HomeMy WebLinkAboutLincoln High School 071703aLINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL
College Station, Texas
Willie Andrew Tarrow
Principal
Willie Andrew Tarrow, or "Jack ", as he was called, grew up on the family farm. He attended Prairie
View A &M College where he earned both a Bachelor and Masters Degrees. When he retired in
1965, he had taught in the school systems for forty years in Louisiana and Texas. Professor Tarrow
had taught at Prairie View A &M College before becoming a teacher at the A &M Consolidated Negro
School in 1943.
On June 13, 1946, the name of the school was changed from A &M Consolidated Negro School to
Lincoln High School and William A. Tarrow was named the new principal. In 1976, Lee Chapel
United Methodist Church in Bryan, Texas, honored him with a "W. A. Tarrow Day." A large number
of family, friends, former students, co- workers, church and educational leaders turned out to honor
him
He was the recipient of numerous educational and community service awards, one of which was the
Lane Bryant Award which was presented to him in New York City. We now have the W. A. Tarrow
Park dedicated in his honor on April 2, 1999, by the City of College Station Parks and Recreation
Department; the park located on Holleman Drive is the home of several baseball fields and surrounds
Lincoln Recreation Center which is the site of the former Lincoln High School. The City of College
Station named the W. A. Tarrow Street in his honor, both are located in College Station, Texas.
Professor Tarrow was married to the late Edna Harris Tarrow of Bryan, Texas, for more than thirty
years; he had one daughter, Delores Tarrow. Professor Tarrow passed away in 1978 leaving behind
a living legacy for those of us who knew and loved him and for those who are still to follow.
Submitted by DeFarris Gooden
& Lincoln Former Students Association
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bew'ie jasek
Completes Research
Started by Late Jean Clark Robinson
The enhanced history of Black Education in College Station is completed. Our thanks go to
Debbie Jasek who completed the work that was started by "Lincoln Former Student," Jean
Clark Robinson, former Director of the Lincoln Recreation Center. Ms. Jasek gave Mrs.
Robbie Clark her word that she would complete the research started by her daughter one of
our "Lincoln Former Students." We are pleased to include this history in the Souvenir
Booklet for Lincoln School Tenth Biennial Reunion 1999.
Ms. Jasek has been a member of the Historic Preservation Committee of College Station
since 1990. She is currently serving as the Chairperson and states, "I am interested in
preservation of history and documenting recent current events for future generations.
Debbie has lived in College Station since 1989 and works at the Texas Transportation
Institute at Texas A &M. She is a graduate of Texas A &M University, served in the United
States Army for 14 years prior to moving to College Station. In the U.S. Army, she served
as Chemical and Nuclear Weapons Officer.
Special thanks to Debbie for the time and effort put into this historical project which entails
important and meaningful information for the Lincoln Former Students and equally important
to former teachers and citizens of the College Station community.
We are elated to remember the late Lillian Clark Robinson for birthing a vision that
transferred her love for Lincoln High School into a great work that will be remembered by
all. Lincoln Center is available to residents within the Bryan/College Station communities
ranging in age preschool through senior adult age level. Supervised activities are sponsored
daily by the Lincoln Center Lincoln Center Director and Supervisor, Lance Jackson and
Center Staff.
Debbie Jasek can be reached at (409) 693 -0343 or 845 -5239.
Therefore, a more thorough and comprehensive history of Lincoln School and when formal
education for Blacks began in Brazos County is printed in your souvenir book, "Lincoln
School, Black Education in College Station."
Forward Forever, Backward Never
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J
1
Lincoln High School
(Black Education in College Station, Texas)
Many black citizens settled in Brazos County as a result of slavery. In 1864 there were 2,013 slaves
in Brazos County, during this time period formal education did not exist for blacks. Formal education
for blacks began in Brazos County in 1871 as a result of the passage of the Public School Act of
1871.
Education for black citizens who resided in the 55 square mile area which now constitutes the College
Station Independent School District (CSISD), in the late 1800's and the beginning 1900's was
provided by a network of small area schools. In 1910 there were 39 buildings in which black schools
were located throughout Brazos County. Twenty -two of the buildings were rented, and seventeen
were owned by the public. Many were small, 1- 4 room buildings, often located in or near black
churches. The scholastic enumeration papers submitted to the State Education Agency by the CSISD
noted that black students were attending schools in Shiro, Union Hall, Wellborn, College
Independent, and Dowling and Providence. One hundred twenty seven students attended classes at
the various black schools in the CSISD in 1923. (Two of the early school teachers in the Wellborn
Elementary School were Mamie Lightfoot and Nannie B. Hooks.)
