Before 1952, African-American students who lived on the east bank of St. Charles Parish traveled to New Orleans to attend school.
Then Mary McLeod Bethune High School officially opened its doors in Norco.
Bethune and west bank neighbor G.W. Carver High School were established in 1952 and became the first high schools in St. Charles Parish to serve Black students. Bethune did so for approximately 17 years until its closure in 1969. Students who lived in communities on the east side of Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish – Montz, St. Rose, New Sarpy, Destrehan and Norco – attended Bethune High School.
A lot of memories were made and shared during that time, and soon many who walked those halls will come together to reminisce.
Bulldog alums are coordinating a Bethune High School alumni and family reunion on March 20 in LaPlace, with tickets available now. Organizers are asking that those interested in attending submit payment/registration by Jan. 10. Cost per ticket is $100.
Sharon Creecy-Green, a Bulldogs alum and one of the reunion’s coordinators, said right now it’s about spreading the word as the hope is for a strong turnout.
“We’ve e-mailed a few people and hand-delivered letters to most of the alumni,” Creecy-Green said. “We’re just inviting everyone to get together for a night of reminiscing with family and friends. It’s not the first reunion we’ve had, there have been some in the past, but this is the first one in a while, and that’s exciting.”
That night, several former Bethune teachers will be recognized.
“We’re going to also talk about the past, Mr. Albert Cammon, who gave the property and helped start the school. We’ll have some dancing and just some reminiscing with old friends,” said Creecy-Green.
Creecy-Green’s brother, Benjamin Parquet, taught at Bethune when she was a student there. Parquet is among those Bethune educators who will be recognized at the reunion.
“It means a lot to us that the founders – Mr. Cammon, Mr. (Ernest) Pedseleaux – came together, formed this school and named it for Mary McLeod Bethune, just so we would all have somewhere to go,” Creecy-Green said.
The school was named after Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the National Council of Negro Women and the Director of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration from 1936 to 1944. Bethune was an influential educator and a major advocate for civil rights.
Cammon fought to establish the school as there was no high school in St. Charles Parish for African-American students.
When Bethune closed in 1969, In 1969, desegregation led to Bethune’s closure, with its elementary-aged children attending schools as directed by court guidelines, and high school students becoming members of the student body at Destrehan High School.
Ticket payment can be submitted to alumni treasurer Florence Hamm by mail at 83 Ormond Meadows in Destrehan. For more info, call (504) 559-2536.
