Category Archives: Rosenwald Schools

-Georgia, Abandoned, Black History, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Judia Jackson Harris School and the Hawaiian Ha-le Club-Athens, Georgia

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Clarke County

Some of you may know this building in Athens as the Hawaiian Ha-le Club. It’s one of the places the B-52s identified as an inspiration for their song, ”Love Shack” and the lyric, “Tin roof, rusted!” They mention it in several interviews over the years. More importantly, this is the only remaining Rosenwald School in Clarke County, Georgia. My research had led me to believe they had all been demolished. That’s the case with many Rosenwald Schools, the history gets lost until someone shares the connection. Originally called County Training School (a common name for Rosenwald Schools), the school’s name changed to the Judia Jackson Harris School. Judia Jackson Harris was an early Black educator who worked to raise money to build this school after the original school burned. Historic Athens recently named this as a Place in Peril. This school needs to be saved.

-Alabama, Abandoned, Black History, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Leighton County Training School-Leighton, Alabama

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Colbert County

The front facade of the Leighton County Training School sits just off the edge of town in Leighton, Alabama. It was a five-teacher type school built by Rosenwald funds. Built in 1928 for $10950, it served the Black community until 1970. It closed and reopened as the local middle school. It stayed open until 1994.

Singer Percy Sledge is a graduate. It’s on the Alabama Historical Register.

-Tennessee, Black History, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Lincoln School-Pikeville, Tennessee

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Built in 1925, the Lincoln School is one of the few remaining Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee. The school educated children in K through 8th grade until 1965.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

-Alabama, Black History, National Register of Historic Places, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Mt. Sinai School, Alabama

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Autauga County

In 1919, Anthony Townsend donated 3 acres of land to start this Rosenwald School in the county. The architect was W.A. Hazel. It remained open until 1967 once integration happened. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is the last known Rosenwald still standing in the county.

-Alabama, Black History, National Register of Historic Places, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Tankersley School, Alabama

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Hope Hull, Montgomery County

Built in 1923, the Tankersley School is a two-teacher type Rosenwald school located in Hope Hull, Alabama. It was one of fourteen Rosenwald schools built in Montgomery County. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

-Alabama, Black History, National Register of Historic Places, Rosenwald Schools, Schools

Merritt School-Midway, Alabama

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Bullock County

Built in 1920, the Merritt School is a two-teacher type Rosenwald school built in Midway, Alabama. It originally cost $2600 to build on land donated by a local citizen. The school expanded twice in the early 20th Century. It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.