Aiken in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Aiken Graded School
Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023
1. Aiken Graded School Marker
This park is the site of Aiken Graded School, a two-story brick school built 1924-25. It was built for black pupils in grades 1-7 and was one of almost 500 S.C. schools funded in part by the Julius Rosenwald Foundation 1917-1932. Black Aiken physician Dr. C.C. Johnson raised $3,500 in the black community toward the total cost of $33,500. Black brick mason Elliott Ball supervised the schools construction.
The school, described as one of the best in the state when it was being built, had ten classrooms, a library, and an auditorium seating 600. It opened in the fall of 1925, with principal W.D. Drake, nine teachers, and almost 300 students. The school, the only black elementary school in Aiken until new schools began to be built in 1954, closed in 1969. It was demolished in 1973.
Erected 2013 by Aiken County Historical Society, Sponsor. (Marker Number 2-50.)
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 year for this entry is 1925.
Location. 33° 33.982′ N, 81° 42.612′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Augusta and in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schofield School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Aiken First Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Friendship Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Friendship (African) Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Defense of Aiken (approx. 0.6 miles
Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023
2. Aiken Graded School Marker
Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023
3. Aiken Graded School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 558 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
