Friends and family reunion revived

The E.J. Hawkins Wayside Memorial is posted in front of where the school stood before it closed in 1956. The Fort Scott Family and Friends Committee is reviving the annual reunions that were regularly held for former students of the Hawkins/Plaza School and area residents in the decades following the school's closure. This year's reunion is set for July 19-21.(Angelique McNaughton/Tribune)

For almost 100 years, four African-American schools occupied or were adjacent to the land that is now considered part of Fort Scott National Historic Site, including the E.J. Hawkins or Plaza Schools.

The conclusion of the Civil War opened the door for former slaves and future generations of African-Americans to get an education. In 1865, 160 children and 75 adults attended the Freedmen's School.

Schools in Fort Scott attracted prominent students who later led historically significant lives. Esteemed educator, agronomist, botanist, chemist and artist George Washington Carver and distinguished photographer, director, playwright, composer, poet and Fort Scott native Gordon Parks were two of them.

Reunions for former residents or students were regularly held throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s after the second Plaza or Hawkins School closed in 1956.

Members of the Fort Scott Family and Friends Committee, established in 1997 and formerly known as the African-American Heritage Committee of Fort Scott, wanted to revive the gatherings that haven't been held since 2001.

Recently, some of the former committee members got together and talked about re-establishing the gatherings and the committee's image, committee member and Mercy Health for Life Manager Kirk Sharp said. The committee disbanded due to members' outside commitments.

"We really want to not focus on African-American heritage, but all cultures now ... give it a fresh start," Sharp said.

This year's reunion events start Thursday, July 19, with registration at the Gordon Parks Center beginning at 9 a.m. Activities last through Saturday night, concluding with a dance at the Elks Lodge and the public is invited.

Sharp said "it's a great time" to reunite with friends and family, hence the reunion moniker.

"It's just a great time to fellowship and meet with family and friends that you haven't seen in years ... You never what's going to happen tomorrow," he said. "It's a great time with good food and music."

Historic programs will accompany the activities -- for all ages -- scheduled throughout the weekend. Tours of the Gordon Parks Museum and Lowell Milken Center are on the agenda, along with a poetry performance by George Wallace at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Gordon Parks Museum, located inside the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton.

The Milken Center, 4 S. Main, has an exhibit dedicated to the schools with live, archived footage on display.

Sharp said this particular weekend was chosen for the reunion because of all the events going on around town. Committee members are expecting about 200 people for the entire event.

"This ain't the first time we've had these reunions," Sharp said. "This is something for all races and cultures that live in Fort Scott and that attended the schools."

The Fort Scott Family and Friends Committee aims to help promote knowledge and awareness of Fort Scott African-American history through educational materials and memorials, like the E.J. Hawkins Wayside Memorial at the FSNHS near the former school site behind the Chamber of Commerce building. The committee in the past, established an endowed scholarship assistance to select Fort Scott High School graduates who qualified, a news release said.

Anyone with questions about the committee or reunion can send them to fsfamilyandfriendsreunion@yahoo.com.

Schedule of events:

Thursday, July 19

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.-Registration: Check in at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College 2108 S. Horton St.

2 p.m.-Poetry Performance by George Wallace at the Gordon Parks Museum/Center for Culture and Diversity at Fort Scott Community College.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Reception/Social Hour at the Lyons Twin Mansions bed and breakfast, 742 and 750 S. National. Refreshments available.

Friday, July 20

9 a.m.-noon - Registration: Check in at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College 2108 S. Horton St..

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- Come-and-go reception at the Lowell Milken Center, 4 S. Main. View never-before-seen photos, films and archives of African-American families in Fort Scott as far back as the 1930s. Visitors will be able to purchase copies of photos. Refreshments will be available.

6- 7 p.m.- Social hour at the Elks Lodge.

7-8 p.m.-Reunion banquet dinner at the Elks Lodge.

9 a.m. -1 a.m.-Reunion dance at the Elks Lodge.

Saturday, July 21

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.-Reunion picnic: Food and activities at Gunn Park (Shelter House 5)

9 p.m.-1 a.m.-Reunion dance at the Elks Lodge.