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 Blanton School
N 33° 22.129 W 096° 03.790
14S E 773246 N 3696029
Texas Historical Marker at 1104 TX 11 in Wolfe City, just down the block from where the Blanton School stood (610 Witt St), noting its establishment, history, and unfortunate demolition. It was a good example of one of the Rosenwald schools.
Waymark Code: WMWPF2
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/26/2017
Views: 3
Marker Number: 18236
Marker Text:
In 1912, African American educator Booker T. Washington partnered with Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck & Company, to build schools for African American children in poor rural communities across the South. Rosenwald matched funds raised by the African American community and school district of Wolfe City to build Blanton School in 1923. This unusual cooperation between wealthy philanthropists, black citizens, and white officials was a hallmark of the Rosenwald program.
Blanton School followed standard Rosenwald designs which maximized space and made use of natural lighting and ventilation. Until the 1950s, the school was located outside the city limits and did not have access to sewer or natural gas lines. The school calendar was organized around the cotton season, allowing students to work in the fields during the fall harvests. Blanton had only three teachers for 70 students ranging from first to eighth grade. Graduates of Blanton School attended Farmers' Improvement School in nearby Ladonia or St. Paul's High School in Neylandville. Blanton continued to serve the African American community until Wolfe City Schools integrated in 1965. The Blanton School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 but was later demolished. It was the last of the three Rosenwald schools built in Hunt County to remain standing. The school taught students both educational and life skills. Although opportunities for higher education were limited, many Blanton alumni earned Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degrees. (2015)
Marker is Property of the State of Texas
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