O.W. Dillon School to Be Placed on the the National Register of Historic Places

 Delegation Visited  O.W. Dillon School
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

This past week a delegation organized by Dieone Johnson, Executive Director for O.W. Dillon Preservation Organization met with Jessica G. Richardson, National Register Coordinator, Division of the Historic Preservation, Office of Cultural Development. The delegation and Executive Director toured the school with Jessica, educating her about the history of the school.  

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic place worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America's historic and archeological resources. 

Tangipahoa Parish Training School is the oldest in the Nation. ]The school is gaining national attention for its historical Heritage in the African American community.  The doors opened in 191l and closed several years back. The school fostered the idea of having boys learned scientific agriculture, dairying, and horticulture for girls; sewing, domestic economy, cooking, and other life skills training.  The Tangipahoa Parish Training School drew many students from surrounding parishes, including Washington,  St. Tammany, St. Helena, East and West Feliciana. Some students came from Mississippi to get an education. 

The delegation toured the school that could be used as Community Enrichment Center,  Museum & Cultural Center, and a vocational training school. They visited the classrooms, gymnasium, the cafeteria, and the school grounds.

During the visit, Susie Bates and Valeria Temple Thompson alumni's of the school reminisce about their school days and the staff of the school. Also attending were local historian and television talk show host Antoinette Harrell joined the delegation to help them document the rich history of the school. Youth photographers; Connor, Chase and Jo'elle Lacoste took pictures for photo documentation. 

O.W. Dillon School
Kentwood, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

O.W. Dillon School
Kentwood, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Connor LaCoste

O.W. Dillon School
Kentwood, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Connor LaCoste

Documenting the History of a Civil Rights Icon Mrs. Vernia McCoy

Antoinette Harrell interviewing Mrs. Vernia McCoy

I spent an hour sitting and talking with Mrs. Vernia, a citizen of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. We sat her dining room table looking at documents and photographs. Several years ago I interviewed her, and when I tell to you, it will take me a year to document her oral history and her rich photograph collection that tell the story and event of many African-American people in the Louisiana Florida Parishes.

Each time I learn so much about her life and the life of her deceased husband Mr. Fred McCoy and the many challenges they faced during integration in Tangipahoa Parish. She was born and reared in Franklinton, Louisiana with her parents and eleven brothers and sisters.  Mrs. McCoy is a retired A.M.E. Pastor of  St. James A.M. E. Church in Hammond,  Louisiana., and educator.

I feel honored to talk with people such as Mrs. McCoy, Dr. Kingley B. Garrison, Mrs. Ella Mae Badon, and Mrs. Grace Walker. They are the living history books that we must treasure and most importantly document according to their experiences as pioneers in the Louisiana Florida Parishes.  As of today,  Mrs. McCoy is involved in many community outreaches.

This is just the beginning of the many hours I will be sitting with her to assist her with organizing her collection for the repository at Southeastern Center for Louisiana Studies. She has accomplished and achieved so in her life and her career. She has so many awards for her accomplishments and achievements over her lifetime. 

Dr. Kingsley B. Garrison Recapping His Elementary School Years at Ponchatoula Colored School

Dr. Kingsley B. Garrison

Every time I visit with Dr. Kingsley B.  Garrison to gather more information for the Tangipahoa Parish African American Oral History Collections, each time I learn something new and enjoy looking at his photograph collections. This time he pulled his old school report cards out dating back to 1946 when he was a student at Ponchatoula Colored School and Greenville High School in Hammond, Louisiana. To my surprise, the report cards were the same ones I received when I attended West Side Elementary School as a child.

I wish I had one of my old report cards from school. I must say at that time we didn't understand the importance of holding on to some of the school reports, photos and other documents that would take us down memory lane and share with our very own kids.

Dr. Garrison received excellent grades in math. He said math was his favorite subject and English was his least favorite. I was even more surprised he got a "C" in conduct. I had to ask him how is that he got a "C" in conduct. Oh! I was quite a talker he said.  I took a few pictures of him sitting there looking at all his report cards and going back down memory lane. I took photographs of his report cards. 

Dr. Garrison and I have been talking about preserving his awesome collection. Often, our family members may not know what to do with the collection.  Some family members may think it's junk and dispose of it. Collections like Dr. Garrison can help genealogist and historian gain a better understanding of local history.

If a researcher was researching the genealogical history of Dr. Garrison by analyzing his report cards they will learn that he went to a Public School in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. For the school year of 1956-1957, he was in the 11th grade. His teacher was named Mr. Youngblood. and the Principal was named J.W. Davis.

Analyzing the 1946-1947 school year. We learned that Dr. Garrison was attending Ponchatoula Colored School. The Principal for that year was D.C.Reeves.  He was classified as a primary student.

It good to have young students today look at the historical records and compare their report cards to the ones long before their time. What subjects did the school offer to the students? Did they get the same grade marks that students receive today? Students today get a computer printout report cards, and they couldn't imagine having a handwritten report card. Most of the records from the colored schools have been destroyed. It's people like Dr. Garrison that held onto a piece of the past and history of the colored schools before integration, otherwise, all would be lost. I'm looking forward to helping him preserve his collection and I hope that others will follow his example. I heard other people tell me that their items were thrown the trash with a relative or their children help them to clean out their home.

