Texas Normal College

Chilton's college ran on thin money. It had no state charter until June 1891, and by then it occupied a campus bought by a group of Dentonites called the syndicate, with nearly 185 students in its first year. Under President John J. Crumley, a state law let the school grant teaching certificates, and its wording accidentally changed the name to North Texas Normal College. Menter B. Terrill later leased the school from the city, and during his presidency it awarded 268 teaching certificates and twenty-four bachelor's degrees, according to the Handbook of Texas.

What the plaque says

Texas Normal College At this site, on the second floor of a hardware store, 70 students enrolled for the first session of Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, September 16, 1890. The students included 28 Creeks from Indian territory. The city of Denton provided classrooms for the faculty of five under president Joshua C. Chilton, an educator with previous experience and training in Ohio and Indiana. In 1891, the school moved to a building at the present site of North Texas State University. This marker dedicated on 75th Anniversary of the University. (1965)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square — steps away
  An 1896 courthouse by W. C. Dodson in Denton limestone, pink granite and two sandstones, restored in 2004, now a free county museum on a lawn holding the grave of John B. Denton.
• Wise County Courthouse — 26 mi
  J. Riely Gordon's granite Romanesque courthouse of 1895-96 in Decatur, built after fire destroyed the Second Empire courthouse and set off a fight over the county seat.

More markers nearby

• Denton County — steps away
• Edna Westbrook Trigg in Denton County — steps away
• John B. Denton — steps away
• The City of Denton — steps away