 Sherman Daily Democrat Monday Evening, March 24, 1919 pg. 1 FRED DOUGLASS SCHOOL BURNED The Fred Douglass school for colored children at College and East streets was totally destroyed by fire between 12 and 1 o'clock this morning. The building was a 2-story frame, valued at about $15,000. The loss is partially covered by insurance. H.O. Harrington, president of the Sherman Board of Education, stated this morning. The blaze at the Fred Douglass school followed by about an hour the burning of a warehouse in the rear of Lucas' Store at College and Broughton street, 2 blocks further east on College. It was the first large fire in Sherman this year, and the fifth run made by the Sherman fire department this year, the fire earlier in the evening being the fourth. Three of the five runs have been made this month. Jones Andrews, chief of the Central fire department, stated this morning that, in his opinion, the blaze at the Fred Douglass school did not catch from the earlier fire. The flames were discovered in 2 places in the east wing of the building, and speard rapidly over the entire building. The dry wood of which the building was constructed, made a very intense fire, which impeded to some extent the work of the firemen. None of the school equipment was saved, everything going up in the flames. Only a shell of the southeast corner wall remains standing, and the remainder of the building is charred mass. The firemen did good work in preventing the spread of the fire to the adjacent houses and buildings. WILL REOPEN SCHOOL TOMORROW Only one day will be lost by the Negro school children of the city, according to the plans of the school board. Mr. Harrington stated this morning. Preparations were being made today to reopen school classes in the several Negro churches located adjacent to the Fred Douglass school, there being 4 in the immediate vicinity. A.J. Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the Fred Douglass school, said this morning that everything would be in readiness by Tuesday morning. There will be some delay on account of the scarcity of books, and equipment, which were lost in the flames. The board of edcuation will hold a called session tonight in Supt. J.C. Pyle's office at the Central High School Building for the purpose of taking whatever steps are necessary in the contingency. "The loss coming at this time is very unfortunate and inconvenient," said Mr. Harrington this morning. The Fred Douglass school was erected about 18 years ago and was the only high school building for colored school children in Sherman. Mr. Harrington stated over the phone this afternoon that the building was valued at $8,000, with insurance in the sum of $5,000 carried, and that the contents of the building were of the value of $1,500 with $550 in insurance.  Sherman Daily Democrat Tuesday, April 1, 1919 38th year Addition pg. 1 NEGROES TO GET A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING SOON The building committee of the Sherman School Board appeared before the City Commission in regular weekly session and discussed informally the matter of erecting a new fireproof building for the colored school children of Sherman to replace the Fred Douglass building. Judge B.L. Jones, O.D. McReynolds, H.O. Harrington, A.B. Case and Supt. J.C. Pyle were among those present. They asked for an expression from the Commission in regard to the immediate commencement of a new building. It was the sense of the Commission that bids should be asked for by the School Board for the work, and that the matter of a bond issue to care for the erection of a new building be placed up to the people. This was practically the only matter taken up by the Commission outside of routine business.... Tuesday, November 9, 1920 pg. 4 THE PUBLIC FORUM Fred Douglass School The odds and ends of the Fred Douglass school building is nearing completion. The water connection with the domestic science rooms, locks for outside doors, lights and the hanging of curtains and placing of blinds, will complete the best school building for colored children in Texas. The rubbish and trash upon the grounds mar the beautiful appearance of our building; so much so, that many of the patrons and friends of education have asked to be allowed to help remove the weeds, rubbish and trash; as a mark of appreciation for the loyalty of the citizenship of Sherman in voting the bonds, the efforts of the City Council for erecting said building, which is as completely furnished with new desks and boards, as the building is complete. The colored people of Sherman have never taken the emigration fever, and will never even think of looking for a more congenial clime, as long as such spirit is exhibited, as was shown in the erecting of the school building for the colored people. A concrete walk and some gravel to keep the children out of the mud will entirely complete the job and will be a great protection to the floors of the building and sanitary for the children. On Thursday, November 11, at 1 o'clock p.m., the day upon which the Armistice was signed, now a national holiday, a day that brought joy to the world, has been named by the faculty of Fred Douglass school as the time to ask parents, friends and citizens to come to the new site, and bring axes, rakes, hoes, scyths and help to put in order our school grounds. Remember the time Thursday at 1 p.m. The grand opening will follow in a few days, as soon as lights are placed. The citizenship of Sherman will be invited to come and witness workmanship and completeness of the architectural design. A.J. Kirkpatrick, Prin. Fred Douglass School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |