Alice Gray Hamblen
Salado, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Alice Gray Hamblen, born March 14, 1846, in Mississippi, and her husband, William Kroger Hamblen (1817-1902), moved to Salado in 1868 and quickly became involved with the local private school, Salado College. Alice was passionate about the importance of education for young people and even provided room and board to children of family members so they could attend the school. When the college building and property were donated to the Salado Public School District in 1919 and the building was later deemed unsafe in 1924, Alice offered the Hamblen family homestead as a site for the new Salado Public School. Alice died in 1932, but her contributions to Salado remain. (2016)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Mississippi in 1846, Alice Gray Hamblen moved with her husband to Salado in 1868 and threw herself into the life of Salado College, the local private school. A devoted champion of education, she boarded relatives' children so they could attend. When the old college building was condemned in 1924, she offered the Hamblen family homestead as the site for the new Salado public school.
Why it matters
Hamblen's story reflects how private generosity and a belief in schooling for the young sustained education in small Texas towns before public systems could fully carry the load.
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Related people
- · Alice Gray Hamblen
- · William Kroger Hamblen
Themes & tags
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