In 1928 black schools located in the CSISD included Peach Creek, Sulphur Springs, Wellborn, Shiro,
Dowling and Providence, Union Hall, Washington Chapel and College Hills. For the next 15 years
the number of students attending classes grew steadily and by 1938, 246 students were attending
classes. All of these schools were elementary schools. The CSISD, which did not have a black high
school, had an agreement with the Bryan Independent School District (BISD) to allow students to
attend Kemp High School in Bryan. The tuition fees for students attending Kemp High School were
paid by the CSISD. The district also provided bus transportation to Bryan for the students.
In the 1930's the number of black students that attended high school in the district steadily increased,
as well as the cost of tuition and transportation for the students attending Kemp High School As a
result of these rising costs and in an effort to provide a more comprehensive education for the black
scholastic population of the district, discussions pertaining to constructing a black high school for the
CSISD began. On January 8, 1941, the CSISD Board of Trustees initiated discussions about the
need for a black high school in the district. Arguments for the construction of a high school included:
the significant savings over time in tuition and transportation costs and encouraging more area
students to attend high school. The Board decided to build facilities for a black high school in
College Station. A bond election was held on March 29, 1941, to acquire capital for building this
school among other projects.
The site was selected for the school and five acres of land were purchased from the Matthew and
Fanny R. Davis Estate for the sum of $100.00 per acre. The site which was located at the
southwestern city limits of College Station is now bordered by Eleanor and Holleman Streets. Plans
for the school progressed rapidly and the school opened its doors for the 1941- 42 academic year.
Initially, the school consisted of a building containing six classrooms, a principal's office and a home
economics cottage.
A curriculum for the black high school, which was initially known as A &M Consolidated Negro
School, was adopted. Courses approved by the school board included: English, History, Negro
History, Practical Arithmetic, Elementary Science, Vocation Agriculture, Industrial Shop, Home
Economics, Defense Training Work and Adult Maids. Mr. E. M. Cunningham was selected as the
principal for the school. Mr. Cunningham also served as the Vocational Agriculture teacher; other
faculty members were Thay Myrtle Owens, Edna Harris Tarrow, William A. Tarrow, A. J.
Thompson, and Ruth Cunningham.
Elementary schools located within College Station, as well as those from outlying areas were moved
to the new school. Grades 1- 11 were established in 1941, and grade 12 was added the next year.
The first graduates for the new school received their diplomas in 1942. They were: Lola V. Robison,
O. B. Townsend, Ethel Mae Eaton, Clarence Burrell, Dan McGill, and Dora Jewel Townsend.
The school continued to flourish and expand. In 1945, it was noted in a serial published in the
Battalion, that "the black school in College Station had a budget of $15,000.00 annually It employed
10 teachers and 2% children attended school that year ". A small plot of additional land located one
black from the original school site was purchased from Edward V. and Birdie Beatrice Hrdlicka on
October 13, 1945, for $600. This land was designated to be used as a football and athletic field for
A &M Consolidated Negro School.
On June 13, 1946, the name of the school was changed from A &M Consolidated Negro School to
Lincoln High School. William A. Tarrow was named as the school's new principal. In 1947 the
Vocational Agriculture and Industrial Shop class under the guidance of the Vocational Agriculture
teacher expanded the shop building by building an additional room." The material for this project was
acquired by dismantling buildings at the old Minter Springs school site.
Attendance at the school grew rapidly, and citizens of the city were concerned about the school's
cramped facilities. Specifications for a new High School Building on the Lincoln campus were drawn
and submitted by R. G. Schneider, Architect and Engineer, on December 1, 1948. This building
endeavor was a portion of an overall expansion ofA &M Consolidated facilities in 1948. In February
1949, C. L. Andrews was awarded the building contract for the four classroom building, which was
to be located west of the elementary school building.
Lincoln School served as the social hub of College Station's black community, and at least for a short
period of time as a spiritual meeting place. The College Station Church of Christ requested and
received permission from the school board to use rooms on the campus as a meeting place on Sunday
mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday or Thursday nights. In return the congregation agreed
to reimburse the school district for the utilities costs and any additional janitorial services required.
