HomeMy WebLinkAboutLincoln School 100603P.O. BOX 12276
October 31, 1990
Dr. Charley chultz, Chair
Brazos ►.unty Historical Commission
1200 oode
lege Station, TX 77840
Dear Charles:
Sincerely,
cc: Steve Beachy
Cynthia J. Beeman
Historian
State Marker Program
(1 KLIS TUNNEL!.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711
RE: LINCOLN SCHOOL /BLACK EDUCATION IN COLLEGE STATION
I have just completed a preliminary review of the Lincoln School /Black
Education in College Station historical marker file, and there are some
questions regarding the subject's eligibility under the State Marker
Committee's age requirement.
In order to receive an Official Texas Historical Marker, a topic must have a
documented history dating back at least 75 years. (The requirement is 50
years for an historic structure.) The history as presented in this narrative
dates back only to 1941, and so, at first glance, would not qualify for a
marker. However, if you could expand the focus of the narrative to include
the history of black education in College Station dating back to at least
1915, the State Marker Committee would probably consider approving the
application. As it stands now, though, if we sent the application on to the
committee as currently written, we would have no choice except to recommend
that they reject it because of the age requirement.
Another route you might want to explore would be to have a private marker cast
for the school. We could put you in touch with the foundry which manufactures
the official state markers, or with other manufacturers of plaques.
I'll place this file on hold until we hear from you. If you have any
questions, please let me know. Thank you.
,c/ //c CSl «lc' c iyulcy r . ) zc:'CIi'ctftO //
(512)463 -6100
Lincoln School
Black Education in College Station
(1941 - 1966)
1
May 20, 1990
Education for blacks in present day College Station prior to and into the 20th century
was provided in small area county schools located primarily in churches. In the 1930s, one
such elementary school was at the Washington Chapel Baptist Church. During most of its
existence, the school operated with one teacher. High School students were bussed to Kemp
High School in Bryan. Two early teachers were Edna Earle Tarrow and Thay Myrtle
Owens. Another school was located at St. Matthis Church where Ruth Cunningham taught .
To better serve the black community's educational needs, the A &M Consolidated
School District acquired a site at what is now the corner of Eleanor and Holleman streets at
the southern limits of College Station for an all -black school. The new campus opened its
doors for the 1941 -42 academic year . The school was first known as the A &M Consolidated
Negro School.? Both the elementary and high school students were moved to the new school
along with students from several other one and two teacher schools from outlying areas
including Peach Creek, Wellborn, and Millican.
Facilities at the new site included a classroom building of six rooms, a principal's office,
and a home economics department . Grades 1 -11 were established, and grade 12 was added
the following year.'° There were 242 students enrolled. The faculty were : Elbert
Cunningham, principal, Thay Myrtle Owens, Edna Harris Tarrow, Willie A. Tarrow, A.J.
Thompson, Ruth Cunningham, and James Hawkins.
After several years, a woodworking shop was added by the woodworking classes.
Because of the lack of classroom space, two grades were combined in each classroom.
Student assemblies and gatherings took place at area churches. The new school's first
graduates, Lola V. Robison, O.B. Townsend, Ethel Mae Eaton, Clarence Burrell, Dan
McGill, Hattie Malone McGill, Dora Jewel Townsend and Emma V. Alexander received
their diplomas in 1942. Willie A. Tarrow became the school's new principal in 1946 and
remained in that position until the school burned in 1966. The name of the school was
changed to Lincoln School as the black population began to seek its own identity.
Students brought in from outlying areas were returned to their own communities.
Citizens of the city were concerned with the school's cramped facilities, and in 1946 a
petition was presented to the school board requesting a bond election for a new Negro high
school. Voters approved the bonds totaling $100,000 and a new high school was
constructed in 1949. This four classroom building was located west of the elementary school
building. Throughout the school's history, when a bond issue was passed by the white voters
for the white school, there was an allowance for improvements and additions to Lincoln on
the ballot. In 1950 -51 an industrial arts shop and science room/laboratory were built. A
homemaking cottage was constructed in 1954, and a year later a gymnasium was built. Also,
a small auditorium /assembly hall, library, and additional classrooms were added - -a four
room addition to the high school and a two classroom addition to the elementary school.
