Historical Marker
McGhee Elementary School Building
Historical marker location:
1st St., Channelview, Texas
( Crockett and 1st St., behind de Zavala Elementary School)
Marker installed: 1979
Built before 1916, this one-room schoolhouse served the black children of this area. It originally stood about .5 mile east of this site on land donated by Joseph McGhee, a black farmer who also helped with the construction. With one teacher and seven grades, the school was typical of many in rural communities in Harris County in the early 1900s. McGhee School operated until 1942.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1979.
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.