This weathered aluminum plaque tells a powerful story. It’s the George Washington Carver High School marker. This isn’t just a piece of metal. It’s a testament to a school that served Baytown’s Black community. It opened in 1921 as Goose Creek School for Coloreds. It was a small nine-room school. It only went up to ninth grade. Just six years later it became a high school. The only one for Baytown’s Black students. The school’s expansion required buying extra land. Charles Massey sold land for $150. The new building cost over $5600.
Ernest Alvin Archia was the first principal. He was key to its growth. He expanded the school to twelve grades. He increased the teacher count to 24. The school thrived. It educated many notable alumni. Among them was Ambassador Alfred Fonteneau. Also Gene Washington a former NFL player. Pulitzer Prize nominee Eugene Cartwright was also a graduate. Plus accomplished engineer Houston Fontenot Jr. Even blues musicians Tony Russell “Charles” Brown and Joe Tex attended.
The school remained open until 1967. That was the end of desegregation. It then reverted to an elementary school. In 1995 an old oil storage pit was found. The old school was demolished. A new Carver Elementary was built nearby. This plaque marks the original high school’s legacy. In 2011 it received a Texas Historical Marker. This was the first in Baytown recognizing African-American heritage. The plaque stands as a reminder of a vital part of Baytown’s past. It’s a symbol of resilience and achievement. It’s a tribute to generations of students and educators. The George Washington Carver High School legacy lives on.