July 5, 1938, Cecilia Taylor Tyson was appointed the teacher.
On May 15, 1939, Marguerite Branas was appointed the teacher.
On May 5, 1941, Mrs. Katie Clark was appointed the teacher.
ODESSA (BLACK)
On Aug. 7, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that the school board directed the superintendent to arrange for the building of a negro school in Odessa.
OWENSBORO
On Mar. 11, 1876, the East Florida Banner of Ocala reported:Wakeforest Academy Mr. Patrick Wilkins, of Hernando County, is establishing an Academy for the education of boys and girls on his own land. This philanthropic gentleman has built a spacious school house which will accommodate 120 students. The Academy is one mile from Fort Dade Lodge in the direction of Wilson's store, from which place it is one and one half miles distant. The professor intends planting 20 acres around the Academy in oranges, and he proposes to give 140 acres away in 5 acre lots to actual settlers. Eleven families have already taken lots, and some of them commenced building dwelling houses upon the same. The trustees of the Academy are Messrs. R. Sumner, J. E. Sumner, R. Wilson, M. Smith, Wm. Mobley, J. Oberry, Wm. Albritton, and M. Hutto.
The Academy will be opened on 15th day of March, and all arrangements for the comfort of the students will be made. Board with good families can be obtained at moderate rates in the neighborhood.
Professor Wilkins is a native of North Carolina, high-toned gentleman, and has several years experience in teaching, and it is to be expected that his high philanthropic undertaking will find the support of all parents in that section who have the future of their children at heart.
[Transcription by Jeff Cannon.]
An 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools shows an Owensboro School.
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show the O'Berry School, No. 11, post office Owensboro. Trustees were: J. W. O'Berry, H. C. McRae, Thos. Blitch.
School board minutes of Dec. 5, 1887, have: “The Supt. read the reports of his visits to various schools and called particular attention to the fact that the school house at Owensboro No. 11 was found to be about 40 feet south of the land donated to the school board. It was moved and carried that the Supt. investigate this matter and report at the next regular meeting of the Board.” School board minutes of Jan. 2, 1888, have: “The matter of the location of the school house at Owensboro was discussed and action postponed indefinitely.”
School board minutes of March 5, 1900, have: “The Trustees of Wake Forrest Academy reported that they had sold the Owensboro School lot to J. W. O'Berry for the benefit of their school, and asked the Board to execute a deed. On motion the chairman was directed to convey the said lot to J. W. O'Berry.”
McCormick has: John O'Berry in Orange House and O'Berry Lake 1893 - 1914.
PASADENA SCHOOL
The Pasadena school was built in 1887, according to McCormick.
PASCO SCHOOL
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, have: “Mr. J. R. Bradley and others appeared in behalf of a new School in the Hancock neighborhood. To be known as Pasco School. Mr. Allen O. Pearce agrees to deed to Board for this school two acres of land, and the patrons agree to build a good and substantial house for School purposes on said land. Upon motion the School was granted.”A 1905-06 roster of students shows W. H. Stephens as the teacher at the Pasco School, No. 21.
A 1906-07 roster of students shows W. Stewart as the teacher at the Pasco School, No. 21.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss Dorothy Eck was appointed Principal of the Pasco School.
PASCO-HERNANDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Pasco-Hernando Community College was established in 1967 by the state Legislature and is the newest of Florida's 28 community colleges.The first classes were held in 1972, taught in rented facilities in Dade City, New Port Richey and Brooksville.
Dade City residents and businesses helped raise more than $100,000 to buy 100 acres where the first campus was established in 1974.
New Port Richey businessman Alric Pottberg donated 140 acres for the west campus. Construction began in 1975 and was completed in 1976.
In 1976 the state donated 100 acres near Brooksville for the third campus in Hernando County.
