4th District School aka 4th District Public School and Fourth District School is one of Galveston’s many forgotten schools. Only so much history about this school has been documented. This news article will explain and explore the history behind 4th District School.
4th District School aka 4th District Public School/Fourth District School was established by Galveston ISD in 1873 at the corner of Broadway and 38th Street (Avenue J and 38th Street/Avenue J and 37th Street/Broadway and 37th Street) as a 2 story building with 3 different basement which went 12 feet underground. The boundaries of the campus included part of the city lying east of 17th Street and south of Broadway (Avenue J). Students enrolled in grades 4 through 7 attended 4th District School.
E. G. Littlejohn was the principal and Miss May Perry was the principal's assistant. Miss May Perry was one of the very first principal's assistants of this school. Miss Lucy Campbell was the teacher for grades 2 and 3. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22651503/)
According to Galveston Daily News, A. T. Davidson was principal of 4th District School beginning in 1884. A. T. Davidson would serve as principal throughout the 1880s. Mrs. Pool served as vice principal. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21315725/)
Beginning in 1885, students enrolled in grades 5 through 8 started attending 4th District School. Students above the 4th grade attended this school by then. According to Galveston Daily News, “All pupils above the fourth grade in this district will attend the school.” Later on only students enrolled in grades 5 through 7. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24075940/)
Fourth District School/West Broadway School was getting dilapidated and overcrowded by 1889. A meeting was held over a discussion about construction bids to build a new building for Fourth District School on Sunday, August 18, 1889. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, Sunday, August 18, 1889)
However the construction of the new Fourth District School/West Broadway School was indefinitely postponed due to a lack of funds and the fact that building costs would exceed the budget limit. Galveston Daily News reported that, “the building of the West Broadway school be indefinitely postponed for want of funds.” in their newspaper. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, The building of the West Broadway School Indefinitely Postponed, August 23, 1889)
Galveston Daily News reported that the building costs would exceed the budget limit. Ultimately all bids were rejected and returned to the respective bidders.
“the lowest bid for the construction of the West Broadway school building exceeds the limit heretofore fixed by the board, all of the bids for the construction of the same be rejected and returned to the respective bidders as they may call for them. The motion unanimously prevailed.”
A claim was presented from N. J. Clayton, architect, for preparation of plans and specifications of the proposed West Broadway school for $79,677 being 8 per cent on $46,559, the lowest estimate, said claim being accompanied by a letter from Mr. Clayton explanatory thereof. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23403028/)
“The charge for said superintendence not exceeding the sum of $2 per cent on the cost of construction of sad building, and is to include all necessary.”
Construction of Fourth District School/West Broadway School began in February 12, 1891 after much delay and budgeting issues 2 years prior. Galveston Daily News reported, “Work has been commenced on the now West Broadway school building.” on the date of February 12, 1891. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, Page 15, February 12, 1891)
Fourth District School/West Broadway School was rebuilt entirely using brick masonry. The building was solid brick structure which had an attractive facade at the front. Construction of Fourth District School/West Broadway School was completed in early June of 1891. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30180499/)
Stairways for West Broadway School were built at a cost of $525 dollars each. This included all and any fire escapes. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30183222/)
Thomas McHenry was the architect responsible for designing the school and structural architecture. Thomas McHenry had built the West Broadway School out of plain brick with a bond in the sum of $410,000 dollars with assistance from Mr. Dave Freeman and Mr. Barnes. That is why there was brick curbing around the sidewalk at one point in existence. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30160203/)
Various improvements were needed at 4th District School. That is why the school board of Galveston ISD had kept Thomas McHenry as their architect for their schools and other buildings with the assistance from Mr. Dave Freeman and Mr. Barnes.
