Historic Walker County

training school teachers for a booming
population that was quickly outpacing the
supply of qualified educators. Indeed, many
private colleges concentrated their efforts on “the
preparation of students for state certification
examinations,” and not general knowledge,
methodology, or administrative training. 47
Dr. Barnas Sears, an agent of the Peabody
Education Fund, along with the citizens of
Huntsville and the Sixteenth Texas Legislature
came together in 1879 to create the “first taxsupported,
teacher-training institution in
Texas.” 48 The newly chartered Sam Houston
Normal Institute (SHNI) received $6,000 from
the Peabody Fund and was named in honor of
the Father of Texas. Again, the citizens of
Walker County enthusiastically lent their
support to the cause of educating future
generations. The location “of the Institute,
nearby and in full view of General Houston’s old
homestead, was secured by a united effort on
part of the [community].” 49
In the fall of 1879, Sam Houston Normal
Institute opened its doors on the site of the old
Austin College campus and welcomed new
students eager to start their college educations.
Young people came from every corner of the
Lone Star State, from booming cities to small
towns and farms. The state legislature ensured
every senatorial district received properly
trained teachers through competitive regional
scholarships, which completely funded the
original 74 “state” students. 50
The first years of the ambitious institution were
challenging to say the least. The school’s first
principal, Bernard Mallon, died of a sudden
illness one week after classes began. The new
principal, Hildreth Hosea Smith, made the best of
his emergency appointment in his twenty-onemonth
administration. He implemented his predecessor’s
curriculum and even expanded it in
order to supplement students’ deficiencies and
produce superior educators. Before the end of
his tenure, students were trained in pedagogy,
the liberal arts, and the history and philosophy
of education. 52
S E T T I N G A N E X A M P L E
Joseph A. Baldwin left a lasting impression on
Walker County and Sam Houston Normal
Institute. The life-long educator taught and
❖
Above: Development in Riverside
by 1920.
COURTESY OF THE WALKER COUNTY
HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
Below: The first faculty and students
at Sam Houston Normal Institute,
1879-1880.
COURTESY OF THE SAM HOUSTON STATE
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES.
C h a p t e r I V ✦ 2 3