There also are three centers, located at Gowers Corner and Land O'Lakes in central Pasco and Spring Hill in Hernando County.
| 1972-1994 | Dr. Milton O. Jones |
| 1994-2005 | Dr. Robert Judson |
| 2005- | Dr. Katherine Johnson |
PASCO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Pasco Elementary School opened with grades 1-6 for the 1955-56 school year, with Joseph B. Benson as Principal. Dallas T. (Ted) Parker became Principal in the fall of 1957. Parker is shown as the Principal in the 1973-74 personnel directory.
| 1955-57 | Joseph B. Benson |
| 1957-81 | Dallas T. Parker |
| 1981-87 | Robert Hatfield |
| 1987- | Barbara Munz |
PASCO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL/PASCO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pasco Jr. High School opened in the buildings which were used
previously by Pasco High School.
About 1965, the junior high moved to the present campus of Pasco High School where the two-story academic building and cafeteria were completed. The junior high remained on this campus through the 1969 - 1970 school year and endured the construction of seven other buildings which would house the high school when completed.
In the fall, the
junior high returned to the "Old Pasco High School" building and Pasco
High moved to the present campus.
| March 3, 1955 | Charles Henderson |
| March 28, 1956 - 1957 | Stewart M. Brown |
| May 29, 1957 - 1976 | W. G. (Brownie) Andrews |
| 1976 - 1977 | John Best |
| 1977 - 1987 | Greta Adams |
| 1987 - 1989 | George Avadikian |
| 1989 - 1990 | Larry Albano |
| 1990 - 1999 | Patrick Reedy |
| 1999 - 2002 | Steven Rinck |
| 2002 - | James Lane |
PIERCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL/PIERCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In Sept. 1926 a new brick elementary school opened on Main Street in New Port Richey. It replaced
a wooden building referred to as the New Port Richey School (see above).
Pierce Grammar School was named for Porter Lamar Pierce.
School board minutes of July 3, 1930, show Wilma Vahey, Mrs. E. M. Manning, and Rachael Kirman appointed as teachers.
On Sept. 5, 1930, the New Port Richey Press listed these teachers: Mrs. W. C. Preetorius, grades 1 and 2; Miss Talitha Waddy, grade 3; Miss Wilma Vahey, grades 4 and 5, Mrs. C. A. Tansill (principal), grade 6.
School board minutes of June 15, 1931, show Mabel Tansill, Talitha Waddy, and Evelyn Waddy appointed.
School board minute of Aug. 16, 1932, show Mabel Tansill appointed Principal, and Betty Bailey, Mrs. George Wanner, and Mrs. Cynthia C. Albritton were appointed teachers.
School board minutes of June 3, 1935, show E. W. Carter, Principal, and Martha T. Waters, Assistant Principal, appointed.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that E. W. Carter was appointed Principal, and other teachers appointed were Miss Evelyn Waddy, Mrs. Ellen Norfleet, and Mrs. Jennie Sheldon.
On May 3, 1937, the school board rejected the nomination of E. W. Carter as principal and teacher of Pierce Grammar School, no. 32, for alleged acts of insubordination and activities designed to incite the teachers of his school to become antagonistic to the board. The board voted that trustees of that district be required to submit a second nomination for principal for the Pierce School at the next board meeting.
School board minutes of May 15, 1939, show J. M. Lanier, Principal, Annette Lyons, Talitha Waddy, and Jennie Sheldon appointed.
On May 11, 1945, the New Port Richey Press reported: “Pierce Grammar observed VE Day with assembly at 9 o'clock to hear by radio President Truman and Winston Churchill. Hearing that the day was also President Truman's birthday, the group sang Happy Birthday. Principal F. M. Mounts spoke briefly. Rev. B. E. Palmer read the favorite scripture passage of the late Pres. Roosevelt and spoke to the pupils of their importance and responsibililty in building a good new world. ‘God Bless America’ was sung as a prayer.”
In April 1946 F. M. Mounts was re-appointed principal of Pierce Grammar School.
John R. Clark served as Principal for two years, resigning effective Aug. 31, 1953, to accept a position in Okaloosa County. He was succeeded as Principal by Fred K. Marchman.
