Honoring the Past — Building the Future
1926 • 2026
Long before Temple became the community we know today, it was known as Botsford — a small early settlement built during the opening years of Cotton County history.
This historic newspaper article looks back at the very first school established in early Botsford (later Temple) around 1902.
According to the article, the original school building was a simple 24-by-40-foot frame structure. From those modest beginnings, Temple’s educational system would grow into one of the community’s largest investments and employers.
The first teacher was Miss Edith McGuire, who moved from Kansas to teach approximately 45 children during the school’s first four-month term. Her salary was reported as $55 per month.
By 1956, Temple schools had expanded dramatically:
- More than 500 students enrolled
- Twenty-four teachers employed
- Over $250,000 invested in school facilities
- One of the largest payrolls supporting local businesses
The article serves as a reminder of how quickly early Cotton County communities developed after statehood — growing from prairie settlements and small wooden buildings into thriving towns with schools, churches, businesses, and civic institutions.
Education played a major role in shaping Cotton County’s future, and these early schools helped build generations of local families, farmers, business owners, veterans, and community leaders.
As we prepare to celebrate 100 years of the Cotton County Courthouse in 2026, we continue preserving the stories of the communities and people who helped shape our county from its earliest days.
“Honoring the Past — Building the Future”
