History behind the Stilwell School in Port Arthur, Texas explored and explained.

Stilwell School is one of Port Arthur’s lesser known schools that have been forgotten with time. Not much history is known about this school or can be discovered about this school at all. This news article will attempt to explain what Stilwell School was.

The school called Stilwell School existed in what was formally known as a small town, neighborhood, and encampment called Stilwell Heights. Stilwell School served the small town, neighborhood, and encampment of Stilwell Heights along with Port Arthur during the early 20th century. Stilwell School was owned and operated by Port Arthur ISD.

Stilwell School was located at the corner of 16th Street and Dallas Avenue in Port Arthur, Texas. The building which served as Stilwell School was a 2-story tall wooden building with a wrap-around front porch gable supported a roof connected to a ⅓ rd around/of the building. The school had utilities such as heating and lighting. Stoves provided heating for the school when needed. A wooden staircase located in the back served as a fire exit. The entire building was constructed out of wood. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034pm.g4034pm_g087031915/?sp=17&r=0.493,0.563,0.345,0.192,0)

Stilwell School was an elementary school which educated students in grades 1 through 4. Classes stopped after 4th grade and 5th grade students were sent to Webster School (Webster Elementary School) to attend classes. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/94857041/)

“Pupils of the first, second, third and low fourth grades, south or Mobile avenue, will attend the Webster school; same grades in Stilwell Heights apart of at Stilwell Heights school; same living north, of Mobile, report to high school building.”

According to a Sanborn map from 1918, the address for Stilwell School changed from 314 Dallas Avenue to 308 Dallas Avenue sometime prior to 1918. However the label “Stilwell School” does not appear anywhere. This could have meant Port Arthur ISD closed and shut down Stilwell School sometime prior to 1918. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034pm.g4034pm_g087031918/?sp=17&r=0.537,0.574,0.329,0.192,0)

According to a Sanborn map from 1923, no trace(s) of Stilwell School could be found, discovered, or revealed by 1923. This could have meant Port Arthur ISD had the school building which served as Stilwell School auctioned off to a private homeowner or had the building demolished. A 2-story dwelling or residence appears on the upper left-hand corner and single story structure appears on the far right. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034pm.g4034pm_g087031923/?sp=18&r=0.468,0.943,0.439,0.255,0)

Stilwell School was located at the corner of 16th Street and Dallas Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77640. The address for Stilwell School was 314 Dallas Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77640.