Dealing with Racist Historical Artifacts
by Kent Brewer
by Kent Brewer
There have been two major preservation projects in Waxahachie within the last decade that have forced the powers-that-be to make some difficult decisions concerning historic, but racially-sensitive artifacts associated with each structure. Ellis County officials and the City of Waxahachie each dealt with them in different, but respectful ways.
In each case the artifacts in question were remnants of Jim Crow laws that existed in Waxahachie for many years. I should point out that these laws were not unique to this area by any stretch. In fact, Ferris State University in Michigan houses the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia based on artifacts found throughout the United States. But what is relatively unique to this area is the large collection of late 19th and early 20th-century structures that often give us an opportunity to illuminate how things used to be, even if those things were unpleasant.
What are Jim Crow laws? Very briefly, Jim Crow was the name of a set of rules that existed between 1877 and the mid-1960s, for the most part in the Deep South. While promising “separate but equal”, in reality they relegated non-whites to second-class citizenship and deemed them inferior to whites. Segregation was established in everyday activities such as using restrooms, water fountains, courthouses and train depots. There can be little doubt that even Bessie Coleman, an American civil aviator (1892–1926), was on the receiving end of this institutional racism and social dysfunction in her short time in Waxahachie. It was simply a way of life that seems so foreign to Americans today.
Ellis County Courthouse
In 2001 during the $12-million renovation of the Ellis County Courthouse a hand-painted sign reading ’NEGROES’ was uncovered beneath layers of paint on the lower level of that structure. In perhaps a precedent-setting move, the County decided to preserve it in its original location with a plaque mounted nearby.
That plaque reads: “WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM HISTORY? History records mankind’s struggle with implementation of the ‘Golden Rule’. During the early days of operation of this beautiful courthouse, social inequities were commonplace across the nation, as evidenced by the segregation of bathrooms and drinking fountains. In courthouses throughout the country, non-whites were required to observe trials from the balcony in the courtroom if one existed. It is thought by historians that this remnant of a hand-lettered sign uncovered on this wall during the restoration project in 2001, perhaps designated a restroom to be used by African Americans. It is preserved here in the hopes that we will learn from history.” ~ Al Cornelias - Ellis County Judge. Well said!
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Depot
The newly rehabilitated MKT Depot is a preservation success story that Waxahachians should be very proud of. It is a beautiful structure that adds one more asset to the south end of downtown which also includes the restored Rogers Street Bridge and the Rock Island Depot all within walking distance of each other. It is an area of town where photo-ops abound in every direction. But like the courthouse, it too possessed a living time capsule with a link to a less-than-ideal past. But first some history on the structure itself. The building was constructed in 1908 and served as a stop for passenger traffic on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas rail line until the 1960s. Coincidentally, right at the end of Jim Crow laws. It operated as a freight facility until the 1980s.
In more recent years it was used as a storage facility - mostly bales of hay sold from Boyce Feed just across the lot. When the city purchased the depot in 2008 it had fallen into serious disrepair (photo right). The rehab was complete in November of 2010 and has recently been paired with an authentic caboose permanently positioned on the south side of the building.
A few years ago, long before any renovation had begun, my wife was taking photos of the dilapidated depot when she noticed that one of the entry doors held faint remnants of the word ‘COLORED’. As it turns out, the other three doors were also hand-painted with either ‘COLORED’ or ‘WHITE’ placed about about eye-level to a child. It occurs to me that the placement was probably intentional. Even youngsters old enough to read were subject to Jim Crow.
Now, I'm not trying to suggest that this is breaking news, though probably very few people are even aware that they exist. Certainly neither my wife nor I knew anything about them until the day she took these photos. But history does show that the depot was designed for implementing segregation with non-whites in the west and whites in the east. It is simply amazing that these doors are still around and that no one has painted over them by now - either in disgust or in not knowing they were there since they are so faded. So what has become of the doors? 
Unlike the courthouse, it would not be appropriate to leave these artifacts in place considering that the depot was renovated to house a restaurant in the near future. Not exactly the most welcoming of signs for hungry patrons. But it is my understanding that the doors have all been placed in storage for safekeeping for the time being. Hopefully they will eventually be displayed in an appropriate setting and not forgotten or tossed by accident. Just as the paint on these doors has slowly faded over the years, so fades the memory of what they represent as more and more generations come and go. So it would be a shame to ignore these pieces of history that have somehow managed to survive the last 100 years of wear, exposure and neglect. Thankfully, both Ellis County and the City of Waxahachie have chosen to preserve them in their own way.
