An Application for an Official Texas Historical Marker1 for Katy Elementary School site by Carol Adams and Christopher Harris with the assistance of Dan Worrall and presented to the Harris County Historical Commission

I. CONTEXT Katy’s growth from prairie town to suburban era includes a rich history, including the development of its first permanent public “free” school, located at the site of today’s Katy Elementary School. This site has a significant place in the Katy area’s history, as the site on which the modern Katy Independent School District (KISD) was founded. The small rural one- room school house that served early settlers’ children has now become a large, modern multi- campus suburban school system. In the late nineteenth century, the sparsely populated area of Katy included a stage coach stopping point and later a railroad depot on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. In 1896 the post office approved the name Katy reflecting the railroad stop, and in 1898 the first permanent public free school was established. After several disasters including fires, floods, and the Great Storm of 1900, Katy developed into a successful small town that was incorporated in 1945. Rice farming, a gas plant, and the local hunting industry were major attractions, and when the new Interstate-10 crossed the Katy area in 196610, suburban growth began in earnest. By 2017, the population of the Katy-area has grown to 332,000 people, and the Katy Independent School District now serves over 75,000 pupils11,12.

II. OVERVIEW To understand the significance of one parcel of real estate occupied by a public school, the story of the community that grew around it must be told.

Katy Elementary School site -1- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 The first record illustrates the harsh environment our earliest settlers found. It is from a diary kept by the Mergele family. Peter Mergele, his wife Barbara (Schertz) with 17 relatives emigrated from France, arriving in Galveston in December 1843. They purchased oxen, loaded wagons and commenced on an overland journey to San Antonio following the San Felipe trail. They wrote in their diary that the large oxen struggled to make it through the mud and that stagecoaches had been abandoned to save the horses and mules that pulled them. They hunted abundant game but found little wood for fires to cook or keep warm.1 What they and other early visitors did find - where the City of Katy is located today – was a large amount of cane where the trail crossed a cane-filled creek. It looked like an 'island' of cane surrounded by a vast tall grass prairie. This area became known as Cane Island. By 1864, the Texas United States Mail Line of Stages was providing biweekly service between Houston and San Antonio. Leroy Wilkinson (1888-1973), who came to Katy in 1889, remembered his uncle George telling him about riding the stage coach through Cane Island in the late 1860s. It passed through Cane Island but there was no settlement here, no trees, just numerous yaupon bushes which were loaded with prairie chickens. 3 In 1873, the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railroad installed tracks from Houston to Sealy. The train was not reliable but did pass through Cane Island and more people began exploring the area. In the late 1870s a few freed slaves from the Richmond area had migrated up to Cane Island and established homesteads. There wasn’t any real economic interest in the Cane Island area until 1895, when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKTRR) extended their line through the area. At that time the steam engines had to stop about every thirty miles for water. Cane Island was located 30 miles from the Houston station so the railroad installed a well and tank here and parked a boxcar to serve as a depot. 2 Colonization and development of rail stops were very important to the railroad, so the railroad hired land agents to find settlers to build a new town. One of these land agents was named James Oliver Thomas; he ran advertisements in mid-west newspapers to lure new residents with offers of warm healthy climate, affordable land and rich farming soil. Settlers came, they established farms and ranches and various crops were attempted to find what would grow best in the sandy loam. Landowners lured wild cattle and horses from the prairie to

