Our Mother of Mercy School
Also known as: Our Lady of Mercy School
Why it's listed
Built in 1931 at 801 Verbena Street in Fort Worth's Near Southeast neighborhood, this one-story school was designed by parish priest Father Narcissus P. Denis and constructed by members of the congregation. Its walls are structural clay tile faced with orange brick laid in Flemish bond, set on a raised concrete basement that held an auditorium with a stage. Four classrooms occupied the first floor, and triangular pediments and corner finials give the building a Classical Revival character. The school served African American children from kindergarten through eighth grade, taught by Sisters of the Holy Ghost, and most pupils were not Catholic. Families chose it for the quality of education it offered. Instruction continued here until 1953, when the school moved to a former parish school a few blocks away. The building later housed a nursery school and then stood vacant for roughly thirty years, suffering damage. It was recognized for its role in education and Black heritage, and a city plan proposed converting it into a branch library.
Significance in brief: The school is significant under Criterion A in Education and Ethnic Heritage: Black for providing kindergarten through eighth grade instruction to African American children from 1931 until 1953. Most students were non-Catholic, reflecting the desire of many Black families for a quality education. Criteria Consideration A is met because the nomination rests on historical significance rather than religious doctrine.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000510, listed June 15, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 801 Verbena St., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | June 15, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Denis, Reverend N. P., designer and builder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival influence (large triangular pediments over the entrances) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for nearly 30 years, deteriorated by neglect and vandalism; rehabilitation as a branch library was planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.73505, -97.31922 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002639
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.