Bahama School

This two-teacher school was built to open in the 1925-26 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $4,050. Of this total, $400 came from the Black community, $2,950 from public funds provided by the Durham County school board, and $700 from the Rosenwald Fund. The Bahama School was located in the urban part of Durham County (Mangum Township) and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan.

The Black community began pursuing the building of this school by 1920. School board meeting minutes from that year record their pledge to contribute part of the cost of the school in cash, labor, and/or materials. A school for Black children existed in the Bahama area by 1902, but like most schools provided for these children in that era, it was likely a hand-me-down or "recycled" school that had been decommissioned as a school for white children.

For the 1929-30 school year, an addition was built, making the school large enough for three teachers. The addition cost $1,650, with $20 coming from the Black community, $1,480 from public funds, and $150 from the Rosenwald Fund.

To provide a clearer understanding of the actual cost of this school, $4,090 in 1925 is equal to about $74,614 in 2025. When the American federal minimum wage was introduced in 1938, the rate was set at 25 cents an hour, so the $400 provided by the Black community for the initial building of the school represents 1,600 hours of work done to earn it.

Bragtown School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1926-27 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $4,690. Of this total, $200 came from the Black community, $3,790 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 came from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $3,000. The Bragtown School was located in Durham Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Gertrude Tandy Taylor. In 1927, it was among the county schools incorporated into the Durham city school district.

A school for Black children existed in the Bragtown area by 1902, but like most schools provided for these children in that era, it was a hand-me-down or "recycled" school that had been decommissioned as a school for white children. In 1924, just before the building of the Bragtown Rosenwald school, Black children were attending school at a local church.

For the 1929-30 school year, an addition was built, making the school large enough for three teachers. The addition cost $1,650, with $20 coming from the Black community, $1,480 from public funds, and $150 from the Rosenwald Fund.

Hampton School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1923-24 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $4,000. Of this total, $500 came from the Black community, $2,800 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Hampton School was located in Mangum Township. It was begun during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Mattie Day and completed during that of supervisor Carrie Jordan.

A school for Black children existed in the Hampton area by 1902, but like most schools provided for these children in that era, it was likely a hand-me-down or "recycled" school that had been decommissioned as a school for white children.

For the 1929-30 school year, an addition was built, making the school large enough for three teachers. The addition cost $1,525, with $27 coming from the Black community, $1,348 from public funds, and $150 from the Rosenwald Fund. This addition was constructed due to overcrowding that began soon after the school was open and was evident by 1927 when two teachers were serving 100 students. Black parents submitted a request for the addition at a school board meeting.

Hickstown School

This three-teacher school was built for the 1922-23 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $4,700. Of this total, $500 came from the Black community, $3,300 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $900 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Hickstown School was located in Durham Township on Crest Street, near where the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital is now located. It was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Mattie Day. In 1927, it was one of the schools annexed into the Durham city school district.

At the time the school was built, the Black community of Hickstown had been petitioning for a new school building in a better location since 1919. School board meeting minutes from that year record their pledge to contribute part of the cost of the school in cash, labor, and/or materials. The minutes also record the board's verbal commitments to the community. When work was slow to begin on the new school, members of the community asked for the assistance of white community leaders in the form of signatures on a petition to be presented to the school board. This recieved immediate results.

For the 1924-25 school year, an addition was built, making the school large enough for four teachers. The addition cost $1,480, with $75 coming from the Black community, $1,205 from public funds, and $200 from the Rosenwald Fund. This addition, like those of other schools in the county, came about because of huge population growth in Durham County at the time.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The only Black patron of Hickstown School who was named in the minutes from September 1, 1919 is Henry Lyon.

Lyon's Park (Lakewood/Cemetery) School

This four-teacher school was built for the 1922-23 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $5,500. Of this total, $400 came from the black community, $4,000 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $1,100 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Lyon's Park School was located in Durham Township near Maplewood Cemetery. It was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Mattie Day in 1927 and was one of the schools annexed into the Durham city school district.