Katy Elementary School site -2- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 build herds. Crops of potatoes and peanuts performed very well but nature was often unkind. Lightning frequently started prairie fires causing the tall grass to burn for days at a time. Freezing weather, floods and mud, packs of voracious wolves, miserably hot summers and disease-carrying mosquitos all made living here challenge. 2 A key challenge was moving across the flat, wet prairie. The lack of suitable roads made it difficult and sometimes impossible for rural families to travel far from home. 4 To educate their children, early settlers opened eleven one-room schoolhouses from 1895 to 1914. The first of these was on the J. C. Hennessey property south of town in Fort Bend County. When it opened in 1895, trustees for the Hennessey School were S. Briscoe, J. C. Hennessey, and Mr. Glick. They hired Judge Castles as the first teacher. Other teachers at the school were Mr. Wilson, Mr. Gammage, Mr. Barton, Nellie Jane Breedlove Janes, Katie McJinkins, and Myrtle Leonard. 5 J. O. Thomas resigned his land agent job and opened a general mercantile store that same year and filed an application for a U. S. Post Office. He chose the name "Katy" because that was what MKT Railroad officials called the line. The town of Katy, located at the point where Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties meet, was established when the USPO application was approved on January 23, 1896. 2 The first residents of Cane Island were freed slaves, and many of their decedents remained to establish farms and businesses.2 In 1896, a 'Negro School' was opened south of town near Cane Island Creek. The school was open in this location for over twenty years, with Mr. H. A. Smiley, Annie L. Gleed, Pearl Read, Lola Huff, Lavina Vaughns, Thelma Neal, Nellie Byrd, and Ida J. Mayo as teachers.5 That same year, brothers Milton and Robert Beckendorff, and Henry Cobb wanted to build a school for children north of Katy. Cobb's land was in the Addicks School District so the men had to negotiate with Addicks to divide that district in order to build a school there. Addicks agreed to the division. Construction of the Cobb School wasn't finished until late 1896, the first classes were held the following year. The Beckendorff brothers and Henry Cobb were the first trustees. They hired Mrs. W. McCumber as the first teacher. Other teachers were May Harris, Katie McJinkins, Norma Burns, Angela Brolono, Minnie Bowers, and Miss Skelton. 5 The Cobb School building became the meeting place for Saturday night Literary Club meetings, which were very popular and well attended. 6

Katy Elementary School site -3- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 Fredrick Wilhelm Eule came to Katy in 1897, with his wife Rosa (Rehbach) and their six children. He purchased land in Waller County and established a farm. Eule built his home and a two-story school house. He farmed watermelons and is credited with planting the first crop of rice, which became the primary agricultural venture for the next 70 years. Long time Katy resident Louise Schlipf (1886-1963) moved to Katy as a youth in early 1900, she fondly recalled finishing her education at the Eule School, which was officially known as School District No. 41.7 The rural schools were well attended, but the growing town of Katy needed a school. A new district had to be acquired and the Katy Common School District (CSD) was formed in 1898. The trustees were E. M. Morton, G. W. Shapley, and J. C. Collins. The city constructed a 32-foot- square one-room school for all grade levels on 6th Street ( 6th St. is now known as George Bush Drive) that opened the following-year. The trustees were Arthur Van Duyan, Dr. L. R. Shreve, W. H. Weller, C. L. Baird and J. Marshal Janes. Mrs. Lyman Evans was hired as the first teacher. Later teachers included Edna Janes, May Harris, Charlotte Love, Minnie Bowers, Lena Russell, Miss Hogan, and Mr. Chambers. 5 By 1900, Katy had a population of over 300 people. The great gulf storm that decimated Galveston on September 8th and 9th of that year blew across the open prairie unchecked. Most of the buildings in Katy were damaged and many were destroyed. Among those destroyed was the Katy school house. Classes were held in the home and boarding house of W. H. Featherston until a new, identical building (PHOTO 1) was completed in 1900. 2 Another school opened in 1901, this one south of town in Fort Bend County, on the property of E. M. McGinnis. The trustees for the McGinnis School were E. M. McGinnis, J. Sills, and Mr. McCrary. The first teacher was Mrs. Nettie Sheckler. Later teachers were Nora Knoll, Alice Thornhill, and Dahlia McGinnis.5 In 1904, the Schlipf School opened northwest of town in Waller County. The trustees were C. Schlipf, Wm. G. Weinmann, William Eule, and A. K. Kridner. The first teacher was Rupert Bing. Later teachers were Mr. Davis, Willie Sorsby, Hattie Bowers, Eleanor Watson, Alice McWilliams, Mayme Howell, Willie Mae Sanders, and Lois Armor. 5 The South Mayde School (PHOTO 2) opened in Harris County in 1905, taking in students from the Cobb School and others in the area. Dave Southard, William Pitts, and Harry Bennett

