Old McMullen College

McMullen College was Tilden's second school, not its first. Dog Town started a school in the early 1860s, when the settlement was still a home guard post, and the college followed in 1881, the same year a Masonic lodge was established. Its dissolution in 1897 did not end schooling, since the building became the public school. By 1930 the county had seven school districts, and by the early 1980s it had one, with an elementary school and a high school. The college was the county's first private school.

What the plaque says

Old McMullen College Established 1881 under leadership of Dr. John Van Epps Covey, founder of three Texas colleges--aided here by civic leaders S.F. Dixon, Dr. M.W.C. Frazier, C.F.H. Hiers, R.W. Johnson, M.F. Lowe and L. Wheeler. A 3-acre site was bought from James Lowe, and S.D. Frazier constructed the building. Funds were raised by subscription to defray initial costs. Dr. Covey, his wife, and the Rev. Woodlief Thomas were teachers during the first year. Accommodations were planned for 100 students. The curriculum included spelling, mathematics, geography, surveying, bookkeeping, logic, history, reading, Latin, other liberal arts courses. In September 1897, after 16 years of service, the college ended its career. Its building was turned over to the trustees of the newly-organized Tilden School District, and used as a public school until January 1926, when a new structure replaced it. Texas had numerous early schools with similar histories. Like McMullen College, these were founded by dedicated civic groups eager to see that young Texans were offered sound education. Most of these small local colleges had primitive facilities and endured repeated financial crises, but they held to ideals they were never able to attain. 1967

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Choke Canyon State Park — 12 mi
  A reservoir state park on the Frio River in two units, built after a 1982 dam, with birds, alligators and fishing on land people have crossed for more than 10,000 years.

More markers nearby

• Tilden — 0.3 mi
• McMullen County — 0.3 mi
• Boot Hill Cemetery — 0.4 mi
• Moses William Hindes — 0.4 mi