In August 1953 the school opened with the following teachers. Principal: Fred K. Marchman; sixth grade, Miss Eleanor Johnson; fifth grade, Mrs. Marguerite Marchman; fourth grade, Mrs. Cora Gilmore; third grade, Miss Lauzanne Sims; second grade, Mrs. Jennie Keller; first grade, Mrs. Jane Henderson and Miss Barbara Helm.
In the late 1950s the school closed, with students attending the new Richey Elementary School.
However, Pierce operated as a junior high school for grades 7 and 8 in 1957-58.
In 1960 the city of New Port Richey purchased the Pierce Elementary School building to use it for city hall and other municipal purposes.
PINE GROVE SCHOOL
An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows Pine Grove School with trustees J. R. Dean, A. Ryals, and George Gillett, and teacher M. A. Aderhold. This school may have been located in what is now Pasco County.
PINE VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Pine View Elementary School opened in August 2003, and is located across the street from Pine View Middle School. It was built to relieve crowding at Lake Myrtle, Denham Oaks, and Sanders elementary schools.
| 2003-2007 | Monica R. Joiner |
| 2007- | Cortney Gantt |
PINE VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
| 1978-83 | Jerry McCarthy |
| 1983-85 | Charles Rine |
| 1985-86 | Robert Dorn |
| 1986-97 | Max Ramos |
| 1997-2007 | David R. Estabrook |
| 2007- | Kimberly Anderson |
PORT RICHEY SCHOOL
According to a 1945 article by Mrs. W. E. Randall in the New Port Richey Press, "The first school house was in the Clark Grove and was a log cabin and the teacher of that school, Miss Murphy, later entered a convent and became a nun. The next school building was built in the site of the cemetery. Then came the school close to the Clark home, the present building now occupied by the Community church in Port Richey. Later the school was closed and the children then went to New Port Richey to school.”In 1887, school board records showed that the trustees for the Port Richey school were J. W. Clark, M. N. Hill, and A. M. Richey. School board minutes of Sept. 4, 1893, Aug. 2, 1897, Aug. 1, 1898, and July 1901 show Edward B. Liles assigned to be the teacher.
School board minutes of May 7, 1888, have: “The deed from the Cootie Land Company for two and one half acres of land, upon which is located the Port Richey School house No. 26, was also accepted and ordered recorded.”
On June 4, 1888, the board received a petition asking for $50 as aid in erecting a school house in Port Richey. The request was granted in July.
School board minutes of Dec. 1896 have: “On motion Port Richey School was discontinued until an average of eight pupils could be made.”
According to WPH, a school was built in the Pine Hill section, on land donated by James W. Clark, in 1899. Rev. Jesse Mitchell recalled that the first school in Port Richey was near the Pine Hill Cemetery.
School board minutes of July 3, 1905, indicate that the schoolhouse in Port Richey was sold to H. R. Nicks for ten dollars. According to a historic marker, a school (now the Port Richey Community Church) was constructed in Port Richey by H. R. Nicks in 1906, although this information may not be accurate.
On Aug. 2, 1909, school board minutes have: “I. W. Hudson came before the board asking that they be granted a school at Port Richey for this term, and pay for windows and doors for said school. On motion, request was granted.”
An article in the St. Petersburg Times on April 13, 1985, reported that the Port Richey Community Church would celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday. The article reported that the grounds were deeded to David Hope and Nannie Yulee in 1876 by President Grant, and that later the property was owned by H. R. Nicks. According to the article, it was deeded as a school to the Pasco Board of Public Instruction in 1910 and deeded back to the church by the board in 1919. The article reported that church services were begun in 1910.
In July 1910, school board minutes have: “Bob Nix presented a petition from citizens of Port Richey for a school and house (?). As W. S. Larkins would be in that neighborhood in a few days, and while there would look the situation over, and act in the premises (?), if it was necessary to establish a school there, like unto the course advised in the Cootie school.”
School board minutes of Aug. 1, 1910, show that the school board approved a request to build a school in Port Richey on land donated
by H. R. Nicks. The school was to be 24 by 36 feet with eight windows and one door.