Katy Elementary School site -4- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 were the first trustees. They hired Frankie Peppers as the first teacher. Later teachers were Charlotte Love, May Finley, Katie Ray, Lottie Moore, Mrs. P. L. Wilkinson, Artie Cole, Janice Woods, Ruby Mixon, Velma Thompson, Mrs. Mary Wilkinson, Reba Smith, Cora Husky, Alma Bradbury, Naomi Burks (Frazee), Linnie May Ramsey (Freeman), Dora Mae Pennington (Egger), Joan Ramsey (Herbert), and Emma Friday. 5 Children southeast of town were meeting at the Fort Bend County home of John Sills for classes. Maude Clayton was their teacher. A schoolhouse was built on his property and some students from the McGinnis School began attending the Sills School in 1906. The trustees for this school were John Sills, J. Fonny and McGrary. The first teacher was Willie Ogg. Later teachers were Bula Kelly, Tommy Baggett, Bonnie Candy, Wiliford Coats, Mary Barnwell, Kittie McGinnis and Myrtle Minkwitz. 5 In 1909, growing enrollment in Katy CSD made a new building necessary. The new Katy School building (FIGURES 3,4) was constructed west of the one-room wooden school house. It had large rooms upstairs, four classrooms downstairs and a beautiful bell installed in the tower to call students each morning. 2 High school students moved into the new structure while elementary students remained in the old building. Miss Lena Russell was the principal assisted by Minnie Bowers. Later teachers were Roy Sanders, Willie Mae Sanders, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Simmons, H. P. Peters, Dr. Quinton, Miss Kogler, and Alice McWilliams. 5 In 1912, J. W. Dishman opened a school on his land in Fort Bend County to relieve the overcrowded Hennessey School. (PHOTO 4) The first trustees were F. E. Hoyt, W. E. Denny, Mr. Martin, and P. A. Poorman. The first teacher was Mrs. Ernest Black and later teachers were were Zora Mims, Clara Morton, Libby Sigler, and J. W. Parton.5 The Katy CSD organized the Katy Mother's Club in 1913. The group raised money to purchase shrubbery and trees for the school grounds, books for the library, musical instruments and playground equipment. Clothing and lunches were provided for needy children and medical attention was offered by the health committee. This group later became the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). 3 In 1914, six hundred fifty dollars was obtained from the Harris County school funds to build the Stockdick School three miles east of the Cobb School. The Stockdick School was

Katy Elementary School site -5- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 identical to the South Mayde School. Trustees were A. J. Peek, W. C. Stockdick, M. A. McDonald, H. E. Jordan, P. V. Cook, and E. Stockdick. Edith Steckle was the first teacher. Later teachers included Miss Hines, Webb Miller, Alta Gilpin, Kittie McGinnis, Nina Philips, Ruby Roberts, C. Moore, Volma Thompson, Margaret Moon, Iva Southard, Ada Monigold, Mrs. Carothers, and Amelia Buvinghausen, Mrs. Ivy, and Elsie Thompson. 5 By 1918, transportation had improved enough that children from area farms could get to town to attend school. 4 Residents voted to establish the Katy Independent School District (KISD) in the spring of 1918, but the state of Texas prohibited an independent district that included two or more counties. In 1919, local businessman W. H. Weller - representing the citizens of Katy- went before the court of county school commissioners and petitioned for a new district for Katy.2 The court granted the request and the Katy Independent School District (KISD) was established. Trustees for the new district were J. Cope, T. H. Wallace, F. R. Hoyt, C. E. Hegler, F. A. Poorman, S. J. Porter, and John Sills. J. B. Oliphant was the first Katy ISD superintendent and new teachers; Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Hogue, Daisey Smith, Gail Laphan, N. Ball, and J. W. Parten were hired. 5 The district included the two buildings in town and incorporated the rural Hennessey, Dishman, Sills, McGinnis and Schlipf schools and the Negro School, which was moved into town to meet at the Antioch Baptist Church. Katy ISD extended about 3 miles east, 3 miles west, 5 miles south and 2 miles north of the town site of Katy. Students who lived in the country came to school by horse and buggy or horseback. To accommodate the horses, there was a barn beside the school. At noon, the children would have to feed their horses as well as themselves. With an hour for lunch, those living in town would walk home. Others could either buy a lunch for five cents, bring a sack lunch. Some of them chose to go to one of the stores in town for candy. 2 From 1920-1924, J. F. Bolton was Katy ISD superintendent. J. S. Moore, T. B. Tucker, W. R. Gilpin, W. B. Evans, W. P. Vaughn, W. E. Denny, and E. E. Romack were trustees. Teachers were Mrs. J. F. Bolton, Barbara Barzak, (Grabble), Pleasant Garrett (Stockdick), Lottie Moore (Roberts), Alma Bradbury, and Bertha Oliphant, Mary Helen Davis, Virginia Roopp, and Sue Davis. 5

