From the Matagorda County History & Genealogy page
rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/
In the spring of 1919 Dr. J. V. Brown, then President of San Marcos Baptist Academy, saw the need of a summer term of school in order for students to remove some of the deficiencies in their high school courses.
The problem was discussed from many angles with members of the Academy faculty, and the conclusion was reached that such opportunity for study in the summer must be offered.
It appeared feasible that a program of study and recreation should be set up in order that the enterprise would be interesting and attractive to pupils.
In considering the place to carry out such a combination of effort, it was found that the Baptist Encampment grounds at Palacios offered most excellent facilities.
Arrangements were made with the manager of the Encampment ground to that end.
Dr. J.C. McElhannon, now the head of the English Department at Baylor University, then Dean of the Academy, was appointed to supervise the first term of the summer school at Palacios.
The motto “Why Waste A Summer” was adopted and an advertising campaign was set-up.
The course of study covered practically all of the literary courses in high school with piano, and expression as the fine arts.
The first session of Camp Palomar opened in the summer of 1919, with an attendance of 72.
That first session proved to be so successful that the summer session was operated again in 1920, under the same supervision.
In 1921-22 Dean J. E. Abney was the supervisor. He was followed by Dean J. G. Smith in 1923.
Among the teachers who served on the faculty at different times were Misses Sara, Ada and Lou Williford, Mrs. Willie Laughter, J. E. Franklin, John Reed, Marion McGee, Mrs. M. S. Kerby, Miss Annie Blount, and others who names cannot be recalled by the writer, but whose work was in every way commendable.
This enterprise marked the beginning of recreational camps and summer schools for high school students in Texas.
Others have taken up the idea and expanded it until now, twenty years later, the idea has found popular approval and numerous such enterprises are carried out.
The management of the San Marcos Academy always appreciated the cordial response from the people of Palacios and near-by communities.
The summer session of 1920 opened with an attendance of 152.
The increase in attendance was due to the success of the first session and also of the students’ realization of the opportunity which the camp school offered them as a means of saving them a whole year, by completing two courses in ten weeks.
The session of 1921 started with a great change. Another camp school at Lampasas, Texas was organized, with an attendance of one hundred and ten, while the attendance of Camp Palomar increased to 180.
The session of 1922 has now opened with an attendance of eighty.
The decrease in attendance is mainly due to the financial depression of the times as parents are now, in many cases keeping their boys and girls at home and giving them work, in the place of sending them off to school.
Camp Marlamont opened with an attendance of one hundred. Captain Petty of the Tenn. Military Inst., is director of that camp in the place of Mr. J. G. Smith, who is taking special work in Chicago University.
Mr. J.E. Abney is now director of Camp Palomar in the place of Mr. McElhannon.
Mr. Abney is a very efficient teacher of wide experience. He was dean of San Marcos Academy during the spring term of 1922.
With the assistance of Mr. Franklin, who is dean of boys, we all believe that Mr. Abney will have a very successful summer.
The idea of a summer camp school originated with President Brown and is one of the several educational innovations, which have distinguished his term of office in the Academy.
Palacios Beacon, June 30, 1921
Palacios Beacon Progress and Historical Edition, October 19, 1939, Section D, Page 1