Okahumpka in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Okahumpka Rosenwald School

Photographed By Jerry Klinger

1. Okahumpka Rosenwald School Marker

Inscription.

Okahumpka Rosenwald School. . Julius Rosenwald was the chairman of Sears Roebuck and Co. in 1908. As a Jewish American, he believed the most serious problem of the United Stats was the plight of Black Americans. Rosenwald was a close friend of Booker T. Washington. Washington had been a slave but rose to become the nationally respected President of Tuskegee Institute (University) an author, orator, and advisor to American Presidents. 1912 Rosenwald because a Trustee of Tuskegee., Under Washington's Guidance, Rosenwald funded a successful pilot program making education accessible to Black Children in Alabama by building school houses., In 1915, Washington died. Rosenwald continuing Dr. Washington's vision, established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917, "for the well-being of Mankind". When the Rosenwald Fund was terminated in 1948, it had been the catalyst for building over 5,300 schools in 15 States of the South. The Fund provided educational opportunity to 1/3 of all Black American children., The Rosenwald Fund was based up a system of matching grants requiring White School Boards and Black-American communities to cooperate together for school construction. Black-American communities contributed $4.8 million to the building of 127 schools in Florida. In Lake County, ten schools, three shops and one teacher's home were built., The Okahumpka Rosenwald School was approved by the Lake County Board of Public Instruction in 1929. One-half acre of this school property was donated on May 17, 1930, by Virgil and Josephine Hawkins, the parents of Florida Civil Rights leader, Attorney Virgil and Josephine Hawkins, whose 1949-1958 court battles desegregated the University of Florida. Hawkins attended school on this site through the 190th grade in an old ramshackle school that was torn down to accommodate the building of this modern Okahumpka Rosenwald school. . This historical marker was erected in 2021 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Okahumpka Community Club. It is in Okahumpka in Lake County Florida

Julius Rosenwald was the chairman of Sears Roebuck and Co. in 1908. As a Jewish American, he believed the most serious problem of the United Stats was the plight of Black Americans. Rosenwald was a close friend of Booker T. Washington. Washington had been a slave but rose to become the nationally respected President of Tuskegee Institute (University) an author, orator, and advisor to American Presidents. 1912 Rosenwald because a Trustee of Tuskegee.

Under Washington's Guidance, Rosenwald funded a successful pilot program making education accessible to Black Children in Alabama by building school houses.

In 1915, Washington died. Rosenwald continuing Dr. Washington's vision, established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917, "for the well-being of Mankind". When the Rosenwald Fund was terminated in 1948, it had been the catalyst for building over 5,300 schools in 15 States of the South. The Fund provided educational opportunity to 1/3 of all Black American children.

The Rosenwald Fund was based up a system of matching grants requiring White School Boards and Black-American communities to cooperate together

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for school construction. Black-American communities contributed $4.8 million to the building of 127 schools in Florida. In Lake County, ten schools, three shops and one teacher's home were built.

The Okahumpka Rosenwald School was approved by the Lake County Board of Public Instruction in 1929. One-half acre of this school property was donated on May 17, 1930, by Virgil and Josephine Hawkins, the parents of Florida Civil Rights leader, Attorney Virgil and Josephine Hawkins, whose 1949-1958 court battles desegregated the University of Florida. Hawkins attended school on this site through the 190th grade in an old ramshackle school that was torn down to accommodate the building of this modern Okahumpka Rosenwald school.

Erected 2021 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Okahumpka Community Club.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 17, 1930.

Location. 28° 45.012′ N, 81° 53.688′ W. Marker is in Okahumpka, Florida, in Lake County. Marker is on 27908 Virgil Hawkins Circle, 0.1 miles south of North Quarters Raod, on the right when

Photographed By Jerry Klinger

2. Okahumpka Rosenwald School Marker

traveling south. The marker is located on the front walk way to the Okahumpka Rosenwald School building and the Okahumpka Community Club. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27908 Virgil Hawkins Circle, Okahumpka FL 34762, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Attorney Virgil Darnell Hopkins (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans of All Wars (approx. 7½ miles away); The Casino (approx. 7.6 miles away); Adamsville (approx. 8½ miles away); Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 8.8 miles away); Baker House (approx. 8.9 miles away); Villa City (approx. 9½ miles away); Sumterville (approx. 10.3 miles away).

Regarding Okahumpka Rosenwald School. The Okahumpka Rosenwald school is the finest example still standing in Florida of the two room school house design. The building is being recommended for the National Register of Historic Places.

Okahumpka Rosenwald School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jerry Klinger

3. Okahumpka Rosenwald School

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2021, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 283 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2021, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.