Under the principalship of Fred C. West, a 15-room school located at 13th and Mosley was established in 1912. The school was named after the famous French Negro General of Haiti, Toussaint L’Ouverture. Approximately 300 pupils were enrolled.
Opened during the time of segregated schools, L’Ouverture’s district included Black children in grades K-6 living north of 11th Street and west of Santa Fe and all Back children in grades seven and eight. Children living a long distance from school were transported. In 1923, three additional rooms were built, and later a playroom in the basement was converted into two classrooms.
Upon Mr. West’s retirement in 1937, Ferdinand L. Barnett was transferred from Dunbar to L’Ouverture as principal. Under his leadership, plans for a new L’Ouverture were formulated; however, his death in 1947 prevented Mr. Barnett from seeing his dream come true.
The plans were realized in 1951 under John R. Carter, principal (1947-67), when the new L’Ouverture located at 1539 Ohio was completed. The building consisted of 17 classrooms, library, office, health room and other facilities. Included on the staff were the librarian, nurse, secretary and instrumental music teacher who served scheduled days at the school. Enrollment at the opening was 620 in grades K-6.
The 1949-50 school year was the last year grades seven and eight were enrolled at L’Ouverture. Excerpt Courtesy of USD259 Website.’
Kansas Black History Facts are prepared for The Community Voice newspaper by Donna Rae Pearson.
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