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Our School's History
Narrative HistoryWharton Training High School
ContextIn the United States, formal education for black students was virtually nonexistent until after the Civil War. In Texas, during Reconstruction, separate school districts were created for black, Hispanic, and white children. But, from roughly 1877 to 1954, despite laws passed by the U. S. Supreme Court, ostensibly ensuring all citizens the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution of the United States, laws denying these rights were strongly enforced by many more laws. It was a troubling, unsettled, and often violent time. Despite that, black families pursued education for their children. The following “History of Wharton Training School” places the School within the broader context of education for Wharton County families in the time frame 1896-1968. In 1981 Charles Washington Dawson, Principal of Wharton Training Junior and Senior High Schools, was interviewed by Charles Graves Sivells, former Wharton ISD Superintendent. Much of that interview is referred to in this narrative history because the interview provides a good chronology of the school’s history and names faculty and other staff members, many of whom are still renown in this community today, names like Mrs. Lucille Golden (teacher) and Mr. Ernest Brown (band director). The history of this school continues to be told, and its legacy lies with the hundreds of alumni, many of whom return each year for the annual reunion. These men and women feel they received an excellent education and preparation for the future they would face, and they remain loyal WOLVES.
OverviewIn 1896, Wharton Colored School (as it was named) was officially established. W. H. Hathaway was elected principal. In 1899, Mr. Hathaway resigned and J. H. Speaker was appointed to fill the position.In 1899, Professor A. O. Coffin was elected principal of the Wharton Colored School to fill the vacancy caused by the death of A. W. Hathaway. Mr. Coffin resigned in the same year, and N. A. Smiley was elected principal to fulfill Coffin’s unexpired term.J. T. Holmer was elected principal in 1906, A. J. McDonald in 1913, and in 1914 T. T. Thompson was elected after Mr. McDonald’s death. In 1916 Charles Taylor was elected upon Thompson’s resignation, and in 1917 W. I. McCann became principal.For the first time, employment records became visible and easier to interpret under Mr. McCann’s leadership. In 1916 McCann was reelected to serve as principal of Wharton Colored School (also known as the Dunbar School), located on Bay City Road about at the site of the current Mother Zion Baptist Church. The Dunbar building was later nicknamed “The Hall,” probably because it was used as a social meeting place and dance hall for students.
Plans were under way for construction of a new Colored School in Wharton. Julius Rosenwald, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist from Chicago and president of Sears Roebuck Company, provided grants to build over 5,000 rural southern schools. Of the five Rosenwald Schools in Wharton County, Texas, one was Wharton Training High School. In order to qualify for the grant, local patrons would need to participate financially in the project. There was a division of opinion among the Black community as to which side of town the school should be built. In 1927, the patrons who lived west of the railroad tracks had raised enough money to purchase a site on the west side. They offered the site to the district to build a new school. The district accepted the offer and purchased two additional adjoining acres for the construction of a new Colored School. This met the criteria to qualify for the Rosenwald grant. The Rosenwald schools were identified by the word “Training” as part of their name.The new school on the west side was named Wharton Negro Training School. It was located in the southwest corner at the intersection of Canton and Outlar Streets. It was set about 500 feet from the corner, and basketball games were played on the ground in that area. The building had two rooms on the west side and two rooms on the east side. A mixed-use assembly and classroom were located in the middle. Shortly after the construction of the school, I. W. McCann suffered a massive stroke. During the period of his illness, C. W. Dawson, a recently hired teacher, served as the unofficial principal. School bus transportation service began about 1930 in the county. C. W. Dawson was the first bus driver, picking up students at various locations in nearby communities. In 1930, R. M. Pearson was elected principal of Wharton Negro Training School. The enrollment in 1933 is recorded as 467 students. R. A. Atkinson is listed as the principal of the Colored School in 1936 and in December of that year, the school was destroyed by fire. Throughout the winter, until