However there was/were still various improvements needed at the West Broadway School even as school was in session. So various renovations and improvements were made to the building that served as West Broadway School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30187004/)
The Fourth District School/West Broadway School was a solid brick structure erected under supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Public Free Schools at a cost of $50,000. This building is modern in equipment, has a good library of healthy juvenile literature, and accommodates 16 teachers and about 800 pupils of all grades up to the 7th grade. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14087755/)
E. G. Littlejohn was elected to became the principal of/for 4th District School again in 1891. He would serve as principal throughout the 1890s. Mrs. Rembert taught all of the high grades. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30183657/)
“The president stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of considering the question of the election of a principal for the West Broadway school.”
Bids were submitted for a heating apparatus were rejected during a special session with the board of school trustees that same day.
“On motion of Mr. Trueheart, all bids hereto for submit led for placing heating apparatus in the West Broadway school building are rejected, and the matter of providing a system of heating for the building was recommitted to said committee for their further consideration and report. On motion of Mr. Lovenberg the board adjourned.”
Mr. Ray Lovenberg and Mr. Trueheart were chairmen of West Broadway School as recorded by Galveston Daily News. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30183270/)
Mrs. Pool was transferred to the Third District School to serve as vice principal in beginning of August 1893 as stated by Galveston Daily News. “Mrs. Pool, vice principal of the Fourth district school, was transferred to the Third district school as vice principal.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21756763/)
Louie Peterson had been serving as the janitor of this school and had been for many prior and afterwards. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22270170/)
Galveston Daily News reported of Mrs. Rembert teaching all high grades in 1893. Mrs. Rembert taught all of the high grades for many decades. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21760691/)
According to Galveston Daily News, West Broadway School has had an annual enrollment of 642 pupils during the 1800s. Some of the students were transferred to Third District School due prevent overcrowding caused by high enrollment. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21760552/)
THE FOURTH DISTRICT or West Broadway school has had an annual enrollment of 642 pupils. It was found necessary to use the library room for recitation purposes during the early part of the year, but a transfer of students to Third District School. 
Terms were divided by grade due to the high attendance rate in order to avoid overcrowding. Each grade level had a different term schedule. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21763927/)
“The organization of the schools has been almost entirely free from friction this year parents and pupils almost without exception have accepted without question the decisions of the teachers and principals In the matters of assignment to classes and grades. Quiet and orderly attention to study and excellent discipline have pervaded all the schools and almost every grade from the opening day. It became necessary during the first week of the term to divide the entering grade in the West Broadway school, and during the second week to divide the corresponding grade in the Third district school.”
According to articles from the Galveston Daily News, it was estimated that the hurricane of 1900 did $5,000 dollars worth of damage to West Broadway School. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, 1900)
Many Galveston residents used the West Broadway School for shelter during the hurricane of 1900 which destroyed most of Galveston. West Broadway School provided shelter for many families and their children. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22216582/)
4th District School was renamed to West Broadway School in 1904. The school was renamed again later that year to Alamo School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30153753/)
West Broadway School had boasted a Mothers Club called Mothers' Club of the West Broadway School by 1904. The Mothers Club had a sizable population. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30181758/)
According to a Sanborn map of Galveston dating back to 1912, 4th District School was a 2 story building with 3 different basement which went 2 stories underground. One basement went 12 feet underground. Despite being renamed to West Broadway School and later Alamo School, this explicit map clerkly labels West Broadway School/Alamo School as 4th District Public School. (Ref: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/g-i/txu-sanborn-galveston-1912-77.jpg)
Galveston Daily News reported in 1972 that the Fourth District School/West Broadway School/Alamo School had been torn down and demolished during the 1950s. However exact date and reasons are unknown. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, Texas Citizen George L Moskowitz Tells Story Of 1900 Hurricane, Page 19, September 21, 1972)
Today StarFine Furniture & Mattress is located were once 4th District School was and continues to operate their business presently speaking. (Ref: https://starfinefurniture.com/)
4th District School was located at Avenue J and 38th Street, Galveston, Texas, US 77550. The modern address for 4th District School is Broadway and 38th Street, Galveston, Texas, US 77550.
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