The Gamble School

The Gamble School. . Near this site once stood a school built for African American children erected in 1925 at a cost of $2,800. Funding for the two-classroom, wooden structure came from area residents, along with public funds and $700 from the philanthropic foundation of Sears, Roebuck and Company president and Tuskegee Institute board member Julius Rosenwald. Between 1917 and 1932, the Rosenwald Foundation helped construct nearly 5,000 schools throughout the United States., The school was named in honor of A.G. Gamble, a leader in the African American community credited with spearheading the fundraising campaign. Over time, the school was also known by other names, including the Blount County Training School and Sand Valley Training School. Water for the school was obtained from a nearby stream. The building was heated using potbellied stoves. Teachers offered instruction in basic coursework through the tenth grade. Used textbooks and other supplies came from the surrounding white schools. , In 1958, the Oneonta City Board of Education closed the school upon completion of Southside, a new school for African American pupils located on the opposite side of town. , This marker was erected through the efforts of the Blount County Historical Society, the City of Oneonta, and anonymous doners.