Jenkins in Letcher County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Dunham High School

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2022

1. Dunham High School Marker

Inscription. Dunham High School opened in 1931 as the only high school for black students in Letcher County. The school educated students from the Jenkins, McRoberts, Fleming, and Haymond areas. Dunham High School remained open until 1964, a decade after Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. It was destroyed by fire in 1969.

Erected 2019 by Kentucky Historical Society • Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2607.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 37° 10.348′ N, 82° 37.981′ W. Marker is in Jenkins, Kentucky, in Letcher County. It is at the intersection of Highway 805 (Kentucky Route 805) and No. 4 Hill, on the right when traveling south on Highway 805. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9545 Hwy 805, Jenkins KY 41537, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kentucky and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Dunham High School (a few steps from this marker); Lt. Darwin K. Kyle (within shouting distance of this marker); Jenkins - Dunham - Burdine World War II Veterans Memorial

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Jenkins (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pound Gap (approx. one mile away); Caudill’s Army (approx. 1.2 miles away); Brothers Once More (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Teardrop Monument (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jenkins.

Also see . . .
1. Dunham High School. In 1931, the first 9th grade class enrolled at Dunham High and the 1934-35 school year saw the first class graduate. (Alli Robic Bramel, ExploreKYHistory) (Submitted on December 7, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Dunham High School 1931-1964. The history of Dunham High School is being rediscovered by a new generation of people. May it never be lost to the sands of time. (Joanna Sergent, Kentucky Tennessee Living, posted March 22, 2022) (Submitted on December 7, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2022

2. Dunham High School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 445 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 7, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.