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TESGALV.ORG (409) 765-9391 Air Conditioning & HeatingAir Conditioning & Heating 409-744-0774409-744-0774 RELIABLE & EFFICIENT SAVES MONEY! TACLB009653E 3614 Yale St, Galveston Servicing Galveston & Surrounding Cities Since 1975 New Construction/Remodel & Old Homes Licensed & Insured CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! 24/7 Service Credit Cards ACCEPTED 10 | Black History Month | 2021REALREAL REAL LIFE. REAL EXPERIENCES. REAL FUTURE. GC.EDU Opportunity It is the policy of Galveston College to provide equal opportunities without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information or veteran status. 2021 | Black History Month | 1112 | Black History Month | 2021 By MATT DEGROOD The Daily News The Leagues, the But- lers, the Daros — these names are well-known to residents well-versed in the founding history of Galveston County’s biggest city. Perhaps less well- known, but no less important is that of Alex- ander Winfield — a Civil War veteran, a member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers and an influen- tial figure in the history of both League City and Dickinson. “People have forgotten about the Winfields and Hobbses because of the ills of the 20th century,” League City Mayor Pat Hallisey said. “There’s no reason for that.” Hallisey in recent years has regaled anyone will- ing to listen with tales about the Winfield and Hobbs families. After attending a family reunion in 2019, Hallisey declared July 27 Winfield Family Day, city officials said. And he has also worked to name a new street, at the end of Hobbs Road, after the Winfield family, to com- memorate the Black fam- ilies’ influence in League City, Hallisey said. Alexander Winfield was born about May 9, 1847 in Virginia, but spent most of his youth Buffalo Soldier and Civil War veteran left mark on League City STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News The Winfield family has deep roots in League City and Galveston County. Several of the family graves dating back to the early 20th century are located in the Historic Magnolia Cemetery in Dickinson.2021 | Black History Month | 13 STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News A historical marker outside of Faith United Methodist Church in Dickinson referemces Alex Winfield and his contributions to founding a church at the location. He founded Winfield Chapel at the site in 1907. in Ohio, said Deborah Konrad, one of Winfield’s great-grandchildren. Konrad now lives north of Houston, but has studied her family history and given presen- tations on the Winfield patriarch, she said. It is not clear whether Winfield was born in bondage, but if he was, he was quickly manumit- ted, Konrad said. As family history has it, Winfield served in the Ohio Colored Troops for more than two years during the Civil War and then joined the regular army once it was opened to Black people, Konrad said. Winfield enlisted in the 41st Infantry Regiment that was later consolidat- ed into the 24th Regi- ment and was stationed at several forts in Texas, Konrad said. Members of those original African-American units of the U.S. Army later became known as Buffalo Soldiers, accord- ing to the Buffalo Soldier Museum. During his time in the military, Winfield was stationed in La Grange and met his wife, Rose Booker, Konrad said. Family legend holds that she was a white woman, which would have been unusual at the time. “It would have been unfathomable for a Black man to be married to a white woman,” she said. “We doubted the oral history, but it turns out we’re pretty sure she was. There’s some genetic makeup to say she was.” Winfield married his wife in 1873 and the two remained in La Grange and raised their growing family until 1902, Konrad said. The Winfield family in 1902 purchased land in League City from the great nephew of Stephen F. Austin and moved there, to a place near what is now Hobbs Road, Konrad said. “The Butlers and Win- fields were always close,” Konrad said. “The Win- fields supplied a good portion of the Black workforce for League City.” The Winfield family worked as farmers and laborers after moving to League City, slowly building wealth during a time in which that was hard for Black people, Konrad said. The city later named Hobbs Road in memory of a Winfield relative, Obie Hobbs, but resi- dents knew it originally as