Anderson in Anderson County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Site of First African American High School in Anderson County
Reed Street High School
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 25, 2012
1. Site of First African American High School in Anderson County Monument
Inscription.
Site of First African American High School in Anderson County. Reed Street High School.
After another high school was built, Reed Street High was renamed Perry Elementary School. Perry Elementary later became known as Perry Child Development Center. , This memorial is dedicated to the students teachers and principals who were a part of these historic institutions. , Presented to the Citizens of the City of Anderson and Anderson County by the Reed High School Alumni, July 9, 2004.
After another high school was built, Reed Street High was renamed Perry Elementary School.
Perry Elementary later became known as
Perry Child Development Center.
This memorial is dedicated to the students teachers and principals who were a part of these historic institutions.
Presented to the Citizens of the City of
Anderson and Anderson County by the
Reed High School Alumni, July 9, 2004
Erected 2004 by Reed High School Alumni.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1858.
Location. 34° 29.933′ N, 82° 39.15′ W. Marker is in Anderson, South Carolina, in Anderson County. Marker is at the intersection of West Reed Street and South Towers Street on West Reed Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Anderson SC 29624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Site of First African American High School in Anderson County Monument
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 25, 2012
3. Parker School
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 25, 2012
4. Parker School
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 25, 2012
5. Parker School
Anderson County by Howard Woody, circa 1918
6. Reed Street School
In the late 1890s the Greeley Institute on McDuffie Street taught African-American students. Two black schools were being used in 1900 and Greeley had 5 teachers and 583 students. A brick school was constructed in 1901 at a cost of $3,000 on the corner of South Towers and Reed Streets. The 1905 city directory called it Grammar School #1 and Mr. M.H. Gassaway was principal with 9 teachers.
Anderson County by Howard Woody, circa 1914
7. Faculty, Reed Street School
The faculty of the Reed Street African-American High School included Prof. M.H. Gassaway as principal and teachers Mrs. Gassaway, Mr. Todd, Mrs. Todd, A. Anderson, I. Watson, Mr. Rhodes, M. Gassaway, Mrs. Moore, and M.G. Brown. Black teachers' average salaries for 1900 were $108 while salaries in 1901 were $113. In 1918 the Reed Street School had an enrollment of 286 students and 11 teachers in the 7 elementary grades and a 3-year high school program.
Anderson County by Howard Woody, 1922
8. Rosenwald's Reed Street School
The Julius Rosenwald Fund was established to promote the building of Southern black schoolhouses. The school board asked the fund to help replace the old Reed Street School. They accepted and Rosenwald contributed $1,600, while gifts totaled $11,400, and the state contributed $42,000 to erect this 12-teacher black schoolhouse. From 1914 to 1932 the Rosenwald Fund assisted in the building of 4,977 mainly rural brick schools in the South. The fund assisted 481 South Carolina schools with gifts totaling $463,000 or 15.68 percent of each school's costs.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,249 times since then and 153 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 25, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.