Sam Houston Elementary School/Sam Houston Public School is another one of Galveston’s lesser known schools which only a few long time residents remember of. Sam Houston Elementary School was a negro school owned and operated by Galveston ISD from 1894 to 1965. This news article will explain what Sam Houston Elementary School was.
Sam Houston Elementary School (then Bath Avenue Public School) was built in 1884 by an architect named Thomas A Henry at total cost of $1,193.40. Bath Avenue Public School was operated by Galveston Public Free Schools/Galveston Public Schools (now Galveston ISD). Sam Houston Elementary School was built as an elementary school for black students. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22274126/)
The school building serving as Sam Houston Elementary School was 3 stories tall and had a basement underneath. Sam Houston Elementary School was located at the corner of 25th Street and Avenue P for many years and always had been.(Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034gm.g4034gm_g085391912/?sp=60&r=0.221,0.178,0.468,0.272,0)
In 1893, Harry Huntt Ransom he was promoted to a vice principalship at the Bath Avenue School, but was obliged to add to his earnings by teaching at a night school for boys. (Ref: https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/grihar)
Bath Avenue Public School re-opened as a primary school for children in the first three grades (grades 1-3) in the year of 1895. Consequently Bath Avenue Public School boasted an appearance of a kindergarten due to the you age of students enrolled. The teachers and pupils were all of the negro race. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/20707742/)
“This school is only for children in the first three grades, and consequently has boasts of an appearance of a kindergarten.”
The grades assigned to the Bath Avenue School were distributed among the three nearest schools. It has been necessary to form eight half day sessions in the Second and Third Districts in consequence of this distribution. This respect until the Bath Avenue School could be re-opened, and on motion all applications were referred to the committee on teachers. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21763927/)
Mr. Henry Lovenberg called the attention of the superintendent due to the bad conditions at Bath Avenue School in 1896. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/20275753/)
“Upon motion of Mr. Lovenberg the matter was left to the discretion of the committee on course of study and the superintendent, with power to act. Mr. Lovenberg sold that he would have to call the attention of the board to the very bad condition of the approaches of the Bath avenue and avenue L schools. He said that the condition was such that it was almost impossible for children to get to school in wet weather.”
Bath Avenue Public School was known as and referred to as 5th District Public School/5th District School by 1899. However the school had still been using the name Bath Avenue Public School. 5th District School was one of many names used for this school. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034gm.g4034gm_g085391899/?sp=78&r=0.222,0.21,0.47,0.273,0)
Bath Avenue Public School was almost wrecked and badly damaged during the Storm of 1900. Fortunately no people were killed. Overall Bath Avenue Public School was badly damaged due to being ripped open by the storm. Bath Avenue Public School is place where many residents and citizens took refuge and were saved at during the Storm of 1900. (Ref: https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/g-1771-ff5-1-10)
One entire wall of the Bath Avenue School dropped away, exposing a collapsed third floor with pupils' desks still attached in neat rows. Desks remained attached to the floor of the Bath Avenue School after the 1900 Storm hit Galveston Island on September 8, 1900. The school closed permanently after the storm had passed through and deterred away. (Ref: https://www.cram.com/essay/1900-Hurricane-Research-Paper/FJJ7XZWV3T)
Bath Avenue Public School (Sam Houston School) was known as one of the oldest schools in the city at that time. Bath Avenue Public School would be rebuilt years later down the line after removal of the damaged school building was complete. Bath Avenue Public School reopened after the grade raising in 1908. A new section of the building was opened the year Miss Rosenberg and Mrs. Smith began teaching there. Bath Avenue Public School (Sam Houston School) had about the same enrollment as at the time of the storm. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30139114/)
“Sam Houston is one of the oldest schools in the city. Known as Bath Avenue School in its early years, it was partially destroyed by the 1900 storm. Closed after the storm, it was not reopened until after the grade raising in 1908. A new section of the building was opened the year Miss Rosenberg and Mrs. Smith began teaching there.”
Bath Avenue School was reorganized into a white school for white students only in 1912. This decision was made by Galveston ISD.
“Bath Avenue School, Twenty-fifth street and Avenue P, is one of the small buildings used by the white schools. This section of the city will likely grow-within the next few years, however, and more room will be needed.”
Galveston ISD School Board held an election to rename Bath Avenue School in 1913. Mr. Henry Rosenberg felt that Bath Avenue School was a misnomer. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-apr-03-1913-p-4/)
“As Headquarters for the election of the Board referred to President True of electing names for the new name for the Bath Avenue school. As Bath Avenue has been formally christened Rosenberg was saying he felt it was that Bath Avenue School was a misnomer.”
A permit was issued to construct a brick addition to Bath Avenue Public School at a cost of $13,000 dollars in 1914. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=8t41AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA10&lpg=RA4-PA10)
Bath Avenue Public School was renamed to Sam Houston Elementary School in 1918. A new section of the building was opened the year Miss Rosenberg and Mrs. Smith began teaching there. The school was reorganized into a negro school for black students only in the year of 1918. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30139114/)
More additions were built on what was Sam Houston Elementary School/Sam Houston Public School through out the 20th century. Most additions built on the school were constructed during the 1910s and 1920s. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034gm.g4034gm_g08539195001/?sp=60&r=0.327,0.203,0.389,0.226,0)
Plans were made to demolish the old Sam Houston Elementary School in 1962. Galveston ISD’s plan was to replace the old Sam Houston Elementary School building with a single new-building of sufficient size to serve approximately 1,000 students. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30155218/)
The old Sam Houston Elementary School was demolished in or around 1966. Weingarten's opened their second location on the island in opened in 1967 at the former site of Sam Houston Elementary School. Arlan's Market took over once Weingarten's closed. An Arlan's Market currently occupies the site where Bath Avenue Public School once stood and is currently under construction. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14584538/)
Sam Houston Elementary School was located at 25th Street and Avenue P, Galveston, Texas, US 77550.
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