Midway in Liberty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
New Life For Dorchester Academy 1932-1940
Dorchester Academy
— Museum Of African American History —
Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 2008
1. Dorchester Academy Marker
Upper right hand corner label reads :
This sign was made possible through the
financial support of the City of Flemington
with great places to "stay" in Liberty County.
Inscription.
New Life For Dorchester Academy 1932-1940. Dorchester Academy. J. Roosevelt Jenkins, who was Dorchester Academy's assistant principal, science teacher and athletic director, replaced Elizabeth Moore as principal after her death in 1932. He continued to strengthen the school's curriculum and the thriving athletic programs. During his administration, Dorchester Academy was in its academic prime. In 1934 the entire graduating class was admitted to college. Jenkins made sure the school kept its Georgia accreditation. In doing so, Dorchester Academy earned the coveted "A rating" from the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In 1934, the school was classified as a Group I Georgia accredited high school. This meant it was one of " the best schools in teaching staff, equipment or laboratory, library and buildings, and three fourths of the academic teachers holding degrees." The boys' dormitory, which burned down in 1932, was rebuilt and formally dedicated as the Elizabeth B. Moore Hall, During this time, public school opportunities were growing for African Americans in Liberty County. The Board of Education had, until then, neglected to adequately fund African American public education. With the creation and growth of the Liberty County Training (LCTS) in the 1930s, accredited, public, adequately funded, county administered African American high school education was now available. Because of this the American Missionary Association (AMA) closed Dorchester Academy in the spring of 1940 because they did not want to duplicate the work of the local public schools. All of the 1940 twelfth grade students voted to receive their diplomas from Dorchester Academy and the remaining students were distributed among the other African American public schools in the county. , (sidebar) , Boys' Dormitory , Elizabeth B. Moore Hall , photograph taken 2004 , Most of Dorchester Academy's old buildings were torn down by the AMA in 1945 because of their poor condition. They decided it would be cost effective to remodel the new brick boys dormitory. The AMA contributed $10 for every $1 raised in Liberty County, up to $20,000. Locals organized the Dorchester Cooperative Building Fund Drive and raised $2,000 to save Elizabeth Moore Hall.
J. Roosevelt Jenkins, who was Dorchester
Academy's assistant principal, science
teacher and athletic director, replaced
Elizabeth Moore as principal after her death
in 1932. He continued to strengthen the
school's curriculum and the thriving
athletic programs. During his administration,
Dorchester Academy was in its academic
prime. In 1934 the entire graduating class
was admitted to college. Jenkins made sure
the school kept its Georgia accreditation.
In doing so, Dorchester Academy earned
the coveted "A rating" from the Southern
Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools. In 1934, the school was classified
as a Group I Georgia accredited high school.
This meant it was one of " the best schools
in teaching staff, equipment or laboratory,
library and buildings, and three fourths of
the academic teachers holding degrees."
The boys' dormitory, which burned down
in 1932, was rebuilt and formally
dedicated as the Elizabeth B. Moore Hall
During this time, public school opportunities
were growing for African Americans in Liberty
County. The Board of Education had, until
then, neglected to adequately fund African
American public education. With the creation
and growth of the Liberty County Training
(LCTS) in the 1930s, accredited, public,
adequately funded, county administered
African American high
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school education was
now available. Because of this the American
Missionary Association (AMA) closed
Dorchester Academy in the spring of 1940
because they did not want to duplicate the
work of the local public schools. All of the
1940 twelfth grade students voted to receive
their diplomas from Dorchester Academy
and the remaining students were distributed
among the other African American public
schools in the county.
(sidebar)
Boys' Dormitory
Elizabeth B. Moore Hall
photograph taken 2004
Most of Dorchester Academy's old buildings
were torn down by the AMA in 1945 because
of their poor condition. They decided it
would be cost effective to remodel the new
brick boys dormitory. The AMA contributed
$10 for every $1 raised in Liberty County,
up to $20,000. Locals organized the
Dorchester Cooperative Building Fund
Drive and raised $2,000 to save Elizabeth
Moore Hall.
Erected 2004 by City of Flemington.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.
Location. 31° 48.031′ N, 81° 27.891′ W. Marker is in Midway, Georgia, in Liberty County. Marker is on East Oglethorpe Highway (U.S. 84) near Lewis Frasier Road. Touch for map. Marker is at
Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 8, 2008
2. Dorchester Academy gate
or near this postal address: 8787 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway GA 31320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
5. New Life For Dorchester Academy 1932-1940 Marker
Marker is located near the entrance to Moore Hall on the northeast side of the building.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,313 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on April 15, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.