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Preservation Efforts Newspaper Articles Sanford Community Center |
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 Photo courtesy of Ernestine Heard Edwin |
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A beautiful new building is waiting for the colored children of Palacios Community. Everybody is happy and thankful because it is one of the most modern colored school buildings in the State of Texas. By careful study and managements the Palacios Independent School District erected a building which will cause lasting memories to linger in the mind of colored citizens. The school building will be open Saturday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock for public observation, but the dedication program will be held at 8:00 p. m. Prof. I. B. Kemp of Columbus, Texas is the invited speaker for the occasion and Mr. G. Johnson , County Commissioner, will bring voices from the Palacios School Board. Following the speaking and singing there will be open house and a barbecued chicken supper will be served free. Everybody is cordially invited to be present, and a special invitation is extended to teh white people to attend.
Palacios Beacon, September 28, 1939 |
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The new business women's circle met Wednesday night with their chairman, Mrs. Tom Friery. This is, as most of you know, a branch of the Addie Traylor Circle, especially for business women who want a fuller and more complete life--that are unable to attend afternoon programs...These women having taken for one of their projects, the task of helping to build a library at the colored school.
Palacios Beacon, April 13, 1939 |
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Palacios Beacon, August 3, 1939 |
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The Faculty for the 1939 - 40 school term as announced by Supt. Newsom is as follows: Negro School. Lola Mulkey
Palacios Beacon, August 17, 1939 |
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Work on the new school building for the Negroes will start Monday, according to present plans, T. W. Caffall, president of the Palacios School Board has informed us. This will be a very nice structure, the material costing about $1,000. The labor or as much as possible will be done by those wishing to work out delinquent school taxes. Notice of which will be found in another column. Palacios Beacon, August 17, 1939 Notice to Delinquent Tax Payers The board of trustees of the Palacios Independent School District will start construction , August 21, 1939, on a Negro School Building. The School Board has authorized me to advise you that any delinquent tax payers owing taxes to the School District who desire to work out the amount of their delinquent school taxes on this building may make application at once to Mr. R. P. Newsom or Mr. H. C. Campbell, and they will give you full details about the matter. R. H. Minton, Delinquent Tax Collector.
Palacios Beacon, August 17, 1939 |
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Superintendent Newsom reports the new building for the Negroes is about completed and will be ready for the opening of the term which starts October 2nd.
Palacios Beacon, September 14, 1939 |
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The Palacios colored school, under the direction of G. H. and Carita Sanford, presented a program over radio station KVIC Friday afternoon.
Palacios Beacon, May 2, 1957 |
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Prof. and Mrs. G. H. Sanford, with a group of students motored to Bay City Friday morning to represent Palacios in the Interscholastic County meet for the colored schools. The weather conditions being favorable the attendance was the largest that we have had in recent years. The enthusiasm of the participants ran high.
Although the
competition was much keener, the local school was victorious with
120 points toward the Championship Banner in Literary Events and
Track.
Every one came
home happy, and concluded it was a day well spent filled with
success, thus making it, the “End of a Perfect Day.” Contributed Palacios Beacon, March 25, 1948 |
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The Palacios Colored School outscored and outpointed the district as they won a beautiful literary trophy and the district plaque for Educational Exhibits during the past week.
The winners were as follows: The Colored School also placed first in the Musical Program rendered in the auditorium at Boling Saturday afternoon. The program was sponsored by Granville and Carita Sanford.
Palacios Beacon, April 16, 1953 |
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The Palacios Colored School captured six medals at the state meet held in Prairie View Saturday April 18. The medals were won in Senior Spelling and Music. The winners can be congratulated because many Class “C” schools have five or six teachers and special teachers in the field events. Enrollment in the local school is 50 as compared to 100 in most Class “C” schools. Next year schools with more than 50 students will become Class “B” schools, according to a report from Prairie State Negro College. Two local girls, Bessie Mae Polk and Shirley Garner, are first place winners in Senior Spelling for the state of Texas.
