Elkhart in Anderson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of Henry High School
The school was named for its first principal, George H. Henry, and it opened in January 1938. Students in grades 7-11 met at one end, and the other side housed elementary grades. Students could take basic classes, as well as science, history, homemaking, farming and shop. After Henry retired in 1946, H.J. Hurt served as principal.
In 1939, the first five students graduated from Henry High School which remained open until 1963, when it merged into Green Bay High School in Tucker. Elementary classes remained until integration with Elkhart schools in 1967. Since 1980, former Henry High students have met biennially to celebrate their educational roots and the community's historic efforts in providing for its children.
Erected 2005 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13082.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1938.
Location. 31° 37.203′ N, 95° 35.465′ W. Marker is in Elkhart, Texas, in Anderson County. Marker is on West Parker Street (State Highway 294) 0.1 miles west of Davis Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located north of the highway on the former grounds of the school. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elkhart TX 75839, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Elkhart (approx. 0.4 miles away); First United Methodist Church Of Elkhart (approx. 0.9 miles away); Replica of Pilgrim Church (approx. 1.9 miles away); Old Pilgrim Church (approx. 1.9 miles away); In Honor of the Veterans Buried at Pilgrim (approx. 1.9 miles away); a different marker also named Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church (approx. 1.9 miles away); Miles Bennett (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkhart.
Also see . . . Education For African Americans. Texas State Historical Association
The education of African American children during the late period of slavery, after 1800, was sporadic and unreliable in Texas as in other Southern states. Formal education was practically nonexistent for African Americans. Education most often consisted of on-the-job training in a variety of occupations. Before the Civil War most people believed education of African Americans would lead to discontent and rebellion. A few did support instruction and often volunteered their services. According to the census of 1850, 58,558 African Americans, representing 27.5 per cent of the population, lived in Texas. Fewer than 1 percent, or 397, were free, of which 217 were believed to be literate, 20 were in school, and 58 were illiterate adults. There are no actual statistics available on the 58,151 enslaved African Americans, but available data indicate that a portion of the slave population had been instructed in the basic rudiments of reading and writing.(Submitted on October 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on December 8, 2022, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.