History of Hillside District Number 44

The Hillside District was established in February 1906. The site, a one-acre tract was donated by Mr. F. R. Galle. Messrs. J. T. McBride, J. W. Kinsey, T. D. Chapman, F. R. Galle and Jim McGeehee each contributed twenty-five dollars for the building, and others interested gave less sums of money. The city of Abilene assisted in the work by contributing some lumber. A one-room frame building of the style of school houses twenty years ago was erected and was scantily furnished. This building was used for ten years - a one-teacher school, having more pupils than one teacher could well manage. At the end of this time, since the house was in a very bad condition, the district agreed to vote bonds to the amount of $1425 for a new building; at this time the tax was increased to fifteen cents. The old building was sold to Mr. Galle for two hundred dollars and was moved away. The site was enlarged by the purchase of three more acres, lying just at the foot of a pretty little hill; hence the name "Hillside," which was given by Mr. Jim McGeehee. Here our present building was erected; it is modern, is properly heated, lighted, and ventilated, is neatly painted both inside and out, and is well furnished. In 1917, along with a great many of the districts of the county, Hillside increased its tax to fifty cents in order to become eligible to receive State Aid, which funds have been of much assistance in the progress of the work.

The teachers in the school since the erection of the present building have been Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Varnell; Mr. T. M. MeGeehee and Miss Fannie Harrison, each of whom remained two years in the work; and Mrs. O. R. Boykin and Miss Irma Briden, who were in charge this year. Messrs. J. W. Kinsey, T. D. Chapman, and J. T. Avent who recently moved away from the county - have served the district faithfully and efficiently as trustees for a number of years. Largely through the effort of these men and others of their type the prospects for the district now are much brighter than they have been, since an election for a dollar tax is pending. Next year it is the hope of the district that Hillside may have a much longer term of school and the best year's work in its history.

-HILDA GALLE.

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