the construction of a replacement building, classes were held in livestock barns on dirt floors at the fairgrounds.Work on the replacement building was completed in 1937. It was a seven-room wood-frame building. The school was renamed Wharton County Training School. On April 18, 1939, C. W. Dawson, a prior teacher, was named principal. Mr. Dawson was the first teacher to hold a bachelor’s degree. He later acquired a master’s degree in education and did additional post-graduate work in educational administration. He remained principal until the school closed in 1968, marking the end of school segregation in Texas and opening the door to integration in the public schools in Wharton. Many changes took place in the years following 1939 until the closing of the school in 1968. Wharton County Training School had not only a county-wide population but also serviced the county’s satellite schools, picking up high school students and transporting them to the main campus in Wharton. Students in grades 1-3 did not transport. Bus drivers and teachers were: Mr. Savannah, Mr. Wade, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ross, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Stewart. They picked up students at satellite locations in Jake Ford, Sorrell, Mackay, Lane City, Boling, Peach Creek, the Fairgrounds, and Dinsmore. (Please see the DVD, prepared by Wharton Training High School Class of 1964.) A two-story barracks, purchased from Camp Wyley, were moved to the Canton Street school grounds, rebuilt, and became classrooms for students in grades 1-6. The office of the school nurse, Edna Richardson, was located on the second floor of one of the barracks.The school’s name was changed to Wharton Training High School. John Harris, a native of Wharton, suggested that they organize a band. He spear-headed a campaign along with the PTA and raised $3,000 for the purchase of instruments. The Band Mothers Organization was to raise the money for band uniforms. Mrs. T. M. Cook, president of the Band Mothers Organization, was killed in an accident after leaving a fundraising meeting. Her employer, Mrs. Runnels, donated the balance of the money for the uniforms in honor of Mrs. Cook.Maurice Bigsby was the first band director. In 1951 Ernest Brown became band director and remained so until the closing of the school in 1968. A gymnasium was built in 1952. R. L. Savannah became the first and only athletic director. Mr. Savannah served in several other capacities: unofficial assistant principal, math teacher, and bus driver. The first football coach was William Franklin. Other coaches were James Ross, Aaron Weaver, Wendell Moseley, Audry Ford, Curry Blaylock, James Wanza, Willie Sheppard, and Shelley Stewart (not in order). Women coaches, cheerleader and drill team directors were Mrs. McNeal, Mrs. Sewell, Jeraldine Perkins, Delores Love, Barbara George, and others. The school mascot was the Fighting Wolves, and school colors were kelly green and white. The first brick building was constructed in 1955 to replace the wood-frame building. The new brick building had a science lab, library, assembly room, home economics room, cafeteria, and all city utilities. A full-scale curriculum was offered, including physics, geometry, algebra, chemistry, biology, Spanish, music, driver’s education, physical education, business education, drama, etc. The first and only full-time librarian was Mrs. Arvis Morris Brown. Mrs. Precious Craft, noted for her outstanding music programs, wrote the lyrics for the alma mater, “Dear Wharton High,” to the tune of “O Danny Boy.” The school was not only known for its athletic program but also became a hub for notable academic and social accomplishments. Throughout the years, students participated in the Interscholastic League, competing in debate, essay writing, spelling, and mathematics contests, declamation, vocal and instrumental music, track and field, and one-act plays. The school provided many social and entertainment events for the community. Among these were the proms, coronations, assemblies for holidays, musical concerts, one-act plays, baccalaureate, and commencement exercises. Many of these events were held in the school gym. The next building constructed on the campus was the J. H. Speaker Elementary School, named in honor of early 1900’s black educator and community worker J. H. Speaker. L. W. McIntosh served as principal of Speaker Elementary, and it was later named Canton Street Elementary School. The school was renamed C. W. Dawson Elementary School in 1996. It currently houses the offices and activities of the 501-c-(3) Just Do It Now, Inc., located on the campus of the former elementary school. The building is now known as Dawson Community Resource Center. Some notable information about Wharton Training School are: • The largest graduating class was the class of 1964, with 40 graduates.
