⢠McAlester News-Capital Editorial Board May 21, 2021
McAlester News-Capital office File photo
THUMBS UP to those who enjoyed the recent celebration at a historic building and park in McAlester.
A group of L Ouverture School alumni thanked volunteers for their restoration efforts at the historic McAlester school building during a May Day celebration Saturday at McAlester s Michael J. Hunter Memorial Park.
McAlester resident Primus Moore and Herbert Keith, both L Ouverture alumni, continue their efforts to save the former public school attended by Black students in McAlester from 1908 to 1968 â when 115 L Ouverture High School students integrated with McAlester High School.
The two alumni organized the recent event based on similar activities held at the school during that era to celebrate the nearing end of the academic year.
JAMES BEATY | Staff photo
Primus Moore, left, and Herbert Keith publicly thanks those who ve helped with the cleanup and and restoration of the former L Ouverture School during a cememony held in McAlester s Hunter Park,
JAMES BEATY | Staff photo
A group of student volunteers from McAlester Public Schools hold certificates they ve been presented for their volunteer efforts to help with the cleanup and restoration of the former L Ouverture School. Students were presented the certificates during a May Day celebration at Hunter Park.
JAMES BEATY | Staff photo
Some of the individuals attending the May Day celebration at McAlester s Hunter Park talk about the day s festivities. Pictured, from left: Ann Walker, McAlester Mayor John Browne, Bobby Cox, Primus Moore, Herbert Keith, Will Ella Davis, Coluah Watts Stanfield and Donald E. Brown.
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ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photoL Ouverture school was most recently used as McAlester Public School s Key Academy. It is now called the L Ouverture Historical Center.
JAMES BEATY | Staff photoFrom left, Harry Ellis and Sirr Ellis team up to help spread the work about the May Day celebration planned at Michael J. Hunter Park beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 15. May Day celebration set for Michael J. Hunter Park
By James Beaty Managing Editor May 6, 2021 1 of 2
ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photoL Ouverture school was most recently used as McAlester Public School s Key Academy. It is now called the L Ouverture Historical Center.
Staff file photo
Herbert Keith, left, and Primus Moore hope to restore the former LâOuverture School building. They both attended LâOuverture and graduated with the class of 1965, prior to LâOuvertureâs integration with McAlester Public Schools.
ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photo
The L Ouverture School Auditorium in McAlester.
ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photo
The auditorium can be seen through a broken window at the L Ouverture School building in McAlester
Staff file photo
Primus Moore, a retired McAlester educator shown in this file photo, hopes to restore L Ouverture School.
Staff file photo
ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photo
L Ouverture School in McAlester, which was last used as McAlester High School s Key Academy.