Katy Elementary School site -6- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 During Bolton's tenure, the eleventh grade was added (1920), the first school band was organized, Home Economics was added to the curriculum, basketball, track and tennis teams were formed, and a policy was introduced that no boy or girl could play on any athletic teams without making a passing grade (1921). 8 In 1923, a Delco power system was installed for the brick school building to provide electricity. 6 From 1924 - 1926, C. T. Sims was Katy ISD superintendent. Harry L. Gordon, Dr. L. R. Shreve, and M. A. Beckendorff were added as trustees. Teachers were Goldie Lee Smith, Gladys Grabyl, Lillian Miller, Eloise Holt, Mrs. L. C. (Mary) Wilkinson, G. R. Tatum, Mary Ware, Bonnie Schiller, Fay Wilson, Jewell Binnion, Ola McDonald, and Elhert Essery. 5 From 1926-1928, John Merryweather was Katy ISD superintendent. O. L. Miller, T. C. Alderson, L. E. Morrison, and C. E. Morton became trustees and teachers were Ina L. Frazier, Elfreda Poorman, Vera Sanders, Miss Barrett, Russell Baird, Bonnie Brookshire, Mary Hazel Baronian, Harriett Barakin, and A. K. and Ethel Christian. 5 Under their leadership, in 1927 Katy ISD's old wooden school house was sold to the Apostolic Church and moved to a nearby lot. A new brick school building (PHOTO 6) with an auditorium was constructed east of the 1909 Katy School to provide additional classrooms for the elementary grades. The 1909 schoolhouse was also updated with indoor plumbing and steam heat and the bell was removed from the tower.2 From 1928-1929, J. H. Sandlin was Katy ISD superintendent. C.C. Cardiff became a trustee and teachers were Zeffie Yarborough, Addie Wartinger, Virginia Rich, and Miss Smith. 5 During the brief time Sandlin was superintendent Houston Lighting and Power installed electricity in all school buildings. 2 The following years from 1929-1937, Mr. M. M. Byrom was Katy ISD Superintendent. Cleo Bacon (Longenbaugh), Anne Stewart, Floy Peevy, Sue Hill, Hazel Gibson, Lucile Stroud, Iris Bailey, Jack McClendon, Ray Mathison, Mary Ruth Pierson, Gladys Dyer, Louise Calloway, Myrtle McMasters, Andrew Hunt, Catherine Lyons, Claribel Mason, H. Andres, Juanita Urban, W.M. Turner, Floyd Head, and Virginia Morgan were added as teachers. Odessa Kilpatrick was hired to teach at the Negro School. 5

