Page 226 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

History of Fort White-Bethlehem School : 1897-1960

(An all black school during the days of racial segregation)

The Fort White-Bethlehem School was a consolidated school located in

the southern part of Columbia County, three miles southeast of the
township of Fort White, two hundred yards off highway No. 18. It is a

rural community in North Central Florida.

The present school was developed from the schools and communities

shown in drawing of the school’s tree.

Because of the two and four months school terms, pupils walked from

twelve to fifteen miles to and from the various schools to complete a
term.

Equipment and facilities were very limited—no water (except that
brought by pupils), no heating system, no lunch room, and desks and no

chalkboards.

Records indicated that in 1919, teachers received a salary of $18 per

month for a two-month term.

The Fort White-Bethlehem community population is now approximately

five hundred people who made their living primarily through tobacco
and watermelon crops. Some do other jobs, such as, cutting pulpwood,
asphalt mining and miscellaneous jobs.

The recently erected school (1956) is of block construction consisting of
three units joined by a covered corridor.

The three-unit building is situated in the center of a ten-acre site. The
community has the following agencies outside of school to contribute to

its well-being: Four churches, Mothers club, Teenage Club, and two
Fraternal Organization. Within the school—P.T.A., one 4-H Boys Club,

Safety Patrol, Adult Education Program (offering Sewing and general
Education courses) and a Bible Memory Program.

218
www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 644B81FB-81A1-47B2-8D77-49DC2A1A0BE8