LIFE. BY THE BAY. CITY OF LA PORTE NEWSLETTER APRIL | MAY | JUNE | 2018
Staying True to La Porte’s Heritage Did you know that in 1909 the trustees of La Porte Schools voted to organize a school for the African-American children of La Porte? Since there was no facility to house the school, class was temporarily held at the Baptist Church on La Porte’s Northside.
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A short time later, a one room building was acquired for the school (shown above in the picture on the left). Classes were taught by Mrs. Viola DeWalt and contained children from grades one through six.
sent to Carver High School in Baytown, Texas. The structure remained this way until schools were integrated in 1963.
Earlier this year, in an effort to preserve our City’s heritage, the City of In 1943, an additional school house La Porte completed reconstructing the was acquired and placed next to the original school house with remnants original school house. The new addition of the original 1909 building. The contained two classrooms and all picture on the right shows the newly students were moved to this facility. reconstructed building located at 401 With the addition of a classroom, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. A second teacher was hired, Ms. Sweetie grant from Harris County Community Evans. The original school house was Development, coupled with City of then used for drama and music. La Porte funds, made this project a reality. Staff are still acquiring items Ten years later, in 1953, DeWalt to furnish the building, so stay tuned Elementary was built on the corner to Facebook and our website for of North 6th Street and Madison for Grand Opening information! students in grades one through eight. Students going into ninth grade were