Remember a time of segregation and limited opportunities. The St. John Orphanage and Industrial Institute Plaque stands as a testament to the resilience of Austin’s African American community. This plaque marks the spot of a once-thriving institution. The St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute offered hope and education to countless Black children.
The St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute began with the St. John Association in 1894. Reverend Lee Lewis Campbell led the charge. He belonged to the New Negro generation committed to education and middle-class values. Campbell envisioned a place for orphaned Black children to thrive. He looked to Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute as a model.
In 1900, the St. John Association started raising money. Their goal was to build an orphanage and industrial training school. The St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute would be private. It would receive no state funding. The association purchased 306 acres four miles north of Austin. This land would house the orphanage, the institute, and their annual encampments.
By 1909, the St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute campus was taking shape. Initially, a frame building served as the orphanage but it burned down. The Association hired architect John Andrewartha. He designed a three-story limestone building. It could house 300 to 400 children. The new building opened by 1910 at a cost of 65000 dollars. The campus soon included six buildings. By 1915, the industrial institute was up and running.
The St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute taught practical skills. Boys and girls learned shoemaking, sewing, printing, and cooking. They also studied agriculture and general housekeeping. The institute advertised itself as a residence farm. Its curriculum was adopted by the Texas State Board of Education.
The St. John Association summer encampments drew huge crowds. Between 1913 and 1917, attendance peaked at 15000 to 20000 people. In 1911, Booker T. Washington visited the St. John Orphan Home. He had breakfast with Rev. Lee L. Campbell before speaking in Wooldridge Park. One goal of the encampments was to bridge the racial divide. News reports often noted the presence of white attendees.
However, hard times fell on the St. John Orphan Home. In 1927, Rev. Lee Lewis Campbell died. Declining crop prices hurt the orphanage’s finances. The Great Depression further crippled the Association’s revenue. Many farmers migrated to Austin seeking jobs. The St. John Orphan Home and school closed in 1942.
In 1945, there was a plan to convert the property into a naval hospital. The city of Austin offered 85000 dollars for the land. But the war ended and the sale fell through. Later, developers sought to clear the land. They wanted to build a white residential area.
Despite these challenges, the St. John Association persevered. In 1956, they sold the land for 600000 dollars. The buyer planned a housing development for white residents. Eleven days later, the old St. John orphanage burned down. Teenagers had used the derelict building as a hangout. The fire’s cause remained a mystery.
Today, the St. John Encampment Commons park honors the legacy. It pays tribute to an area of historic and cultural importance. The St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute stands as a symbol. It represents the African American community’s commitment to education. It embodies their resourcefulness during times of adversity. This plaque ensures their story is never forgotten.