the Winfield Settle- ment, Konrad said. Alexander Winfield was also the steward of a Methodist church in League City that later merged and moved to Dickinson, becoming today’s Faith United Methodist Church. The land surrounding Faith United Methodist Church bears a historical marker commemorat- ing the role Alexander Winfield played in the church’s founding. Alexander Winfield died in 1912, but League City and Galveston County are still home to many of his descendants, Konrad said. “It’s a story with lots of triumphs and lots of pain,” she said. “It was hard being Black then. Of course, it’s hard being Black now.” “It’s a story with lots of triumphs and lots of pain. It was hard being Black then. Of course, it’s hard being Black now.” DEBORAH KONRAD , Alexander Winfield’s great-granddaughter Courtesy Alexander Winfield with his wife, Rose, and children Minnie (standing) and Alma.GGaallvveessttoonn RRaaiillrrooaadd MMuusseeuumm aanndd GGIISSDD TTeexxaass AAccee PPrrooggrraamm CCeelleebbrraatteess BBllaacckk HHiissttoorryy MMoonntthh SScchheedduullee ooff EEvveennttss FFeebb 2200tthh -- LLiivvee GGoossppeell MMuussiicc FFeebb 2266tthh -- ““AA NNiigghhtt ooff tthhee AArrttss”” FFeebb.. 2277tthh -- LLiivvee MMuussiicc wwiitthh MMiicckkeeyy HHoobbbbss SSttuuddeenntt AArrtt SShhoowwss——AAllll MMoonntthh • FFeebb.. 11-- 77 33rrdd GGrraaddee • FFeebb.. 88 -- 1144 44tthh GGrraaddee • FFeebb 1155 -- 2211 MMiiddddllee SScchhooooll • FFeebb 2222 -- 2288 HHiigghh SScchhooooll wwwwww..ggaallvveessttoonnRRRRmmuusseeuumm..oorrgg 14 | Black History Month | 2021“Central High School, established in 1885 – 1968, the first African American High School in Texas” “In 1904 an annex was built providing space at Central High for the first African American public library in Texas by Rosenberg Library Board of Directors” Old Central Cultural Center 2627 Avenue M, Galveston TX 77550 Learn more about Central High School at its website: www.galvestonoldcentral.com As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. Psychological freedom, a firm sense of self-esteem, is the most powerful weapon against the long night of physical slavery. Martin Luther King The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 151 joins ALL Texans defending our freedom by actively participating in the democratic process. All for One ~ One for All Your ancestors made history.Your ancestors made history. Discover their stories.Discover their stories. Family Research and Publication Sharon Batiste Gillins Genealogist Researcher Lecturer sbgillins@gmail.com 2021 | Black History Month | 1516 | Black History Month | 2021 Central High School among most important Galveston firsts Photo courtesy of Rosenberg Library Students and their bicycles at Central High School, in Galveston circa1917. Established in 1885, Central High School was the first high school for African Americans in the state of Texas. 2021 | Black History Month | 17 Story by ANGELA WILSON Photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS The Daily News Galveston is known for a lot of firsts, but none more significant in Black history in Texas than Cen- tral High School, a first that’s still celebrated today by former students and the larger community. Central High School, organized in 1885, was Texas’ first African-Amer- ican high school. The effort was led by Nor- ris Wright Cuney, who was the city’s first Black alderman. The school be- gan in rented quarters on 16th Street and Avenue L. Renowned architect Nicholas Clayton de- signed the school’s new building in 1893 on land purchased by the Galveston School Board between 26th and 27th streets in Galveston. The original building has been demolished, but a wing erected and attached to that building in 1924 still stands and houses the Old Central Cultural Center today. Students from all over Texas and neighboring states such as Louisiana were educated at Cen- tral, and it was a sense of pride to be a Central Bearcat, said 83-year-old Jessie Mae Curtis of Gal- veston and a graduate of the class of 1957. “We were so proud to be students at Central,” Curtis said. “I remember how our vice principal, Frank Windom, knew all of us by name. He was the most impressive person we had at Central in my eyes. He gave us respect and we gave him respect, too.” Curtis, a majorette and whose favorite subject was English taught by her favorite teacher, Nannie Subject, and her