1950s
W.F. Branch High School, the Newport school for African American children, was imposing. In the wake of the 1954 Brown decision by the US Supreme Court, the Newport School Board constructed additional modern school buildings in an attempt to stave off school...
1950s
In 1951, two young boys broke into the sacristy of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and started a fire in the sanctuary, perhaps accidentally. The ensuing blaze gave the townspeople quite a scare, but the Newport Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire...
1950s
Gov. Sid McMath came to speak at the fifth Farmers Day in 1951, when he was running for reelection. A record crowd of 10,000 people was reported that year. Eleanor Jowers, on the left seems to be less than impressed. Miss Newport Betty Castleberry, on the right, sang...
1930s
Built in 1930, Newport High School replaced the Walnut Street School, which continued to be used for grades one through six until 1951. This school building is still in use as Newport High School. (Courtesy of Robert Craig.)
