The site of College Street Elementary School is of historical significance in the history of Lewisville Independent School District. There has been a public school on the corner of Cowan and College Street since 1895. Before College Street was built, there was a three story red brick school constructed on the same site. Before this, a frame school was located on the opposite corner from College Street. It was built in 1895 and was called the Lewisville Academy.

The Lewisville Academy was built in the northwest corner of Cowan and College Street. This school was the original public school in the LISD system. Students came to the Academy from all of the surrounding territories, probably within a five to ten mile radius. Although the boundaries were wide, there were fewer than fifty students for all ten grades of school. Children walked, rode horses or drove buggies to school. There were no kitchen
facilities, so students brought their lunch. The school was equipped with city drinking water, but out houses were located out back. The radiators were leaky and in winter the building was very cold. During recess the children played baseball, football, or made up other games to play in the open field. The children sat on benches in the classroom. They listened intently to the teacher because if they misbehaved, they were spanked soundly by the superintendent, Mr. Keniber.

One day in 1918, the mischievous children ran out of pranks to pull, so they decided to scare the principal by blowing smoke in the doors and windows of the school. To achieve this, they piled up tumbleweeds and brush under the carriage port, started it on fire, and started fanning the smoke into the school. However, the fire got out of hand and the school was burned to the ground.

Classes were held in individual homes from 1918 to 1921, until the new three story red brick school was finished. The basement was considered the first floor and classes were held on all floors. In front were majestic white pillars, a walkway, even a drinking fountain. On each end of the building were arched stone plaques above the entry ways. One end said “BOYS”, the other said, “GIRLS”. This new school was constructed on the present site of College Street Elementary.

Unlike the present school, this school had restrooms on the outside of the building. They were probably added after the school was built. Boys would find pleasure in throwing horse apples under the stalls at the girls’ legs. That is it was fun until they hit a teacher by mistake, then a spanking would result.

Spankings were also given for playing on the pile of coal on the side of the building. The coal was burned in the steam boiler in the basement during the winter. In later years, the boiler would sometimes blow-up and the force from the explosion would knock the doors open.

The basement was also a place to comfort frightened children in threatening weather. Miss Letha Graham led the children in singing songs in the safety of the basement.

There was no lunchroom at the school, but in later years a kitchen was built in the basement. Students would get a hot lunch on a real plate and a jar of milk and eat in the classroom. There was also a woman by the name of Mrs. Kerr who lived in a house south, or in front of the school who sold hamburgers. A child could buy a hamburger, a coke, chips and candy for 20 cents. When the price of the hamburger went up to 15 cents, some children found themselves in a dilemma; they could buy chips or candy, but not both.

The school was also becoming a dilemma itself. The walls were bolted together with iron bolts, but were still a problem. The old steam boiler had seen many better days, too. It was time to build a new school.

In 1949, Delay Middle School, which was Lewisville High School at that time, was built. The highest grades were transferred there, which consisted of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. Then Central Elementary was built in 1957 and the rest of the students were transferred there. The old Lewisville school was demolished. The cornerstone was saved and is now stored in the Administration Building.

Lewisville’s population kept growing, so a new school was built on the old site. In 1960, College Street Elementary was constructed. This school faced north instead of south on the 3.4 acre site. The new school also had indoor plumbing, and all of the other modern conveniences of that time, including a cafeteria. Since then, 6 permanent buildings and 6 temporary buildings were added.

In 1988, the 6 permanent buildings and 6 temporary buildings were moved from the site, and a new wing added. The new wing consists of new classrooms for third, fourth and fifth grades, along with a library, lounge, workroom, counselor room, diagnostician room, new restrooms and new resource rooms.

Everyone who lived in Lewisville and went to school before 1950 went to school at the College Street site. There are many memories at the College Street site and we are distinguished to be located where the educational system for Lewisville began.