Russellville in Franklin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Reedtown High School

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2023

1. Reedtown High School Marker

Inscription.

Reedtown High School. . , Reedtown High School is significant as the oldest remaining black school and first black high school in Russellville. Although this building opened in 1952. Reedtown School began 30 years earlier as one of two Rosenwald Schools built in Franklin County. The other school was Harrican located on Vanburen Street. Booker T. Washington, Principal of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) developed the Rosenwald School program with funding from Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears and Roebuck to improve the quality of public education for African Americans. The program produced over 5,300 schools in 15 Southern states including 389 in Alabama., The Reedtown Rosenwald School was built c. 1923-1924 at a cost of $3,955. To fund the building, the African American community contributed $1,880. Whites contributed $475, the Rosenwald Fund granted $700 and $900 came from public funds. Nearly 25 percent of students who attended Reedtown School were from the county districts., In 1952, a new Reedtown School building was planned. Mr. Howard Griffith, Jr. of Sheffield, AL designed the building. The Franklin County Board of Education transferred the Rosenwald building to the Russellville City School System and contributed 25 percent of the cost of the new school building. At a cost of $52,000, the new Reedtown School was one of the most modern school buildings in the school system. A key feature of the single story red brick structure was the multiple banks of windows. When the new school opened, the Rosenwald building was converted into classrooms and a lunchroom. It was later demolished; but the sidewalks that connected the two buildings still remain today., In 1967-1968 due to integration, Reedtown School students were given a choice to remain at the school until it closed or to attend Russellville High School. Reedtown School officially closed in 1972. Faculty and staff from Reedtown School were absorbed into the new Integrated system as residents moved into a new era of education in Franklin County., The Reedtown School was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in listed in the Alabama Register of 2013.

Reedtown High School is significant as the oldest remaining black school and first black high school in Russellville. Although this building opened in 1952. Reedtown School began 30 years earlier as one of two Rosenwald Schools built in Franklin County. The other school was Harrican located on Vanburen Street. Booker T. Washington, Principal of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) developed the Rosenwald School program with funding from Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears & Roebuck to improve the quality of public education for African Americans. The program produced over 5,300 schools in 15 Southern states including 389 in Alabama.

The Reedtown Rosenwald School was built c. 1923-1924 at a cost of $3,955. To fund the building, the African American community contributed $1,880. Whites contributed $475, the Rosenwald Fund granted $700 and $900 came from public funds. Nearly 25 percent of students who attended Reedtown School were from the county districts.

In 1952, a new Reedtown School building was planned. Mr. Howard Griffith, Jr. of Sheffield, AL designed the building. The Franklin County Board of Education transferred the Rosenwald building to the Russellville City School System and contributed 25 percent of the cost of the new school building. At a cost of

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$52,000, the new Reedtown School was one of the most modern school buildings in the school system. A key feature of the single story red brick structure was the multiple banks of windows. When the new school opened, the Rosenwald building was converted into classrooms and a lunchroom. It was later demolished; but the sidewalks that connected the two buildings still remain today.

In 1967-1968 due to integration, Reedtown School students were given a choice to remain at the school until it closed or to attend Russellville High School. Reedtown School officially closed in 1972. Faculty and staff from Reedtown School were absorbed into the new Integrated system as residents moved into a new era of education in Franklin County.

The Reedtown School was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in listed in the Alabama Register of 2013.

Erected 2013 by Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association, and the Rosenwald Schools series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 34° 29.939′ N, 87° 44.31′ W. Marker is in Russellville, Alabama, in Franklin County. It

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2023

2. Reedtown High School Marker

is on Hamilton Street east of Mullins Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 430 Hamilton Street, Russellville AL 35653, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Russellville (approx. 0.6 miles away); Historic Roxy Theatre (approx. 0.7 miles away); Russellville First Baptist Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); History of Russellville (approx. ¾ mile away); Ascension (approx. 0.8 miles away); Franklin -- A County Older than the State (approx. one mile away); Birth of a Town (approx. 2 miles away); Cedar Creek Furnace (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Russellville.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2023

3. Reedtown High School Marker

Reedtown High School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, November 27, 2025

4. Reedtown High School and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. 4. submitted on November 27, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.