A warranty deed shows Nicks conveyed property in T25, R16, S32 to the School Board for one dollar on Sept. 29, 1910.
School board minutes of June 16, 1913, show Marie Liles was the teacher.
A directory shows that in 1915-1916 the teacher was Mrs. M. L. Liles.
School board minutes of April 3-4, 1916, report that the board agreed to advertise for bids on the Old Port Richey Building,
to be opened the first Monday in May 1916.
School board minutes of Sept. 16, 1916, show that Sophie Elslander was appointed to be the teacher.
School board minutes of March 7, 1921, report that the school site in New Port Richey known as Nicks grove site was sold
to H. E. Northrup for $1000.
Grace Clark Rossi attended the school as a 6-year-old first grader in 1918. She recalled in a 1995 interview being one of 22 girls at the school, which taught boys and girls from the first through the sixth grades. Mary Woodruff, quoted in a 1978 newspaper article, said, “I attended the Port Richey Rural School on Grandfather Nix's land from 1912 until 1918. Three of my teachers were Jenny Edwards, Carl Cripe, and my cousin, Marie Lyles [Tipping]. Grandfather Clark's home was about two blocks from school. The school was heated with wood, burned in an iron stove at the front of the oblong room. The wooden building was unpainted and two children sat at one desk.”
Students in the 1918-19 year were: Betty Bailey, Mildred Remling, Lorena Head, Viola Ericson, Ruby Head, Annie Head, Daisy Ericson, Ione Hill, Margaret Albritton, Wilmer Albritton, Esther Kamemen, Helga Wesa, Mary Sapp, Isalline Sapp, Hattie Sapp, Selma Stevenson, Gertrude Stevenson, Annie Beijar, Gracie Clark, Corinne Clark, Ina Malmstrom, and Mary Clark.
A 1978 newspaper article quotes Jenny Edwards (now Crane) as saying that she taught grades one through eight at the Port Richey School but that in the second year the fifth through eighth graders were transferred to the green, two-story building which stood where City Hall was later located.
On July 29, 1920, the New Port Richey Press reported in its Port Richey news column, “The deeds of the school property have been made out to the M. E. church.” The land and the building were sold to the Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church for $1,000. Apparently the building ceased to be used as a school at the end of the 1919-1920 school year. In 1940 the church was renamed the Port Richey Community Church. On Aug. 30, 2005, the building was demolished.
PROSPECT SCHOOL
An 1877-78 list of Hernando County schools shows trustees W. W. Williamson, C. C. Harper, and D. Osborn, and teacher E. S. Benson.An 1883-84 list of Hernando County schools shows teacher J. G. McLean and trustees A. Middlebrook, V. C. Thrasher, and David Osborn.
QUAIL HOLLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| 1974-1979 | Dennis Taylor |
| 1979-1985 | Mary Ann Peacock |
| 1985-1998 | Ginny L. Yanson |
| 1998-2002 | Susan Glickman |
| 2002-2003 | Thomas Barker |
| 2003-2007 | Margaret Lewis |
| 2007- | Michelle Berger |
RAVESIES SCHOOL
Minutes of the Hernando County school board show that Augustine H. Ravesies, who was the first Pasco County schools superintendent, appeared before the Hernando board in March 1878 and petitioned the board to establish a school. The petition was denied, as the school would have been located within two miles of Fort Dade Seminary, whereas the law required that schools be at least four miles apart.A list of Hernando County schools in 1885-86 shows a Ravesies School. This school may have been located in what is now Pasco County.
RICHEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Richey Elementary School replaced Pierce Elementary School in New Port Richey.
On Oct. 17, 1957, the New Port Richey Press reported that the name "Richey Elementary School" was chosen for the new $250,000 school by a vote of the Pierce Elementary School PTA. The name was chosen from among five names. Mrs. Mary Bready of New Port Richey, who was first to submit that name, won a prize offered by the PTA.
