A Revisit to Hope School

Photograph saved by Betty Charlene McDonald Rhodes and shared by her daughter, Rita Rhodes Bates. 
"1930-1931, Hope LA," original photograph from the Rhode family
collection, R. R. Bates, LA.  Accessed February 14, 2021. Used with permission.

"Hope School," original photograph from the Frye Family
collection, C. Frye, CA.  Accessed June 6, 2016, and
June 3, 2019. Used with permission.

Last week, I posted a photo of Hope School and asked for information about its location. Many responded and today, I have a little more to work with.

From what I could find, Hope, now known as Fryeburg, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, was a small farming community that  “had a church, a school, a gin, several stores, and a blacksmith shop”[1] by 1910. In about 1921 or 1922, an addition was built.[2] After that time, it was usually referred to as Hope High School; however, I am certain students of all grades attended the school. In 1942, an additional building was built by WPA workers. This building was used as a place to serve lunches.[3] The second floor of the school was used as an auditorium for school events as well as church services and funerals.[4] The wood-framed building closed in the 1940s and was torn down in 1945.[5]

The photo above shows one teacher, twenty-six students of varying ages, and a dog during the 1930-1931 school year. I have enlarged the portions to better see the faces of the children.

 

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.

Diana

© 2021 

Sources 

[1] “Fryeburg,” The Bienville Democrat, 11 Aug 1921; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01061125045607275091613441207: 15 February 2021).

[2]“Notice of Letting Contracts,” State Times Advocate, 27 June 1976; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70928368/addition-to-hope-school/: 15 February 2021).

[3]“Hope High School to Get a New Building,” The Shreveport Journal, 31 Jan 1942; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70986590/hope-hs-building/: 15 February 2021).

[4] “Memories call students home,” The Times, 02 July 1992; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70948346/hope-school-was-torn-down-in-1945/: 15 February 2021).

[5] “Hope School reunion scheduled for Sunday,” The Times, 12 Jun 1992; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71002951/hope-school-reunion/: 15 February 2021).