Shepton School
Shepton Church and School
Northwest corner of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, Texas
Shepton Church was started in the late 1800s to serve African American farm families in the western part of Plano. The church (which also housed an African American grade school) was located about 500 yards west of the intersection of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway. Although the church was called Shepton Church by African American families, it was called the Sallie Harrington Chapel by white families because it was built on land donated by Sallie (Rogers) Harrington, wife of Silas Liter Harrington. As explained by Eddie “Sarge” Stimpson Jr., who attended the school held at the church:
“The school I went to I think have a problum being identified by some peoples. The school may have had a diffrent name before I went to it, but as long as I can remember, the school and church I went to was call Shepton Colored School and Shepton Church.” [sic] (Stimpson, p. 60)
Eddie Stimpson Jr. went on to describe the building (it was used as a school):
“It was bout forty feet by thirty feet. It faced south and had one door and a porch all the way across the front. There were windows down both sides and in front. … Inside in the back there were a platform three feet by five feet and a podium which stay in the place all the time. … The school had two cole burning stoves. In winter the kids would take turns standing around the stove to keep warm.” [sic] (Stimpson, pp. 60-61)
Church Services were frequently emotional—offering a respite from work. They included long, fiery sermons and hymns accompanied by hand clapping and foot stomping. White neighbors would occasionally sit in their cars outside the church and listen to the congregation’s gospel singing.
Women played an active role in the church. In fact, the only preacher that Eddie Stimpson Jr. could remember was a woman, Sister Riddle, the preacher who baptized him.
The Shepton School replaced an earlier school built just after the Civil War on land owned by the Huffman family. Shepton School offered grades one through five, six, or seven, depending upon the year. To continue their education, a few students attended Plano Colored School located in downtown Plano.
Like other rural schools, the fall semester started early—in late July or early August—and was then suspended for about a month so that students could work in the cotton fields.
During the years of Eddie Stimpson Jr.’s school days (approximately 1935-1942,) Audrey Thornton was the main teacher. The only textbooks available were books discarded by the white Plano school. In addition to academics, the school offered at least some sports, with the basketball team playing teams from Frisco, Celina, Rock Hill, White Rock, and Carlton.
Shepton School closed about 1946. Shepton Church continued for a few more years and closed in the early 1950s. Plano ISD has a new Shepton High School.
Northwest corner of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, Texas
Shepton Church was started in the late 1800s to serve African American farm families in the western part of Plano. The church (which also housed an African American grade school) was located about 500 yards west of the intersection of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway. Although the church was called Shepton Church by African American families, it was called the Sallie Harrington Chapel by white families because it was built on land donated by Sallie (Rogers) Harrington, wife of Silas Liter Harrington. As explained by Eddie “Sarge” Stimpson Jr., who attended the school held at the church:
“The school I went to I think have a problum being identified by some peoples. The school may have had a diffrent name before I went to it, but as long as I can remember, the school and church I went to was call Shepton Colored School and Shepton Church.” [sic] (Stimpson, p. 60)
Eddie Stimpson Jr. went on to describe the building (it was used as a school):
“It was bout forty feet by thirty feet. It faced south and had one door and a porch all the way across the front. There were windows down both sides and in front. … Inside in the back there were a platform three feet by five feet and a podium which stay in the place all the time. … The school had two cole burning stoves. In winter the kids would take turns standing around the stove to keep warm.” [sic] (Stimpson, pp. 60-61)
Church Services were frequently emotional—offering a respite from work. They included long, fiery sermons and hymns accompanied by hand clapping and foot stomping. White neighbors would occasionally sit in their cars outside the church and listen to the congregation’s gospel singing.
Women played an active role in the church. In fact, the only preacher that Eddie Stimpson Jr. could remember was a woman, Sister Riddle, the preacher who baptized him.
The Shepton School replaced an earlier school built just after the Civil War on land owned by the Huffman family. Shepton School offered grades one through five, six, or seven, depending upon the year. To continue their education, a few students attended Plano Colored School located in downtown Plano.
Like other rural schools, the fall semester started early—in late July or early August—and was then suspended for about a month so that students could work in the cotton fields.
During the years of Eddie Stimpson Jr.’s school days (approximately 1935-1942,) Audrey Thornton was the main teacher. The only textbooks available were books discarded by the white Plano school. In addition to academics, the school offered at least some sports, with the basketball team playing teams from Frisco, Celina, Rock Hill, White Rock, and Carlton.
Shepton School closed about 1946. Shepton Church continued for a few more years and closed in the early 1950s. Plano ISD has a new Shepton High School.
