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In April 1846, local engineer William Gordon Lang was assigned to survey Angelina County. He and his wife, Nancy Martin (Bonner) Lang, settled this area in 1854, and other settlers soon followed, including William Manson Perkins. Early settlers held private lessons for their children until the first area school was built on William Perkins' property after the Civil War. In this one-room structure with split log seats, classes were held for only three months, during the fall. This school relocated to the Davisville Road and was called the Liberty School District #34.
In 1903, Liberty School moved to a new location on Old Nacogdoches Road, with church services held there on Sundays. By 1914, the school had grown to a two-teacher, three-room facility, and still a new buildling was needed. A new two-story brick building was constructed, and the name changed to Redland School in 1924. Enrollment continued to increase and new structures were added to the campus.
By the 1950s, Redland School excelled in the arts and was a leader in effective methods of education, chosen by the State of Texas to learn new teaching methods, receiving audiovisual equipment and other visual aids. Students at Redland School also participated in athletics such as baseball, volleyball and basketball, earning many championships over the years. Other activities included homemaking, 4-H, music, American Red Cross, cheerleading and pep squad. On July 25, 1970, the Redland Independent School District closed when it consolidated with the Lufkin Independent School District. Although the school district no longer exists, its legacy and contributions live on through alumni and their families. (2018) |