ContextIn the United States, formal education for black students was virtually nonexistent until after the Civil War. In Texas, during Reconstruction, separate school districts were created for black, Hispanic, and white children. But, from roughly 1877 to 1954, despite laws passed by the U. S. Supreme Court, ostensibly ensuring all citizens the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution of the United States, laws denying these rights were strongly enforced by many more laws. It was a troubling, unsettled, and often violent time. Despite that, black families pursued education for their children. The following “History of Wharton Training School” places the School within the broader context of education for Wharton County families in the time frame 1896-1968. In 1981 Charles Washington Dawson, Principal of Wharton Training Junior and Senior High Schools, was interviewed by Charles Graves Sivells, former Wharton ISD Superintendent. Much of that interview is referred to in this narrative history because the interview provides a good chronology of the school’s history and names faculty and other staff members, many of whom are still renown in this community today, names like Mrs. Lucille Golden (teacher) and Mr. Ernest Brown (band director). The history of this school continues to be told, and its legacy lies with the hundreds of alumni, many of whom return each year for the annual reunion. These men and women feel they received an excellent education and preparation for the future they would face, and they remain loyal WOLVES.
OverviewIn 1896, Wharton Colored School (as it was named) was officially established. W. H. Hathaway was elected principal. In 1899, Mr. Hathaway resigned and J. H. Speaker was appointed to fill the position.In 1899, Professor A. O. Coffin was elected principal of the Wharton Colored School to fill the vacancy caused by the death of A. W. Hathaway. Mr. Coffin resigned in the same year, and N. A. Smiley was elected principal to fulfill Coffin’s unexpired term.J. T. Holmer was elected principal in 1906, A. J. McDonald in 1913, and in 1914 T. T. Thompson was elected after Mr. McDonald’s death. In 1916 Charles Taylor was elected upon Thompson’s resignation, and in 1917 W. I. McCann became principal.For the first time, employment records became visible and easier to interpret under Mr. McCann’s leadership. In 1916 McCann was reelected to serve as principal of Wharton Colored School (also known as the Dunbar School), located on Bay City Road about at the site of the current Mother Zion Baptist Church. The Dunbar building was later nicknamed “The Hall,” probably because it was used as a social meeting place and dance hall for students.
Plans were under way for construction of a new Colored School in Wharton. Julius Rosenwald, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist from Chicago and president of Sears Roebuck Company, provided grants to build over 5,000 rural southern schools. Of the five Rosenwald Schools in Wharton County, Texas, one was Wharton Training High School. In order to qualify for the grant, local patrons would need to participate financially in the project. There was a division of opinion among the Black community as to which side of town the school should be built. In 1927, the patrons who lived west of the railroad tracks had raised enough money to purchase a site on the west side. They offered the site to the district to build a new school. The district accepted the offer and purchased two additional adjoining acres for the construction of a new Colored School. This met the criteria to qualify for the Rosenwald grant. The Rosenwald schools were identified by the word “Training” as part of their name.The new school on the west side was named Wharton Negro Training School. It was located in the southwest corner at the intersection of Canton and Outlar Streets. It was set about 500 feet from the corner, and basketball games were played on the ground in that area. The building had two rooms on the west side and two rooms on the east side. A mixed-use assembly and classroom were located in the middle. Shortly after the construction of the school, I. W. McCann suffered a massive stroke. During the period of his illness, C. W. Dawson, a recently hired teacher, served as the unofficial principal. School bus transportation service began about 1930 in the county. C. W. Dawson was the first bus driver, picking up students at various locations in nearby communities. In 1930, R. M. Pearson was elected principal of Wharton Negro Training School. The enrollment in 1933 is recorded as 467 students. R. A. Atkinson is listed as the principal of the Colored School in 1936 and in December of that year, the school was destroyed by fire. Throughout the winter, until the construction of a replacement building, classes were held in livestock barns on dirt floors at the fairgrounds.Work on the replacement building was completed in 1937. It was a seven-room wood-frame building. The school was renamed Wharton County Training