Katy Elementary School site -7- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 During Byrom's tenure, School District number 41, the Cobb, South Mayde, and Stockdick schools consolidated with the Katy ISD (1931) and the district grew to include 126 square miles. 8 The size of the district required the purchase of two school buses, one transported students in from Waller County and the other from Harris County. A first for Katy, two male teachers were hired to serve the triple roles of teacher, coach and bus driver Katy students. Mrs. Morgan drove her own vehicle daily and picked-up six students from the Fort Bend County portion of the school district.9 In 1934 high school age students from Brookshire began attending Katy High School. There were 263 students in the KISD, about 100 of those were in high school. 8 A gymnasium (PHOTO 7) was erected east of the schools so that basketball and volleyball could be played at night under light, instead of on open courts on Friday afternoons. The gym was also used as a community center with roller skating on Tuesday and Thursday nights. About this time a larger wooden-school house (PHOTO 8) was completed on Danover Street for African-American students and Odessa Kilpatrick was hired to teach them.2 J. E. Fox was KISD superintendent from 1938-1940. Trustees were G. P. Nelson, Eugene Hoyt, I. L. Southard, Roy Beckendorff, and M. D. Freeman. Alvis Bolton, Maurina Vestal, Byrtle Shireman (Nelson), Myrtle Taylor, Dell Knapp, Ray Coffman, Marie Randerson, Ned Reeder, Lattie Bell Coggins, T. J. Heinemeier, Rosalie Carter, Bess Campbell, and Myrtle Shaw were hired as teachers. 5 During Fox's tenure, Katy fielded its' first football team, known for the first time as the ‘Tigers’ was fielded at the high school (PHOTO 9), the African-American School was enlarged and Mrs. Ben Beckendorff was hired to run a new lunch room (PHOTO 10) which was built by the school (1939). From 1940 to 1942, D. H. Blackmon was Superintendent. Olen Thompson was added as a trustee and Thomas Smitherman, G. J. Brawner, B. J. Cadenhead, Christine Tarbritton, Mary Fay Hartman (Harper), Nellie Lipscomb, Ewald Roesler, Verna Corn, Louise McClure, Opal Virden, Gertrude Lynch (Brawner), Roberta Wright (Rylander), Elaine Smith, Marian Zapp, R. K. Smith, Vera Box, Nell Corley, Charlotte Garrett and Ruth McClung were teachers. 5

Katy Elementary School site -8- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 During Blackmon's tenure the twelfth grade was added and 'Tiger Field' was built on the north side of the school (1940), and 17 seniors graduated from Katy High School (1941). 8 A good example of community support for the KISD was shown when the Katy Dads Club purchased lighting equipment for Tiger Field and a softball diamond in 1940. The project cost about $1,000 and was raised entirely by donations, none over $10.00. 3 T. J. Heinemeier was KISD Superintendent during the most significant years in KISD history, from 1943 to 1947. H. A. Reeves, Arland J. Mangum, and H. L. Hensley were added as trustees. Teachers hired included Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Robinson, R. L. Blackmon, Hayme Lynch (Hamilton), Lela Barnett, Mrs. Florence Calloway, Mrs. L. D. DeHay, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lammert, Mrs. H. Mainey, Ida Ruth Lucas, Carl Franz, Edward L. Bailey, Mrs. H. Orgain, Hazel Andrews (Cofer), Mrs. G. M. Hutsell, Mrs. N. C. Galloway, C. O. Chandler, Mrs. Fay Grobe, Maple Pollard, J. G. Lynch, Mrs. Marjorie Burton (Cooper), Mrs. J. F. Roark, Mary Heda La Carda (Poorman),Lillie Bing (Schmals), J. Arnold, Ernest Clark, Lila Rapsilver (Thompson), Billie Hilburn, Mrs. T. J. Talley, Mrs. Lovenia Capera, James E. Taylor, Mrs. Inez Praytor, Dave Williams, Mrs. Dorothy Fitzhue, Dorothy Daniels, Mary J. Barrington, Carter Lomax, Mrs. Geo. E. McDaniels, Mildred Harris, Miss Overby, Miss Bell, Miss Hale, Mrs. Horace Robinson, Mrs. Don Elder, Mrs. Baker, Katherine Walker, Awault Shroeder, Mr. Miller, Mr. Biggs, and Ruth Pate. 5 During Heinemeier's tenure the first Katy Rodeo was held on Tiger Field, starting an FFA tradition that continues today, but KISD was forever changed by something else that year. Humble Oil Co. opened the Katy Gas Plant (PHOTO 11) on January 1, 1943. In July of that year, Katy gas reserves, in terms of British Thermal Units, were equivalent to one billion barrels of oil. Morale at the plant and in the town was high, workers were proud that a significant amount of the aviation fuel for World War II allied forces was produced with products from Katy. During World War II the size its tremendous reserves and its fortunate location only about thirty-five miles from the large refineries in the vicinity of Houston, Katy became the most important gas-condensate field in the nation.2 (PHOTO 12) The impact of the Katy Gas Plant on KISD cannot be overestimated. It doubled the population in Katy from 400 in 1942 to 800 in 1943. While rice farming had made Katy a thriving

