Nederland ISD history

In 1900 John Berthold Cooke, Sr. took the first Nederland school census, and after the hurricane of Sept.

January 10, 1901 the Lucas gusher erupted at nearby Spindletop, seven miles to the north of Nederland thereby ushering in the petro-chemical age and establishing the economic base which accounted for Nederland’s continual growth.

The first trustees of the new school of 1902 were Frank Butler, R. P. Forrister, and W. T. Block (my father). There were only two teachers at first, Miss Lizzie Waterston, who was principal, and a Miss Neild, who taught Spanish.

Another photo of 1910 (page 61, Nederland Centennial History) was taken with teacher Gala Howard on the porch of the Dutch Reformed Church.

Earlier in 1917, Nederland High School graduated its first class of three students, but obviously the Nederland school lacked the accreditation needed for college entrance.

Woodward Ritter (later to become the movie star) placed first from South Park High in senior boy’s declamation, but he lived in Nederland.27 In 1920 Paul McNeill placed in declamation, and he and Francis Wagner won the 50-yard dash.28

Some of the earliest and most significant information about Nederland schools appeared in “The School Review of Jefferson County, Texas for 1921.” As of that year the Nederland schools enrolled 256 students, all of Caucasian descent.

The 1923 Port Neches class lacked accreditation for college entrance, but the status of the 1923 Nederland graduation class has not been located.41

C. O. Wilson came from Port Neches in 1925, and he taught me math and coached sports.

After graduation from college, she began teaching first grade at Langham School in 1927, and she retired with about 48 years of service Ca.

On March 17, 1928, the Nederland school district issued another $75,000 in bonds “for the purpose of adding to the high school building.

The 1934 faculty was basically the same, with J. F. Konecny and Floy Pinkerton added to the staff, and the Misses Maricle and Imig were missing.

And for the first time in 7 years, the Nederland Bulldogs BEAT the Port Neches Indians in 1937!57

58 The 1941 annual, The Pilot, pages unnumbered.

The 1942 Bulldogs football team included Donald Sanderson, Howland Reich, Jack Perryman, Willard Sinclair, Wesley Weatherly, Harold Sehon, Pete Premeaux, Billy Fields, Allen Ritter, Tommy Vinson, Alfred Foster, Edwin Roberts, Barney Green, Harold McNabb, A C. Handley, Elmer Smith, and J. E. Barnett.

60 The 1946 annual, The Pilot, pages unnumbered.

The Nederland Board of Education in 1950 included John McInnis, president; Doctor B. H. Hall, B. A. Ritter, J. V. Radford, Murray Libersat, E. A. Palmer, and W. F. Ricketts.

Chronicle, July 25,1990) , Bill Crane, Earline Eagleson, Leroy Farley, Eugene Findley, Charles Ray Fletcher, Harrell Fowler, Marjorie Fowler, William C. Mize, Jim Newberry, Harold Gene Palmer, and O. R. Perdue.