Gainesville in Cooke County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Booker T. Washington School
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, December 19, 2023
1. Booker T. Washington School Marker
Inscription.
Booker T. Washington School. . In 1880, two years before the City of Gainesville created a public school system for all its children, Island Sparks, a young mulatto, taught the Black children of the city. In 1886, the city built a frame school building on this site for the community's Black youth. Originally known as the Gainesville Colored School, the school adopted the name Booker T. Washington sometime before 1927. The original two-story facility was replaced in 1939 with a red brick, WPA project structure. Desegregation in 1965-66 resulted in the closing of Booker T. Washington as a Black institution.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986
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In 1880, two years before the City of Gainesville created a public school system for all its children, Island Sparks, a young mulatto, taught the Black children of the city. In 1886, the city built a frame school building on this site for the community's Black youth. Originally known as the Gainesville Colored School, the school adopted the name Booker T. Washington sometime before 1927. The original two-story facility was replaced in 1939 with a red brick, WPA project structure. Desegregation in 1965-66 resulted in the closing of Booker T. Washington as a Black institution.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 453.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 33° 37.778′ N, 97° 9.064′ W. Marker is in Gainesville, Texas, in Cooke County. Marker is at the intersection of Martin Luther King Junior Avenue and Mill Street, on the right when traveling west on Martin Luther King Junior Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Gainesville TX 76240, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, December 19, 2023
2. Booker T. Washington School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