©2012 Kent Brewer
What are Jim Crow laws? Very briefly, Jim Crow was the name of a set of rules that existed between 1877 and the mid-1960s, for the most part in the Deep South. While promising “separate but equal”, in reality they relegated non-whites to second-class citizenship and deemed them inferior to whites. Segregation was established in everyday activities such as using restrooms, water fountains, courthouses and train depots. There can be little doubt that even Bessie Coleman, an American civil aviator (1892–1926), was on the receiving end of this institutional racism and social dysfunction in her short time in Waxahachie. It was simply a way of life that seems so foreign to Americans today.
Ellis County Courthouse
In 2001 during the $12-million renovation of the Ellis County Courthouse a hand-painted sign reading ’NEGROES’ was uncovered beneath layers of paint on the lower level of that structure. In perhaps a precedent-setting move, the County decided to preserve it in its original location with a plaque mounted nearby.
That plaque reads: “WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM HISTORY? History records mankind’s struggle with implementation of the ‘Golden Rule’. During the early days of operation of this beautiful courthouse, social inequities were commonplace across the nation, as evidenced by the segregation of bathrooms and drinking fountains. In courthouses throughout the country, non-whites were required to observe trials from the balcony in the courtroom if one existed. It is thought by historians that this remnant of a hand-lettered sign uncovered on this wall during the restoration project in 2001, perhaps designated a restroom to be used by African Americans. It is preserved here in the hopes that we will learn from history.” ~ Al Cornelias - Ellis County Judge. Well said!Missouri-Kansas-Texas Depot
The newly rehabilitated MKT Depot is a preservation success story that Waxahachians should be very proud of. It is a beautiful structure that adds one more asset to the south end of downtown which also includes the restored Rogers Street Bridge and the Rock Island Depot all within walking distance of each other. It is an area of town where photo-ops abound in every direction. But like the courthouse, it too possessed a living time capsule with a link to a less-than-ideal past. But first some history on the structure itself. The building was constructed in 1908 and served as a stop for passenger traffic on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas rail line until the 1960s. Coincidentally, right at the end of Jim Crow laws. It operated as a freight facility until the 1980s.
In more recent years it was used as a storage facility - mostly bales of hay sold from Boyce Feed just across the lot. When the city purchased the depot in 2008 it had fallen into serious disrepair (photo right). The rehab was complete in November of 2010 and has recently been paired with an authentic caboose permanently positioned on the south side of the building.
A few years ago, long before any renovation had begun, my wife was taking photos of the dilapidated depot when she noticed that one of the entry doors held faint remnants of the word ‘COLORED’. As it turns out, the other three doors were also hand-painted with either ‘COLORED’ or ‘WHITE’ placed about about eye-level to a child. It occurs to me that the placement was probably intentional. Even youngsters old enough to read were subject to Jim Crow.
Now, I'm not trying to suggest that this is breaking news, though probably very few people are even aware that they exist. Certainly neither my wife nor I knew anything about them until the day she took these photos. But history does show that the depot was designed for implementing segregation with non-whites in the west and whites in the east. It is simply amazing that these doors are still around and that no one has painted over them by now - either in disgust or in not knowing they were there since they are so faded. So what has become of the doors? Unlike the courthouse, it would not be appropriate to leave these artifacts in place considering that the depot was renovated to house a restaurant in the near future. Not exactly the most welcoming of signs for hungry patrons. But it is my understanding that the doors have all been placed in storage for safekeeping for the time being. Hopefully they will eventually be displayed in an appropriate setting and not forgotten or tossed by accident. Just as the paint on these doors has slowly faded over the years, so fades the memory of what they represent as more and more generations come and go. So it would be a shame to ignore these pieces of history that have somehow managed to survive the last 100 years of wear, exposure and neglect. Thankfully, both Ellis County and the City of Waxahachie have chosen to preserve them in their own way. ©2012 Kent Brewer