Grayson College

Grayson College (GC) is a community college located in Grayson County, Texas. GC's main campus is located in Denison, with branch campuses in Sherman, Van Alstyne and Bonham (the latter in neighboring Fannin County).

History

In February 2007, GC's Board of Trustees called for a $44,790,000 bond election to expand and improve the existing campus, which was held in May and the referendum passed. This was GC's first bond election since the one called to create the campus in the 1960s. Among other things, $25.7 million would be devoted to a new Career and Technical Center on the East campus, moving these facilities from their current West Campus location.

Campus

GC's main campus is located in Denison, with branch campuses in Sherman, Van Alstyne and Bonham (the latter in neighboring Fannin County). The main campus (consisting of the East Campus and the West Extension) is in a rural setting near North Texas Regional Airport. The East Campus is all new construction and houses the administration; the West Extension is composed mainly of buildings left over by the former Perrin Air Force Base, including an 18-hole golf course which the college now operates and vineyards which carry on the work of famed horticulturalist and Denison resident Thomas Volney Munson.

Grayson College (1887–1912)

Grayson College operated from 1887 to 1912 in Whitewright in southeastern Grayson County, Texas. It is not to be confused with Grayson College, located in Denison, which was founded in 1964.

History

Grayson College was chartered in 1887. Originally housed in a wooden two-story structure in downtown Whitewright, the college soon relocated to a new addition on the north side of town.

By 1904, enrollment had reached its highest level. That same year, a fire in the college's chemistry lab destroyed the lab, the library and the main building. In 1905, the college had rebuilt, but students and faculty had dispersed to other areas and enrollment from 1905 to the college's closure in 1912 never again reached the 1904 peak.

In 1914, J.M Carlisle from Arlington, Texas, opened the Carlisle Military Academy in the Grayson College building. It closed in 1917, and in 1918, Whitewright purchased the campus and moved the high school to the location.

The school district discontinued use of the main building in 1975, though other buildings and new additions were still in use. In 1976, the main college building was demolished. The college's bell is now located at Whitewright's high school campus.