At its opening, the Lyon's Park School was already heavily subscribed, with 117 students served by four teachers. In light of this, Rosenwald Fund supervisor W. F. Credle advocated for the building of a large school, and by the time it was incorporated into the Durham city school district, it had expanded to ten classrooms. In 1929, the school was rebuilt in brick and an auditorium was added. This later building still stands and now serves as the West End Community Teen Center at 705 Kent Street.

A note on naming: Lyon's Park was the school's office name. At the time of its construction it was named the Old Cemetery School, denoting its location near Maplewood Cemetery. The black community requested that the name be changed.

Lillian School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1924-5 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $4,255. Of this total, $300 came from the Black community, $3,255 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 came from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $3,700. The Lillian School was located in Carr/Oak Grove Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan.

The Black community began pursuing the development of this school in 1921, making pledges at a school board meeting that year to contribute part of the cost of the school's construction in cash, labor, and materials.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Lillian School who were named in the minutes from June 7, 1920 are Eugene Rogers, Arthur Green, M. J Rogers, and Robert Rogers; the only one named in the minutes from August 2, 1920 is Eugene Rogers.

Mill Grove School

This three-teacher school was built for the 1924-25 school year. It was constructed on two and a half acres of land and cost $5,885. Of this total, $300 came from the Black community, $4,685 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $900 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Mill Grove School was located in Durham Township on Bob's Lane, off Roxboro Road and near North Duke Street. Before becoming Jeanes supervisor in 1926, Gertrude Tandy Taylor taught here.

Because students were dispersed across the area, in 1925 parents asked for busing to be provided, as it was for white students. Although the parents offered to purchase a truck to be used for this purpose, with the county paying for its maintenance thereafter, the request was turned down. In 1930, after the county's Black community asked for a new high school since the existing one was too far for many of the students to attend, busing to Mill Grove was provided. Some high school classes had already been offered at Mill Grove by that time.

In 1937, the school burned down and was replaced by two Black high schools elsewhere. The building's foundation and playground equipment are still visible today. Like other Black schools, Mill Grove served as an important community center. In 2009, a school reunion was held.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Mill Grove School who were named in the minutes from May 5, 1924 are W. D. Dunagan, J. S. Holloway, Duncan Meeks, and Ed Meeks.

Page School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1929-30 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $3,000. Of this total, $175 came from the Black community, $250 from the white community, $2,575 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $500 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Page School was located in Cedar Fork Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Gertrude Tandy Taylor.

This school built in the county replaced a non-Rosenwald school destroyed in a windstorm. Materials from the older building were recycled for use in the new one. The Black community began pursuing the construction of this new school in 1922. The meeting minutes of the county school board reflect their pledges to contribute part of the cost of construction in cash, labor, and/or materials.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Page School who were named in the minutes from October 16 and November 6, 1922 are Atkins Farrington and Sid Hayes; the only one named in the minutes from March 4, 1924 is Atkins Farrington.

Peaksville School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1926-27 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $3,950. Of this total, $300 came from the Black community, $2,950 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 came from the Rosenwald Fund. The Peaksville School was built in Oak Grove Township, which was later Durham Township. It was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan.

The Peaksville community began requesting the construction of this school in 1919, calling for school improvement funds at Durham County school board meetings.

Pearsontown School

The original four-teacher school was built for the 1923-24 school year. It was constructed on four acres of land and cost $7,500. Of this total, $500 came from the Black community, $5,900 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $1,100 from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $2,600. The first Pearsontown School was located in Patterson Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan. In 1923, Frank Husband, the first Jeanes supervisor for Durham County, was school principal.

Before the Rosenwald school was built, the Black community had been served by a "recycled" white school for several years. That school was known as the Fayetteville Road School. The community began its campaign for the construction of a new school in 1923, making pledges at a county school board meeting to contribute part of the cost of the school in cash, labor, and materials. At that time, they requested that a seven-classroom school be built.

