History of Hamby District Number 1

Under the name Melrose, a part of what is now the Hamby District, was - along with fourteen other districts of Taylor County - organized by the Commissioner' Court in the year 1888. This district was fortunately given first place, being numbered ONE. The first building, located one mile south of Hamby was, of course a rude little structure, poorly equipped, but it was as good as could be had at that time. Teachers were scarce in those days and it seemed impossible to secure any other than a sister-in-law of one of the trustees -the leading trustee in fact, Mr. W.R. Whitesides. As trustees too were scarce, the other two contracted with this young lady, Miss Myra Selfridge, who became the first teacher of the school. In 1895 and 1899 changes were made in the boundaries of the district; about this time the building was moved two miles west, nearer the center of the district. In about 1901 the post-office Hamby, named after Mr. Hamby Richardson, a prominent citizen of the community who was the first post-master, was established. In 1906, the first consolidation in the district took place, the School District known as Hamby and numbered one, being formed from the parts of Melrose District and the Round Mound District (numbered 23 of Jones County, organized in 1882. At the time of this change the remaining part of the Melrose District was numbered forty- three. In 1916 with the growth in the communities and the desire of the patrons of the schools for better educational opportunities for their children, came another consolidation, the union of the Melrose District (Taylor County), Hamby District (Taylor County and Jones County), and the Round Mound District (Jones County), and a part of the Lanham District (Callahan County). A splendid four-room brick building, modern and well equipped, was constructed at this time, following the voting of a bond of $7500 and the increasing of the tax to fifty cents. Messrs. T.C. Richardson, Ed Powers, and Evans were the trustees at this time.

However, in 1920-1921 a fourth teacher was added to the faculty of the school and a twenty-five cent increase in taxes voted. This year 1921-1922, tenth grade work has been offered and creditably done. Under the direction of the efficient principal, R.C. Hardin, and his three able helpers - Mrs. L.S. Muston, Miss Alice Holllis, and Miss Rossie Graham - Hamby District has just close the best school that the District has ever known. The prospect for the future is indeed very promising. One desire of the district, is the erection of a teacherage on the west end of the splendid ten acre school site.

Class Roll