Special to the Review
The Texas Historical Commission will dedicate a marker to commemorate the site of the original St. Paul Industrial Training School on May 2 at 11 a.m.
The marker dedication will be held at 15806 Barron Road (Farm-to-Market Road 1214) in Caney City.
The unveiling of the marker will be preceded by a brief program. Program guests include the Honorable Joe Barron, mayor of Caney City; Sarah Jane Brown, chair of the Henderson County Historical Commission; and James R. Handy, chairman of the St. Paul Industrial Training School, Inc. The program will also include past and present recipients of high school and college scholarships awarded in honor of J.W. and Alice O. Smothers, founders of St. Paul Industrial Training School.
The marker will be erected at the entrance of the campus property, replacing the original sign which once indicated arrival at the St. Paul Industrial Training School.
State historical markers commemorate significant individuals, organizations, places and events in Texas history. These markers help communities throughout the state promote, preserve and present history for the education and enjoyment of residents and tourists of all ages. Currently, there are more than 12,000 historical markers across the state of Texas. The Henderson County Historical Commission has been working closely with the St. Paul staff to ensure the dedication will reflect the rich history and legacy of the school’s founders.
The St. Paul Industrial Training School, founded in the 1920s, is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to ensuring educational empowerment by providing scholarships for Texas students in good academic standing who are in need. Its history and mission, covering the last eight decades, has not strayed from the primary focus of providing social and educational services for the benefit of young adults.
In 1947, the St. Paul Industrial Training School was chartered as a not-for-profit Texas corporation and has since worked for over six decades to educate and provide guidance to students. As a result, the St. Paul Industrial Training School has been successful in helping thousands of youth who may have otherwise slipped through society’s cracks. During the summer of 1987, St. Paul and its Board of Directors restructured the program so assistance could be provided to the state’s many college students. The new focus of the school facilitated the development of a scholarship fund to assist eligible students in attending Texas colleges and universities.
