In the late 1960s, many small schools where black students were once educated were shuttered when integration began. All across the South, black schools were closed down. This is some background and an update on one of those schools that is near and dear to the hearts of many Magnolians.
In 1875, the Columbia District Baptist Association (CDBA) was formed by a number of black churches in Columbia County made up primarily of former slaves. At the time there were no public schools for any of them or their children to attend. Their aim was to promote “not only Christian education but education in general.”
In one of the early reports submitted to the group, Chairman S.S. Burton wrote, “The voice of the age is advanced with the glorious advantages of the truth as it is in Jesus and an education ministering to people. We will in due time, by the blessings of God, attain that victory for God and the truth that is promised to the church of a living God. We recommend that we try to get a school for the benefit of our ministers and children as early as possible.”
Through decades of efforts by the CDBA and others, public schools for black children were established in the city block bounded by Madison, School, and Ross Streets in Magnolia in 1915 and remained in operation until about 1969. The property has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2014, where it is listed as “Magnolia Colored School.”
The CDBA is still alive and well and actively working to restore remaining buildings on the property, including the one most commonly known as Columbia High School. The group has been in possession of the property where the former black schools were since purchasing it from Magnolia Public Schools in 1975 for the sum of $55,000.
“Some work had to be done back in that day to raise that kind of money,” Current CDBA Moderator Rev. B.J. Harris said, “but they did it.”
Although the elementary school and gym have been gone for years, the auditorium is still used fairly often for funerals, concerts, and civic events. Members of the CDBA plan to bring the old high school back to good condition — and to use it once again for the purpose of enriching the lives of children in the community, regardless of race.
“After the education building is finished, we’re going to use it for its historical purpose: a place to educate,” Harris said. We’re trying to get this organization back to its original purpose. There will be a dropout prevention program, as well as other uses. We’re going to need volunteers, especially people in education. It has nice, big classrooms.”
The dropout prevention program, called Ustep2Education, is one of the future outreach ministries of the CDBA. “We want to keep kids off the streets when they’re out of school due to suspension, expulsion or dropping out,” Harris said.
Ye Juanda Sargent, a nonprofit consultant volunteering with CDBA, said that even though the auditorium is in use, “It still has many repairs that need to be completed.” Harris added, “The education building is in worse shape.” Sargent agreed, saying, “That and the cafeteria need the most work.”
Sargent wrote and received a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield in February to get mold in the former high school removed. Harrison & Co. of Camden did the work on that, and Sargent was highly complementary of the job they did. “They were so nice, and the price was good. Even the hardwood floors — they buffed and cleaned the floors,” she said. “They did a great job,” Rev. Harris added.
Although exteriors of the buildings are in decent shape, the interiors need a lot of attention. Some of the rows of old chairs in the auditorium need to be removed; the stage needs attention; railings need to be installed; and there is a lot of painting to be done.
“We’re looking for volunteers to assist us in the clean-up of our campus and the interiors of the buildings,” Harris said. “Mainly, we need people who can volunteer to do some repairs,” Sargent agreed. “We’ve got some men who could probably furnish some tools. We just need the hands.”
On Saturday, Sept. 23, the CDBA will hold a clean-up day at the former Columbia High School, 611 S. Madison in Magnolia. The clean-up day will precede the celebration on Oct. 8 of the group’s 142nd anniversary of Founders Day. On that day, the CDBA will ask individual members to donate $23.85 in honor of the first total offering taken up by the association in 1875. Dr. D.L. Richardson, pastor of First Baptist Church in North Little Rock, will be the speaker at the Founders Day anniversary next month. The public is invited to attend the event.
Groups and volunteers who want to help with ongoing clean-up efforts at Columbia High School are encouraged to call Ye Juanda Sargent at 870-949-7758, email her at yejuanda@charitychoseme, or call Rev. Harris at 870-949-5137.
“We can always get somebody over there anytime,” Sargent said, so that volunteers can work at times convenient for them. “If we can get somebody to work with us, we will probably start doing it more often,” Rev. Harris added.