Katy Elementary School site -9- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 agricultural community, revenue from the Plant made many land owners very wealthy and KISD suddenly had plenty of money to build new schools and upgrade equipment. 2 In 1945, 100 acres were purchased on Highway 90 for the purpose of building a whole new school system. The following year the Katy High School yearbook expressed gratitude "to the Humble, Stanolind and thirty some other oil companies who have undertaken to bring to the surface the vast riches that allowed for the construction of the new Junior and Senior HS campus." In 1946, Emory S. White was hired to design the new campus and a contract was signed with Linbeck & Dederick to start construction. 2 In 1947, James E. Taylor was hired as superintendent, a position he would hold for the next 31 years. C. I. Cardiff, Don E. Elder, Jesse Freeman, Cecil Gordan, A. J. Mangum, Garber L. Short were Trustees and W. D. Fussell was hired as tax assessor and collector. 5 In 1947, the new Katy High School (PHOTO 13) was completed on Highway 90 just west of FM 1463. Students in grades seven and eight also attended this school. High school students from the Addicks Independent School District (ISD) joined Brookshire high school students attending Katy High. 8 Students enjoyed the modern school and expanded programs. The new football field on the campus replaced the old 'Tiger Field' and became a hub of Katy activity. In 1951, a new Katy Elementary School (PHOTO 14) was built next to the secondary school and kindergarten was added. The 1909 building and the 1927 elementary building were razed by local businessman H. E. Romack, who salvaged and sold the bricks. Only the 1934 gym was left standing at the original school site. 2 The gym continued to be used for community events. Universal Studios filmed scenes for the movie “Tomboy and the Champ” in the gym in 1960, and during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, it was used as headquarters for the local civil defense organization. 8 In 1953, a new school for African-American elementary students was constructed on the same Danover Street location as the 1935 wooden school house. It was named the Odessa Kilpatrick School. The district began transporting African-American students above the eighth grade to Ralph Bunche School in Brookshire, this arrangement would continue until desegregation introduced 12 years later. 2

Katy Elementary School site -10- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 By 1954, KISD employed 39 teachers to educate 615 students.8 The location of the new schools meant that many of those students were living farther from campus. To satisfy concerned parents the school board pledged that all Katy ISD students were entitled to ride the bus to school matter where they lived. 8 The size of Katy ISD remained about the same until 1961 when the Addicks school district was divided and incorporated into the Katy, Spring Branch and Houston school districts. This added 55 square miles to the Katy ISD resulting in a total student population of 727 and creating the boundaries it still has today. Addicks elementary came with the consolidation and it served the elementary students at the east end of the district. The secondary students were bused to the Katy junior and senior high schools. 2 A new Katy Elementary school building was completed in 1965 at the site of the first school on 6th Street. The bell from the 1909 Katy School was installed above the entrance. Also that year, the building next to Katy High School was renamed Katy Junior High and served sixth through eighth grades. After decades of slow growth KISD was impacted as greater Houston stretched to the west. When I-10 opened in 1966, new neighborhoods began replacing farmland within the district. In the decade of the 1960s student enrolment more than doubled, from 727 students in 1961 to 1,671 students in 1971. 8 The 1965 campus received a substantial renovation, including a new gym and front- entrance, in 1989.13 On January 2, 1988, the school district acquired property south of the campus, for additional parking. The 1934 “Old Gym” was demolished to make way for the improvements and expansion, and in 1995, as the school district’s enrollment passed 25,000 students, a classroom addition was added to the northwest portion of the building. 14

