Mark in Texas History: Angelina County one-room schoolhouse grows into community center

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - There are several schools across East Texas that play important roles in our roots. In Angelina County, a small, one-room schoolhouse evolved into a district.

The Fairview School in Lufkin is the focus of today’s Mark in Texas History.

Back in the 1800s, the Angelina County school board created a new district. District 69 was a one-room schoolhouse that served students from a wide area. The first school term was in 1898 and was five months long.

Fast forward to 1915, and a two-room schoolhouse was built, along with a cafeteria and auditorium. The Fairview School became a community center for people in the area and also served as a voting place.

It not only provided education for grades one through seven but hosted programs for farmers. Government experts taught agricultural techniques to increase production of cattle and local crops of peanuts, corn and cotton.

In 1963, the Fairview School closed. About 30 years later, it became part of the Lufkin school district. The Texas Historical Commission recognized District 69 by placing a marker at the site of the Angelina County school.

If you’d like to check it out, it’s in Lufkin on FM 2108, three miles east of the small town of Burke. There are also eight other markers within five miles of this one, so you can make it a day trip.