Topeka in Shawnee County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

A Playground and Community Center

Photographed By Adam Margolis, July 22, 2015

1. A Playground and Community Center Marker

Inscription.

Like all of the city's schools, students and local residents used Monroe School for multiple activities. A student club called "The Downbeat" held dances in the combined gym and auditorium. Local churches and civic organizations used the space for meetings and to host pageants and plays. Neighbors browsed the school library and attended lectures given by public speakers.

The school did not own an outside playground until the Board of Education purchased a strip of land of this side of Monroe Street in 1943. Students later recalled the boys wrestling and playing tag on the new playfield before school started, while the girls jumped rope or enjoyed a game of hopscotch. The park service invites you to continue this tradition of recreation by enjoying the field today.

[Inset photo captions read]
Baseball has long been a pastime for many Topeka residents.

Miss Laura's Coffee Shop, on the corner of Monroe and 15th Streets, served as a popular location for students to buy lunch because the school did not have a cafeteria.

Erected 2014 by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

39° 2.278′ N, 95° 40.57′ W. Marker is in Topeka, Kansas, in Shawnee County. Marker is on SE Monroe Street south of SE 15th Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1515 SE Monroe Street, Topeka KS 66612, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Monroe School (a few steps from this marker); Pillars of the Community (a few steps from this marker); Standing Up for Their Rights (a few steps from this marker); How to Heat and Cool an Old School (within shouting distance of this marker); Monroe School Neighborhood (within shouting distance of this marker); A "Separate But Equal" School? (within shouting distance of this marker); A Turning Point for Equality (within shouting distance of this marker); On This Site (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Topeka.

Also see . . .
1. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. (Submitted on March 12, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. African American Topeka. (Submitted on March 12, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. 1934 Topeka Colored Directory at Kansas Memory. (Submitted on March 12, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2015

2. A Playground and Community Center Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 6, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 2. submitted on March 12, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.