Historically Black school in San Benito unveils Texas Historical Commission marker

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An official Texas Historical Commission marker was unveiled this morning at the Joe Callandret school in San Benito.

The school was built in 1952 and was the first school for Black children in San Benito in that era.

It is now home to the Callandret Black History Museum.

“The Blacks wasn’t recognized," William Davis said. "To recognize us, that we were here, that means so much to me.”

The land for the school was originally donated by Fannie Callandret, from a part of her late husband’s estate, in 1948.

Her great nephew William Davis was one of the speaker’s at Saturday’s unveiling.

The San Benito School District offered the historical society the old school building in 2019.

The Black history museum opened in February of 2020 and historical society members applied for the state marker that same year.

“We knew the history of the building. We knew the history of the neighborhood. So we snapped it up,” said Sandra Tumberlinson, founder and board member, Callandret Museum.

But because of the pandemic, the process was delayed.

Museum officials say many offices in Austin weren’t open during that time to facilitate their request. After three years of waiting, they were finally approved to receive the official plaque.

“Once we knew that it had been approved, we started getting everything ready for this day,” Tumberlinson said.

Davis says his family settled San Benito in 1898. He says the museum is important for future generations to recognize the long history the Black community has in the area.

“For my kids, and grandkids and great grandkids for them to come and realize that we just didn’t show up," Davis said. "We’ve been here for a while, in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Museum officials say the next step is to expand. There are several more acres of donated land they want to build on.