Downtown in Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Allen School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 17, 2025

1. Allen School Marker

Inscription. Established in 1887 to teach African Americans in western N.C. Emerged as residential preparatory school for Black women. Was ⅓ mi. NE until 1974.

Erected 2023 by North Carolina Office of Archives and History. (Marker Number P-101.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Women. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 35° 35.81′ N, 82° 32.87′ W. Marker is in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It is in Downtown. It is on College Street near Oak Street and Valley Street, on the right when traveling east. It is on the sidewalk in front of the Buncombe County Board of Elections, west of the Pack Square Traffic Circle and across the street from Gantt Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 186 College Street, Asheville NC 28801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 original Cherokee Nation,

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: To Honor the Revolutionary Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); War with Spain (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Buncombe County Court House (about 400 feet away); Confederate Armory

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(about 400 feet away); In Remembrance of Col. Robert K. Morgan (about 500 feet away); Lillian Exum Clement Stafford (about 500 feet away); The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Asheville.

Also see . . . NC DNCR Article Accompanying This Historical Marker. Excerpt:

The Peases purchased two properties that would serve their educational goals. One became the Asheville Home Industrial School, which was one of the schools that served as inspiration for the modern Warren Wilson College. They also purchased property near Beaucatcher Mountain, converting an old livery stable into a private school that served Black children during the day and Black adults in the evening. The school was known as the “Industrial School on College Street.” The school’s three African American teachers lived in a small house on the property. ...

Musician and social activist Nina Simone (aka Eunice Waymon) and NASA’s “human computer” Dr. Christine Darden are among the graduates of the Allen School. ...

(Submitted on June 1, 2025.)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 17, 2025

2. Allen School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.