The school also had a lunch program. The food was prepared in A &M Consolidated's
facilities and sent to Lincoln until the industrial arts teacher built a small cafeteria for the
students 1
In the early 1950s the school received accreditation by the State Department of
Education. The faculty increased to 10 teachers, one home economics instructor, and one
shop teacher.
Athletically, Lincoln was a Class A school and played other black schools in their
district. Their district included Cameron, Caldwell, Rockdale, Rosebud, Taylor, Snook, and
Smith High Schoo1. In 1954, the 13 player football team went to the state playoffs. By
1960, the size of the football team had doubled. At first the team utilized the playing
facilities at Kemp High School for their games and later used A &M Consolidated's playing
field for home games. Lincoln's basketball team won the state championship in 1960. One
tradition of Lincoln was for the home team to feed the visiting team after every game. As a
reward for the athletes' hard work, they were fed a meal. A majority of the students who
played athletics would not have attended school if sports had not been available.
School colors were purple and gold, and their mascot was the panther. The school
motto was, "Forward forever, backward never." The school song was "Old Lincoln High. "
During the school's existence, the school served as the social hub of College Station's
black community and was more than a school -- it was family. Most of the black's social
activities revolved around the school. Everybody knew each other, and ministers from the
area churches were also involved 2
Teachers served as role models to their students, and they devoted their time and
money to try to make every student the best he or she could be. The teachers played an
integral part in their students' lives. They encouraged students to stay in school, and so did
pastors and parents. Students received support and encouragement from many sources.
This led many students to obtain higher education after graduating from Lincoln.
Parents and teachers were constantly in contact with each other since they worked and
socialized together. The teachers took a genuine interest in each of their students, and the
2
students were always kept busy while at school. These students were a tight -knit group
because they did everything as a group2 There were no attendance or discipline problems
at Lincoln. The teachers handled situations as they arose. Teachers also taught morals
along with the regular curriculum. Some of the teachers were from out of town and
boarded at local homes. There was low turnover of teachers at the school, and they were
also a tight -knit group. They held annual Christmas parties at one of the teacher's homes.
Elementary school students were taught language arts in the mornings and
mathematics in the afternoons. The high school had seven 45 minute periods each day.
Among the student organizations were the Tri -Hi -Y and New Homemakers of
America 3 Other events and activities included a band (in the early 1960s); school plays
held every spring in which each high school grade would present a play during the year;
junior /senior proms (held in the gym, previously held in the elementary school building); and
Negro History Week. Students also participated in the Interscholastic League
competitions held at Prairie View A &M University. May Day was celebrated the first
Friday of May. Other schools would visit Lincoln. A maypole was erected, and all students
decorated it with ribbons. The day would consist of sports - -a softball tournament, a
display, fair, and an open house. A play in the evening concluded the day.
Another of Lincoln's traditions occurred during senior graduation. There were two
ceremonies for the new graduates. One was the educational commencement ceremony,
where diplomas were presented to the students; and the other, the baccalaureate, served as
the spiritual side of graduation and was held at one of the area churches.
Before integration occurred in 1964, enrollment at Lincoln School was 350 students,
including 120 high school students. The A &M Consolidated Independent School District
received notice from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
requesting immediate integration of College Station schools. The school district responded
with a stair step method of integration. Under this plan a new grade would leave Lincoln
every year and become integrated into the white schools. The plan was to take twelve years.
Attendance at Lincoln became voluntary. Two of Lincoln's teachers were reassigned to
A &M Consolidated High School, and several white teachers were relocated to Lincoln 3
Also, teachers of special education and speech taught at both schools. By 1965 grades one
and two had been phased into the school system. Integration went smoothly for College
Station. In the integration process, Lincoln students gave up their individuality as a black
school 4
On January 20, 1966, at 7:49 pm, a fire at the Lincoln School was reported to the Texas
A &M University Fire Department. Weather conditions were cloudy, the temperature was
36 degrees, and winds were from the northeast at 15 m.p.h. The school was ablaze when
3
firefighters reached the scene. The Bryan Fire Department was also called to help fight the
blaze. Over 600 spectators watched, and many cars hampered fire efforts. At the time the
fire started, there was an adult education class in one of the buildings. The fire was well
established by the time firefighters arrived because of the long response time from the fire
departments and the high winds 4 The fire was contained within an hour, and no deaths
were reported. The high school building, principal's office, teachers' lounge, and high school
library were destroyed. The buildings that were not damaged included the gym, two
classrooms, auditorium /assembly hall, homemaking cottage, cafeteria building, science
laboratory, and industrial arts shop:" All records were destroyed in the fire. The cause of
the fire was never determined, but it was speculated that the fire was either the result of a
gas heater or arson 4 There was also speculation that the fire was set to force integration to
occur more quickly.
