Tracking An African American Experience: Tuskegee Airmen

Tracking an African American Experience: The Calaboose African American Museum

A person’s culture is a vital component that makes a person who they are. It opens the door up to allow individuals the right to express themselves in various ways, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging. From our favorite music genres to our favorite foods; it all plays a major role in whom it is we will ultimately become throughout our lives. Our culture also plays a significant role in how we will have to maneuver throughout society depending on the culture you are a part of. Living in the San Marcos community, we often lose track of how diverse of a community we live in. My objective is to shed light on the African American history, that we may something over look here in San Marcos, Texas. In doing so, I chose to visit the Calaboose African American museum, where I will be submerging myself in local African American History. To see how life was for African Americans and how that experience has pushed African Americans forward. What better time to do so then in the month of February?

The Calaboose African American Museum in its infancy was a jailhouse located here in San Marco, Texas. The word Calaboose was a common term used for jail during this period. This later became the first Hays County Jail and was constructed during the reconstruction period in 1873 which specifically housed black prisoners. The Calaboose African American Museum is located on 160 South Fredericksburg St, San Marcos TX, 78666 near the MLK historic district. Inside and throughout the area, you can find several different artifacts that pull you into the past.

This quaint building has been used for several different things. In 1943, What was known as the Calaboose, took on renovations and became the United States Organization dance hall for black soldiers during this period segregation was strictly enforced. To commemorate the soldiers and their time spent at the USO, you could find relics of the Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers. One piece of information, I found interesting was that in 1946 the Commemorative Air Force Center Texas wing was home to the Army Air Force Fly Training command, which would later become the San Marcos Air Force Base in 1951 and shortly after would be renamed Gary Air Force Base in 1953. According to those at the Calaboose, This Air Base was used to bring in the Tuskegee Airmen and various other reputable military organizations. That following year in 1954, the Calaboose was converted into a community center that provided services to those who lived in the Dunbar/San Marcos Area. In 1990, The Calaboose had its final upgrade and became an African American History Museum.

Another important site was the first Baptist church located on Martin Luther King Dr. The significance of this building is that it was the first church that was burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. Because of this groundbreaking history, the community of San Marcos was banned together in ensure that it would not be gentrified; and remain within the community. Because of this, the First Baptist Church was chosen among 20 other historical sites across the country to compete for $150 thousand dollars each, through National Geographic’s Vote Your Main street. According to Georgia Cheatham, a longtime resident of San Marcos; says that the church wasn’t just a gathering place for the neighborhood; but reflected the discrimination black people faced during the 19th and 20th centuries. This was the very first building where the congregation worshipped and was burned down by the Ku Klux Klan in 1870. She says it took 30 years to rebuild what is currently Old First Baptist Church. She goes on to say, that the church thrived for three decades. The information I gathered illustrates how self-aware the African American community was during this time. The ethical aspect of preserving African American history in San Marcos was something I took away from the visit.

The Calaboose and the Black Historic District matters because of the solidarity it brings to a group of people who have dealt with some painstaking issues for generations. It shows us how a community can come together in efforts to maintain a historical monument that has meant so much to a community. If gives African American a historical context to how far they have come. The Calaboose and Historic District helps everyone because it shows us a history filled with elements of growth and progression, it is a model of how a community should be. The Calaboose and Historic District will be a reminder of where we can go as a people. This site should be a centerpiece and trophy if you will, for African Americans of San Marcos and around the world.

References

1. Ament, J. (2018, October 16). This Abandoned Texas Church Once Destroyed By The Klan Is In A Contest For Revitalization Money. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/this-abandoned-texas-church-once-destroyed-by-the-klan-is-in-a-contest-for-revitalization-money/
2. Black History Month and the USO. (2010, February 18). Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://www.uso.org/stories/460-black-history-month-and-the-uso
3. Messer, K. (2003, June 20). The Calaboose African-American History Museum & San Marcos MLK Historic District. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2003-06-20/164554/
4. C. B. (2018, March 02). The museum celebrates African-American history in San Marcos. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://star.txstate.edu/2018/03/museum-celebrates-african-american-history-in-san-marcos/
5. Tallman, J. W. (2014, April 14). San Marcos Municipal: An airport rich with history welcomes you. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2014/april/14/history-of-san-marcos-airport
6. Walker, K. (1997, January 02). Baptists helping town overcome reputation as KKK birthplace. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from http://www.bpnews.net/2913/baptists-helping-town-overcome-reputation-as-kkk-birthplace
7. Wisterman, H. (2018, October 19). San Marcos Fights to Preserve Historic First Baptist Church. Retrieved February 23, 2019, from https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2018-10-19/san-marcos-fights-to-preserve-historic-first-baptist-church/