Palacios Beacon, April 23, 1953 |
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Registration Continues At Four School Through Friday; Cafeteria Not Ready Thirty-seven elementary and high school teachers are scheduled to return to the classrooms Tuesday, September 8, the opening day for classes for the Palacios Independent School District. Two more teachers are needed, a girl’s Physical Education teacher and a classroom teacher at East Side Elementary, according to Ralph P. Newsom, superintendent. Registration for the 12 grades will begin Thursday, September 3 when the third, sixth, ninth and 12th grades are scheduled to register for the 1953-54 school term. Grades two, five, eight and 11 will register Friday, September 4 with the first, fourth, seventh and tenth on Saturday, September 5. Grades one, two and three are to register at the new elementary school; four, five and six at the East Side Elementary; seven, eight, and nine at the junior high and the tenth, 11th and 12th, at the high school, Newsom stated. The plaque at Central Elementary School had not arrived Tuesday and its absence continues to hold up the acceptance of the new building by the school board. Of the 37 teachers already assigned, 13 are scheduled to perform at the new school. This list includes, Elizabeth Sisson, principal, Martha Foley, Sunshine Edwards, Eleanor Louderback, Leah Holloway, Thelma Batchelder, Hortense Wyatt, Elizabeth Scott, Clara Schley, Alice Barr, Irene Stevenson, Jennie Cooper and Virdie Swenson. Nine have been assigned to East Side Elementary, where Walter Lee Orr will be principal. Teachers include, Helen Clute, Mary Petersen, Josephine Ellis, Caddie Culbertson, Nellie Jane Luther, Oleta Huff, Mrs. A. W. Rothrock and Mary Griffin. At the junior high, nine teachers have been placed with J. G. Smith continuing as principal. Teachers are: Melba Sullivan, Allie Mae Whitley, Vivian Newsom, Belle McGlothlin, Sylvester Clark, Betty Jo Rusk, George Holst and R. D. Rawls. The high school lists includes, W. E. Sullivan, principal, J. J. Harbison, R. C. Shelton, Boyd T. Phillips, Mary Friery, Don Heft, Miss Myrtle Smith and Clark, who is also teaching at the junior high. Vic Kahlich and Dorothy Smith are the vocational instructors and Ralph P. Newsom, superintendent. The Colored School teachers are Granville and Carita Sanford. Seven new teachers are among this group with two being placed at the junior high, one at East Side Elementary and four in the senior high school. Betty Joe Rusk who was at Orange Grove, Mississippi last year, and R. D. Rawls, Grapeland, will be assigned to Principal Smith. Boyd Phillips, Rock Island, W. F. Ramsey, Wallace, Texas, Miss Myrtle Smith, Commercial teacher from Kingsville and Don Heft, new teacher, will be at the high school. Mrs. A. W. Rothrock is the only new teacher at East Side Elementary. Mrs. D. E. Reed, supervisor at one of the cafeterias in Conroe for six years, will be the new head of the cafeteria at the new Central Elementary School.
Palacios Beacon, September 3, 1953 |
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The Colored School has an enrollment of 55 students, Granville Sanford, principal, declared. A total of 60 are expected. Nine Colored students are attending high school in Bay City.
Palacios Beacon, September 10, 1953 |
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Additional Information on African-American Student Education in Palacios |
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During the 1928-29 school year....a Negro school has been maintained at a cost of approximately $300.00
Palacios Beacon, April 4, 1929 |
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...Negro school added...
Palacios Beacon, August 1, 1929 |
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The work of tearing down and removing the frame building on the southeast corner of the high school campus, was begun this week. The material is being taken to a location west of the S. P. railroad and will be rebuilt into a two-room building for the colored children, thus giving them a much better and commodious place for educational work. By the school board being able to purchase these corner lots gives the high school a much larger campus which can in time be made very attractive and give ample space for most all sports they may care to sponsor.
Palacios Beacon, December 10, 1931 |
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...Last year the board purchased the Callaway property on the south-east corner of the high school campus and a lot in the Negro section of the town. The building on the Callaway property was moved to the other lot and remodeled into a Negro school; the whole transaction costing $716.40. It was decided to spread the cost of this over a two-year period, so $292.31 of this amount has been paid from this year's funds. In addition to this, the board found it necessary to assume the obligation that was outstanding on the farm shop, which amounted to $149.02; and this has been paid from this year's funds.
