Alma Schools
Alma, Texas

Contributed by Jane Bell Smith

 

This picture is of the Old Alma School circa 1900-1912 (possibly earlier) with the student body outside. I have no identification or date, however the picture was on an old mat with handwritten "Alma School" on the back of the picture. It would be very helpful if someone recognizes the school picture and could help us with the history.

Jane Bell Smith

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1911 Old Alma School Classmates

Last class in the old frame schoolhouse before moving into the brick school.

Front Row, left to right:

Ezra V. Hobbs 6; Deward Baldridge 13; George Kelley 6; Everett Lennon 12; Bill Sands 10; Raymond Kelly 7; Lee Finley 12; Clarence Bastian 9; Forest Cayce 12; Robert Zerwer ?; Arthur Ruffin 11

2nd Row, left to right:

Annie Tune 6; Quina V. Woods; Carrie Willis (Wimberly) 9; Thelma McDowal 7; Anna Findley 9; Vera Baldridge (Evarts) 8; Lee Lawson; Mabel Beard; Ruby Wilson; Mary Lawson; Winnie Ruffin 9; Clarence Ruffin 7; Earl Grizzard 6

3rd Row, left to right:

Genevieve Collard 7; Dorothy Bastian 7; Dora ?; Iola Lennon (Ruffin) "Sis" 9; Lillie Kelley 9; (unidentified); (unidentified); Addie Tune (Phelps) 10

4th Row, Standing, left to right:

Teacher, Mrs. Carter; Mary Tune (McKee) 13; Valta B. Hobbs 12; Clara Kelly 11; Lois Hobbs 13; Bessie Sands (Griffin) 18; Dovie Ruffin (May) 14; Vert Sands (Smith) 15; Mary Kelley (Whitfill) 14; Male Teacher/Principal - C. D. Nichols; Shelby Smith 13; Lewis Smith 11

Identification courtesy of Virginia Ruffin Crilley and Jane Bell Smith

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Alma School

My grandfather, Thomas G. Wright was on the school board when the cornerstone was laid in 1912 and completed in 1913.

The Alma school rooms usually held two and sometimes three classes on the primary level. For example there would be one or two rows (front to back) of desks for first grade; one or two rows for second grade and one or two rows for third with extra space between the grades.

The second level of the Alma school held classrooms and a large auditorium. High school classes (9th through 11th) occupied the second floor. Special programs and graduation was held in the auditorium.

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Alma School - 1923

"IN THE GOOD OLE DAYS," which will be revived Sunday beginning at 12 noon when the annual Alma Reunion will be held at the Alma Fire House. Barbecue will be furnished and the ladies are to bring pastries and salads. Donations for the barbecue will benefit the Fire Dept. The picture of the entire Alma Public School, first through eighth grades, taken in 1923, shown above belongs to Katie Omelina, now of Ennis. One the right on the back row are four teachers. The two in the back are Mr. Smith (first name unknown) and Irene Venable. Mrs. Omelina is not sure who the other two teachers are.

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Alma School - 1924

This old picture of about the third and fourth grades at Alma School, filmed in 1924, belongs to Katie Omelina who recognised most of the following, l to r: (FRONT ROW)-- Unknown, Luther Lusk, James Durbin, Randall Davis, J.W. Harrison, Jack Lummus (deceased), Henry Slovacek; (SECOND ROW)-- Charlie Toth, Otis Horton (deceased), James Treadaway (deceased), Winston Edwards, Joe D. Wright (deceased), Allen Treadaway (deceased), Marvin (first name unknown), Louis Dolezalik (deceased), unidentified; (THIRD ROW)-- Helen Dostal, Isabelle Baumgartner, Victoria Vavra, Oma Horton, Angeline Soslik, Florine Bernard, Christine Whitfall, Erma Lee Whitfall, Marie Whitfall, Olsen (first name unknown); (FOURTH ROW)-- Katie Omelina, Rosie Slovacek, Lena Marvin, Lillian Day, the next three unidentified, Arthur (Slick) Langley; (FIFTH ROW)-- Miss Mae Venable, teacher; Elton Rogers, John Kubin and Frank Betik.

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Alma High School Girls Basketball Team of 1928

Back Row (on step) Left to Right:
Fannie Kate Wright; Mrs. Venable, Teacher; and Helen Toth.

