Beeville in Bee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
West Side School for Mexican Americans
In the years before Texas became an independent Republic, Hispanic and Irish settlers established ranches and farms in this area. Their children received education at home or in community schools. Bee County organized in 1858, and in 1860 Maryville (Beeville) became the county seat. Beeville citizens incorporated in 1893 to form a school district, opening a new school the next year; St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church founded St. Mary's Academy in 1898. Outside the city, ranchers, who with their employees represented a majority of the area's Hispanic population, established schools on their property, and rural communities continued maintaining small schools.
The Beeville School District built the A.C. Jones High School in 1911. At that same time, the district built the West Side School for the city's growing Mexican American population. The two-room frame building served students until 1932, when a brick schoolhouse was erected one block west at this site, facing Jackson Street.
Mexican American students integrated into Jones High School in 1938, and lower grades integrated by the mid-1940s. During that era, two organizations, the American G.I. Forum and the League of United Latin American Citizens, began challenging inequality toward Mexican Americans. Their cases before Texas courts in the 1940s and 1950s barred segregation of Mexican American students. In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education did the same for African American students, who in Beeville attended the Lott-Canada School for many years.
Since integration the school district has continued to utilize the West Side, or Jackson, school building. The former school is remembered for its strong curriculum educators and students, who succeeded despite segregated conditions.
2nd plaque
Dedicated to the Men and Women who Struggled and Succeeded from Jackson West Side School.
From the Trevino Family and the Trevino Funeral Home, Inc.
Erected 2005 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13297.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Hispanic Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
Location. 28° 24.145′ N, 97° 45.202′ W. Marker is in Beeville, Texas, in Bee County. Marker is at the intersection of North Jackson Street and West 1st Street on North Jackson Street. The marker is located in front of the building by the sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 North Jackson, Beeville TX 78102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Railroad in Bee County (approx. 0.2 miles away); James Lincoln de la Mothe Borglum (approx. ¼ mile away); Beeville Bee-Picayune (approx. ¼ mile away); Commercial National Bank (approx. ¼ mile away); Praeger Building (approx. ¼ mile away); First Brick Building on Square (approx. 0.3 miles away); Douglas A4 Skyhawk (approx. 0.3 miles away); Beeville Post Office (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beeville.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.