Students began attending the new school around November 1957. The first principal was Fred K. Marchman, who had been Principal of Pierce Elementary.
On April 10, 1958, the New Port Richey Press reported that the school would be dedicated on April 19. It also reported:
As soon as new cafeteria equipment arrives and can be installed, the badly needed, new 14-room Richey Elementary school will be completely occupied, it was announced this week by Principal Fred K. Marchman. Built for an occupancy of approximately 435 students, the school is proving too small before it is even completed, since it actually is housing 480 already. Total cost of the modern building, which has been under course of construction for the past eight months, is reported to be $253,000. ... The "campus style" layout was built in six units on property facing Madison Street by Thompson and Sons, Leesburg contractors, about four blocks north of old Pierce Elementary school. Right now, five of the new classrooms are in use, but pupils who don't bring their lunches are hiking the four blocks back to Pierce to eat in the cafeteria. Classes have been moved out of temporary quarters that had been utilized in the First Methodist Church. Once the complete move is made, the old building will be reserved for overflow from the elementary or Gulf high schools.
In the mid-1970s W. Roscoe Durden was Principal.
In 1977, when the school became Richey Fundamental Elementary School, Larry Robison became Principal.
In the 1980s, Richey Fundamental School was the only school in the district that did not draw enrollment from geographic boundaries. Vacancies were filled on a first-come, first served basis, and parents waited in line, sometimes for more than 24 hours, to have their children enrolled. In 1988, school officials switched to a random computer selection process.
At its meeting on May 14, 1991, the school board voted to convert Richey Elementary to a traditional neighborhood school.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the principals were Myndall Stanfill, Joan F. Palma, and Terri Mutell.
On March 1, 1999, Emily Keene became Principal. In 2001, Christine Denmark was named Principal.
In 2002, Allison Hoskins became Principal.
On March 13, 2006, Ken Miesner became Principal.
RICHLAND
A post office was established at Tuckertown on Oct. 5, 1876. It was renamed Richland on July 17, 1886.An 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools shows a Tuckertown School.
A deed dated Aug. 8, 1887, shows property in S30, T25, R22 in the town of Richland transferred from Thomas H. Evans of Pasco County and Albert T. Evans of Richland Parish, Louisiana, to the school board. The property was all of block no. 1, bounded on the north by Pine Ave., on the east by Street No. 6, on the south by Laurel Ave., and on the west by Street No. 7.
School board minutes of Sept. 5, 1887, show Richland School, no. 29, with trustees J. H. Pedrick, W. R. Lilburn, and S. Y. Stafford.
The Pasco County Democrat of Jan. 9, 1890, has: "A handsome academy adorns the Village. In this building an excellent school is being taught under the charge of Mr. J. H. Gilpin a young man of good attainments who gives promise of much usefulness in his chosen profession.”
At the school board meeting of July 3-5, 1916, H. A. Hammer was appointed Principal of the Richland school, and Miss Mary Shearer was appointed assistant.
McCormick has: “Richland began July 23, 1923 under Warren Haynes Jr.”
According to McCormick, in Feb. 1933, Richland School was to close at end of month because of insufficient funds.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Miss Ruth Giddens was appointed to teach at the Richland School.
A new Richland school building built by the WPA was dedicated on May 12, 1939.
On Oct. 21, 1952, the Board voted to continue Richland one more year.
On April 14, 1953, the Board voted to close Richland, as only five students registered for the next year.
The building was vacant until Headstart began and was used while that program was in existence.
