Downtown in Texarkana in Miller County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Mary C. Patterson

1872-1945

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025

1. Mary C. Patterson Marker

Inscription.
Mary C. Patterson occupied a unique place in the history of education in Texarkana because of the Patty Hill Private Grammar School which she operated from 1924 to 1943. Mrs. Patterson’s Patty Hill School included a kindergarten and the first through sixth grades. Hundreds of young people were numbered among her pupils. Trained as a kindergarten teacher at Columbia University, New York City, Mrs. Patterson was secured in 1899 by the Mother’s Child Study Group as teacher of the city’s first kindergarten which was located in a one-room building on what is now Kline Park. In 1924 she opened Patty Hill School in the 600 block of East 9th Street. A selfless and dedicated educator, Mary C. Paterson stood for a achieved the highest standards of the teaching profession. Mrs. Patterson was a talented teacher who had a natural leadership ability, and she was able to combine tender loving care with discipline. Mrs. Patterson mastered the principle of combining a strict learning of the fundamentals with a liberal education that stressed creativity.

Erected 1991 by Texarkana Pioneer Descendants Association and The City of Texarkana, Arkansas, Parks and Recreation Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

33° 25.851′ N, 94° 2.34′ W. Marker is in Texarkana, Arkansas, in Miller County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East 9th Street and Beech Street, on the right when traveling east on East 9th Street. The marker and monument are located at the center of Kline Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 416 East 9th Street, Texarkana AR 71854, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Gulf Coastal Plain.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Scott Joplin (approx. ¼ mile away in Texas); James Bowie (approx. ¼ mile away in Texas); Texarkana (approx. ¼ mile away in Texas); Central Christian Church (approx. 0.3 miles away in Texas); Old Broad Street Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); United States Post Office and Courthouse (approx. half a mile away in Texas); Texarkana World War I Memorial (approx. half a mile away in Texas); Pat Cupp and The Flying Saucers (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Texarkana.

Also see . . .
1. Mary Crowder Patterson (Find A Grave).

( State Line Cemetery, Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas, USA)

(Submitted on October 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Henry Ross Perot (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: American businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He was the founder and chief
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025

2. Mary C. Patterson Marker
Inscribed on the granite pedestal:
Donated by
Tennison Temple Keeler
1990
The greatest heritage
is that of enlightenment
executive officer of Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems. He ran an independent campaign in the 1992 U.S. presidential election and a third-party campaign in the 1996 U.S. presidential election as the nominee of the Reform Party, which was formed by grassroots supporters of Perot's 1992 campaign. Although he failed to carry a single state in either election, both campaigns were among the stronger presidential showings by a third party or independent candidate in U.S. history.
Perot was born in Texarkana, Texas on June 27, 1930. Perot attended a local private school, Patty Hill, before graduating from Texas High School in Texarkana in 1947. From 1947 to 1949, he attended Texarkana Junior College, then entered the United States Naval Academy in 1949.

(Submitted on October 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025

3. Mary C. Patterson Marker

Looking north through Kline Park. East 9th Street crosses in the background. The markers on both sides of the center acknowledge donors and supporters for the building of this monument plaza.

Mary C. Patterson Monument Dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025

4. Mary C. Patterson Monument Dedication

(mounted on the north side of the pedestal)This Monument and Park Improvements were dedicated on June 1, 1991, the Rev. David B. Davies officiating. The Project was sponsored by the Texarkana Pioneer Descendants Association under the auspices of The City of Texarkana, Arkansas, Parks and Recreation Department, Dixie Horning, Director.

The Project, proposed by James M. Tennison, was approved on June 24, 1989, under this Administration: Bobby Ferguson, Mayor; Board of Directors: Dwight Bailey, Hubert Easley, Danny Gray, Jim Nicholas, Nelson Shaw, Londell Williams.

Contractors: Allen Monuments, Inc., Two States Construction Company, Inc., Freeman Nurseries, Inc., and Freemen Lawn Sprinkler.

Mary C. Patterson Project Donations image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025

5. Mary C. Patterson Project Donations

(mounted on the east side of the pedestal)This Project was made possible entirely by donations from pioneer descendants and friends and former students of Mary C. Patterson and Patty Hill School. The monument and surrounding walk were given by Tennison Temple Keeler and the Perot Foundation. All other construction and landscaping were given by the T. L. L. Temple Foundation and the Webber Foundation. Seating, information plaques, and a Permanent Fund for continuing maintenance and preservation of the monument and park were provided by gifts from the Permanent Fund Donors. Donated Professional Services: Monument Design - James M. Tennison and Jimmie Allen; Project Design – Ann Bintliff Gooch; Consultant – David R. Lamb; Landscape Design – Brent Freeman; Topographic Survey – Hall Engineering, Inc.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.