Lincoln School (Canton, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln School
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Front and northern side
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | MO B, Canton, Missouri |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1880 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001029 |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1983 |
The Lincoln School in Canton, Missouri, was once a special school for African-American children. It served kids from Canton and nearby areas in Lewis County, Missouri. Built in 1880, this school helped students learn until 1955. It closed after a very important decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, called Brown v. Board of Education. This decision said that separate schools for different races were not fair. In 1983, Lincoln School was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical building. Today, you can only see the outside of the school.
Contents
The School's Early Years
The story of education for African-American children in Canton began in 1866. A former post office building was turned into classrooms. Students in grades one through eight were the main focus. Some adults also attended these early classes.
Challenges in Early Education
This first school only lasted one year. The Canton Board of Education could not afford the rent for the building. They also could not pay the teacher, S.S. Sellers, his monthly salary. In 1868, a second attempt was made in a different place. The teacher's salary was lower this time. By 1870, the school was located in Canton's African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. Adults who had been enslaved were allowed to attend. They paid a small fee each month to get an education.
A New School Building
In 1871, a new school was built for white students in Canton. This showed a big difference in the quality of school buildings. It made the African-American community feel upset. Some repairs were made to the AME church in 1872, but the problems continued.
In 1880, African-American residents asked the Canton Board of Education for a better school. A group was formed to look into the costs. On May 1, 1880, Canton voters approved spending $800 to build a new school for African-American children.
Building the Lincoln School
Soon after the vote, bids were asked for the construction. J.S. Eaton won the bid with an offer of $700. The finished school building was 42 feet long and 24 feet wide. It was made of red brick walls that were 13 inches thick. The walls sat on a strong foundation of limestone blocks. The outside of the building was simple. The inside had a wooden floor.
Because the nearby Mississippi River often flooded, the wooden floor became unusable. It was later replaced with a concrete floor. The school was built on land that was originally a public park. Today, the area around the school is still known as Martin Park.
First Teachers and Adult Classes
Lincoln School's first teacher was M.L. Clay. He was paid $35 per month. Besides teaching children during the day, Mr. Clay also taught night classes for African-American adults. He paid for these classes himself.
Life at Lincoln School
Many teachers came and went at Lincoln School. However, one teacher, Charles W. Lear, stayed for a long time. He was the school's first African-American teacher. Mr. Lear taught for 32 of the school's 75 years.
School Facilities and Improvements
The facilities at Lincoln School were always not as good as the schools for white students in Canton. Indoor toilets and electricity were not added until 1924. Lincoln School only taught children up to the eighth grade.
High School Education and Closure
Until 1946, students who wanted to go to high school had to find their own way. From 1946 to 1955, the Canton school board provided buses. These buses took African-American students in grades nine through twelve to Hannibal, Missouri. This was a long trip, 40 miles each way, every day.
In 1955, the Brown v. Board of Education ruling changed everything. This decision by the U.S. Supreme Court said that separate schools for different races were unconstitutional. Because of this, 1955 was the last year for Lincoln School. The last classes were held in May, and Mrs. Birdie Nickerson was the final teacher.
After the School Closed
After 1955, the Lincoln School building was used for storage by the local school district. It started to fall apart. Things began to change after it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 1995, the school district gave the building to the City of Canton.
Restoration Efforts
In recent years, a non-profit group called the Lincoln School Restoration Association has taken over. They are working to fix up and restore the school. There is a special plaque on the outside of the building. An information sign in front tells a short history of the school. Right now, you cannot go inside because restoration work is still happening.
Lincoln School in Stories
The Lincoln School also inspired a series of children's stories. Author Eleanora E. Tate used it as the basis for the fictional Douglass School in Nutbush, Missouri. Ms. Tate grew up in Canton and attended first grade at Lincoln School in its very last year.
