Coffeeville in Clarke County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Clarke County Training School

Clarke County

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 17, 2026

1. Clarke County Training School Marker

Inscription.

Clarke County Training School. Clarke County. , In 1916, a group of African American entrepreneurs formed the Coffeeville Colored Industrial School (CCIS) to provide access to education for African American children. CCIS classes were held in the Masonic Lodge until the Coffeeville Rosenwald School was constructed in 1922. Mr. Johnnie Raine served as the first principal, and a leadership council was created to acquire resources. The leadership council consisted of Mr. H.T. Thornton, Mr. H.W. Figures, Mr. B.R. Ransom, Mr. Earnest Kiel, Mr. Henry Kiel, Sr., and Mr. Willie Thornton. In March 1916, two acres of land were donated to build a two-teacher school. The African American community donated $250 toward the building's construction, while members of the public donated $200 to build the school, with matching funds from the Rosenwald Foundation. In 1921, the CCIS's leadership, supported by concerned citizens, expressed the need for expansion to accommodate students throughout Clarke County. The African American community donated $1,620 to support the expansion, which resulted in a five-teacher Rosenwald School and a two-room workshop named the Coffeeville Rosenwald School. , The school was later renamed the Clarke County Training School (CCTS). In 1954, a fire destroyed the school, but it was rebuilt in 1959 as an equalization school. The CCTS was the first high school for African Americans in Clarke County. CCTS served Coffeeville and surrounding communities from 1921-1970, serving grades K-12. Graduates of CCTS have excelled in agricultural sciences, education, engineering, entrepreneurship, government, industrial industries, law, and medicine. CCTS is listed in the Alabama Register for its educational significance as a mid-20th century African American school. With school integration in 1970, the school became Coffeeville Elementary until it closed in 2007. Coffeeville Elementary School held the Title I program for the county, taught remedial reading, and held kindergarten classes., Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage December 8, 2021

In 1916, a group of African American entrepreneurs formed the Coffeeville Colored Industrial School (CCIS) to provide access to education for African American children. CCIS classes were held in the Masonic Lodge until the Coffeeville Rosenwald School was constructed in 1922. Mr. Johnnie Raine served as the first principal, and a leadership council was created to acquire resources. The leadership council consisted of Mr. H.T. Thornton, Mr. H.W. Figures, Mr. B.R. Ransom, Mr. Earnest Kiel, Mr. Henry Kiel, Sr., and Mr. Willie Thornton. In March 1916, two acres of land were donated to build a two-teacher school. The African American community donated $250 toward the building's construction, while members of the public donated $200 to build the school, with matching funds from the Rosenwald Foundation. In 1921, the CCIS's leadership, supported by concerned citizens, expressed the need for expansion to accommodate students throughout Clarke County. The African American community donated $1,620 to support the expansion, which resulted in a five-teacher Rosenwald School and a two-room workshop named the Coffeeville

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Rosenwald School.

The school was later renamed the Clarke County Training School (CCTS). In 1954, a fire destroyed the school, but it was rebuilt in 1959 as an equalization school. The CCTS was the first high school for African Americans in Clarke County. CCTS served Coffeeville and surrounding communities from 1921-1970, serving grades K-12. Graduates of CCTS have excelled in agricultural sciences, education, engineering, entrepreneurship, government, industrial industries, law, and medicine. CCTS is listed in the Alabama Register for its educational significance as a mid-20th century African American school. With school integration in 1970, the school became Coffeeville Elementary until it closed in 2007. Coffeeville Elementary School held the Title I program for the county, taught remedial reading, and held kindergarten classes.

Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage December 8, 2021

Erected 2022 by the Town of Coffeeville.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 17, 2026

2. Clarke County Training School Marker

series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1916.

Location. 31° 45.094′ N, 88° 4.337′ W. Marker is in Coffeeville, Alabama, in Clarke County. It is on U.S. 84 west of Miller Howze Road, on the left when traveling west. Located in front of Coffeeville Building Supply. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1740 US-84, Coffeeville AL 36524, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clarke-Washington Electric Membership Corporation (approx. 0.8 miles away); History of Coffeeville, Alabama (approx. 1.2 miles away); Ulcanush Baptist Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Mitchell Reserve (approx. 2.8 miles away); West Bend

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 17, 2026

3. Clarke County Training School Marker

(approx. 6.1 miles away); Mitcham Beat and the Mitcham War (approx. 9.7 miles away); Little Place Cemetery / Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Womack Hill Community (approx. 10.6 miles away); Fort Landrum Site (approx. 11.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coffeeville.

Also see . . . Historical marker dedicated at site of Clarke County’s first black high school. From the The South Alabamian. (Submitted on February 18, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 60 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 18, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.