High school students were transferred to A &M Consolidated High School. The 38
students of grades three, four, and five returned to class the Monday after the fire. Grades
six, seven, and eight also attended Lincoln School, and they reverted back to a
departmentalized program with a seven period day. Teachers from the school were
reassigned. Lower grades stayed at Lincoln because of space limitations at other
elementary and junior high schools. Also, because it was the middle of the year, the school
board decided it was best not to uproot the students during that time. At the end of the
1965 -66 school year, Lincoln's doors were shut. The school board decided that there were
not enough students attending to make it feasible to rebuild the burned facilities and keep
the school open. Also, many of the black students wanted to be integrated.
Until 1968, the buildings remained unused except for the occasional gatherings of small
church groups. In 1967 the City of College Station discussed what could be done with city
property that was adjacent to Lincoln. In the interim, an informal agreement was entered
into by the city to temporarily use the school property as a city park. By 1968 a Council
Committee reported that the school board was willing to turn over the land and facilities at
Lincoln to the city on a 10 year lease. The City Council agreed that the Parks and
Recreation Committee should develop detailed plans for the property and buildings. By
the end of that year the city acquired the property, and in 1969 the city's Parks and
Recreation offices located at Lincoln. The facilities housed continuing education classes and
served as a neighborhood recreation center. City property adjacent to the school was used
as 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 5 The property was renovated and restored in 1972. In 1978 the city bought
the land from the school district, and the facilities were entirely revamped. On June 6, 1980
4
the Lincoln Center was officially dedicated and began to serve as a tribute to the school that
once stood on that site. School trophies are displayed at the Lincoln Center located where
Lincoln School stood.
The memories, graduates, and teachers of Lincoln School are still vivid and alive. The
Lincoln Former Students Association was formed in 1982. Currently the association has 13
active members and holds biennial reunions. It is comprised of students who attended
Lincoln School. The association provides scholarships for black students and is active in
keeping the history, heritage, and memories of the school alive. An area chapter was formed
in Dallas in 1989 and plans are underway to form another chapter in Houston.
Narrative by
Robert Marraro
5
Endnotes
1 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, by Robert Marraro and joint interview,
Feb. 16, 1990, with Ethel Steen Delley and Jerome R. Delley, by Robert Marraro.
2 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
3 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, by Robert Marraro.
4 Ibid.
5 A &M Consolidated School District Minutes, December 18, 1944.
6 Balliew, Deborah. College Station Texas 193811988, p. 36.
7 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
8 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel, by Robert Marraro.
9 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delleyand Ethel Steen Delley and interview,
Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, by Robert Marraro.
10 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, by Robert Marraro.
11 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
12 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
13 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel and interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey
Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
14 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
15 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, by Robert Marraro.
16 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
17 A &M Consolidated School Board Minutes, May 9, 1946.
18 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel, joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R.
Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, and interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle Owens, and
interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
19 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
20 ibid.
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
23 Ibid.
24 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
25 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Ibid.
31 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
32 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
33 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
34 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
35 Ibid.
36 Ibid.
37 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel, by Robert Marraro.
38 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel and interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay Myrtle
Owens, by Robert Marraro.
39 "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100- -Plans Studied Today," The Bryan Daily Eagle, Friday,
Jan. 21, 1966.
40 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel, by Robert Marraro.
6
41 "Damage Totals $65,000 ", "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100- -Plans Studied Today,"
Bryan Daily Eagle, Friday, Jan. 21, 1966.
42 Interview, March 16, 1990, with Gilbert A. Eimann, by Robert Marraro.
43 Joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen Delley, by Robert
Marraro.
