Westlake in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Possum Trot School
(1890-1905)
Photographed by Morgan Petermann, June 30, 2025
1. Possum Trot School Marker
Inscription.
Possum Trot School. Possum Trot was the popular name for the school house in Phillips School District No. 84, created on February 11, 1890, by dividing off the northern portion of Mount Gilead School District No. 5. The one room school was located on the southwest corner of North Pearson and Dove Road, not far from the nearby stream to the west. About 15 students, ranging from ages 8 to 13, attended the school which was open approximately 60 days each year as they were required to work the family farm during most of the year. Students paid tuition of $1 to $3 per month, used split logs for benches and slate boards for writing, and studied reading, spelling, and grammar. The teacher typically held a 2nd or 3rd grade certificate and earned $30 to $45 per month. In 1905, the school was closed and the district was divided between Mount Gilead School District No. 5 to the south and Sam's School District No. 6 to the east.
Possum Trot was the popular name for the school house in Phillips School District No. 84, created on February 11, 1890, by dividing off the northern portion of Mount Gilead School District No. 5. The one room school was located on the southwest corner of North Pearson and Dove Road, not far from the nearby stream to the west. About 15 students, ranging from ages 8 to 13, attended the school which was open approximately 60 days each year as they were required to work the family farm during most of the year. Students paid tuition of $1 to $3 per month, used split logs for benches and slate boards for writing, and studied reading, spelling, and grammar. The teacher typically held a 2nd or 3rd grade certificate and earned $30 to $45 per month. In 1905, the school was closed and the district was divided between Mount Gilead School District No. 5 to the south and Sam's School District No. 6 to the east.
Erected by Town of Westlake, Westlake Academy.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education.
Location. 32° 58.709′ N, 97° 12.226′ W. Marker is
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in Westlake, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is on West Dove Road west of N Pearson Ln, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 W Dove Rd, Roanoke TX 76262, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2025, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
