Portland in San Patricio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of Bay View College
Photographed By Jim Evans, October 6, 2018
1. Site of Bay View College Marker
Inscription.
Site of Bay View College. . An important school of the coastal region, founded for scattered South Texas ranch children, by Thomas M. (1856-1943) and Alice Yantis Clark (1857-1913), of the family that founded Texas Christian University. The Clarks utilized 2-story "Hotel Portland", opened 1891 but soon idled by national business recession. With Mrs. Mollie Allen Turner as associate, they opened Bay View College in Sept. 1894, teaching primary through junior college subjects. Mrs. Clark, who also managed "The Home" for boarders, taught painting; Clark, music and literary subjects. Recreation included riding (on student-owned horses), house parties at patron George Fulton's Rincon Ranch (12 miles northeast), and an annual San Jacinto Day sail on Corpus Christi Bay. The first Bachelor of Letters degrees were awarded to a class of three: Wallace Clark, Lucille Long, Ed Rachal. , In time, a 2-story boys' dormitory, a gymnasium, and a 2-story chapel stood on campus. Students came from 70 Texas counties, 12 other states, and Mexico. Some Bay View graduates went on to senior colleges and entered professions, many remained in ranching. In 1916 , a hurricane destroyed most of the buildings. A day school session was held the next winter in the chapel, but the college formally closed in 1917. , (1973)
An important school of the coastal region, founded for scattered South Texas ranch children, by Thomas M. (1856-1943) and Alice Yantis Clark (1857-1913), of the family that founded Texas Christian University. The Clarks utilized 2-story "Hotel Portland", opened 1891 but soon idled by national business recession. With Mrs. Mollie Allen Turner as associate, they opened Bay View College in Sept. 1894, teaching primary through junior college subjects. Mrs. Clark, who also managed "The Home" for boarders, taught painting; Clark, music and literary subjects. Recreation included riding (on student-owned horses), house parties at patron George Fulton's Rincon Ranch (12 miles northeast), and an annual San Jacinto Day sail on Corpus Christi Bay. The first Bachelor of Letters degrees were awarded to a class of three: Wallace Clark, Lucille Long, Ed Rachal.
In time, a 2-story boys' dormitory, a gymnasium, and a 2-story chapel stood on campus. Students came from 70 Texas counties, 12 other states, and Mexico. Some Bay View graduates went on to senior colleges and entered professions, many remained in ranching. In 1916 , a hurricane destroyed most of the buildings. A day school session was held the next winter in the chapel, but the college formally closed in 1917.
(1973)
Erected 1973.
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(Marker Number 6340.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 27° 52.217′ N, 97° 19.375′ W. Marker is in Portland, Texas, in San Patricio County. Marker is at the intersection of Elm Street and 1st Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Elm Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portland TX 78374, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker has been moved at least once, so this may or may not be the location of the college
Also see . . . 1. Article from the Caller Times. Part of the article is a picture of the class of 1901 (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
A newspaper picture of Bay View College Chapel (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Photographed By Jim Evans, October 6, 2018
3. Site of Bay View College Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2018, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2018, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.