Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rockville's First Colored School
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Rockville's Second Colored School
| | Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour | |
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, June 19, 2010
1. Rockvilles First Colored Schools Marker
Rockville's First Colored School
246 North Washington Street
In March, 1867, twenty African Americans pledged to support a school by taking responsibility for money "as may be necessary to pay the board and washing of the teacher and provide fuel and lights for the school-house."
Education was a door to the future for former slaves. In 1872, Montgomery County began to provide public education to African American students. The elementary school was built in 1876 and accepted students in grades one through seven. The two-room school-house burned in 1919 (refer to map above) and students moved into the basement of Jerusalem M. E. Church. The school was rebuilt in 1921 on the opposite side of Washington Street.
Rockville's Second Colored School
East side of North Washington Street
The Second Rockville Colored School opened in 1921 serving grades one through seven. To continue their education students had to commute by streetcar into Washington D.C. or board with a local family.
In the mid-1920's, Noah E. Clarke and other African American parents petitioned for the County's first African American high school. In 1927, the school board voted to construct a high school in Rockville. The African American community supplied $6,700 toward construction, matching a grant
this page online
Rockville Colored High School was located adjacent to the elementary school on North Washington Street. It was the only high school in the County for African American students. Many students had to ride for hours by bus to get to and from class. In 1934, the School Board purchased land in Lincoln Park for the new Lincoln High School.
Erected by City of Rockville, Historic District Commission, Department of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 12 & 14.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour, and the Rosenwald Schools series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1867.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 5.214′ N, 77° 9.202′ W. Marker was in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It was on North Washington Street north of Beall Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 246 North Washington Street, Rockville MD 20850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, June 19, 2011
2. Rockvilles First Colored Schools Marker
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Rockville's First Colored School / Rockville's Second Colored School (within shouting distance of this marker); Of By For (within shouting distance of this marker); Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mr. T's (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Snowden Funeral Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Galilean Temple (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hebron House and Print Shop (about 400 feet away); Rockville Town Square (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockville.
Other markers no longer nearby. Mr. Ts (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Snowden Funeral Home (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Galilean Temple (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church - Jerusalem / Mount Pleasant (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Hebron House and Print Shop (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Additional keywords. philanthropy; Reconstruction
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2010, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,300 times since then and 291 times this year. Last updated on June 19, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on June 22, 2010, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 2. submitted on June 19, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