The Lincoln campus growth continued in an effort to better serve the community. The construction
of tennis courts for the Lincoln campus were a topic of discussion by school board members during
the spring of 1950. This proposal was approved by the A&M Consolidated School Board in May
19 Expansion of the school continued throughout the 1950's. The A &M school board discussed
future construction for Lincoln campus throughout the fall of 1950. On June 14, 1951, bids for an
industrial arts shop and science building were taken and the building was completed in April 1952.19
A number of milestones and events occurred involving Lincoln School in 1953. In January bids for
the construction of a Gymnasium were opened. The specifications for the gymnasium included the
requirement of piers for future expansion of the building and room for construction of a stage and
dressing rooms. Public School Week in 1953 was observed at the school with festivities that
included a radio program and an open house. Progress on the establishment of a library for the school
continued throughout 1952 and 1953. On September 4, 1953, Lincoln School was accredited by the
State Department of Education.
As the focal point ofthe community grew the personality ofthe school developed. The school colors
were purple and gold and the mascot chosen for the school was the panther. The school motto was,
"Forward forever, Backward never," and their school song was "0' Lincoln High."
0' Lincoln High
0' Lincoln High we love you true.
We love the purple and gold too.
To you we will always be true.
0' Lincoln High how we love you.
The purple and gold means much to me.
Let's try to keep our colors true,
We pledge a better school to be,
0' Lincoln High how we love you.
As the school grew the area that could be used as an athletic field was found to be inadequate. In
1956 discussions concerning a possible trade of 80,000 square feet of property owned by the school
district with a 120,000 square feet parcel owned by the Hrdlicka heirs. The land trade was
completed on February 11, 1957. A &M Consolidated paid the Hrdlicka estate $10.00 for the
additional square footage. This trade allowed the athletic fields to be located adjacent to the school
and to be more readily accessible to students. Expansion of the school continued with the addition
of a homemaking cottage. Bids for the construction of the homemaking cottage were announced on
July 17, 1956.
Discussions on plans for integration of the A &M Consolidated School District began on June 15,
1956. This was the first of a series of ongoing meetings and seminars on the subject. It was decided
to adopt a `wait and see attitude. " In the early 1960's the A &M Consolidated Independent School
District received notice that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was
requesting immediate integration of College Station schools. The plan for integration adopted by the
school district was a stair step method.
Under this plan, the black elementary grades would be fused with white elementary grades one grade
at a time. Every year a new grade would leave Lincoln and become integrated. Attendance at
Lincoln became voluntary. Two of Lincoln's teachers were assigned to A&M Consolidated High
School and several white teachers were relocated to Lincoln. Teachers for special education and
speech taught at both schools. By 1965, grades one and two had been phased into the A &M
Consolidated school system.
On January 20, 1966, a fire at Lincoln School was reported to the Texas A &M University Fire
Department. At the time the fire started, an adult education class was being held in one of the
buildings. The fire department was notified at 7:45 p.m., however the first truck did not leave the fire
station for 15 minutes. A second and third truck was dispatched 10 minutes later. These delays
were unexplained in all existing documents. The trucks were also hampered in reaching the fire by
large crowds that gathered to watch the fire. The fire, whipped by high winds was well established
by the time the firefighters reached the scene. Once the firefighters arrived the blaze was contained
in about an hour and no deaths were reported. The ten classroom high school building, principal's
office, teachers' lounge, and library were destroyed. Buildings that were not damaged included the
gym, two classrooms, auditorium/assembly hall, homemaking cottage, cafeteria building, science
laboratory, and industrial arts shop. The damage to the Lincoln School complex was estimated at
$65,000 and displaced 100 students. The majority of records and documents pertaining to the
school were destroyed in the fire. The cause of the fire was never determined. Although it was
speculated that the fire may have been set to force integration to occur more quickly, a search of the
local newspaper revealed a number of mysterious fires were set by an unknown arsonist during that
time period.
High school students were transferred to A &M Consolidated High School. The 38 students in grades
three, four, and five returned to class at Lincoln the Monday following the fire. Grades six, seven and
eight also attended Lincoln School, but reverted to departmentalized program with a seven period
day. These lower grades remained at Lincoln due to space limitations at the other schools in the
Consolidated system. Teachers from the school were reassigned.
