New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
RACE FEELING IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS.
People of Sheffield Refuse to Use Separate
house Burned Dozen.

While people in other parts of the country have
been busy exertng their influence upon frozen gas
meters and cracked water pipes, Inhabitants OF
the little town OF Sheffield. on the Housatonlc
River. in Berkshire County. Mass, have been
busy feeding the fires OF patriotism. trimming
the wick in Libertys torch and doing other stunts
which people have not thought about for forty
years II all about because or an attempt 10
keep the white children OF the village In one
school and the black children in another. This
wedding process did not appeal to the blacks IN
the least. Under the advice Of their indignant
and pas. the colored children OF the town
stuck 10 their white schoomates like hypaper to
q poodle deg. In vain they gently LED from
the school OF white mates by school commit
tee members and truant officers: all in vain was
Yin Crow" school. called the plain" school, es-
taolished IN another part OF the town Tot theIr
exclusive This historic structure lies a
heap OF backened ruins as the result OF nre SAID
be OF incendiary origin. which destroyed II at
o'clock on the morning OF January ., In vain has
the school board IN fulflment Of its determination
that the colored children shall attend the same
school with the white children. rented two rooms
in a private house intended TO I'll the vacancy
caused by the destruction OF the school building.
The negro children simply will not be educated
ION the side" and thsre is more excitement in the
Berkshires and throughout the old Bay State than
has been manifested since the State House dome
was regided All the boasted harmony OF the
beautiful Berkshires has disappeared The won
drous coors Of their famed autumnaI foliage have
taken dngy hue. and everywhere throughout
the State the smoke OF the boodless battle being
fought at Sheffield IS beginning 10 settle col
ored representative at the State House. N Boston.
has asked the Sheffield school authorities for the
governing the drawing OF the color line and
the school authorities have answered that no color
line has been drawn. The State Ere marshal Is in
vestgatiag the Destruction OF the schoohouse three
negro parents have been arrested for falling 10
send their children to tho Jim Crow" school. as
that established for negro children was styled.
editorials and letters on the situation finding
their way into the newspapers throughout the
East. and Sheffield is beginning to feel that the
eyes OF the world are upon her. 10.
The Sheffield School Board says and the towns
people for the most part back up tho statement,
that the whole trouble in the town Is Just the out
come OF geographical conditions absolutely beyond
their control All the colored children IN Sheffield
they say live near tho PLAIN" school, and for this
reason 4 was directed that they attend there. II
Is further asserted that at tho suggestion OF q
prominent coIored resident OF Sheffield colored
teacher employed The board wishes TO be
absoIved OF the thought OF establishing
Jim Crow school 1t insists that before the
school opened every negro parent In the VII
Iage was visited. and that all approved the plan
thus relieve the overcrowded school IN the CEN
tire q the village
That portion o; shefrleld wherss the negroes live
is known "New-Gulnea" and IS really a village
OF Itself being removed from Sheffield proper about
a mile and a quarter. To show the colored resi-
dents OF this section that they desire
as well the white children. big bus sent
along the back road TO gather up the coIored chill
dren and take them TO the Jim Crow school
But the horses not overworked hauling col
ored youth TO the especially provided temple OF
learning.
Go long wifi yore ole bus You spec Use goin
let my chillun go 10 dat school? NO Street
With that declaration OF principles moro than one
New-Guinea parent has slammed the door in the
face OF the freezing driver
There would probably have been little no
trouble the plan OF the school committee had
II been for the fact that the parents OF half
dozen white children living in the northern part OF
the town absolutely refused TO have their children
attend the school did the negro children
and be taught by negro teacher. They made so
much trouble about it that Miss Cora Fowler. the
young colored woman appointed as teacher OF the
school. retired. and Miss Daisy Cook daugh-
ter Of farmer who was one OF the most proni-
neut remonstrants against Miss Fowler. was ap-
pointed in her place. Miss Cook is popular young
woman among tho negroes OF ''New-Guinea." but
had the school board secured the services OF an
angel 1t would not have made any difference to the
board might well have hunted up blue
yellow teacher. The point the colored people could
not lose have not lost sight Of is the fact that
their children had been ordered attend one
school and the white folks - children another.
A. j. Collins. superintendent OF the schools Of
Sheffield caused this notice to be sent TO the
coIored community:
The Plain school has been reopened by order of
the school committee. to relieve the congested con-