Historical information for Beeville, TX; Lott Canada School; Charles Major Lytle American Legion

Historical Facts About Beeville

• Many African Americans who arrived in Texas before 1860, were brought in as slaves, indentured servants or escaped slaves
• In 1850, the US Census reported that there were 397 free  Blacks; and in 1860, 355 although there may have been an equal number of free Blacks that were not counted.
• With the formation of Bee County in 1858, records show that money in the amount of $142.26, was set aside for the first school. ( Texas Handbook Online, Beeville, TX, and Free Blacks of Texas.)
• Between 1850 and 1866, the church played an important role in the early African American history in Texas. As during that era, the church was not only a house of worship, but served as the political, social, and educational center in Black American lives.
• In 1874, Beeville's first building used exclusively for school purposes was opened. And following the migration of Blacks to Texas from 1850-1888, schools for Blacks began to appear.
• In 1876, the first Black school in Bee County was in Stephen Canada's store, seven miles north of Beeville. The following year Kennedy built a small frame schoolhouse that cost $19.00.  Lucy Johnson, Susan Lott and Ellen Carrol were reported as teachers.
• Upon petition from Stephen Canada & Stephen Kennedy, the court created the "Colored Community School #12" and four years later changed it to "Colored District #15". ( County Judges School Board Record, 1877-88 & County Commissioners Court Minutes, No. 65)
• There is no historical evidence that a colored school was built in the Beeville until land was purchased in 1908, by Beeville Independent School System.  In that year, Deed Records of Bee County, reflects that the Beeville City Schools purchased Block No. 10 from R.H. and Clara Berry (AC Jones heirs) for a colored schoolhouse.
• By 1913-14, (Beeville City Schools, Bee Picayune, Beeville, Texas ) the Black School, known as School #3 was completed.  It was a wooden-framed building located at 107 N. Burke St.   The principal was J.R. Lockett and Mrs. Mary Goodson & Mrs. G.A. Smith were teachers.  Superintendent of Schools, W.E. Madderra, reported that there were 122 Black children enrolled, out of the 744 total school population.
• In 1929, the Black school, School #3 caught fire and burned down, and the students were placed in a temporary facility located at 108 Burke Street, near Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church.
• In July 1931, The Beeville Bee Picayune, announced that the new Negro school was built, valued at $10,000 (an amount that would not have been so great, had it not been for the Julius Rosenwald fund, that promoted education for Negro Americans).  The school was named "Lott Canada School"  in honor of the two men, Moss Lott & Allen Canada, who were Black carpenters that had constructed the previous school for Black children.

History of Lott Canada School

• Lott Canada School consisted of four classrooms and a principal's office. During the first academic year, students finished high school by the tenth grade. Some of the teachers were Ms. Alma Hampton, W. Marion Davis, A.C. Glosson, Helen Fisher, Lavera T. Brown, Herman Caldwell, Sally Bell and Sarah Jones (Lott Canada Reunion Book, 1990) Notable graduates include William Langley, Sr., (1930); Nealie Ofelia Lott (1928); Joe Webb, who served on the San Antonio City Council, & Carl O'Riley, Valedictorian, class of 1955.
• Beeville ISD honored Lott Canada teacher and administrator, Ms. Alma Hampton, commemorating her for great contributions to education.
• In the fall of 1955, Lott Canada students were transferred AC Jones High School, and each year thereafter, a class from Lott Canada School was allowed to join the other populations throughout the Beeville Independent School District.
• From the first year of integration and throughout, Lott Canada transferred students excelled in sports at AC Jones.  Those students include Charles Love and Emmett Moore.  Another Lott Canada Alumni, Jesse Robinson, was the first Black in Texas to be given the All-State recognition in high school basketball. 
• In 1964, Lott Canada School was closed, with the building remaining and being operated by Beeville ISD.  Later the building was gifted to the Lott Canada Alumni Association, and now serves as a museum with artifacts, photos, memorabilia and displays that tell visitors the importance that Lott Canada School has had on the Beeville Black Community.
• The Lott Canada School facility continues to be a place of learning for visiting school children who ask, "Why did Black kids have to go to a different school than White kids?"
• Projects like Lott Canada School have had great success in bringing together the people of Beeville and surrounding areas, and the activities that occur within its walls continues to promote a positive community spirit.  And even today, its mottos, to "Fight to the Finish"; "Do or Die"; "Quitting Never, but Always Try", remain a legacy.