PusB_ic SCHOOLS OF FRESNO CouNTY 1860-1998 VOLUME ONE Published by Fresno Branch, American Association of University Women and Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Fresno, California 20__Publie Schools of Fresno County 1860-1998 Three Terry sehoolhouses have been built-on the same site near the intersection of Fowler and Moun- tain View avenues. The address today is 12906 South Fowler Avenue. ‘When the district was formed on May 4, 1882, Fowler Avenue was known as Wildflower Avenue. The district was named for Alonzo Mason Terry, an early settler in the Wildflower area who donated land for the school. Also, he hauled lumber by wagon from Terry School, c. 1920. ‘TERRY Terry School, 1991. Bretz Mill in the Shaver Lake area to build the first, school. The district voted a $600 tax levy for a build- ing consisting ofa main room, a library, and two ante- rooms, J. A. Fowler was the first teacher. In 1907, a larger building with four rooms and a library was constructed. Alarge belfry, topped with a steeple, was located above the front entrance. By 1908, ‘Terry was a three-teacher school with an average at- tendance of sixty-two students.Terry ‘Terry Distriet’s last year of separate operation ‘was 1845-16. Hazel Yoder was the principal of the four- ‘teacher school, which had an average attendance of ninety-four students. In September 1945, Terry and Central districts voted to form Terry Union District with an effective date of July 1, 1946. In June 1951, the distriet approved a $262,000 bond issue for a new sehool. The architects were Fred Swartz, William Hyberg, and Byron C. Brodriek. The contractor was Lewis C. Nelson and Sons. The school ‘opened in 1953. The old bell from the 1882 sehool is mounted on a platform in front of the school. A plaque tells that the bell is dedicated to Gladys Minch in ap- preciation of her faithful community service. ‘The last year of separate operation for Terry Union District was 1966-67, In 1967 it became one of ‘Thermal the founding schools of the Selma Unified School Di ‘ict. Terry Union School was renamed Terry Blemen- tary. A plaque and photograph honoring Alonzo Mason ‘Terry are located in the principal's office, References 1, A-l Master Site Plan, Terry Elementary School, Selma Unified School Distriet. 2 John Dow. “History of Public School Organization and Administration in Fresno County, California,” 1967, 8. Fresno Bee, April 26, 1982 4, J. Randall MeFarland, former managing editor, the Selma Enterprise, itarview, March 4, 1998, 5. Selma Bnterprise, Jane 14, 1951. 6. Don Turpin, former principal of Terry, interview, Feb 7,199, THERMAL ‘Thermal District was organized March 5, 1895, The site of the schoolhouse was on the ‘James Ferguson ranch on Millerton Road about half way between Auberry Road and Morgan Canyon Road. The school was located west of the ranch house, where an oak tree stands. ‘The name Thermal comes from the hot sul- phur springs loeated nearby. A planned resort to be built near the springs did not materialize. In 1896, during the first year of operation, twenty-two students were enrolled. Teachers during the districts short history included Grace Spence, Blanche Schaeffer, and Hattie Taylor, ‘The annual school library report for the year ending June 80, 1906, listed 167 books in the library, a good bookease with lock and key, and no volumes lost during the year. Only six students were enrolled during the last year of operation in 1906-07, when Nabilla Case was the teacher. The last trustees were 4J.M. Stone, C. FR. Cooke, and 8, A. Sharpe. ‘The district. was annexed to the Millerton Dis- triet on July 25, 1907. After the Thermal School closed, the schoolhouse was moved a few miles to the Pin Cush- on Mountain area to be used as the Millerton school- house. References A. John Dov. “History of Publie Sehoal Organization and Thermal School was later moved to Millerton and became io Bee S| Millerton School. Administration in Fresno County, California,” 1967, p. 302, 2, Tke Ball, longtime area resident, interview, Feb. 11, 1998. 3, George Kastner, former Pollasky student and long time resident of area, interview, Feb. 11,1998, 4, ‘Thermal School librarian’s report, 1904-05, 5. Thomas H. Thompson. Official Historical Atlas Map of | Fresno 1891. +56