Wilson Elementary

The History of Wilson Elementary School

A history given by Carl Lee Tanburg, former Primera resident and student and Norman Roseff, with the Harlingen Historical Preservation Society

Pierre and Marie Wilson of Hennipin County, Minnesota early after 1900 bought several thousand acres of brush-land extending from what is now Combes to near the Guiterrez Middle School (on Wilson Road) and west to Tamm Lane and over to Hwy. 107. The Wilsons subdivided the land and marked roads out in the woods and sold tracts of land. They called it the Wilson Tract

Later, in 1915, a school district was organized, and they named it Wilson Tract School. They built a big, two room wooden school in 1916. Lilian Elizabeth Weems (Baldridge) was its first teacher.

However, starting in 1926 and constructed up until 1928, the two roomed wooden building had grown into the two-story $40,000 building called Wilson Independent School which at this point employed about 11 teachers. The former wooden building was used as a cafeteria.

There were several accounts while researching the history of Wilson Elementary of a person with whom the school can be associated. It seemed that this person made quite an impact so it seems fitting to mention him. His name is Dolores "Shorty" Garcia. For 38 years this hardworking gentleman ably served the school as its custodian. For many years, he, and he alone, conducted the many maintenance and landscaping jobs. He was beloved by students, teachers, and parents alike, for he put a very human face on the Wilson Tract School especially as it was integrated into the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District In 1948

Around 1965, the old Wilson School at Primera is closed. Its elementary students are bused to either the Dishman or Stuart Place School and its higher grade students went on to attend Harlingen.

However, in 1972, the old Primera Wilson School and its additions were torn down to make room for the construction of a new school complex. The cornerstones of both the 1915 building and the 1926 addition were saved and are displayed in the current Wilson Elementary School. The new school was constructed in 1974 and is the site of the Wilson Elementary School we know and love today.

Primera is in what was formerly known as the Wilson Tract, which was a part of the land designated as“Cameron County school land”in 1882.  In November, 1908, a retired doctor named Pierre Wilson and Frank Kibbe bought Survey 25. They hired an engineer and surveyor, to survey the tract and stake it out in 40-acre blocks.  The land was put on the market, and“homeseekers" began coming in and buying. Dr Wilson built a home, over to the northeast, on land that was slightly elevated. This was to serve as a retirement home for his wife and himself, but sadly he did not live very long. Survey 25 tract of land was given the name Wilson Tract in honor of the old doctor.  In 1915, a two-story brick school was built at the center crossroads of the land tract.  In 1926, additions to the school were added.  Early 1927, Southern Pacific Railroad came through and laid a 135 mile rail line in the area. In submitting names for the station the railroad officials rejected  the name "Pomelo" and promoted the name "Primera" for it was the“first”stop out of Harlingen. Thus the two-story brick school became "Primera Wilson School" and was the nucleus of what later grew into the little town of Primera.  The year 1965, Primera Wilson School  was close and later in 1972 was torn down.  In 1974, HCISD begin the construction of a new Wilson Elementary School Campus. The new Wilson Elementary was completed and opened in 1975, replacing the old buildings that had been condemned and torn down in the early 70's.  

January 29, 1976  Valley Morning Star from Harlingen, Texas · Page 58