Winnie Street School is yet another one of Galveston’s forgotten schools. Not so much history is known about Winnie Street School. This news article will explain what Winnie Street School was. Winnie Street School was also known as Third District School/3rd District School.
Winnie Street School opened around 1855 at Winnie Street and 31st Street. However the first the incarnation of Winnie Street School did not last long due to the opening of Miss Jones’s School in 1873. Miss Jones’s School succeeded what was known as Winnie Street Public School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23393910/)
“Prof. Gartner is teacher of German, and was hard at work with some of the young learners. Miss Jones’s School succeeds the Winnie street public school.”
Winnie Street School re-opened somewhere around 1875. This time Winnie Street School was a 1-3 school where students in grades 1 through 3 were enrolled. Winnie Street School would act as a 1-3 school throughout the rest of the 19th century. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=481929)
Miss Katharine R. Jones was principal of Winnie Street School/Third District School in 1882. She would remain principal of the school until being replaced by Professor Covington. Miss A. H. Kauffman had been the assistant principal while teaching second grade classes. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=1075579)
The boundaries of Winnie Street School embraced a portion of the city lying west of 25th street amid north of Avenue I. Winnie Street School was the smallest school in the city of Galveston. (Ref: The Galveston Daily News, Page 5, Thursday, October 6, 1887)
“Winnie Street School embraces that portion of the city lying west of Twenty-fifth street amid north of Avenue I. The school building is located on avenue and Thirty-first street, and is the smallest school in the city, embracing but three classes. Mr. A. T. Flavin is principal of this school and' has two assistants”
Professor Covington was principal of Winnie Street School in 1885. He would remain principal of the school for 2 years. Miss Banks taught the 1st grade (first grade). Miss Kauffman taught the 2nd grade (second grade). Professor Covington taught the 3rd grade (third grade). (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=481929)
Mr. A. T. Flavin replaced Professor Covington as principal of Winnie High School when he was made principal of Winnie High School and Winnie Street School in 1887. He would remain principal of the school for many years. Winnie Street School acted as a feeder to the Third District School/Avenue L School. Winnie Street School had an enrollment of 100 pupils and the smallest percent of attendance of any otter school in the city. The attendance too showed substantial improvement. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23136149/)
All students above the 3rd grade (third grade) in the Winnie Street School had attended Third District School/3rd District School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24075940/)
Galveston Daily News reported about Winnie Street School and Avenue L School being renamed to Goliad School in 1904. Goliad School was a negro school for black students. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30153753/)
One half of Goliad School aka Goliad Elementary School was converted into a junior high school called Goliad Junior High School in 1947 during the 1947-1948 school year. Both schools were in the same building. Galveston ISD made ensured both schools used the same building. Goliad Junior High School was established. Galveston News reported Goliad Junior High School as being “a junior high school for negro children”. (Ref: Galveston News, 8-B, October 7, 1962)
Goliad School was renamed to Morgan Elementary School sometime in the 1970s. From then on, the school would operate as Morgan Elementary School until 1978. Jewell Banks was principal of Morgan Elementary School until 1978.
A report of the education committee includes a discussion of the proposed closing of Goliad School was reported in the Galveston Daily in 1973. However nothing happened. Goliad School still continued to operate. (Ref: Galveston Daily, Page 6, Saturday, March 17, 1973)
Goliad School was deemed inferior physically and academically by the Galveston ISD school board in 1975. However Galveston ISD still allowed classes to resume inside the school building. The school was renamed L. A. Morgan Elementary School (Morgan Elementary School) in the year 1975. From then on, the school would operate as Morgan Elementary School until 1978 when the school closed. (Ref: Galveston Daily, Page 2, Thursday, May 28, 1981)
A lady named Jewell Banks was made and named principal of Morgan Elementary School. Jewell Banks served as principal of Morgan Elementary School until 1978.
1978 was the year when Morgan Elementary School and Goliad School were forced to close down due to racial desegregation. These schools were found in violation of the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision deeming racial segregation unconstitutional.
“HEW has been displeased also with "de facto" segregation in Goliad and Carver elementary schools. Although the district has gone into federal court to seek relief from certain HEW desegregation regulations, the integration issue remains a point of controversy within the district.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16918877/)
Racial imbalance and aging infrastructure are the reasons why Goliad Elementary School and Goliad Junior High School were forced to close down.
Goliad School was sold at the closing end of 1978. The Galveston ISD School Board accepted the high bids for the sale of Lovenberg Junior High School, Goliad Junior High School, and Goliad Elementary School on the night of Wednesday, December 6, 1978. Thomas J. Green, of Green's Funeral Home, had the highest bid of $62,000 for the Goliad School. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, Page 1, Thursday, December 7, 1978)
Sometime before 1994 is when Goliad School/Winnie Street School was demolished. All that was left was a vacant field of grass by 1995. In 1997, Galveston Housing Authority's Hoskins Square low-cost home development/subdivision was built and developed on the old Winnie Street School site at 31st Street and Avenue L. Funding was through the Public Housing Assistance Corp. of the Galveston Housing Authority. Nearly 21 homes were built on the site at the one-block area.
Today nothing remains of the former Winnie Street School site. All remnants have been paved over and removed from vicinity.
Winnie Street School was located at Winnie Street and 31st Street, Galveston, Galveston, Texas, US 77550.
No comments:
Post a Comment