Frank Johnson School is one of the many forgotten schools of San Antonio, Texas. There is some documentation about the history of this school which exists mostly online however. This news article will explain and explore the history behind Frank Johnson School.
Frank Johnson School operated under several different names over the years such as Flores Street School, South Flores Street School, South Flores Street School House, South Flores Street Schoolhouse, Johnson Grammar School, Johnson Public School No. 7, and First Ward School. This school is not to be confused with the Navarro School on San Fernando Street that was located further south of downtown. Those are the named which Frank Johnson School was also known as under. Frank Johnson School was an elementary school which was Frank Johnson Elementary School.
Jose Cassiano purchased land from the Mexican government in 1818. The old Cassiano homestead was erected in 1818 next to where Frank Johnson School/Flores Street School once stood. The old Cassiano homestead stood the test of time before being demolished in 1867. San Antonio ISD purchased land from Jose Cassiano to erect a school building. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39259094/) 
Now the Frank Johnson School was not always the “Frank Johnson School”. Frank Johnson School was originally known as the First Ward School and later Flores Street School.
Flores Street School was established and organized by San Antonio ISD in 1868 as the First Ward School. Flores Street School was constructed as a 2-story stone building with 2 rooms on each floor. A hall and stairway were located in the middle through the center of the building. A balcony loomed over the front entrance. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=b1tNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA369)
According to a news article from the San Antonio Daily Express, Flores Street School had nearly a hundred students attending school in 1874. (Ref: San Antonio Daily Express, Page 3, Wednesday, November 25, 1874)
One double gallery was located in the rear. Flores Street School was rebuilt in 1875. In 1879, Flores Street School was ranked as the best public school building in the city. There were 5 rooms at the time. This school was ungraded throughout the 19th century. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=b1tNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA369)
Vicenta Edmunds taught in 1877 at Flores Street School, and she may have instructed children as a volunteer in the Mission San José granary. (Ref: https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Yturri-Edmunds-history-dates-nearly-300-years-11084020.php)
The establishment of Flores Street School provided the opportunity for children of poorer families to attend school. Tejanos had attended both private and public schools for some time. Flores Street School was specifically designed for Hispanic students at that time. (Ref: https://libguides.utsa.edu/c.php?g=528531&p=3614489)
Flores Street School was also under the management of the Germans. The two principals, Professor Perren and Mrs. L. de L. Wilrich, were teachers of exceptional ability. Although the patrons of the Flores Street School favored co-education, it had been looked upon all through the 1800s as undesirable, and many separate schools were established for girls. (Ref: https://www.uiw.edu/sanantonio/TheRoleofWomeninNineteenthCenturySanAntonioChapter2.html)
A daily paper commented on their accomplishments thus:
The knowledge we have of both principals justifies us in recommending their school to the favorable notice of parents who have either boys or girls to educate. If good morals, refined manners, knowledge acquired by study and extensive travel and last, but not least, the reading of character so as to apply to discipline judiciously, with a firmness tempered by kindness can make good teachers, they will be found at Flores Street School.
This school was originally a boys school and became co-educational in consequence of numerous applications from patrons and friends. Mrs. Wilrich taught German, Latin, history, and geography. Monthly tuition terms were $2.50, $4.00, and $5.00, according to class.
Flores Street School went from being a 1-4 school that educated students in grades 1 through 4 to a 1-5 school where students in grades 1 through 5 were educated. Flores Street School started offering classes for 5th grade students. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-light-sep-03-1887-p-1/)
“This is particularly true of the school superintended by Miss Cotton, which should have a fifth grade opened for pupils in the fifth and sixth districts. A fifth grade will be opened this year in the Flores Street School for the children of the seventh and eighth districts, and of this the parents in those districts will please take notice. The schools open auspiciously for good work, and it is much to be regretted that work is so sadly hindered by insufficient school accommodations.”
Mrs. Ted Hatton Milburn came to San Antonio in 1894 as a teacher in the old South Flores Street School under the tutelage of Miss Sara King. Miss Sara King had been a teacher at South Flores Street School also. Mrs. Milburn was the daughter of Thomas C. Coley and Martha Hardin Coley. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19346917/mrs-ted-hatton-milburn-obituary/)
According to information from a news article printed in the San Antonio Light newspaper, Flores Street School was upgraded from being a 1-6 school that educated students in grades 1 through 6 to being a 1-7 school that educated students in grades 1 through 7. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-sep-11-1904-p-2/)
Flores Street School was renamed to Johnson School sometime around 1905. However the exact date of when the school was renamed is unknown.
San Antonio Gazette reported that Frank Johnson School was the oldest school in the city in 1906. Frank Johnson School was the largest and most picturesque building. Classes were thoroughly organized. In the way of manual training, basketry and cane seating were emphasized at this school. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/38699583/)
According to the San Antonio Gazette, M. C. Shiner was the presiding officer of Precinct 1 and for Flores Street School in 1907. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/38699993/)
Flores Street School was renamed to a grammar school called Johnson Grammar School in 1908. Johnson Grammar School was also known as Johnson Public School No. 7. However this school was still was being referred to as Flores Street School. Johnson Grammar School is not be confused with the Johnson School aka Johnson Center on South Laredo Street. 
Ralph H. Cameron designed a two-room addition for Flores Street School in 1916. Construction began in 1916 was completed in 1917. At this time, Flores Street School was known as South Flores Street School. Local newspapers had been referring to this school by that name. Flores Street School stopped appearing on maps by 1920. However the school continued operating through the 1920s. (Ref: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utaaa/00008/aaa-00008.html)
Installation of the shower baths were added to Johnson School in 1920. Temporary arrangements for bathing the pupils were made until the money necessary was allocated. No bathtubs were installed though. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39263666/)
San Antonio ISD and City of San Antonio sold the property which Johnson School was located on to Mr. I Teiffer in 1923. The transaction was one of the worst deals the School Board has transacted. So that meant the school was shut down by then. San Antonio ISD sold the property in 1924. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39253036/)
“The City Commission for a time threatened to refuse to execute a quitclaim deed to the old Johnson School property on South Flores and Gilbeau Streets. The Board of Education traded the Johnson property as part of consideration for the Electric Park site. The members of the Commission finally decided to "wash their hands'' of the whole matter and granted a quit claim deed to the Johnson property.”
The old Frank Johnson School was demolished by 1925. A condominium complex called Encore SoFlo has built over where Frank Johnson School/Flores Street School was once extant. No trace of Frank Johnson School remains today.
Frank Johnson School was erected in 1926 at the location of 1811 South Laredo Street and opened in 1928 as Frank Johnson Elementary School for grades 1 through 7. Frank Johnson Elementary School operated at this location from 1928 to 1983.
San Antonio ISD shut down Frank Johnson Elementary School in 1983 due to the opening of other schools in the school district. Declining enrollment was another factor. Ramiro P. Estrada Achievement Center used the school building for 10 years from 1995 to 2005. Ramiro P. Estrada Achievement Center moved to South Zarzamora Street in late 2005. San Antonio ISD sold Frank Johnson Elementary School to private companies in 2012. (Ref: https://schools.saisd.net/page/010.about)
Frank Johnson School was located at South Flores Street & Old Guilbeau Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78204.
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