Stuart in Martin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

1934 Salerno Colored School

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, May 18, 2025

1. 1934 Salerno Colored School Marker [Obverse]

Inscription.

1934 Salerno Colored School. . , The Salerno Colored School was dedicated by the Martin County Board of Public Instruction on February 22, 1934. A Civil Works Administration project, the one-room, 25'x 31 frame elementary school was one of the first public schools in Martin County for African American children, excluded from schools designated for whites only due to legalized racial segregation. The building's design reflects the one-room Rosenwald Community School Plan No I-A provided by Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald. Robert G. Murray served as the school's first teacher and principal. Other early teachers included Alice H. Reynolds, Agnes Thompson, Marjorie B. Richardson, and Bernice Sweet. Costella H. Williams. who earned her masters degree from the Tuskegee Institute, was the longest serving teacher and principal "from 1943-1961. During her tenure, Mrs. Williams taught some of Martin County's most esteemed educators. These included teacher and principal. Márian M. Carpenter, and the first elected Black member and Chairman of the Martin County School Board, Dr. David L. Anderson, who earned the distinction of being the longest-serving school board member in Florida., In 1961, students moved across the street to the new Carver Gardens Elementary School, which was renamed Murray Junior-Senior High School in honor of the educators in the Murray family. The schoolhouse was relocated behind Murray Ninth Grade School in 1967 and served as the art room. In 1980, the schoolhouse was moved to its current site in New Monrovia Park. The school board transferred ownership of the schoolhouse to Martin County in 1986. The community center built next to the Salerno Colored School in 1999 was named the Costella Williams Learning Center. After Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma in 2004 and 2005, it was thought that the storm-damaged schoolhouse could not be saved. Due to efforts by its former students and the African American community. Martin County conducted an extensive reconstruction and restoration in 2012. The Salerno Colored School was placed on the Martin County Historic Register on April 29, 2013, by the Martin County Historic Preservation Board.

The Salerno Colored School was dedicated by the Martin County Board of Public Instruction on February 22, 1934. A Civil Works Administration project, the one-room, 25'x 31 frame elementary school was one of the first public schools in Martin County for African American children, excluded from schools designated for whites only due to legalized racial segregation. The building's design reflects the one-room Rosenwald Community School Plan No I-A provided by Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald. Robert G. Murray served as the school's first teacher and principal. Other early teachers included Alice H. Reynolds, Agnes Thompson, Marjorie B. Richardson, and Bernice Sweet. Costella H. Williams. who earned her masters degree from the Tuskegee Institute, was the longest serving teacher and principal "from 1943-1961. During her tenure, Mrs. Williams taught some of Martin County's most esteemed educators. These included teacher and principal. Márian M. Carpenter, and the first elected Black member and Chairman of the Martin County School Board, Dr. David L. Anderson, who earned the distinction of being the longest-serving school board member in Florida.

In 1961, students moved across the street to the new Carver Gardens Elementary School, which was renamed Murray Junior-Senior High School in honor

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of the educators in the Murray family. The schoolhouse was relocated behind Murray Ninth Grade School in 1967 and served as the art room. In 1980, the schoolhouse was moved to its current site in New Monrovia Park. The school board transferred ownership of the schoolhouse to Martin County in 1986. The community center built next to the Salerno Colored School in 1999 was named the Costella Williams Learning Center. After Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma in 2004 and 2005, it was thought that the storm-damaged schoolhouse could not be saved. Due to efforts by its former students and the African American community. Martin County conducted an extensive reconstruction and restoration in 2012. The Salerno Colored School was placed on the Martin County Historic Register on April 29, 2013, by the Martin County Historic Preservation Board.

Erected 2024 by The Martin County Board of County Commissioners, Martin County Black Heritage Initiatives, Inc., Mrs. Williams’ Students, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1275.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is February 22, 1934.

Location. 27° 8.157′ N, 80° 11.63′ W. Marker is in Stuart, Florida, in Martin County. It is on Southeast Murray

1934 Salerno Colored School Marker [Reverse] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, May 18, 2025

2. 1934 Salerno Colored School Marker [Reverse]

Street west of Southeast 46th Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4455 SE Murray St, Stuart FL 34997, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Treasure Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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 Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Golden Gate Building (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Sewall Home, Dock and Pineapple Fields (approx. 3 miles away); Sewall's Point (approx. 4.6 miles away); Georges Valentine (approx. 4.7 miles away); Gilbert's Bar Prehistoric Site (approx. 4.7 miles away); Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge (approx. 4.8 miles away); The Bakers of Waveland (approx. 4.8 miles away); Burn Brae Plantation – Krueger House (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stuart.

1934 Salerno Colored School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, May 18, 2025

3. 1934 Salerno Colored School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2025, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.