School. On April 18, 1939, C. W. Dawson, a prior teacher, was named principal. Mr. Dawson was the first teacher to hold a bachelor’s degree. He later acquired a master’s degree in education and did additional post-graduate work in educational administration. He remained principal until the school closed in 1968, marking the end of school segregation in Texas and opening the door to integration in the public schools in Wharton. Many changes took place in the years following 1939 until the closing of the school in 1968. Wharton County Training School had not only a county-wide population but also serviced the county’s satellite schools, picking up high school students and transporting them to the main campus in Wharton. Students in grades 1-3 did not transport. Bus drivers and teachers were: Mr. Savannah, Mr. Wade, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ross, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Stewart. They picked up students at satellite locations in Jake Ford, Sorrell, Mackay, Lane City, Boling, Peach Creek, the Fairgrounds, and Dinsmore. (Please see the DVD, prepared by Wharton Training High School Class of 1964.) A two-story barracks, purchased from Camp Wyley, were moved to the Canton Street school grounds, rebuilt, and became classrooms for students in grades 1-6. The office of the school nurse, Edna Richardson, was located on the second floor of one of the barracks.The school’s name was changed to Wharton Training High School. John Harris, a native of Wharton, suggested that they organize a band. He spear-headed a campaign along with the PTA and raised $3,000 for the purchase of instruments. The Band Mothers Organization was to raise the money for band uniforms. Mrs. T. M. Cook, president of the Band Mothers Organization, was killed in an accident after leaving a fundraising meeting. Her employer, Mrs. Runnels, donated the balance of the money for the uniforms in honor of Mrs. Cook.Maurice Bigsby was the first band director. In 1951 Ernest Brown became band director and remained so until the closing of the school in 1968. A gymnasium was built in 1952. R. L. Savannah became the first and only athletic director. Mr. Savannah served in several other capacities: unofficial assistant principal, math teacher, and bus driver. The first football coach was William Franklin. Other coaches were James Ross, Aaron Weaver, Wendell Moseley, Audry Ford, Curry Blaylock, James Wanza, Willie Sheppard, and Shelley Stewart (not in order). Women coaches, cheerleader and drill team directors were Mrs. McNeal, Mrs. Sewell, Jeraldine Perkins, Delores Love, Barbara George, and others. The school mascot was the Fighting Wolves, and school colors were kelly green and white. The first brick building was constructed in 1955 to replace the wood-frame building. The new brick building had a science lab, library, assembly room, home economics room, cafeteria, and all city utilities. A full-scale curriculum was offered, including physics, geometry, algebra, chemistry, biology, Spanish, music, driver’s education, physical education, business education, drama, etc. The first and only full-time librarian was Mrs. Arvis Morris Brown. Mrs. Precious Craft, noted for her outstanding music programs, wrote the lyrics for the alma mater, “Dear Wharton High,” to the tune of “O Danny Boy.” The school was not only known for its athletic program but also became a hub for notable academic and social accomplishments. Throughout the years, students participated in the Interscholastic League, competing in debate, essay writing, spelling, and mathematics contests, declamation, vocal and instrumental music, track and field, and one-act plays. The school provided many social and entertainment events for the community. Among these were the proms, coronations, assemblies for holidays, musical concerts, one-act plays, baccalaureate, and commencement exercises. Many of these events were held in the school gym. The next building constructed on the campus was the J. H. Speaker Elementary School, named in honor of early 1900’s black educator and community worker J. H. Speaker. L. W. McIntosh served as principal of Speaker Elementary, and it was later named Canton Street Elementary School. The school was renamed C. W. Dawson Elementary School in 1996. It currently houses the offices and activities of the 501-c-(3) Just Do It Now, Inc., located on the campus of the former elementary school. The building is now known as Dawson Community Resource Center. Some notable information about Wharton Training School are: • The largest graduating class was the class of 1964, with 40 graduates.
- • The 1962 football team won the State AA Championship.
- • Two professional football players, Jimmy Kearney (Kansas City Chiefs) and Leroy
- Mitchell (Denver Broncos) were products of the athletic program at WTHS.
- • WTHS graduate Jimmy Kearney played in Super Bowl IV.
- • Two yearbooks, in 1950 and 1954, were published under the leadership of Ms. Emma Gordon and Mr. R. L. Savannah. They were called the Wolf Pack.