Fred Douglass School

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Fred Douglass School, standing in Grayson County, Texas. Now, some schools get their names from local politicians, from wealthy donors, from whoever happened to sign the deed. This one was named for Frederick Douglass — the famed nineteenth-century African American orator — and that name alone tells you something about the ambition behind it.

The year was 1879, and Sherman, Texas was putting together its first public schools. Three of them, to be exact. Fred Douglass School was one of those original three — created to educate the area's African American children.

In those early days, they made do with two rented houses, one block west of where the marker stands. Modest beginnings. But about eighty-five students showed up ready to learn, and that was no small thing.

The school grew. Quietly, steadily, the way deep roots grow. By 1907, the student population had climbed to three hundred and fifty.

Four times what it had been at the start. But fire had other ideas. In 1904, the wood buildings were destroyed.

They rebuilt. And then in 1919, fire came back and destroyed those buildings too. Twice.

The kind of persistence that would break a lesser institution. It didn't break this one. In 1920, a three-story brick structure went up at the corner of College and East Streets.

Brick. Three stories. The message was clear enough.

By 1939 the school had grown so much that plans for expansion became necessary, and in 1943 something shifted in the educational mission itself. Faculty members with advanced degrees were joining the staff. The curriculum expanded — African American history, business courses, vocational courses.

A National Honor Society chapter was formed. The sports program grew. This wasn't just a school holding on; it was a school reaching.

In 1957, a modern building was erected. Ten years after that, the school district became fully integrated, and Fred Douglass School took on a new role — the district's special education facility. And on into the late twentieth century, it remained a center for a whole variety of programs serving all Sherman students.

Started in two rented houses. Named for a legend. Burned twice and rebuilt both times.

That's not just a school's history — that's a community refusing to let go of something it knew mattered.

What the marker says

Named for the famed 19th century African American orator Frederick Douglass, the Fred Douglass School was created as one of Sherman's first three public schools in 1879. Two houses one block west of this site were rented for the education of the area's African American children. In the first years of the Fred Douglass School the number of students was about 85. By 1907 the school's population was 350. Fire plagued the Fred Douglass School: in 1904 and again in 1919 the wood buildings were destroyed. In 1920 a three-story brick structure was erected at the corner of college and East streets. The school grew rapidly and by 1939 plans for expansion were necessary. In 1943, educational improvements began to take place. More faculty members had advanced degrees and the curriculum was expanded to include African American history, business and vocational courses. A National Honor Society chapter was formed, and the sports program was expanded. A modern building was erected in 1957; ten years later, the school district became fully integrated, and the Fred Douglass School became the district's special education facility. In the late 20th century it remained the center for a variety of programs for all Sherman students. (1997)