History continuing to change in Ellis County

WAXAHACHIE – It is up to the Ellis County Historical Society to decide what to do with a seven-letter word painted on a basement archway that changed Ellis County history last week.  

Ellis County Judge Todd Little said, “We were not paying attention, but historically this was the best thing that could happen so it does not come up again and we can do something about it.”  

When the county commissioners decided to move Constable Curtis Polk Jr., 42, a respected elected official, to a temporary basement office shared with two other employees, it set off a chain of events that led to the Constable having to face a racially charged epithet daily in order to get to the files that did not fit into his assigned shared office.

“The word ‘negroes’ is painted on a wall in peeling black and gold capital letters in a stairwell just outside his office – a space he has to use for storage, even though the area is publicly accessible,” said County Commissioner pct. 3 Paul Perry. “The sign, uncovered in a courthouse restoration about 20 years ago, apparently once designated segregated facilities for Black people.”

Events exploded from there as Polk had requested his own office during Commissioners Court but was not accommodated despite his need to have room keep sensitive files secured. 

Smash Da Topic got involved, and it was further shared in Ellis County as well as North Texas as many other news outlets shared the story.

A protest was stayed after Judge Little and Commissioner Perry made arrangements for Polk to utilize the office behind the commissioners court that had once belonged to Little’s former Chief of Staff. 

“This video of our regular court meeting (https://elliscountytx.new.swagit.com/videos/96974) shows that Constable Polk was given multiple office choices and offered no objection to a basement office location, which had been used by previous constables,” Perry said. “His only stated concern was for the security of his office. 

“At the end of this discussion and vote, County Judge Todd Little stated he would continue to work with Constable Polk to determine exactly which space the constable felt would be most suitable for his needs. These two elected officials jointly agreed that Constable Polk would move to the basement office.”

Judge Little assured all that while neither he nor the commissioners were able to take action on the seven-letters on the archway, the historical society would address the issue at hand as soon as possible.