Small plantation schools were the educational basis of many Negroes in the early days of 'The Island's' history. Small schools were located on Anchor Plantation, Tiger Bayou and Lee Bayou. Two schools, Hopewell I and Hopewell II, were located on the Bend Road; Mrs. Mabel Hamilton was once a teacher at one of these schools. Another school was situated in the Negro First Baptist Church of Sicily Island. Mrs. Hamilton also taught here. A three-room elementary school was located at Foules.
A five-room elementary school, teaching grades one through seven, was located at Peck with A. L. Johnson as principal. Approximately one hundred students attended classes taught at various times by Mrs. Ester Johnson (the principal's wife), Violet Tolliver, Mabel Hamilton, Ophelia Bradford, Alpha Shavers and Willie Mae Cooper.
About the year 1929, the Sicily Island Rosenwald School was established in about the same location that Martin Junior High School stands today.
Editor's Note: For more information on Rosenwald Schools click Here
This school was one of two state approved Negro schools in the parish. Principals of the school in consecutive order were Mr. Gibson, Joseph M. Martin, George Dawkins, Jesse Guinn, W. S. Finister, Jr., Joseph M. Martin (2nd term) and D. V. Tolliver. (Material compiled by Debbie Guice Longman for the Catahoula News Booster Bicentennial Edition)
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| Martin Junior High School, 2011 |
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| David Vernon Tolliver, Principal of Rosenwald School and Martin Junior High |
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| D.V. Tolliver |
Sicily Island Schools, Part 1
Sicily Island Schools, Part 2
Sicily Island Schools, Part 3
Thank you, Mrs. Debbie Guice Longman for this historical information. I was taught by most of the teachers that you listed.
ReplyDeleteI am Sandra Gayle Tolliver Lyons, the daughter of D.V. Tolliver and Minnie S. Tolliver. I attended Martin High School but completed my 12th grade year at Harrisonburg High School in May 1970. My email address is -- sandragaylelyons@yahoo.com. Would love to hear from you.
Gayle T. Lyons -- July 4, 2013
Hi Gayle, Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment. I posted information from some work Debbie Guice Longman did back in 1976 and referenced her for attribution. If you are interested in contacting Debbie, you might try Facebook. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Thanks again for stopping by.
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