Prestwick in Washington County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Prestwick Post Office
⎯⎯⎯
Prestwick High School

Prestwick Post Office Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 13, 2024

1. Prestwick Post Office Marker

Inscription. Prestwick Post Office The Prestwick Post Office was established on February 24, 1904, with Alice Speadham as postmaster. It was discontinued temporarily on October 31, 1923. After it was reestablished in March 1927, Walter B. Taylor held the position of postmaster there for thirty-four years, until June 6, 1961. Taylor was said to be Washington County's longest-serving African American postmaster.
The Prestwick Post Office was permanently discontinued on September 1, 1972. Its original location was approximately 800 yards southeast of this site, alongside People's Park, at the intersection of J. Richardson Road and Prestwick Road.

Prestwick High School In 1922, Prof. Herbert Lawrence and wife, Huberta, along with Prof. Walter B. Taylor Jr., Sweet Pugh, Amy Coleman, and Prof. D.W. Tillman founded a one-room schoolhouse approx. 350 yards southeast of this site. The state purchased the land from Mr. & Mrs. D.D. Powell Jr. In 1944, the Walker brothers of St. Stephens constructed additions, creating what came to be known as Prestwick High School. It served African American students from surrounding

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communities for nearly fifty years. Walter B. Taylor Jr. was principal for forty-two years.
Prestwick High School closed in 1969. Students were transferred to newly integrated Leroy High School.

Erected 2019 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is February 24, 1904.

Location. 31° 27.399′ N, 87° 58.419′ W. Marker is in Prestwick, Alabama, in Washington County. It is on Prestwick Road half a mile west of Johnson Road, on the right when traveling west. Located within Prestwick Preservation Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3023 Prestwick Rd, Leroy AL 36548, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Mobile Bay area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the

Prestwick High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 13, 2024

2. Prestwick High School Marker

Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bassetts Creek (approx. 3½ miles away); The Taylor House (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Sullivan Cabin (approx. 4.2 miles away); The Clarke County War Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away); Jackson (approx. 5.8 miles away); CSA Brooke Cannon S-96 (approx. 5.8 miles away); City of Jackson (approx. 5.8 miles away); Allman Brothers Band Arrested in Jackson (approx. 6 miles away).

Marker (on right) within Prestwick Preservation Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 13, 2024

3. Marker (on right) within Prestwick Preservation Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 494 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 14, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Prestwick Post Office⎯⎯⎯Prestwick High School

Prestwick Post Office
⎯⎯⎯
Prestwick High School