Also when a loved one died, the very first thing that some children will do is throw away their deceased loved one papers and photographs. In many cases, they have thrown away antiques, handmade quilts, and other family heirlooms. It's important to educate our youths and family members about preserving their family heirlooms.

The Colored Citizen's School in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

ACT OF SALE

Original Act of Sale from The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Ponchatoula, La to Colored Citizen's School 

Before me Edwin R. Wells, a Notary, duly commissioned and qualified within and for the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, and in the presence oh witnesses hereinafter named and undersigned; Personally came and appeared;

Martin S. Berry Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the said African Methodist Episcopal Church, and J.W. Graves Residing Elder of the Said Church;

Duly authorized and empowered by a resolution passed by said Board of Trustees on February 10, 1916, which said resolution as of record on the minutes of said Board.

Who did declared for and in consideration of the price and sum of twenty one & 50/100, and other valuable considerations, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged to have been received and good acquittance given for the same. They do on behalf of the said Church, sell set over transfer and deliver unto; The Colored Citizens School of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, herein represented by E.H. Pines chairman of the Board of Trustees of the said school, as per resolution passed by said Board of Trustees on 2nd, day of February 1916 as will appear of record on the minutes of the said board trustees of he said School, the following described property to wit.

Lot nume eleven and twelve, (11 & 12) in square number sixty nine, (69) together with all building and improvements or appuretanances thereto belonging, situate in the Town of Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish State of Louisiana according to the official map of said Town.

To have and to hold the above described property unto the said purchasers, their heirs and assigned, forever, free from any lien for encumbrance whatever, with full and general warranty and all rights as held by the said vendors.

The certificate required by article number 3364 of the revised Civil Code of the State is hereby dispenced with and the undersigned Notary is hereby exonerated from all liability on account of the non-production of the same. All taxes assessed against the above described property have been paid up and to including the year 1916, the taxes for 1917 not being due, as evidenced by the tax receipts in the hands of the vendors. 

Thus done, signed and passed at Ponchatoula, in the parish and State aforesaid on this 1st day of August 1917, in the presence of Joe Mixon and ? Pince two competent witnesses, who have signed these presents together with the said appeared and me said Notary after due reading of the whole. 

Source: Tangipahoa Parish Clerk Office; Conveyance Book 81, page 331

Transcribed by: Antoinette Harrell

West Jackson Colored School " Mother School" School for Negro Boys and Girls

Smith Robertson  ( 1847-1899)

Smith Robertson was born a slave in Fayette, Alabama, in 1847. After the  Civil War, he migrated to Mississippi where he operated a successful barber business. He became involved in local politics and became the first African American Alderman for the City of Jackson, Mississippi. On December 6, 1879, at the time when the enrollment of colored children exceeded that of white children in the Jackson Public Schools. Smith Robertson was appointed by the Mayor and Board of Alderman to the Board of Trustees for the school for color pupils. He was reappointed in December, 1880 and served as a member of he Board of Aldermen from 1879 until 1899. He began serving his second term, which would have ended in 1910; however, this tern was interrupted by his untimely death on December 30,1899.

The building was erected in 1894. Smith Robertson School was the first public school for Negro boys and girls in the state of Mississippi. The school was named in honor of Mr. Smith Robertson. The school was originally named the West Jackson Colored School and later became known as the “Mother School” it is located in the Capitol City of Jackson, Mississippi.

The new building was constructed after the first one was almost completely destroyed by fire January 3, 1909. The new building was completed in September 1909 and remodeled in 1935 when the Art Deco facade and added along with more classrooms. The school remained open until 1971.. when a court order it closed due to public school desegregation. The building fell into disarray until the efforts of deeply committed local humanitarians became a reality.

Reopened in 1984 as Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center it remains the largest museum in the state of Mississippi that host a vast collection of African American artifacts.

Richard Wright

 A once in a lifetime opportunity awaits you inside the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. Located a stone's throw from the State Capitol building, it's just within walking distance of principal businesses and attractions in downtown Jackson. Through art, artifacts, and photography, the work, lifestyle, and artistic contributions of African Americans are celebrated, evoking a greater understanding of the African-American experience in the Deep South.

Smith Robertson School is also the alma mater of Richard Nathaniel Wright, the author of “ Black Boy” and “Native Son” Wright was a member of the graduate class of 1925, and went on to become a highly acclaimed and world renowned writer.

The museum host several permanent exhibitions of visual art in various mediums. Also on exhibition is a vast collection of period artifacts, oral histories, memorabilia, historical documents, and periodicals. Our main gallery (David Taylor Gallery) showcases local and traveling exhibitions from across the United States. Modern and contemporary shows alternate with those dedicated to art from other cultures and earlier historical periods. The museums primary focus, highlighting the Mississippi African American experience, past and present.

Please  visit the  Smith Robertson and Cultural Center located at
 528 Bloom St., Jackson, MS 39202-4005

Contact number:  601-960-1457