Cynthiana in Harrison County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Former Site of Banneker High School
1937-1963
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 4, 2023
1. Former Site of Banneker High School Marker
Principals were
W. E. Newsom
E. O. David
Consolidated with
Harrison County School System 1963
Erected 2012.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 38° 23.596′ N, 84° 18.01′ W. Marker is in Cynthiana, Kentucky, in Harrison County. Marker is at the intersection of West Penn Street and County Road 1004, on the right when traveling west on West Penn Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 228 W Penn St, Cynthiana KY 41031, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Old Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Log Court House (approx. ¼ mile away); 9/11 20th Anniversary Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Memorial to the September 11, 2001 Attack on America (approx. ¼ mile away); Harrison County World War II/Korean War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); County Named, 1793 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harrison County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cynthiana.
Regarding Former Site of Banneker High School. Excerpt
this page online
In 1921, the Board of Education purchased the old hospital in Cynthiana, had the building remodeled, changed the name from Cynthiana Colored School to Banneker School, and added two years of high school to the curriculum [source: History of Education in Harrison County, pp. 116-124]. Mr. Newsom was principal.
At the end of the school term in 1925, there were 150 students enrolled in Banneker School. The teachers earned a little more than $400 annually, and the principal earned $1,000. By 1926, the number of colored teachers had decreased to 5, justified by the decrease in the African American population in Harrison County. The first high school graduation took place in 1928 [source: Harrison Heritage News].
The school's namesake, Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), was a free African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist and farmer.
Also see . . . Banneker School and Black Education in Harrison County, Ky. The original Banneker School was in the c. 1860 C. B. Cook house, which had served as Harrison Hospital before the Board of Education bought it in 1920 for $12,000.(Harrison County Historical Society, Harrison Heritage News, February 2016) (Submitted on March 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 4, 2023
2. Former Site of Banneker High School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
