By Mike Arcand
(Note: In celebration of Black History Month, we present this story about the historic Addie E. McFarland school in Mineola. It represents a piece of history that should never be forgotten, and a transformation that holds past, present, and future generations’ interest in the accomplishments of the alumni and school itself.)
On South Stone Street just down from St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is The Addie E. McFarland Community Center. The location is more than an old school building. It is a monument to the determination of a community that steadily advanced in educational development while at the same time struggling against racism and preserving the legacy of its past for future generations.
Built in the late 19th century as a school for black children, the former school has been converted into a historic site, museum, and community center, thus making a lasting and meaningful contribution to the heritage of Mineola.
Origins and Early History
The history of the Addie McFarland School began more than 128 years ago in 1889 as a humble attempt to educate the young minds of Mineola’s burgeoning South Ward African American community when the present building became the South Ward School. The first of its kind for black children in Mineola, this segregated institution provided the only opportunity for formal training in the face of racially mandated “separate but equal” living arrangements in the post-Reconstruction South.
Over the years, there were a number of changes which indicated an evolution in role and function of the school in the community and a change in the identity of the school to meet the evolving needs and desires of the residents of the area.
During the first half of the 20th century, Mineola was growing, and there was also a growing black population in the South Ward. The school at this time was named Mineola Colored High School and served grades 1-10. The first class from the high school graduated in 1948.
Addie McFarland: Educator and Inspiration
During the 1950s the school was renamed Addie E. McFarland High School for Mineola’s notable teacher, Addie McFarland. As well as being a long-time teacher at the school, Addie McFarland played an important role in the lives of many students in the Mineola community for many years. Her work particularly benefited the youth of color at a time when there were not as many opportunities for them to receive an education.
Addie McFarland’s name proudly adorned the school building, but it stood for so much more than just a name. It stood for the determination, the hard work, the struggles, and most importantly, the greatness of black schools that were created to uplift and empower the minds of children, despite the racist barriers that prohibited equal access to institutions of learning.
The Era of Segregation and Integration
Years of existence made McFarland High School a cornerstone of the African-American community in Mineola. The school provided black students with a place to learn, grow, and ready themselves for the world upon graduating.
Over the years, the school served a purpose that went far beyond providing an education. McFarland became a source of community pride, a vehicle for developing top notch athletes and a launching point for graduates to go on to careers in teaching, law, science and the arts.
McFarland High School was closed in 1966 due to the desegregation of schools in Mineola. When the school system of Mineola became desegregated and students were assigned to the all-white Mineola High School, McFarland was no longer a functional campus.
Willie Brown was a Class of 1951 graduate of Phillip and Paul Junior High School. Brown became the Mayor of San Francisco and the Speaker of the California Assembly. Brown credited his educators, McFarland and the Phillip and Paul community, among others, for his academic achievements.
A New Chapter: Preservation and Community Renewal
The years turned into decades, and the McFarland building sat abandoned on the old school site, a monument to memories long gone by. It was time for alumni and concerned citizens to try and restore the building for its rightful place in Mineola history—from a nostalgic relic to a community resource for generations to come.
The movement to preserve the school was spearheaded by alumni, including Shirley Bryant Roberson, a 1961 graduate of McFarland High School. Moved by her love for her alma mater and after reading a Facebook post about local veterans who were graduates of McFarland High School, Shirley began gathering historic photos, artifacts, and testimonials. With a major endowment from the Mineola Meredith Foundation and additional monies collected from alumni and members of the local community, the old gym and cafeteria at McFarland High School was renovated and repurposed as the McFarland Alumni Museum, highlighting the rich history and accomplishments of McFarland High School alumni.
The museum also recognizes the diverse ways in which alumni have served communities locally and worldwide through their careers as doctors, lawyers, world travelers, and actors, among other things. One especially interesting example is information about McFarland alumnus Matthew Greer, who is an actor and has appeared in such films and TV shows as “Friday Night Lights” and “No Country for Old Men.”
Today: A Center for Community and Reflection
Today, the Addie McFarland site is operating as a museum and community center that continues to serve the residents of Mineola through the provision of relevant, high-quality educational programs, activities, and events that bring people together across the generations and help to foster community pride through the exhibition of a diverse range of artifacts which celebrate the rich history of African-Americans in Mineola. The building which was originally a “segregated” school continues this important work to build unity and to celebrate the common history that exists for all Mineola citizens.
In fact, just this past week, the facility was used to celebrate Black History Month with Jarvis Christian University and the Addie E. McFarland Foundation. The program featured live jazz music, and a program celebrating culture, history, and community. The event was well attended and welcomed by all.
What was once a segregated institution for black youth has become an icon of shared history. The story behind the Addie McFarland school shows us that history is not static—it is a living body of evidence of people, places, and things. And that it is carried by the very structures and people in the community. The Addie E. McFarland Center will be an inspiration and source of community awareness for generations to come.