In 1997 Clark Roman purchased the school building from the school board for use as a residence. A picture of the home is e386.
| July 6, 1920 | E. D. Dobson $150.00/month |
| July 6. 1925 | Leila Singletary |
| July 2, 1928 | M. E. Lefler |
| July 7, 1930 | Miss Ester Plank |
| June 15, 1931 | H. A. Hammer |
| Aug. 1, 1932 | J. H. Shook |
| June 4, 1934 | Mrs. Mignon Frisbee |
| July 5, 1934-43 | Ruth Giddens |
| June 21, 1943 | Mrs. Gertrude Godwin |
| July 6, 1943 | Mrs. Godwin resigned |
| Aug. 20, 1946 | Mrs. Annie Fogg |
| April 21, 1947 | Mrs. Louise Gunnels |
| May 2, 1949 | Wyolene Bradley |
| April 10, 1951 | Mrs. Pauline Higginson |
| April 17, 1952 | Mrs. Pauline Higginson |
| Oct. 14, 1952 | James E. Pannell, Teacher |
| May 26, 1953 | Mrs. Leah Lang Pope |
RIVER RIDGE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
New Port Richey, FL 34654
River Ridge Middle/High School opened at the start of the 1991-92 school year with 2200 students. The high school
relieved overcrowding at Gulf and Ridgewood High Schools. River Ridge Middle and High
Schools share a cafeteria, gymnasium, and a theater known as the Pasco County Center for the Arts, which
seats 907. The middle and high school classes are located on opposite ends of the same facility. Each
school has its own media center. The combined school is the largest in Pasco County and it is currently the
only combined middle and high school.
The schools opened using a modular class schedule and no bell to signal the beginning and end of classes. A traditional six-period class schedule was instituted several years later by a vote of the faculty.
The first principal was Robert Dorn. He was succeeded on Feb. 2, 2000, by Tammy Rabon.
In March 2003, the school board named Jason Joens a separate principal for River Ridge Middle School; Rabon continued
as Principal of the high school. At this time the combined school had 3,300 students.
In 2004 Jim Michaels replaced Rabon as principal of the high school.
SADDLEBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
Saddlebrook High School opened in 1993 as Pasco County's tennis school. The school was previously operated as a private school.
Principal:
1993-1997 Larry W. Robison
ST. ANTHONY INTERPAROCHIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
According to Pioneer College: The Centennial History of Saint Leo College, Saint Leo Abbey, and Holy Name Priory, the Saint Anthony school started as a private Catholic institution for colony residents in 1883, with classes taught by Mrs. Marie Cecile Morse in her home. In 1891, at the request of pastor Roman Kirchner, Saint Anthony became Public School #14 of the Pasco County system, with Holy Name sisters as the teachers. In 1917 Sidney J. Catts became Governor and nuns were banned from teaching public schools. In 1921 the nuns began teaching again. However, in November 1919 a fundraising campaign was launched to build a Catholic school, and the new red brick St. Anthony's school opened in September 1922 with nearly 100 students.
According to an article by Helen Christmas and Jeanette Barthle in East Pasco's Heritage:
On April 29, 1884, the first formal classes for the children of San Antonio were held in the kitchen of Mrs. Ethel Morse. In November of that year a twelve by twenty-four foot frame schoolhouse was built in town, and Mrs. Morse moved her fourteen pupils there. In 1889, the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh founded a new priory across the square from the church, and assumed the teaching duties of the school. In 1892 a large two-story frame structure with an auditorium became the school building for the seventy-five pupils attending. St. Anthony was opened as a public school, but in 1918 it became a parochial school with St. Anthony's Parish assuming full responsibility for its continuance. In September 1922, the three story building now in use was opened for 100 children.
The historical marker here reads: "Mrs. Cecelia Morse started the first school in San Antonio in 1889. The Benedictine Sisters assumed the administration in 1889. This red brick schoolhouse was built in 1922, at a cost of $22,000.00, eleven years after the adjacent church had been erected. The grotto and the wall facing the Plaza were constructed in 1935 of native rock.”
Principal:
1996-1997 Kay Rizzo
SAN ANTONIO ACADEMY
The 1885 Webb's Historical, Industrial and Biographical Florida refers to the San Antonio Academy, Mrs. Carrie Mullan, teacher.
SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL (WHITE)
An 1885-86 list of Hernando County schools shows a San Antonio School.School board minutes of Aug. 19, 1891, have: “The San Antonio matter, which was deferred from the last meeting, was taken up, and Messrs. Liles, Bishoff, and Higgins came before the Board in behalf of the school asked for at San Antonio. The conditions of the school law having been complied with the Board on a motion granted the school and it being represented that there would be 70 or 75 pupils in attendance at said school the Board granted the request that two first class teachers be appointed for the coming scholastic term. On motion Rev. Father (?) Bowman (?) was appointed supervisor of said school. The school to be known as the San Antonio School No. 9.”
On July 5, 1934, the school board awarded a contract to Fred J. Grace for the construction of a new school building in San Antonio.
On Sept. 4, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Mrs. Georgia Wells was appointed teacher at the San Antonio School.
At the school board meeting of April 10, 1951, the superintendent reported that the school trustees recommended closing the San Antonio white and colored schools.
SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL (BLACK)
School board minutes of Sept. 6, 1897, indicate that "a colored school in San Antonio" was granted.School board minutes of Aug. 6, 1928, show Louise O'Neal appointed teacher at the San Antonio colored school.
At the school board meeting of April 10, 1951, the superintendent reported that the school trustees recommended closing the San Antonio white and colored schools.
SAN ANTONIO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| 1985-1991 | Katherine Piersall |
| 1991-2001 | Jean Johnson |
| 2001-2005 | Eva Hunsberger |
| 2005-2007 | Sara Lynn Pabst |
| 2007- | Vanessa Hilton |
SANDY SLEW/SANDY SLOUGH
School board minutes of Oct. 3, 1887 have: “Mr. James Cooper was again before the Board in the interest of his neighborhood, praying for a temporary school. Name of school to be Sandy Slew, No. 31.”School board minutes of Mar. 4, 1889, have: “By motion it was granted that the Sandy Slew School be allowed two months of school now due them, the last of the present term or during the next school year, as the children of said school cannot now attend on account of high water.”
School board minutes of Oct. 9, 1893, have: “J. A. Smith came before the Board asking that his children be permitted to attend Sandy slough School No. 31. On motion the request was granted.”
SAINT LEO COLLEGE
On March 11, 1889, the Benedictine sisters established Holy Name Academy with 40 boys and girls. The following September the sisters began teaching at the San Antonio and St. Joseph elementary schools and their academy became a "select school for young ladies.” Later in 1889 the main Saint Leo College building, a three-story structure, was constructed.
On June 4, 1889, the Order of St. Benedict received a charter from the state legislature to confer college degrees. This date is considered the founding date of Saint Leo College and Saint Leo Abbey.
On Sept. 14, 1890, “St. Leo's College" was formally dedicated. It is the first Catholic college in Florida.
St. Leo's College was a military college for several periods between 1890 and 1920.
The school has also been known as St. Leo College Preparatory School, St. Leo College High School, St. Leo Academy, St. Leo University, among other names.
ST. THOMAS (WHITE)
The 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer shows J. M. Randle as the teacher at St. Thomas. The book says St. Thomas is sometimes called Darby settlement. A local researcher believes Randle is John W. Randle or Randal.This school apparently existed at the time of the formation of Pasco County in 1887, identified as School No. 76, west of St. Joe in Section 28 Township 24 Range 20, which is almost exactly halfway between St. Joseph and Darby. The northern boundary of that section is due West of St. Joe.
School board minutes of 1887 apparently indicate that Kate Lucas was the second teacher hired for St. Thomas (No. 9) at San Antonio.
ST. THOMAS (BLACK)
School board minutes of Feb. 5, 1894, have: “Henry Elijah colored came before the Board asking that a special school be granted for colored children near St. Thomas. On motion the Board granted the school with Henry Elijah as Supervisor and fixed the salary of teacher at $20 per month. The school was named St. Thomas School No. 41.” A local researcher believes that this school was on or near the property of Henry Elijah in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 24, Range 20, which is east of Lake Iola Road and north of Johnston Road.
SAND POND SCHOOL
Students in this area earlier attended the Lake Buddy School.
The photo at right, courtesy of a local researcher, shows the earlier Sand Pond S