Jack's Fork area question- old Houston School (Summersville, Cave: houses, schools)

[LGitens]

Hello,
My mother grew up in Texas and Shannon counties area, near Summersville. She's gone now, but I have a desire to go visit some of the areas where she used to live.

Most I can probably find myself as they are just outside of Summersville. But one is the area we used to call "Up on Jack's Fork" There was an old white country school and cemetary that was called the Houston School. Not sure if it's still even there, think someone was making it a home last time we were there.

Can someone give me directions from Summersville, if you know what I'm talking about??

Thanks
Lori

[ShadowCaver]

Interesting... Jack's Fork, the river [a beautiful river, btw] , is ~30 miles to the south and east of Summersville, whereas Houston is to the Northwest of Summersville, also about 25 miles. Can inquire of some relatives/friends in that area to find some more info...

[OA 5599]

Yeah, it would be odd to have a Houston school near Summersville, with Houston also being the county seat of Texas County.

Some old-timers in Summersville could probably help you out if you knew how to talk to. The only other resource I can think of would be a very old USGS topographic map (like 1900 to 1960 or so, which would probably be a 1:62,500 scale map). These maps generally showed all the one-room schoolhouses on them, and the names were listed on the map. Good luck getting a hold of one though! I'm sure they are floating around somewhere though. Most of the old one-room schools were closed by the 1960's in that neck of the woods.

[ShadowCaver]

OA - good idea. Lori, if you are not successful with any other routes, I have a collection of quite a few topo maps , and can check them when time allows...

[LGitens]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

OA - good idea. Lori, if you are not successful with any other routes, I have a collection of quite a few topo maps , and can check them when time allows...

I think it's close to the town of Arroll. And no, the school is not near the town of Houston. It was a little white school house with a graveyard to the east of he building I believe. The last time I was there, there was still a weathered old set of teter toters between the school and graveyard.

I recall driving west off of hywy 17 somewhere. We used to stop at an old building my mother said used to be a store. I <think> that might be part of Arroll, not sure.

thanks for trying to help!

[LGitens]

Originally Posted by LGitens

I think it's close to the town of Arroll. And no, the school is not near the town of Houston. It was a little white school house with a graveyard to the east of he building I believe. The last time I was there, there was still a weathered old set of teter toters between the school and graveyard.

I recall driving west off of hywy 17 somewhere. We used to stop at an old building my mother said used to be a store. I <think> that might be part of Arroll, not sure.

thanks for trying to help!

Ok, so I just looked through a photo album, and on the back of the photo of the old store, my mom wrote "Old Pruitt Store on Jack's Fork where we used to get our groceries" Now this would have been in the 1910's 1920's. But in 1979 the building was still standing. The last time we were in the area the school was still there as well, the last time a relative went there they said it was being turned into a home. I know it was called Houston School, because back in the 60's we went and the building was full of old school books, we yes "stole" a few and it said "Houston School" in the inside. So I know it wasn't a wierd family name for the school.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by LGitens

I think it's close to the town of Arroll. And no, the school is not near the town of Houston. It was a little white school house with a graveyard to the east of he building I believe. The last time I was there, there was still a weathered old set of teter toters between the school and graveyard.

I recall driving west off of hywy 17 somewhere. We used to stop at an old building my mother said used to be a store. I <think> that might be part of Arroll, not sure.

thanks for trying to help!

That does sound like the town of Arroll. A few houses, a church and cemetery, and some buildings that look like old stores. I've been around that area quite a bit, but can't remember an old school building off the top of my head, but I'm sure it could be lurking around. Arroll is west of 17 on highway W. If you go west of town on Jack's Fork Road, it will lead you to the Jack's Fork River.

[LGitens]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

That does sound like the town of Arroll. A few houses, a church and cemetery, and some buildings that look like old stores. I've been around that area quite a bit, but can't remember an old school building off the top of my head, but I'm sure it could be lurking around. Arroll is west of 17 on highway W. If you go west of town on Jack's Fork Road, it will lead you to the Jack's Fork River.

Yeah, and I bet I could probably drive around and find it. I don't think this old school would be actually in the town of Arroll, but out somewhere somewhat close by. I remember we used to drive a little ways and we'd go past the "old Pruitt" store on the way. It was one of those narrow country roads that here in Iowa would be the same size as a driveway. Not sure if the roads are the same. I haven't been to Summersville since my oldest was about 2 and he's 21 now! But I sure yearn to go!!!

Thanks for the help!!

[pumpman6278]

the schoolhouse is still very much there a member of the curnutt family is living in the original building the graveyard is located due east of the school and several members of my family are buried there.to drive to the school just take state rt 17 south out of summersville to w highway on the right stay on w until you come into the small community of arroll w hiway makes a 90 degree corner but you will want to stay straight on to the dirt road after you cross the second cement bridge (you will see an old dam on the right this is the north prong of the jacks fork river) the schoolhouse is the second building on the right my grandpa lives in the second to the last house on the right before you reach jacks fork and on any given sunday afternoon would probably be glad to bend your ear with local history

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by pumpman6278

the schoolhouse is still very much there a member of the curnutt family is living in the original building the graveyard is located due east of the school and several members of my family are buried there.to drive to the school just take state rt 17 south out of summersville to w highway on the right stay on w until you come into the small community of arroll w hiway makes a 90 degree corner but you will want to stay straight on to the dirt road after you cross the second cement bridge (you will see an old dam on the right this is the north prong of the jacks fork river) the schoolhouse is the second building on the right my grandpa lives in the second to the last house on the right before you reach jacks fork and on any given sunday afternoon would probably be glad to bend your ear with local history

I know right where you are talking about. There is a nice swimming hole at that crossing of the North Prong just down from the bridge too. I think the name of that road is Arroll Road but I might be wrong...I know it goes on to Y highway, and there is another road on the other side that heads down to the South Prong called Stillhouse Road. I'll have to look for that old school house next time I'm around that area, I like to go out and cruise down a few gravel roads when I'm back in Missouri and that is one of my favorites to go down.