Iron Hill Park near Newark in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Iron Hill School #112-C

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, April 24, 2016

1. Iron Hill School #112-C Marker

Inscription. The Iron Hill area was a community of African American farming and mining families. Constructed in 1923, Iron Hill School #112-C was one of over 80 schools built with funding from Pierre S. duPont, who sought to replace rundown public schools with modern facilities. Opened from 1923-1964, the school was in session from September through June and included grades 1-6. All instruction was conducted by a single teacher. The Delaware Academy of Science acquired the building in the late 1960s and used it to house a natural history museum for over 40 years. Because of diligent restoration efforts undertaken by the Academy, the building stands as one of only a few former duPont schools still architecturally intact.

Erected 2015 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-211.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 39° 37.865′ N, 75° 45.48′ W. Marker is near Newark,

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Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Iron Hill Park. It is on South Old Baltimore Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1355 S Old Baltimore Pike, Newark DE 19702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Historic Roads of Newark, Delaware / Petrified Log from Central Delaware (within shouting distance of this marker); Education for ALL, Past and Present: Iron Hill School, No. 112C / Iron Hill School #112C (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the First Iron Hill School (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civil War 1861 - 1865 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); What is the mound behind this sign?

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 12, 2019

2. Iron Hill School #112-C Marker

(about 300 feet away); Iron Mining on Iron and Chestnut Hills, A Timeline (about 300 feet away); The Iron Hill Community: Free Black Landowners (about 300 feet away); Ninety Years Recording the Black Population of Pencader Hundred: The U.S. Census (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newark.

Also see . . . Iron Hill School No. 112C - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

The reform and rebuilding of African-American schools in Delaware, funded by Pierre Samuel du Pont between 1919 and 1928, is represented by the Iron Hill School. Constructed in 1923, the Iron Hill School was used until school segregation was abolished, which occurred at Iron Hill in 1965. Many schools for white children were closed in the first half of this century and large, consolidated schools were built. During the 1920s, small, modest, but up-to-date facilities were built with du Pont funds for Delaware's African-American population, which was largely rural and sparsely settled. Single-teacher schools were promoted as nondisruptive to the African-American economic situation, by allowing children to go to
Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, April 24, 2016

3. Iron Hill School #112-C Marker
school close to their homes, where they were relied upon to work and to supplement the family income.

(Submitted on April 22, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Iron Hill School #112-C image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, April 24, 2016

4. Iron Hill School #112-C

National Register of Historic Places Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 704 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 12, 2019, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.