Rex Booth

Central School 

It's my understanding from the Historical Society, Central School was built around the late 1890's. It's location was 3rd Street & Kentucky.  It was replaced by a new building (Junior High) in 1927  which  was renamed North Junior High in 1955.  Our new Roswell High school was completed in 1955.  The 'old' high school then became South Jr High the same year.

Danny Cathey

Maybe one of you guys can help out.  The old school photos reminded me that my mother's first classroom in Roswell was on the East Side somewhere and was, as best I can remember, all Latino students.  She would bring kids home for supper if she felt they were not getting enough to eat.  Old building and very small, maybe 6 classrooms?  This would have been in 1952-53 and she only taught there one year before moving over to Washington Ave.  Any thoughts?

Fred Miller

John L.....I borrowed your post #5359.  Man did that hit close to home.

Fred Miller

Danny, just a thought...Flora Vista on Atkinson....???

Rex Booth

Danny,

Three schools come to mind during the 1953-54 era.

Nancy Lopez Elementary - East Bland

Pecos Elementary – East Hobbs

Carver School – 201 S. Garden ( South of old Horn’s Food & the baseball field. Segregated school for blacks (grades 1-12) until 1954

Mr. A,   

Can you add another school which was just east of SE. Main ? 

John Landess

Danny,

Not Flora Vista or Nancy Lopez (one and the same school, corner of East Bland and Atcheson). It opened in 1955, and I was in the 5th and 6th grade there. Lived next door in the Ferguson's trailer park, so it was handy! Also lived there when attending the 7th at South, not so handy, riding there daily on my bike through sketchy parts of town.

Rex, I am sorry that my Elizabethan English lapses cause you such consternation (I don't want to appear to be a contrarian). Also, I'm sorry that blue makes you see red! As to tin foil hats, I never wear them.... they make your hair turn white.... hummmm??

John Allensworth

Chisum is the only one I can think of.

Danny Cathey

Thanks for all your help guys!  I can remember going past it on the way out toward Til's roller rink in the mid-fifties on the right side going out but not as far as where Lopez is now, so that would have most likely been on Bland maybe about Elm.  What used to be where South Hill school is now?  Just one of those things that pop into your mind for no apparent reason and is certainly not important, just a fuzzy memory floating around out there.  I don't remember Chisum???  Anyway, thanks for trying.

David Holdridge

Danny Cathey 

Could it have been Highland School  across the street behind A&W.  I think it used to be all hispanic.

John Landess

For my 2 cents.... perhaps someone could contact one of our latino friends for info.

I remember when I was pretty young visiting with our family friends (the Baca's) and some of their older kids talking about that school.

I think it closed preceeding or about the time Flora Vista opened.. There was nothing special about the school other than it was located in the area where a lot of the kids lived,,,and was old!

John Doyal

Highland was not latino as I went to school there in the third and fourth grades.  The east side school looks like the Negro segrated school that was on virginia by the Hondo River.

Danny Cathey

Were Roswell schools segregated?  I really don't remember.   I know that when I attended South it was not, at least not to my memories.  Actually, South Hill School may be the best choice considering how I "remember" the location of my mom's school but I can find any history other than a reference to a South Hill being built in the late 1800s with no tie-in to the current school.  John L. is probably right in the sense that the Latino tie-in was probably de-facto due to the neighborhood.

Lynn Snipes (Allensworth)

John Doyal you are absolutely right about the Negro school being on Virginia next to the Hondo.  My Grandparents lived right across the street from the Negro school and my Grandfauther would only let me ride my tricycle in front of the house when he was watching me.   During that time they kept a very careful watch on the grandchildren when we were at their house!  Kind of sad.

Rex Booth

Roswell schools started to desegregated by 1954 (when we were in the 4th grade).

May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decreed segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Excerpt from Eastern NM News  (prior to 1954 at Carver School)

"In Roswell, four teachers working in shifts at Geroge Washington Carver School taught 110 students in twelve grades. They borrowed (chemistry) lab equipment from Roswell High School."   

https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2004/05/16/publishnews/condition-at-area-schools-during-segregation-shameful/47253.html

Lynn,

Are you sure the Carver School was on south Virginia instead of south (Garden Street)?  Bill Turley said the Carver School was located where the Hondo park on south Garden is currently.  And you know Bill was always 99.9% right (most of the time)... ha

Charline Lake

All very interesting.  (Lynn, wow.)

Pat Sullins (Schear)

John, I also went to school at Highland in the first and part of the second grade. My teacher would send me to A&W to get her lunch!

John Doyal

My grandfather had a vet office where Alameda ended at the time and the school was just west of his place on the Hondo which had homeless winos living on the Hondo between them.  While I was on the PD, Iinvestigated kids  breaking into the school which was being used by the schools as a storage warehouse for used desks,ect.

Don Ervin

Pat I too went to Highlands for part of my !st grade.  About the only thing I can remember Is that my Cuz , Billy Turley also went there.  However the big thing was when the man (Clarence Nash) who was the voice for Donald Duck came to the school.  All the kids in school talked like Donald Duck for the next two weeks..

Lynn Snipes (Allensworth)

Rex, I know I am right because I remember those times well!  My grandparents house was there until my twenties and my grandfather (didn't spell that right earlier) died when I was about 8 years old.  After my grandmother died the place was torn down and the lot sold.  The school building is still there and I'm not sure what they use it for now.  I'm sorry Rex but for once Billy was wrong.

Pat Sullins (Schear)

Don, the only person I remember from there was Pat Kennedy who was my best friend. Sorry I didn't know you and Billy back then!!  My teacher may have been Mrs. Pugh but I'm not sure of that.

Rex Booth

Lynn, 

Gee Willikers!  When... you're right... you're right!  So you're saying Bill just used up another .1%...?  During our 50th reunion we drove around Roswell taking pictures of old bars and taverns which some of us ex-rounders used to frequent which Johnny then posted on this site.  Bill also thought Roulon's was located where Variety Liquors is currently on West 2nd.  Had some fun batting that one around.  OK, so currently, Bill was correct 99.8% of the time. Lynn, ask Johnny to give us a tour of the old Carver School, will ya!  My treat at Popo's... 

John Landess

Wow, if Rex is buying, I might even fly in........unless you all will still be snow bound. I had enough of that in 1960!

Fred, sorry not ignoring you. That song of Toby's might have hit a note in more than a few of us. However, I am feeling kinda young this weekend. I drove over to Missouri to celebrate my Uncle's 99th birthday. He currently lives at the Missouri Veteran's Home, but is in a lot better shape than lots there. It is kinda sad as the "greatest" generation is rapidly fading away. He and I took a big rideabout today and then had lunch at Steak&Shake... His choice as he likes their chili!!!!

Don Ervin

Pat Mrs Pugh was my 7th grade teacher at North Jr. High. Big heavy set lady who had a big paddle.  Used to make do badders sit under her desk.

Charline Lake

Don, I remember Mrs. Pugh well.  She was tough but fair, I thought, and very intelligent and actually cared.  She asked us one day what our prejudices were, and I, in the full arrogance of my 13 years, proclaimed that I was prejudiced only against those who are prejudiced.  She quietly approached me after class and said, "You know, that's a real prejudice too and nothing to be proud of.  Think about it."  And I have thought about that, for 61 years.  It's better to try to understand people, not dismiss them, no matter what.  Thank you, Mrs. (Miss?) Pugh.

Pat Sullins (Schear)

I remember now.....I had Ms. Pugh in the 7th grade at North too. Don't remember if she was my homeroom teacher or not but think my homeroom was in the basement.