Old Cumberland Hill School
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Old Cumberland Hill School One of the first brick schools in Dallas system, this Victorian building was constructed in 1888 on the site of a pre-Civil War school organized by Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Dallas. In early decades this school drew pupils from several areas. Many students arrived each day in handsome carriages. In later times the student body came from many different nationalities, giving rise to nickname "Melting Pot School." From 1963 to 1969 the building housed a progressive vocational center, teaching construction trades to citizens of area. 1971
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
One of the first brick schools in the Dallas system, this Victorian building rose in 1888 on the site of a pre–Civil War school begun by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In its early years some pupils arrived by carriage, but as the city grew it drew children of so many backgrounds that it earned the nickname the 'Melting Pot School.' From 1963 to 1969 it housed a vocational center teaching the building trades.
Why it matters
The school's journey from carriage-borne elite to immigrant 'melting pot' mirrors the transformation of a frontier town into a diverse American city.
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Themes & tags
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