Red Oak Institute Then and Now
Abstracted from The Mirror, March 8, 1906
Ovilla school, first called Red Oak Institute, was built in the summer of 1860 by a stock company (which retained control of the school through their chosen trustees) and opened in the fall of that year under the guidance of Rev. D. G. Molloy and Martha M. Molloy.
It continued two five-month sessions under their leadership until the fall of 1866, when Prof. W. P. Gillespie took over. During these years the number of students ranged from fifty to one hundred and thirty - some of them boarders. For the next three years (1866-1869) the school was larger. Mrs. Thompson taught a class in music; and in 1868, Miss Kate Bradley took charge of the music department. During this period there were from fifteen to thirty boarders, lack of room space preventing a larger number.
In the fall of 1869, Prof. Gillespie was elected to the chair of languages at Trinity University. Red Oak Institute was not so prosperous because of Trinity, but it continued under the supervision of Rev. Molloy and his wife, with Miss Mattie Read in charge of the music department.
In the fall of 1871, Rev. R. M. White and Mrs. M. M. Molloy had jurisdiction of the school, and Miss Read continued her music class.
Others in charge of the school in later years were Professors Davenport, Fleming, Henderson, R. M. Chapman, and Read successively. In the fall of 1877, Prof. Thomas J. Middleton was elected head and taught the next two years. He was succeeded two years later by Dr. Richards, and the name changed to Ovilla Institude by vote of the Board of Trustees. The little village was given that name by Mrs. M. M. Molley when a postoffice was established there. The name "Ovilla" means "an encircled villa."
In the fall of 1882, Prof. Elliott was elected and served successfully for several years, followed by Profs. Smith and Godfrey in the fall of 1889. Over the years those in charge of the music department included: Misses Alla Lowery, Belle King, Mollie Featherstone, Fannie Gillespie, Ava Walkup, Lillian Hill, Etta Lancaster, and Mrs. Hagney.
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From Ellis County History, Vol. XVIII, p. 136.
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