III. SIGNIFICANCE The Katy Elementary School site has a significant place in the Katy area’s history, as the site of the first permanent school site and first location of the Katy Independent School District (KISD). Located in historic “Old Katy,” the original buildings and school facilities at this location

Katy Elementary School site -11- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 were a focal point of community events, and the location served many firsts in the early days of the developing community of Katy.

IV. DOCUMENTATION

1 Mergele, Ed. “Recollections of the Katy Prairie and Katy, Texas.” (Typewritten manuscript) 2006. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 2 Adams, Carol. Historic Katy: An Illustrated History. San Antonio, TX: HPN Books, 2012. 3 Wilkinson, Leroy. “An Early History of Katy”. (Typewritten manuscript) Katy, TX, 1955. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 4 Gilbert, Douglas and Helen Brinegar. “Influence of Transportation on the Growth of Education in Katy”. Unpublished research, 1971. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 5 Weinmann, Harry H., “The History of Katy and Vicinity”. (Typewritten manuscript) Katy, TX. 1953. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 6 Rylander, Roberta. Applauding the Past of Katy. Privately printed. Katy, TX. 1991. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 7 Mielly, Michelle “Here's Katy… A town with the heart" Interviews with Berta Freeman Barrett, C.I. Cardiff, Joyce Morrison Cardiff, A. O. Miller, Roberta Rylander, Virginia Whitson (Typewritten manuscript) Katy High School. Katy, TX. 1986. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 8 Schmalz, Betty. History of Katy High School. (Typewritten manuscript) Katy, TX. 1998. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society. 9 Roesner, Earl. “Recollections of His Story as told by Earl Harold Roesner, Sr” Self- published. Katy, TX. 2010. Copy available at the Katy Heritage Society

10 Historically Katy THE KATY FREEWAY (January 31, 2017) Retrieved from http://katylifestylesandhomes.com/historically-katy-the-katy-freeway/ 11 Here’s a Look at Katy ISD’s priorities in 2017 (January 27, 2017), Community Impact Newspaper 12 Katy Area News (January 24, 2017) Retrieved from http://www.katyedc.org/News-Media/News/January-2017- Economic-Exclusive-Katy-area-looks-to.aspx 13 Wall Plaque Text, Katy Elementary, Katy Independent School District, Katy, Texas 14 Bond History (April 3, 2014) Retrieved from http://www.katyisd.org/sites/bonds/Pages/Bond-History.aspx

V. PHOTOGRAPHY

(PHOTO 1) One-Room School House, 1900

Katy Elementary School site -12- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 (PHOTO 2) South Mayde Creek School House

(PHOTO 3) 1909 Katy School

(PHOTO 4) 1909 Katy School interior

(PHOTO 5) Dishman School

(PHOTO 6) Katy Elementary, 1927

Katy Elementary School site -13- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017 (PHOTO 7) Katy Gym

(PHOTO 8) Negro School 1935

(PHOTO 9) Katy Tigers 1939

(PHOTO 10) Katy lunch room

(PHOTO 11) Katy Gas Plant

(PHOTO 12) Katy Gas Plant workers

Katy Elementary School site -14- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017

(PHOTO 13) Katy High School 1947

(PHOTO 14) Katy Elementary, 1951

(Figure 15) Katy Elementary, 1989

(Figure 16) Katy Elementary, 1989

(Figure 17) Katy Elementary, 1940

(Figure 18) Katy Elementary, 2017

Katy Elementary School site -15- Harris County Historical Commission Carol Adams and Christopher Harris November 10, 2017