.gif)
Perhaps no celebration of Black History month in the US could be more significant than our tributes to the Rosenwald schools across America, especially the South, and the only Rosenwald School in Colorado County, in Eagle Lake.
When there were few school buildings for the teaching of black students, phi lanthropist Julius Rosenwald, President of Sears Roebuck, partnered with African- American educator and leader Booker T. Washington, President of Tuskegee Institute, in Alabama.
It was this partnership which inspired a school building program which was a progressive step in American education in building thousands of schools for black students in their communities, which helped to improve the quality of education throughout the South.
Colorado County was fortunate to have one of the dynamic and impressive Rosenwald schools in the state of Texas. It is the only one established in the county.
The Rosenwald school era began in 1912, and progressed through 1930. Tuskegee Institute in rural Alabama was a school for black teachers and was a model for educating for educating black teachers throughout the South.
This partnership enabled excellent school buildings to take their places in the South and to enable partnerships between Whites and Blacks in rural communities to work to find land and establish the schools for the betterment of each community they served. Rosenwald continued to fund schools into the early 1930s, hampered only by the depression.
The Rosenwald School in Colorado County was built as a five-teacher school in Eagle Lake near the lake and provided not only an outstanding facility for students and teachers, but also became a Meeting Place and Social Gathering Place for its African-American community. Later the school was named for its primary founder and supporter Mr. E.H. Henry who served as head of the school for many years and who partnered with the Rosenwald oppor tunity for Eagle Lake. The EH Henry High School was renowned in the county and in the state for its teaching, curriculum, sports, bands, and student competition in statewide contests. The school produced many leaders, athletes, professionals, farmers, cattlemen, good citizens.
To salute Black History Month, we also recognize the diligent roles of teachers, parents, community leaders, and students inhelpingto realize the dream of every family of having an excellent school for its children. We salute Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald and E.H. Henry for a partnership which has endured throughout the years, and for a school which has always made Colorado County and Eagle Lake proud.
