The 20th in a series of articles
for the 175th Anniversary of Bonham

Bonham, Texas -- The first school in Bonham for negro students was called the Bonham Colored School and is believed to have been built in the late 1800s. Official notice of the colored school is in the Bonham News, August 27, 1897. It was located on North Franklin Street. After that building burned, a new three-room school was built on East 7th and Katy Blvd. The school went to the 9th grade. By 1920 the school offered 11 grades and expanded to 12 grades in 1940.

In 1928 a new brick building, funded in part by the Rosenwald Foundation, was built on Katy Blvd., which was called Washington Elementary School and High School. It had seven classrooms, two of which could be converted into an auditorium. In the mid-1940s two frame portable buildings were added. In 1946 an airplane hangar was moved to the campus from Jones Field for a gymnasium, and in 1947 another frame building was added.

Only two school annuals have been found, although the Museum has a number of graduation announcements. The earliest school annual was in 1948 and the second was in 1963. 

The last graduating class was in 1966. A Texas Historical Marker is at the former site of the school.

The school was the focal point for the black community. An annual picnic was held for many years on the grounds. Students were encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports.

Administrators and teachers were respected members of the black community.

Over the years a number of school reunions have been held.  On July 7-8 of this year a reunion was held in Bonham.  There was a great turnout.  The earliest class represented was that of 1949, represented by Vera Ross.  Many other classes were represented, and children and grandchildren of graduates also attended.  This photo shows the graduates attending.