Northwest Fork Hundred in Bridgeville in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Phillis Wheatley School

Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 17, 2022

1. Phillis Wheatley School Marker

Inscription. The inadequate condition of schools throughout the nation resulted in a major effort to reform public education following World War I. Delaware was at the forefront of this movement. With the assistance of the Delaware Auxiliary Association and its primary supporter, P.S. duPont, a program to replace outdated schools was undertaken. Noting the poor nature of facilities provided for African-American students enrolled in the state's segregated schools, the Association made them their first priority. In 1921 they initiated the construction of a modern building at this location to accommodate students from Bridgeville and the surrounding community. Known for a time the Bridgeville Colored School, the facility was subsequently named for Phillis Wheatley (c1753-1784), the nation's first published African-American poet. In addition to serving the needs of the area's elementary and middle school students, the building was a center for community activities. The school was integrated in 1966 and converted for use as North Bridgeville Elementary. It later served as the Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center. Following extensive

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renovation and expansion, this historic structure was reopened as the Phillis Wheatley Middle School in 2004.

Erected 2004 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number SC-179.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list.

Location. 38° 45.078′ N, 75° 36.136′ W. Marker is in Bridgeville, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Northwest Fork Hundred. It can be reached from the intersection of Church Street and 1st Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is attached to the building, immediately to the left of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 48 Church Street, Bridgeville DE 19933, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself

The Modern Phillis Wheatley School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 17, 2022

2. The Modern Phillis Wheatley School

The marker plaque is visible to the left of the main entrance.

in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sudler House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Bridgeville, Delaware (approx. half a mile away); Old Bridgeville Firehouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Edward Redfield (approx. 0.6 miles away); Elizabeth Smith-Cornish (approx. 0.9 miles away); Jack Lewis (approx. one mile away); Site of Jacobs School #143 (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bridgeville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Sudler House (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2022, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware. This page has been viewed 734 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 17, 2022, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.