Pontotoc and San Fernando Academy
Pontotoc, Mason County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(Site of Academy is 100 yards north) Pontotoc, settled about 1859, was named by first merchant, M. R. Kidd, for his former home town in Mississippi. Post office was opened 1878 in the B. J. Willis home, with Mrs. Willis postmaster. Founded by interested citizens, San Fernando Academy (probably named for nearby creek), opened 1883. Pupils (200 during academy's career) took regular subjects or courses leading toward teacher certificates. Principals were K. T. Hamilton and W. C. Roaten. After academy failed, site was sold by W. J. and B. J. Willis and used by the public school until 1927. (1972)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The village of Pontotoc, settled around 1859, took its name from merchant M. R. Kidd's old Mississippi hometown. In 1883 local citizens founded San Fernando Academy, where some 200 pupils studied standard subjects or trained toward teaching certificates under principals K. T. Hamilton and W. C. Roaten. After the academy closed, its site served the public school until 1927.
Why it matters
The academy reflects how frontier communities pooled private effort to bring education—and teacher training—to rural Texas long before public schooling was universal.
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Related people
- · M. R. Kidd
- · K. T. Hamilton
- · W. C. Roaten
Themes & tags
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