At the end of the 1965 -66 school year, Lincoln's doors were shut, and the remaining students: were
integrated into the other A &M Consolidated schools. The school Board decided that it was not
feasible to rebuild the burned facilities.
In 1967, the City of College Station discussed what could be done with city property that was
adjacent to Lincoln. An informal agreement was made by the city and school district to temporarily
use the school property as a city park. The buildings remained unused, except for the occasional
gatherings of small church groups. In 1968, the school board agreed to lease the land and facilities
at Lincoln to the city for a period of 10 years. The City Council directed the Parks and Recreation
Committee to develop detailed plans for the property and buildings.
In 1969 the College Station Parks and Recreation offices were located at Lincoln. The facilities were
used for continuing education classes and served as a neighborhood recreation center. City property
adjacent to the school was used for an all purpose sports field. The homemaking cottage served as
the Parks and Recreation Department Office, and the industrial arts shop was converted into a shop
for the department.'
The property was renovated and restored in 1972. In 1978, the city bought the land from the school
district and the facilities were entirely refurbished. On June 6, 1980, the Lincoln Center was officially
dedicated and began to serve as a tribute to the school that once stood on the site. Lincoln Center
serves as a home for many community activities, the local Boys and Girls Club, a Senior Outreach
Program, Immunization Program and an Emergency Management Site.
The memories and influence of Lincoln School remain. The Lincoln school trophies are displayed
at the Center. The Lincoln Former Students Association was formed in 1982. The association, which
is comprised of students who attended Lincoln School, hold biennial reunions. The association
activities includes providing scholarships for black students and preservation ofthe history, heritage,
and memories of Lincoln School.
References
1. Burford, Michael Dwain, Up From Cotton, Bryan, Texas, 1988.
2. A &M Consolidated School District, Scholastic Enumeration and School Board Minutes, 1923.
3. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1923.
4. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1929.
5. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1938.
6. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 8, 1941.
7. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, March 31, 1941.
8. A &M Consolidated School District School Board Minutes, May 8, 1941.
9. "Lincoln Center in College Station: Essential Elements of Programming for Minorities, "page 16,
Texas Recreation and Park Society ".
10. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 24, 1941.
11. Hughes, W. L., "Your City, Eighth of a Series ", The Battalion, August 12, 1945.
12. Deed from Edward V. Hdrlicka and Birdie Beatrice Hdrlicka filed in the State of Texas County of
Brazos, 1945.
13. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 13, 1946.
14. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, October 7, 1947.
15. General Contract Specification for Facilities for the A &M Consolidated School District,
submitted to the A &M Consolidated School Board, December 1, 1948.
16. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, February 9, 1949.
17. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, March 5, 1951.
18. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, May 20, 1951.
19. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 14, 1951, and April 17, 1952.
20. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 5, 1953.
21. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, September 1954.
22. A &M Consol A &M Consolidated School District, Minutes, July 8, 1956.
23. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, February 11, 1957.
24. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, July 17, 1956.
25. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 15, 1956.
26. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 14, 1957.
27. Texas A &M University Fire Department, Dispatch Logs, January 20, 1966.
28. "Damage Totals $65,000," "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100 -Plans Studied Today," Bryan
Daily Eagle, Friday, January 21, 1966.
29. Balliew, Deborah Lynn, The City of College Station 1938/1988, page 43, Intaglio Press, College
Station, Texas, 1987.
30. Various articles from the Bryan Daily Eagle, January 19, 1966, through February 1, 1966.
31. "Consolidated Board Shuffles Pupils," Bryan Daily Eagle, Monday, January 24, 1966.
32. City of College Station, Council Minutes, April 19, 1967, and April 24, 1967.
33. City of College Station, Council Minutes, February 26, 1968.
34. City of College Station, Council Minutes, January 15, 1969, February 24, 1969, and March 24,
1969.
Other References
Randle, Irene Ethelind, A Comparative Study of Common Schools for Negroes in Brazos County,
thesis, Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College, Prairie View, Texas August 1944.
Balliew, Deborah Lynn, The City of College Station 1938/1988 Intaglio Press, College Station,
Texas, 1987.
Parks, Ann, History of the Citv of College Station, 1938 -1987, M.A. thesis, Texas A &M
University, College Station, Texas, May 1984.
Hughes, W.L., A Proiect in Rural School Consolidation and its Contribution to the Solution of
the Rural School Problems of Brazos County, M.S. thesis, Texas A &M College, 1922.
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