GEORGE WATTS ELEMENTARY
GEORGE WATTS ELEMENTARY
Watts Elementary at or near completion, 1918
George Watts Elementary is the oldest school building in Durham still serving in its original capacity. (The oldest extant school building is the former YE Smith school on South Driver St.)
Watts Elementary was built in 1918 according to the design of architect C. Miller Euler. Originally symmetrical, with a combination of Deco and neoclassical elements, the school was placed at the northeastern edge of rapidly developing Trinity Park.
Circa 1920 bird's eye view of Trinity College and Trinity Park, with the Watts School visible at the edge of the housing development.
Below, H. Lee Waters film footage of Watts Elementary in the late 1930s. By this point, the right entry to the school had been widened/modified.
Watts School, 1950s.
Additions have been made to the west of the original school building; the school remains a vibrant part of the neighborhood, and, as one would expect, appears to have a great deal of parental (and alumni) involvement. I'm always thrilled to see neighborhood schools thriving (at least from an outsider's perspective.) The logic behind locating schools where kids can neither walk nor bike to them seems decidedly twisted to me.
Watts School, 10.03.09
Find this spot on a Google Map.
36.008199,-78.910762
Comments
Video evidence that back in the 1930's it was no big deal to carry a toy gun to school. At least I hope that's a toy gun the kid is packing at the end -- the cameraman stops filming kind of abruptly…
"The logic behind locating schools where kids can neither walk nor bike to them seems decidedly twisted to me."
That school may be located in a neighborhood, but since it's a magnet school in Durham, kids from that neighborhood aren't necessarily able to go there. AFAIK the majority of kids going to Watts (a Montessori magnet) are bussed or driven to school.
Gary, where do you find this stuff?! Loved watching that video.
Here are the facts on school makeup:
The first class to matriculate through the magnet school is the 4th grade class.
Among the 4th and 5th, a larger percentage of students are from *outside* the priority zone (which includes three neighborhoods, not only Trinity Park, where the school is located).
In the lower grades (preK-3rd), the majority of the children are from the surrounding neighborhoods. Next year's class of pre-K/K students are 100% from the surrounding neighborhoods (or are siblings of current students).
I don't know how many of the neighborhood kids actually walk/bike to school, but many of them could, if they (or their parents) chose to.
Jeremy
Point taken, but it is easier to change a policy than a school location. Usually, anyway.
GK
Also loved the video. Amazing that even if it were filmed in 1939, the youngest would be in his/her late 70s today.
So happy to see the school continuing to thrive. I was there as a sixth grader in l966. I read something once that Frances Gray Patton who wrote the short story "The Terrible Miss Dove" which eventually became the film "Good Morning Miss Dove" based her story on a teacher (or teachers) @ Watts St. Anyone ever heard that? A number of her stories have Durham (and NC)references. I know that she lived in Durham, and her husband taught @ Duke. I wondered if she lived somewhere in the neighborhood. Also the video is absolutely charming. I wish the adults that those precious children became could see themselves. What a wonderful gift for posterity from Mr. Waters (and you, too Gary!).
Congratulations on being named COO at your "real job" GK!
Congratulations on your new leadership position, Gary.
But I guess this means you'll have much less time for Endangered Durham...
Sigh!
Well, ED's loss is Durham's gain. Good luck!
Miss Dove was Miss Pridgen, the principal in the late 1950's-early '60s when I was a student. We use to refer to her as "the ghost who walks" as she was very intimidating to us 9 year old brats. I came to know she was a very wonderful women who cared very much for her students.
I was a student in the mid-40s and Mrs. Pridgen was a VERY visible principal. Even the rowdiest of boys knew she was in charge and would not hesitate to correct any misbehavor (same for the girls). She became a beloved memory.
I loved "Watts Street School" I was there in the mid 50's. Mrs. Moore was another teacher the put fear into her students. Miss Pridgen loved her students, wish there pricipals like her now.
Gary, are there any more pictures of the house directly to the right of the school?
The birds-eye-view picture shows the house, which (I believe) is 604 Watts. This is my families home, purchased in 1950 and occupied by my grandfather, former mayor of Durham, Harry Rodenhizer. The house is still in the family and we would love to see any other old pictures of the house... btw great site.
William - there would be a ~1980 picture in state archives, but I know of none earlier than that in public archives. If you'd like instructions on how to get a copy of that picture from the state, email me.
Gary
I attended George Watts from 1956-1962 as did my sisters and my mother and her brothers in the 1920s and 1930s Mrs. Pridgen was a teacher when my Mom was there and later principal when we were there. She WAS the character Mrs. Dove in the novel and the movie. Frances Gray Patton's children attended George Watts and thus the connection. My Mom always told the story that all the other Grade Mothers would make her approach Mrs. Pridgen when they needed anything because she had known her all her life and wasn't afraid of her----everyone else was! She looked like the classical schoolmarm---white hair pulled back in a little bun, glasses and those tie up black shoes on stacked heels. Apparently she never changed her look from the 1930s---even when we were kids in the 60s.
The best night of the year at George Watts was Halloween when we had a school carnival that included a haunted house (room) on the second floor, dinner served in the cafeteria and games in the gym. It was magical---we went from there to trick or treat in the neighborhood.
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