Back-to-School in Bossier Pop Quiz

It’s back to school time…and time for a quick pop quiz! Question 1) What was the first high school in Bossier Parish? Question 2) What was the first brick building in Bossier Parish? Answer, Question 1: Pioneer High School in Plain Dealing. The Pioneer High School cornerstone in Plain Dealing was laid in 1888, making it the first high school in Bossier Parish. The school opened in January of 1889, Answer, Question 2: Plain Dealing High School. In 1921, a new brick building was built for Plain Dealing High School to accommodate its growing student body. It was the first brick building to be built in Bossier Parish, and was built by Edward F Neild, architect.

But I’ll go easy in grading this ‘quiz’. If you answered Plain Dealing High School for both, or Pioneer High School for both, or even have the answers flip-flopped, I’ll still give you full credit. Plain Dealing got its solid though short-lived start as Pioneer High School at the very same location where it still stands. Also, if for the first question you answered Benton High School, well, I think I’ll give you some credit for that one, as well. Benton was actually the first school built in Bossier Parish using taxpayer money, in 1907. Schooling for children was not required until the 20th century, so schools that were completely tuition-free for the student and their family were a rarity. Even when they did exist, they often required citizens or community organizations to donate or raise money for the buildings.

The Pioneer High School cornerstone mentioned above gives two names: J.E. Johnston (often known as “Professor” Johnston) and S.J. Zeigler, vice president of the Cotton Belt branch railroad, which had just been completed from Lewisville, Arkansas to Shreveport. The railroad’s arrival created a business and residential building boom in Plain Dealing. Ziegler donated the land and Joseph E. Johnston was the first teacher and principal.

The first session at Pioneer High School began January 1, 1889, with primary, intermediate, and high school departments. Monthly tuition was, $2.00, $3.00 or $4.00, respectively, for the three departments. In 1890, the town of Plain Dealing was chartered, and in 1898, the mayor of the town of Plain Dealing authorized the town to buy the building, land and fixtures of Pioneer High School. Not long after, Mayor J.A. Mitchell authorized the town to donate it to the Bossier Parish School Board and Pioneer High School became Plain Dealing High School. (Like Pioneer and other high schools well into the 20th century, PDHS served primary through high school grades.)

In 1910, Plain Dealing High School was remodeled and an auditorium and 8 classrooms were added to the building. Following the brick building that upgraded the wood frame school in 1921, an additional brick building was erected in 1928 for high school grades (8-11) and another one was built in 1938 for upper elementary students. In 1963, the high school building burned and the “new” one (that still stands) opened August 31st, 1964.

If you would like to see the cornerstone from Pioneer High School, it is on display here at the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center. If you would like a presentation on the history of education and schools in Bossier Parish, featuring photos from the History Center collection of the one or two room school houses scattered throughout the parish, or a Bossier history “trivia” activity for your group or classroom, these and many other presentations can be requested by contacting the History Center. The History Center is located at 2206 Beckett St, Bossier City, LA.

We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org   For other fun facts, photos, and videos, be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on TikTok.

Images:

• Plain Dealing High School’s 3rd grade in 1916 in front of their wood school building that was originally the Pioneer High School.
• Plain Dealing High School 1928
• Cornerstone of Pioneer High School

Article by: Pam Carlisle