Melissa’s first schoolhouse was built on land acquired in 1882 by trustees James Graves, John Gibson, and George Fitzhugh, pioneer settlers of the area. Because the deed required the property to be used forever exclusively for educational and religious purposes, the one-room building also hosted community worship services on Sundays. Mary Huckerston was the first teacher and taught all grades, and the first principal was F.O. Jones, who later became a professor at Texas Christian University. As Melissa grew as a railroad center, a new brick schoolhouse was completed at this site in 1910 through the efforts of W.N. Osburn, a longtime advocate of the town’s educational program. After a tornado severely damaged the structure on April 13, 1921, it was rebuilt. Continued growth in the district through consolidation with nearby schools created the need for another new building, which was constructed in 1939-40. For more than a century, Melissa School has provided an educational program reflecting the community’s ideals, and its graduates have included many business, professional, and civic leaders.