La Porte in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
La Porte's First School for Black Children
(The Eastern Star Building)
Photographed by James Hulse, August 20, 2025
1. La Porte's First School for Black Children Marker
Inscription.
La Porte's First School for Black Children. (The Eastern Star Building). In 1909 (by vote of the trustees of the La Porte School District), a school was organized for the black children of La Porte. There was no building for this purpose, so school was held in the Baptist Church. The church building served as a school during the week and as a church on Sunday. A few years later, the Methodists, of the northside, built the building that is presently at this site. For some reason, the church did not survive and the building was sold to the La Porte Independent School District., In this one room building, grades one through six were taught by one teacher. In its first year of use, there were only ten students. Viola DeWalt, who was the first teacher at this school, taught here for more than thirty years. She is remembered for her outstanding social and religious work, as well as her status as a model in the community. Other teachers who made contributions to the development of the school were Marie Curry, Alice McDade, and Sweetie Evans., In 1943, the old Morgan's Point two room school building, which had been moved to the site of the La Porte Elementary School and used as a board room, was moved to its present site next to this building. The small school building was used for music and dramatics and the two room building served as the classrooms. At that time an additional teacher was added. School was held at this location for black children, until DeWalt Elementary School was built in 1953. Grades one through eight were taught in the new building and pupils above the eighth grade were sent by bus to Carver High School in Baytown, Texas (Goose Creek I.S.D.). The schools functioned in this manner until the La Porte schools were integrated in 1963-64., This building is now owned by the Eastern Stars Leading Light No. 376 and has been completely renovated. It stands, in this year 1988, as a model to the integrity of the pupils of the school.
In 1909 (by vote of the trustees of the La Porte School District), a school was organized for the black children of La Porte. There was no building for this purpose, so school was held in the Baptist Church. The church building served as a school during the week and as a church on Sunday. A few years later, the Methodists, of the northside, built the building that is presently at this site. For some reason, the church did not survive and the building was sold to the La Porte Independent School District.
In this one room building, grades one through six were taught by one teacher. In its first year of use, there were only ten students. Viola DeWalt, who was the first teacher at this school, taught here for more than thirty years. She is remembered for her outstanding social and religious work, as well as her status as a model in the community. Other teachers who made contributions to the development of the school were Marie Curry, Alice McDade, and Sweetie Evans.
In 1943, the old Morgan's Point two room school building, which had been moved to the site of the La Porte Elementary School and used as a board room, was moved to its present site next to this building. The small school building was used for music and dramatics and the two room building served as the classrooms. At that time an additional teacher was added.
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School was held at this location for black children, until DeWalt Elementary School was built in 1953. Grades one through eight were taught in the new building and pupils above the eighth grade were sent by bus to Carver High School in Baytown, Texas (Goose Creek I.S.D.). The schools functioned in this manner until the La Porte schools were integrated in 1963-64.
This building is now owned by the Eastern Stars Leading Light No. 376 and has been completely renovated. It stands, in this year 1988, as a model to the integrity of the pupils of the school.
Erected by Historian Virginia Norris and La Porte I.S.D.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 29° 40.167′ N, 95° 1.487′ W. Marker is in La Porte, Texas, in Harris County. It is at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and W Tyler Street, on the left when traveling north on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The marker is located in front of the historic school building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr, La Porte TX 77571, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
3. The view of the school and marker from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
