Loachapoka in Lee County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
First Rosenwald School
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 8, 2014
1. First Rosenwald School Marker
Inscription.
First Rosenwald School. . , Side 1 , On this site once stood the first of over 5,300 Rosenwald schools for black children built between 1913 and 1932. The schools were started in a collaboration between Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears, Roebuck, and Company and Booker T. Washington, Principal of Tuskegee Institute. The dedication was held on May 18, 1913. Rosenwald grew up poor and believed in self-help; consequently, he paid for only part of the expenses to build the schools. The rest was to be raised by community members, both black and white. All of the schools were built from a selection of plans designed by an architect at Tuskegee Institute.
(Continued on other side). Side 2
(Continued from other side). The first teacher at the Loachapoka school was L. Pearl Rouseau. Initially, there was no principal; the school was overseen by the State. The initial school year lasted only three months; the second was expanded to nine months. Basic courses in reading and arithmetic were taught in the one-room building, with no power or plumbing. Rosenwald gave three hundred dollars toward the school, and the remainder of the total cost of nine hundred forty-two dollars and forty-six cents was given by local residents, both black and white, along with the labor. This school was the only source for educating black citizens in the area. It closed in the late 1950's.
Side 1
On this site once stood the first of over 5,300 Rosenwald schools for black children built between 1913 and 1932. The schools were started in a collaboration between Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears, Roebuck, and Company and Booker T. Washington, Principal of Tuskegee Institute. The dedication was held on May 18, 1913. Rosenwald grew up poor and believed in self-help; consequently, he paid for only part of the expenses to build the schools. The rest was to be raised by community members, both black and white. All of the schools were built from a selection of plans designed by an architect at Tuskegee Institute.
(Continued on other side)
Side 2
(Continued from other side)
The first teacher at the Loachapoka school was L. Pearl Rouseau. Initially, there was no principal; the school was overseen by the State. The initial school year lasted only three months; the second was expanded to nine months. Basic courses in reading and arithmetic were taught in the one-room building, with no power or plumbing. Rosenwald gave three hundred dollars toward the school, and the remainder of the total cost of nine hundred forty-two dollars and forty-six cents was given by local residents, both black and white, along with the labor. This school was the only
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source for educating black citizens in the area. It closed in the late 1950's.
Erected 2011 by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission and Lee County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1861.
Location. 32° 36.194′ N, 85° 36.319′ W. Marker is in Loachapoka, Alabama, in Lee County. Marker is on Stage Road (Alabama Route 14) 0.4 miles east of Arrowhead Road (County Road 188), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Day Lily Street, Loachapoka AL 36865, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,449 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5, 6. submitted on November 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.