44 "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100- -Plans Studied Today," Bryan Daily Eagle, Friday,
Jan. 21, 1966.
45 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Thay
Myrtle Owens, joint interview, Feb. 16, 1990, with Jerome R. Delley and Ethel Steen
Delley, and interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel by Robert Marraro.
46 Interview, March 16, 1990, with Gilbert A. Eimann and interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with
Taylor Riedel by Robert Marraro.
47 Balliew, Deborah. College Station Texas 1938/1988, pg. 43.
48 "Consolidated Board Shuffles Pupils," The Bryan Daily Eagle, Monday, Jan. 24, 1966.
49 Interview, Feb. 17, 1990, with Taylor Riedel, by Robert Marraro.
50 City of College Station Council Minutes, April 19, 1967; April 24, 1967.
51 City of College Station Council Minutes, Feb. 26, 1968.
52 City of College Station Council Minutes, Jan. 15, 1969; Feb. 24, 1969; Mar. 24, 1969.
53 Interview, Feb. 3, 1990, with Audrey Steen Williamson, by Robert Marraro.
7
Bibliography
1. Balliew, Deborah. College Station Texas 1938/1988. Intaglio Press: College Station,
1987. Pg. 36, 43.
2. "Consolidated Board Shuffles Pupils," The Bryan Daily Eagle. Vol. 90, No. 175,
Monday, Jan. 24, 1966.
3. "Damage Totals $65,000," The Bryan Daily Eagle. Vol. 90, No. 172, Friday, Jan. 21,
1966.
4. " Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100- -Plans Studied Today," The Bryan Daily Eagle.
Vol. 90, No. 172, Friday, Jan. 21, 1966.
5. "Lincoln School Book Count Slated Monday," The Bryan Daily Eagle. Vol. 90, No. 173,
Saturday, Jan. 22, 1966.
6. City of College Station, City Council Minutes. Sept. 8, 1941; Oct. 2, 1941; July 9, 1942;
Dec. 10, 1942; April 19, 1967; April 24, 1967; Feb. 26, 1968; Jan. 15, 1969; Feb. 24,
1969; March 24, 1969.
7. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes; Jan 8, 1941; Feb. 7, 1941;
Feb. 28, 1941; March 31, 1941; June 24, 1941; July 3, 1941; July 9, 1941; July 28,
1941; Aug. 19, 1941; Aug. 25, 1941; Sept. 26, 1941; Oct. 17, 1941, June 10, 1943;
Aug. 12, 1943; Nov. 9, 1944, Dec. 18, 1944; May 9, 1946; Jan 24, 1966; Feb. 28,
1966; Aug. 28, 1967; Nov. 20, 1967.
8. College Station Golden Memories Video Tape, 1988. Produced by the City of College
Station.
9. Interview with Gilbert A. Eimann, former State Fire Chief/Fire Marshal for Texas
A &M University.
10. Interview with Thay Myrtle Owens, former elementary school and home economics
teacher at Lincoln School.
11. Interview with Taylor Riedel, former superintendent of the College Station
Independent School District (1957- 1974).
12. Interview with Audrey Steen Williamson, 1953 graduate of Lincoln School.
13. Joint interview with Jerome R. Delley, former head football coach and social
studies/history teacher, and Ethel Steen Delley, elementary school teacher at
Lincoln School and 1953 graduate.
8
co
Proposed Historical
Marker Location
9c
Lincoln
Recreation Center
Lincoln Recreation Center
1000 Eleanor St.
College Station, Texas
ti
COLLEGE *STATION
1
I 0
0
CREEK
BRIDGE
CONCRETE WALK
NOT TO SCALE
.E
BACKSTOP
0
( STOP
LINCOLN GYM
BASKETBALL COURT
Lincoln Recreation Center
1000 Eleanor St.
College Station, Texas
LIGHT POLE • I
MONUMENT
( COLLEGE STATION. 1
PARKS 8 E xAS
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR Stephen Beach).
1
/
!r g€C3C3
I HOLLEMAN
WEST DISTRICT
MAINTENANCE
SHOP AREA
— —
— PARKING LOT
e'roposed
(ilistorical
Marker
Location
RECREATIONAL
AREA
CC
iztt PLAYGROUND
( LINCOLN CENTER)