Palacios Beacon, March 23, 1933 |
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Researched and written by Bonnie M. Benson, Edited by David Holubec I. CONTEXT: Education was a priority to the earliest residents of Matagorda County. School was held early in the settlement of most of the communities--usually under less than acceptable circumstances and with few materials. During the 1800s, private schools were the primary avenues for educating Matagorda County students. Many plantation owners employed private tutors for their children. Lack of education for the African American population has been a persistent thread throughout U.S. history. Prior to the Civil War, it was illegal in many states for African-Americans to be taught to read and write. There are the stories of slaves, usually the offspring of a white master and a slave mother, who were taught to read and write; however, this was not the usual case. Progressively, following the Civil War, it became customary to educate both white and African-American children. By 1904, there were 32 independent school districts; 19 of them instructed a total of 764 African American students. Conditions in the schools varied from homes to schoolrooms to barns. II. OVERVIEW: The first mention of a “Negro” school in Palacios is in the April 4, 1929 edition of the Palacios Beacon: “during the 1928 - 29 school year … a Negro school has been maintained at a cost of approximately $300.00.” Again, in December, 1931, the Palacios Beacon reported that the “work of tearing down and removing the frame building on the southeast corner of the high school (2nd and Moore St.) was begun this week. The material is being taken to a location west of the S. P. railroad and will be rebuilt into a two-room building for the colored children, thus giving them a much better and commodious place for educational work.” According to the oral history of Larry Deadrick, former student at the Palacios Colored School, this site was on Humphrey Street about a block and a half from the current site on 8th Street. By March, 1933, the Palacios Beacon reported that “the whole transaction cost[ing] $716.40. It was decided to spread the cost of this over a two-year period, so $292.31 of this amount has been paid from this year's funds.” This is the building which was later moved to 907 Eighth Street. It makes up the two rooms on the southern side of the property. The Palacios School Board approved a bid on materials needed to build an addition to the Negro School in August 1939. The bid from Grant Lumber Company was approved for $984.20. As construction got underway, a notice to delinquent tax payers ran in the Palacios Beacon. “The School Board has authorized me to advise you that any delinquent tax payers owing taxes to the School District who desire to work out the amount of their delinquent school taxes on this building may make application at once to Mr. R. P. Newsom or Mr. H. C. Campbell, and they will give you full details about the matter. Signed, R. H. Minton, Delinquent Tax Collector.” It is not known how many tax payers took advantage of this opportunity. In September, 1939 the new Palacios Colored School was dedicated, with Professor I. B. Kemp of Columbus, Texas as guest speaker for the occasion. Also invited was Mr. G. Johnson, County Commissioner and members of the Palacios School Board. Following the speaking and singing there was an open house and a barbecued chicken dinner was served. Everybody is cordially invited to be present, and a special invitation is extended to the white people to attend. The Faculty for the 1939 - 40 school term as announced by Superintendent Newsom is as follows: Negro School. Lola Mulkey. Due to construction delays, the Negro School term began on October 2, 1939. According to the April 1940 school census, there were 37 students from 6 to 16 years of age. By 1941, Professor Granville Sanford and his wife, Mrs. Carita Foley Sanford were both teaching at the Palacios Colored School. By the April 1946 census, enrollment had risen to 81 students from 6 to 17 years of age.7 Larry Deadrick, a student of Miss Mulkey and later of the Sanfords, said that they ‘raised the bar’ at the Palacios Colored School. A newspaper report from the Palacios Beacon confirms that statement. Colored School Takes First Place In County Meet – 1948 “Prof. and Mrs. G. H. Sanford, with a group of students motored to Bay City Friday morning to represent Palacios in the Interscholastic County meet for the colored schools. Although the competition was much keener, the local school was victorious with 120 points toward the Championship Banner in Literary Events and Track. Places won were: Deforest Carter and Gloria D. King, essay writing, 1st place Elrose Adams, Junior Declaming, 1st place Deforest Carter, Senior Declaming, 1st place Gloria Dean King, female solo, 1st place Leon Hebert, male solo, 1st place Olivia Polk and Lucy Fay Harris, junior spelling, 1st place Gloria D. King and Leon Hebert, senior spelling, 2nd place Liddie Irving and Bessie Mae Polk, sub junior spelling, 2nd place Lonnie Ray Grover and Leon Hebert, arithmetic, 2nd place Johnnie Polk, 440-yard dash, 2nd place Lonnie Ray Grover, 220-yard low hurdle, 3rd place. Everyone came home happy, and concluded it was a day well spent filled with success, thus making it, the “End of a Perfect Day.”All are looking forward to the District Meet to be held in Wharton, Texas, Saturday, April 3, 1948. According to the oral history of Gloria Dean King Watson, five tenth grade students graduated from the Palacios Colored School in 1949. They were: Deforest Carter, valedictorian, Gloria Dean King, salutorian, Lilly Dorsey, Lonnie Ray Grover and Leon Hebert. Gloria Dean King then moved to San Antonio to attend San Jacinto College. Teacher assignments at the Palacios Colored School for 1962-1963 were: Granville Sanford, principal, 