Beeville in Bee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Lott Canada School
Photographed By James Hulse, August 29, 2021
1. Lott Canada School Marker
Inscription.
Lott Canada School. . With few formal schools available, education for many African Americans in the 19th century came through church instruction. In 1876, the first African American school in Bee County began in Stephen Canada's store seven miles north of Beeville. The following year, Stephen Kennedy built a small frame schoolhouse. County commissioners granted Canada and Kennedy's petition to create "Colored Community School Twelve." Beeville provided separate schools for Caucasian, African American and Mexican American students. In 1908, Beeville school trustees bought land for a new African American school from R.H. and Clara Berry. In the frame schoolhouse completed on North Burke Street, principal J.R. Lockett introduced courses in agriculture and science and matched the studies of other Beeville schools., A 1929 fire destroyed the building, and students were taught in temporary quarters near the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. Construction on a new school began in 1931. Financial assistance from the Julius Rosenwald Fund of Chicago helped complete a brick schoolhouse with four classrooms and an auditorium. The school was named to honor Mose Lott and Allen Canada, carpenters who built the previous school which burned. The school offered ten grades, with additional years added through the 1940s. Gradual integration of Beeville schools began in 1955, with Lott Canada students attending A.C. Jones High School and the elementary school. In 1964, the Lott Canada School closed, though the school district continued to use the campus for other functions. The Lott Canada Alumni Association organized to preserve the heritage of African American education in Beeville.
With few formal schools available, education for many African Americans in the 19th century came through church instruction. In 1876, the first African American school in Bee County began in Stephen Canada's store seven miles north of Beeville. The following year, Stephen Kennedy built a small frame schoolhouse. County commissioners granted Canada and Kennedy's petition to create "Colored Community School Twelve." Beeville provided separate schools for Caucasian, African American and Mexican American students. In 1908, Beeville school trustees bought land for a new African American school from R.H. and Clara Berry. In the frame schoolhouse completed on North Burke Street, principal J.R. Lockett introduced courses in agriculture and science and matched the studies of other Beeville schools.
A 1929 fire destroyed the building, and students were taught in temporary quarters near the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. Construction on a new school began in 1931. Financial assistance from the Julius Rosenwald Fund of Chicago helped complete a brick schoolhouse with four classrooms and an auditorium. The school was named to honor Mose Lott and Allen Canada, carpenters who built the previous school which burned. The school offered ten grades, with additional years added through the 1940s. Gradual integration of Beeville schools began
Click or scan to see this page online
in 1955, with Lott Canada students attending A.C. Jones High School and the elementary school. In 1964, the Lott Canada School closed, though the school district continued to use the campus for other functions. The Lott Canada Alumni Association organized to preserve the heritage of African American education in Beeville.
Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15488.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.
Location. 28° 23.889′ N, 97° 45.431′ W. Marker is in Beeville, Texas, in Bee County. Marker is at the intersection of West Corpus Christi Street (U.S. 59) and North Burke Street, on the right when traveling west on West Corpus Christi Street. The marker is located in front of the old school building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 900 West Corpus Christi Street, Beeville TX 78102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The view of the Lott Canada School Marker from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.