The building descended from the old Jasper County Training School, organized in 1875 as an all-black school for Jasper Texas until desegregation in the late 1960's when it became Rowe Elementary School and later Rowe Middle School. The school was named for the late Professor J.H. Rowe, a highly respected black educator who came to Jasper in 1924 and educated Jasper's black students until he died in 1943.

For the last several years, Jasper ISD has wrestled with what to do about the building and property. Some want to destroy the building but we would like to buy it and preserve the history. 

On May 11, 2021, the Rowe Alumni submitted a bid to the Jasper ISD to purchase the building to not only own and preserve the building, but to create a Prep School to give back to the youth of Jasper Texas. We ask for your help by signing and supporting saving black history.