The 15th in a series of articles for
the 175th Anniversary of Bonham
Bonham, Texas -- Early citizens of Bonham and Fannin County treasured education.
Records are few, but by 1859 there were 47 schools in the County which charged parents, but with some provisions for “indigent” students.
One of the most well-known educators of Fannin County was Charles Carlton.
In 1867 Charles Carlton, who had established Carlton College at Kentuckytown in 1865, moved to Bonham and took over the Bonham Female Institute. By 1881 the name had been changed to Carlton College.
By 1886 there were 137 girls and 103 boys in attendance.
Young men who attended Carlton College became the business leaders of Bonham.
However, beginning with the 1887 session the school would be only for girls.
In 1895 impressive 3-story hall was built at East 10th Street and Chestnut in Bonham. (This building burned in 1910). Today a Texas Historical Marker is at this location.
Charles Carlton and his wife Sallie and two of his daughters were the primary teachers. Carlton’s son Charles was the school’s vice president from 1875 to 1907.
Classes for girls included music and art.
With the death of Charles Carlton in 1904, the school began to decline. In the fall of 1916 Carlton College closed, bringing to an end nearly a half a century of quality education in Bonham.
The Fannin County Museum of History has an extensive collection of photographs and documents relating to Carlton College. Many are available in the Museum’s online database at https://fannin.pastperfectonline.com.
This collection at the Museum includes the graduation dress worn by Myrtle Hancock.
