Fire damages portion of historical school

By David Ball
The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR January 05, 2009 06:42 pm

— Fire may have destroyed part of the former Lincoln High School campus but not the spirit of Port Arthurans who once attended the school.
Tasha Bobb is an alumna of Lincoln who saw the building burning. Her daughter, Amrie, is a student at the Ninth Grade Campus.
Though Bobb believes the fire is tragic, she thinks the school can press forward after this.
“I saw the fire last night after a friend called me. It was very horrible, but all things work together for good. I understand a fire due to natural causes, but to commit arson of a landmark is just mind boggling,” Bobb said. “It's a sad thing. There's a lot of memories and a lot of history. Lincoln High School was a great thing. We had an excellent school with a lot of tradition. It was like a family, we all had a connection with each other. The love shared there can't be topped.”
A fire that severely damaged Memorial Ninth Grade Campus/Booker T. Washington Elementary School on Sunday has been deemed arson, according to the Port Arthur Fire Marshal’s Office.
The side of the school used as the elementary campus suffered major structural damage as a result of the fire and will not be able to be reoccupied.
Karen Lomasney, secretary to Assistant Superintendent Mark Porterie, said Porterie was in a meeting with department heads and could not be reached for comment. Lomasney, said, however no press release would be issued Monday in regard to the incident since plans are still being worked out. A plan may be finalized by Tuesday.
Fire officials said the blaze originated in a classroom on the north side of the school building and when fire units arrived they found the fire extending to other areas of the building.
Smoke damage extended into the Memorial Ninth Grade portion of the building but officials have not determined yet how much damage was suffered and whether this portion of the building will be re-opening soon. Some repair and cleanup will be necessary.
The fire occurred about 9:57 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, at 1023 Lincoln Ave., the site of the former Lincoln High School campus.
Firefighters returned to the campus about 8:30 a.m. Monday for a call that the fire had rekindled in the attic portion of the school. The rekindled fire was quickly extinguished.
Classes are canceled for Monday and Tuesday and staff for both schools are asked to report to Stilwell Technical Center on Tuesday.
The school has a long history dating back to the early 1900s.
In 1908, Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees authorized construction of a 2-room building, late expanded to a 6-room school, to house black students in the district. Then in 1919 voters approved a $200,000 bond used to fund the construction of LHS, according to the Port Arthur Centennial History book.
The new building had 16 classrooms, a cloak room, a hospital room, a book room and the principal’s office.
The school district consolidated the districts three high schools to form one campus in 2003 thus housing 10-12 grades at the former Thomas Jefferson High School campus with the new name of Memorial High School. The former LHS campus was then renamed Memorial Ninth Grade campus. Washington Elementary School students began using a section of the facility for classes while construction is being done on their new facility.

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