Wetumpka in Elmore County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Elmore County Training School
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 2, 2013
1. Elmore County Training School Marker
Inscription.
Elmore County Training School. . Constructed in 1924 on five acres, this building was one of nine schools constructed in Elmore County with funding assistance from the Julius Rosenwald Fund. Between 1912-32, Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish philanthropist and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Company teamed up with Booker T. Washington and Tuskegee Institute to provide matching grants for the construction of school buildings for African Americans in mostly rural areas of the South. This collaborative effort produced more than 5,000 of these buildings in 15 southern states, 389 of which were constructed in Alabama. In addition to the Rosenwald funding of $1,300, the community, both black and white contributed $5,400 toward the construction of this school. The school grew to six buildings on an eight-acre site before being closed due to integration in 1963. In 1987, the original 1924 building was restored for use as the Elmore County Black History Museum. This building, along with others on the site, was placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2001.
Constructed in 1924 on five acres, this building was one of nine schools constructed in Elmore County with funding assistance from the Julius Rosenwald Fund. Between 1912-32, Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish philanthropist and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Company teamed up with Booker T. Washington and Tuskegee Institute to provide matching grants for the construction of school buildings for African Americans in mostly rural areas of the South. This collaborative effort produced more than 5,000 of these buildings in 15 southern states, 389 of which were constructed in Alabama. In addition to the Rosenwald funding of $1,300, the community, both black and white contributed $5,400 toward the construction of this school. The school grew to six buildings on an eight-acre site before being closed due to integration in 1963. In 1987, the original 1924 building was restored for use as the Elmore County Black History Museum. This building, along with others on the site, was placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2001.
Erected by Alabama Historical Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is
Location. 32° 33.066′ N, 86° 12.648′ W. Marker is in Wetumpka, Alabama, in Elmore County. Marker is on Lancaster Street, 0.1 miles north of Holtville Road (Alabama Route 111), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 202 Lancaster Street, Wetumpka AL 36092, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Former Elmore County Training School (Now Black History Museum)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,364 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 2, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