class- mates attended Central when it moved to its final destination at 3014 Sealy Ave. in 1954, under the leadership of principal L. A. Morgan, she said. “We would have prayer every morning,” Curtis said. “My time at Central is one I’ll never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life.” In 1968, Central High School integrated with Ball High School, and its location is now Central Middle School, said David O’Neal Jr., a 1966 graduate of Central High School. The first African-American high school in Texas, Central High School, was first located at the corner of 16th Street and Avenue L in Galveston. A photo of the building hangs in the Old Central Cultural Center in Galveston. David O’Neal Jr., a trustee for the Galveston Independent School District and a 1966 graduate of Central High School in Galveston, flips through copies from one of the school’s early yearbooks at the Old Central Cultural Center, which served as the high school until 1954 when it moved to 3014 Sealy Ave.THE OLEANDERS AT BROADWAY Galveston, Texas BUILDING THE NEW LOOK OF SUCCESS CONSTRUCTION STARTS SPRING 2021 BLOCKCOMPANIES.COM HOUSTON OFFICE (832) 538-1220 HomeTown Bank loan officers take their jobs personally. Our hearts are in building houses, helping businesses prosper and improving neighborhoods in the city we love. We believe in investing in our community, and we are proud of what we do for Galveston. Bring us your dreams. Local bankers and personal attention make a big difference in banking, and we think you’ll appreciate it the moment you walk in. Local bankers making local decisions that help our local economy. Scott Kusnerik Executive Vice President Cesar Hernandez Senior Vice President Brandon Rogers Vice President Traci Shugart-Garcia Vice President Galveston Main Bank: 1801 45th St. • (409) 763-1271 Seawall Branch: 45th St. at Seawall Blvd. • (409) 763-5252 Internet: HomeTown.Bank 18 | Black History Month | 20212021 | Black History Month | 19 O’Neal, 72, the longest tenured trustee for the Galveston Independent School District, partici- pated in a wide array of clubs at Central such as the Spanish Club, New Mechanics Club, Dramat- ics Club, National Honor Society and the Esquire Gentlemen Club just to name a few, he said. “Central offered us var- ious pursuits in history, general studies, languag- es, science, arts, fine arts, business, industry and industrial arts,” O’Neal said. “The atmosphere at Central always felt like a little college set in a high school.” All the teachers at Central were educated and refined, and most had masters degrees or advanced studies certifi- cations, O’Neal said. Teachers such as Ber- nice O. James, Costello James, Mittie Smith, Hall L. Dansby, Della Arm- strong, William Jackson, Alphonse Royal, Alecia Urquhart, Ray T. Shep- pard and Ed Clack were some of the teachers who made some of the biggest impressions on O’Neal’s life, he said. “The faculty during that time came with the same mature and spiritu- al quest for knowledge that each had received in their respective school of undergraduate studies,” O’Neal said. “Faculty didn’t aspire to be like students. They inspired us to be more like college students. They taught us how to have respect for authori- ty and how to represent yourself, your family, the school and the city in a positive manner.” Galveston resident Barbara Reese Gordon, 73, also a graduate of the class of 1966, said that graduating from Central was one of the best ex- periences of her life. “Growing up a Black child during segregation and to be able to see prominent and profes- sional Black teachers and administrators at my school made me feel so proud,” she said. “Once a Bearcat, always a Bear- cat.” David O’Neal Jr., a trustee for the Galveston Independent School District and a 1966 graduate of Central High School in Galveston, flips through a yearbook from his high school at the Old Central Cultural Center. LEFT: A portrait of J.R. Gibson, a principal of Central High School, is displayed in the community room of the Old Central Cultural Center in Galves- ton. Gibson served as principal from 1886 until 1936. RIGHT: A portrait of L.A. Morgan, a principal at Central High School, is displayed in the communi- ty room of the Old Central Cultural Center in Galveston. BELOW: A photo of Central High School, now Central Middle School, hangs in the Old Central Cultural Center in Galveston.Next >