Festus in Jefferson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Douglass Cooperative High School

1939-1955

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 13, 2024

1. Douglass Cooperative High School Marker

Inscription. This site was home of the Douglass Cooperative High School from 1939-1955, which is an important part of Festus history. Formed in 1939 under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Shropshire, Douglass School served as the only high school for black students residing between Webster Groves, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO. The all-black high school educated thousands of African American students throughout east central Missouri welcoming students from Festus, Crystal city, Herculaneum, De Soto, Bonne Terre, Farmington, Fredericktown, Potosi, Ironton, St. Mary's and Ste. Genevieve. The school launched the careers of esteemed educators Willa & Adam McCullough, Bernice Thompson and Margaret Gill among others. The school closed in 1955 after Douglass School students were integrated into area school districts, led by Festus Superintendent Mr. Ralph Tynes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 38° 13.031′ N, 90° 23.495′ W. Marker is in Festus, Missouri, in Jefferson County. It is on South 4th Street west of South Adams Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at Shropshire Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 S 4th St, Festus MO 63028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor

and in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Star School (approx. 0.7 miles away); Crystal City Centennial 1911-2011 (approx. 0.8 miles away); U.S. Air Force F-84 Thunderstreak (approx. 0.8 miles away); In Memorian (approx. 0.9 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Jefferson Memorial Post 3777 (approx. one mile away); Austin-Pitcairn Roadside Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); In Memoriam (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Festus.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 13, 2024

2. Douglass Cooperative High School Marker

Marker is located at Shropshire Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 892 times since then and 194 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.