St. Paul Industrial Training School

The historic St. Paul community, a self-sufficient African American settlement, became renowned for its school and its remarkable husband and wife educators. James Willliam Smothers (1896-1975) of Mt. Meggs, Alabama, was a graduate of Hampton Institute (Virginia) and Prairie View College. Alice Olenza Wingfield (1899-2000) of Greenville, Alabama, graduated from Tuskegee Institute (Alabama). Her father established the first institution for underprivileged African American children in Greenville, influencing young Alice. James and Alice married in 1926 and came to Henderson County to organize St. Paul Industrial Training School. The state department of education had asked Hampton Institute to provide a teacher of scientific agriculture. J.W. As Superintendent and Alice as Principal arrived to find a small schoolhouse for 12 students. Children began arriving from across Texas, and through assistance from the state and benefactors, the campus grew. On December 26, 1942, a tornado leveled all the school buildings. Undaunted, the teachers and students retrieved the lumber and made temporary buildings. J.W. focused on improving the school's crop and livestock yields to consume and sell for profit. Alice began statewide fundraising, and philanthropists helped build a permanent campus of brick buildings. Beyond the regular curriculum, children learned practical skills in home economics, food canning, blacksmithing, sewing and typing, as well as instruction in music and voice. By the time the school closed in the 1980s, the Smothers and their teachers had served thousands of minority students. J.W. taught young people that "if you can't read, people will lie to you. If you can't count, they will cheat you. If you are weak, they will push you around, and if you are jittery, the world will keep you jumping." (2008)

St. Paul Industrial Training School is a historical marker in Caney City, Henderson County, dedicated in 2008. It is one of 65 historical markers documented in Henderson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 155 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.2100, -96.0442 near Caney City. The nearest cataloged historic site is Thomas Cemetery (cemetery), about 0.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include Clear Creek Cemetery, First Baptist Church on Walker Street, and Steen Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507014179. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.