Mrs. Naomi Boston and the Lincoln School

The last teacher of Lincoln School of Rosemont, West Virginia left a lasting impression on those pupils she taught. Lincoln School was the first school for African Americans in the state of West Virginia; established in May 28, 1921 by petition at a Flemington, West Virginia Board of Education meeting.

Mrs. Naomi Boston graduated from Dunbar High School in 1937 because Grafton High School would not admit African American's as students at the time. From there she pursued a teaching degree at West Virginia State College in 1941 due to the influence of her parents. Mrs. Boston went on to become recognized as Woman of the Year by the local Grafton Business and Professional Women's Club.

Over the years Mrs. Boston recalled the segregation that existed in Taylor County, West Virginia, where she grew up. According to Mrs. Boston they had to drink from separate water fountains and be served separately from white people. "Even at the movies, maybe the last three or five rows were for the Blacks. If you sat anywhere else, they would come and ask you to move."^[1]

Mrs. Boston, in 1941, taught at Rock Branch School in Knottsville, a one-room schoolhouse and eventually found herself teaching at the Lincoln School just outside of Flemington up until desegregation in 1954.

The Lincoln School was established May 28, 1921 by a petition at a Flemington, West Virginia District Board of Education meeting. It became apparent to the community that a school house specifically for African American children was necessary. A Flemington carpenter named Charley Wolfe was tasked with building a one-room schoolhouse that summer. The school was completed by that same Fall and the first teacher employed there was a man named Antrax Howell. The school contained grades 1 through 8.

For high school, many students went to Kelly Miller, which was located in Harrison County. Years went by before the school saw its next teacher, Mrs. Bessie Homlin who taught from 1937-1940. The next couple of years, before the integration of schools, Lincoln School saw the teaching of Mrs. Naomi Boston.

Mrs. Boston was precious to those students that she taught. Some students recall her fondly at school reunions. Mildred Owens Bibby recalls her as being a wonderful woman. Lois Eileen (Woods) Reeves on the other hand described Mrs. Boston as a short, little woman with a beautiful gray streak running through her hair. Ms. Reeves recalled that Lincoln School was Mrs. Boston's first teaching position after graduating from college, West Virginia State College.^[2]

1.Vincent,Jenni, "Naomi Boston: Her Life Depicts Courage, Determination," Times-West Virginian, October 20, 1985.

2.Roberta Davis Freeman and Debora Ann Davis, Lincoln Grade School, 1999.

Ford, Darlene. Interview. 2021.

Freeman, Roberta Davis and Debora Ann Davis. Lincoln Grade School . Grafton, West Virginia. 1999.

Ricketts, Olive. Interview. 2021.

Vincent, Jenni. "Naomi Boston: Her Life Depicts Courage, Determination." Times-West Virginian (Grafton) October 20th 1985. , 5A-5A.