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Center Point
Community Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Anthony Walker, November 2020 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Center Point was
originally settled by emancipated slaves in 1865. The crossing of
two major roads is the source of the name. The community had built
a church by 1873 and a school followed in 1889. The rest of Center
Point's history is directly related to the school's history.
From a one room school in bad condition in 1900, it was a two teacher
school eight years later. Public bonds sold in 1916 financed a four-room
school and the Julius Rosenwald Foundation donated a library and nearly
$6,000 for construction.
By the 1935-36 school year it was regarded as one of Camp
County's better schools. Nine of the school's ten teachers had
at least B.A. degrees, and, the average teacher's salary was higher
than that at any other Camp
County school. During the Great Depression the population started
shrinking and in 1938 the Center
Point High School was down to 78 students. In 1955 Center Point
merged with the Pittsburg ISD. |
Historical Marker:
Center Point
Community
In 1865 black Freedmen
began this community. The Center Point Baptist Church was organized
in 1873. The Industrial Union was chartered in 1889 to aid settlers
in buying farms and building homes. A cooperative managed a brick
kiln, sawmill and cotton gin. Under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs.
L. B. Cash, the first principals, Center
Point School became an important vocational facility. Students
erected most of the structures on the 14-acre campus and there was
a cooperative boarding plan. The school was consolidated with Pittsburg
in 1950. |
Center Point
Baptist Church in 2020
established
in 1873
Photo courtesy Anthony Walker, November 2020 |
The closed Center
Point Baptist Church in 2007
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2007 |
Historical Marker:
CR 4244 (Center Point Road)
Center Point
School
Center Point began
as a Freedmen's community about 1865-70. The Willie Johnson family
were the first settlers and were soon joined by other families. In
1899 G.W. Goulsby opened a one-room school, the first in the settlement;
Pete Griffin was the first teacher. In 1916 a new five-room school
was built. In later years campus additions, partly funded by the Julius
Rosenwald Fund, included a teacherage, library, dormitories, cafeteria,
and gymnasium. Students maintained a farm and garden and operated
a cannery. Center Point School was closed in 1952.
(1996) |
1920s Camp
County map showing Pittsburg
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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