7th, 8th and 9th grades Ruby Deadrick, 4th, 5th and 6th grades Carita Sanford, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. At this point, 56 students were registered, the same as last year. Broken down in classes by Principal G. H. Sanford as 20- in the first, second and third; 16 in the fourth, fifth and sixth and 20 in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The Sanford’s and Mrs. Ruby Deadrick continued to demand a lot from their students as the following excerpt from the Palacios Beacon shows. United Fund Drive Declared Big Success “It is always a pleasure to report on any undertaking which turns our successful, Col. Ronald M. Harris, local chairman stated. The 1962 United Fund campaign in Palacios was very successful, thanks to the fine help of many people. Without this fine co-operation it would have been impossible to attain the goal which was set for us….. The Public Schools were all assigned directly from the headquarters in Bay City. The report from there points out an item of which we may be proud. The Colored School in Palacios, in relation to quotas assigned, turned in about four times the average for all schools in the area. Palacios Colored School was active in the community presenting programs to the public such as the announcement below from the Beacon.” Pupils of West Side School to Present Program Tue., May 28, 1963 A cordial invitation is extended to the public to attend the program, whose motto is "Aiming at the Higher Goal," to be presented at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday, May 28, at the West Side School. The program sponsored by G. H. Sanford, principal, Ruby Deadrick and Carita Sanford, teachers, will include a review of the students' achievements. There will be an activity program, including games, a brochure of the 1962-63 school program, a talent program, exhibits by the home economics department and refreshments. Integration finally came to the Palacios schools in 1963. According to the oral history of Doris Davis Heard, a group of parents met with the Palacios School Board at the November, 1962 meeting to request that the schools be integrated. Mrs. Heard addressed Mr. Woody Wilson, President of the School Board. She said: “To finish high school, you’ve got to go out of town and ride a school bus to Bay City. I pay my school taxes here in the Palacios School and I think this is where my children should go.” When Mr. Wilson asked her what she was planning to do about it, she told him “whatever you make me do, as far as you make me go. My children aren’t getting half the education I got and I think that’s a sin and a shame. Integration is the law of the land.” He responded that the Board would have a meeting and get to her.
Schools to Integrate Finances, Accreditat'n Force Action By
Board “Voluntary desegregation is occurring in more and more sections and communities. Members of the Palacios Independent School District Board of Trustees...took the big step Monday night and after much study, pro and con, voted to integrate in all grade levels at the opening of the 1963-64 school term. This decision was reached for an economical reason and to retain our school accreditation standards. On May 8, Supt. Ralph Newsom received a letter from W. R. Goodson, director of the Division of Progressive Development and School Accreditation.” The following are excerpts from the letter, which are self-explanatory: "Your accreditation reports for 1962-63 are in the process of being reviewed.” "Our analysis of the class schedule for the Palacios Colored School, grades 7-9, seriously questions the possibility of this school being able to meet accreditation standards.” "The following factors should be noted, (1) Scheduled time for each subject per day is only 30 minutes; (2) Individual subject courses are not taught each day; (3) Grades 7-9 are self-contained thereby making the possibility of fulfilling standards difficult 6 in grades 7 and 8, and almost impossible in grade 9 (4) The qualification of the teacher in the numerous subjects taught is questionable. Particularly in grade 9." “The budget for operating the Palacios Colored School for the 1962-63 school year was $30,064.78 In order to meet the state requirements, which would have to be done to keep our school accreditation standards, an estimated additional $18,522.11 would be needed for the 1963-64 school year. Two additional teachers would have to be hired to teach in the Palacios Colored School, and as students in grade 9 would be transported to Bay City along with students in grades 10-12, the Palacios School District would have to pay at least one half the cost of an additional teacher they would have to hire; plus providing a bus, driver and operation cost of transporting the students. As approximately 53 colored students will be attending the schools here, the board of trustees favored integrating on an economic basis.” Ruby Jean Adams was the first African-American to graduate from Palacios Senior High School in 1964. Ernestine Heard Edwin attended Palacios Colored School through 8th grade. For her freshman year of high school, she took the bus to Bay City to attend Hilliard High School. Then, with integration, she returned to Palacios and entered Palacios Senior High School and graduated in 1965. After May 1963, the Palacios Colored School closed. By 1967, the building had transitioned to a day care center called Rainbow land. In 2012, Rainbow land moved to a new site on Sixth Street. III. SIGNIFICANCE:
Plans are underway by the Palacios Community Coalition to save
the Palacios Colored School and the adjoining park. This
building represents 80 years of Palacios African American
history and community life. Its history stands as a tribute to
the legions of African American students that were educated
within its walls and given the opportunity to better their
lives. |