Front Row: Left to Right:
Mary Bell Grizzard; Mable Harrison; Thelma Lummus, with basketball; and Lou Warren.

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Alma High School Girls Basketball Team of 1933

Front Row Left to Right:

Clara Leask, Ruby Rogers, Frances Harrison, Dorothy Wright, Irma Lee Whitfill (holding ball), Edith Whitfill, Kathryn Baumgardner, Eloise Edwards, Mary Catherine Davis.

Back Row Left to Right:

Mrs. Odessa Whitsides, Teacher, Lillie Cicanek, Frances Zabjnik, (Unknown) Dorothy Wimberly, Dorothy Harrison, Hazel (?) Lusk, Gertrude Whitfill.

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Alma High School Girls Basketball Team of 1934

Front Row, Left to Right: Dorothy Wimberly, Dorothy Wright (holding ball) Vanita Williams

Second Row, Left to Right: Lillie Cicanek, Frances Zabojnik, Frances Harrison, Dorothy Harrison

Back Row, Left to Right: Ruby Rogers, Georgia Vinkler, Mrs. Odessa Whitesides, Teacher, Gertrude Whitfill , and _____ ______.

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1937-1938 Alma High School
8th, 9th, 10th Grades

Front Row, Left to Right:

Edward Collard, Wendell Elliott, John Leask, Gilbert Whitfil, James Whitfil, W.T. McNeil (killed in Service), F.L. Harrison, Aubry Harrison, Chester Clark and Frank Navok.

Middle Row, Left to Right:

Unidentified, Jack Baldridge, Burt Davis, John Smith, James Baldridge and Jr. Ruffin.

Back Row, Standing, Left to Right:

Thelma Whitfil, Avaneil McConnico, Christine Rogers, Henrietta Whitfil, Evelyn Castello, Lavern Clark, Virginia Leask, Camilla Dostle, Virginia McCormick, Elsie Mae Wright and Mr. Martin (teacher and principal).

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1939-1940 Alma High School
8th and 9th Grades

Front Row, Left to Right:

Joe Harrison, Ann Southern, Shirley Baldridge, Joseph Leask, Irene Harrison, Elizabeth Wright and Frank Novak

Middle Row, Left to Right:

Mildred Kostak, Gilbert Whitfil, Mary Evelyn Harrison, Johnny Kabacek, Lewis Horosa, Vernon McCormick and Anna Kostak.

Top Row, Left to Right:

Mattie Smith, Ella Novak, Mary Cherwinkl, Adell Cherwinkl, Lenton Whitfil (teacher and principal), Camilla Dostle, Henry Kubacek and Christine Rogers.

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Cornerstone of Alma School

This is a photo of the old cornerstone of the Alma School laid in 1912 with list of trustee's names. Our T.G. Wright was on the Alma School Board of Trustees.

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1940-1941 Alma Public School
4th and 5th Grade Class

Front Row, left to right:
Andrew ?, Jane Bell, Joe Kostak, Eva Lee (Mickey) Smith, Annie Pearl ?, B. F. Southerland

Second Row:
Lloyd Harrison, Robert Leask, Douglas Baldridge, Billie Gay Hilger, Gene Ferguson, Marie Kostak

Back Row:
David ?, Lonnie McCullum, Teacher, Oneida Jackson, Victoria ?, and Anton Galetka

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1923 Alma School

Photo courtesy of Dorothy Vavra Prachyl. Albin Vavra, her dad is the 5th boy, front row from left, with arrow pointing to him.

There are several in the picture that I believe may be identified. The girl standing in front of teacher/principal (at back, on right side of picture) and on left is Thelma Lummus, sister of Jack Lummus and future wife of Thomas Gilbert Wright, who is second from right, second row from front.

Back row center: 2nd girl from left is Fannie Kate Wright, next to her on right is her sister, Florence Wright, and their sister, Josephine Wright may be the dark haired girl standing in center of picture.

It would be very helpful if anyone could help us identify these students and teachers.

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Alma School some time after it's completion in 1913.

Any help with identification would be appreciated.

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Alma School some time after it's completion in 1913.

Any help with identification would be appreciated.

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This page last modified on 12 Feb 2011.