History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

394

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

tablished there in I846-the first in the township. The postmaster was
Marcus Young. As Mr. Fagan induced the government to call the new
postoffice "Holly Mills," the origin of the village name is readily understood.
The original plat of the village of Holly was laid out by James G.
Mitchell in 1855 and in 1858 he made an addition which was called J. G.
Mitchell's northern addition. Several other additions were made previous to its incorporation by act of the legislature in I865.
VILLAGE SCHOOLS
The first school in Holly village was taught by Miss Caroline Norris
in the winter of I845-46. The old schoolhouse stood on Saginaw street
and was used for various purposes.
The first Holly Union school building was begun in the fall of 1867
and completed the following summer at a cost, including grounds and
furniture, of more than $26,000oo. The Union school was organized
in the fall of I868 and the school census of that year shows an enrollment of three hundred and seventy-five pupils and an average attendance
of two hundred and fifty-five. The cost of maintaining the school was
$2,280.
The teachers for the school year of 1876-77 were: Principal, William Thomas; preceptress, Miss Alice Cooper; grammar department,
Miss Kate M1. Miles, Miss Ella A. Farnsworth; primary department,
Mrs. Amelia Norris and Miss Georgia Holland. The total annual expenses of the school, including the salaries of teachers, janitor's wages,
fuel, lights, etc., were more than $3,000. The first building was a
large brick structure, three stories in height, surmounted by a belfry,
in which hung a fine bell. The school was located in the eastern part
of the village, occupying the south half of the block bounded by Maple,
Center, East and College streets.
The Union school building being deemed inadequate for the proper
accommodation of the large number of pupils, a one-story brick schoolhouse was erected in the southwest part of the village at a cost of $I,ooo.
The teacher for the school year of I876-77 was Miss Ada Plummer.
The attendance at the Union school has kept pace with the general
growth of population, and in I912 was placed at about three hundred
and forty-the high school enrolling over ninety pupils.
NEW UNION SCHOOL
Holly has from the beginning been noted for her good schools, and
recent developments in the educational system of the town have further
advanced her prestige in that respect. For a considerable period many
have felt that the old buildings were no longer adequate to the demands
of the place, and agitation for a new building to house both high school
and grades has this year been brought to a successful conclusion. As
a result, there is now (July I, 1912) nearing completion in this enterprising town, a $30,00o Union structure, one hundred and twenty-five
by one hundred and fifty feet-a building so unique and so nearly per