The first Pearsontown Rosenwald school burned down March 9, 1929. According to records at Fisk University, then-Durham County school superintendent Luther Barbour ascribed the fire to a break-in, during which the trespassers built a fire that burned out of control.

For the following school year, 1929-30, a five-teacher school was built as a replacement. It was constructed on two and three quarters acres of land and cost $11,550. Of this total, $35 came from the Black community, $10,600 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $915 from the Rosenwald Fund. It included an elementary school library valued at $120.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Pearsontown School who were named in the minutes from May 30, 1920 are Haywood Dodson, Oscar Page, and J. L. Page.

Rocky Knoll School

This three-teacher school was built for the 1925-26 school year. It was constructed on three acres of land and cost $5,750. Of this total, $300 came from the Black community, $4,550 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $900 from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $3,500. The Rocky Knoll School was located in Oak Grove Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan. With other Black community leaders, Jordan was actively involved in founding the school, and during her tenure as Jeanes supervisor, Rocky Knoll was among the highest performing schools in the county.

This school replaced one built in 1917. Instead of waiting for the school board to act on its own initiative, with the possible result of receiving a "recycled" white school or some similarly substandard building, the Black community of Oak Grove Township built the school, then billed the school board for half the cost. With help from white patrons like Nathan Newbold and W. H. Wannamaker, this strategy was successful.

Rougemont School

This two-teacher school was the first Rosenwald school in Durham County. Rev. William D. Smith, a pillar of the Black community, spearheaded its construction. It was built while the Tuskegee Institute was administering the Rosenwald Fund, between 1915 and 1919. Built on two acres of land, the school cost $2,838. Of this total, $1,088 came from the Black community, $750 from the white community, $550 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $450 from the Rosenwald Fund. The Rougemont School was located in the urban part of Durham County (Mangum Township). Just like other Rosenwald schools that followed, the Rougemont school replaced a previous "recycled" school that had been decommissioned as a school for whites.

The construction of this school began under Jeanes supervisor Frank Husband, who spent much of his tenure in the position keeping the project on track, as the county school board was slow to act. His advocacy may have disturbed the powers-that-be, leading to his dismissal. The school was completed after Mattie Day replaced Husband as Durham County Jeanes supervisor. The difficult process of getting it built seems to have cleared the way for the many local Rosenwald schools that followed, as no communities experienced similar impediments. The lack of later impediments may be due in part to a change in the leadership of the county school board, as long-term superintendent C. W. Massey retired in 1919 and was replaced by Holland Holton, who showed more interest in the education of Black people.

For the 1925-26 school year, an addition was built, expanding the Rougemont school to accommodate three teachers. This construction cost $1,400, with $100 coming from the Black community, $1,100 from the school board, and $200 from the Rosenwald Fund. Further additions were made in 1927 under supervisor Gertrude Tandy Taylor including two more classrooms and an auditorium.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The only Black patron of Rougemont School who was named in the minutes from October 1, 1917, and March 11, June 15, and August 4, 1919 is Reverend W. D. Smith.

Russell School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1926-27 school year. It was constructed on two and a quarter acres of land and cost $3,695. Of this total, $270 came from the Black community, $2,725 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $3,000. The Russell School is located in Lebanon Township at the intersection of St. Mary's and Guess roads. It was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan. It is now owned by Cain's Chapel Baptist Church. It is the only Durham County Rosenwald school still standing.

The community served by this school set the local trend of petitioning the school board for funds, having previously requested money for additions to an existing school. In spite of repeated rejections for the construction of a wholly new school building, the Black community of Lebanon Township persisted in their campaign until funding was finally granted.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Rougemont School who were named in the minutes from June 6, 1921 are Charles Dunagan and John Mangum; the only one named in the minutes from May 2, 1927 is Gep Mack.

Sylvan School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1925-26 school year. It was constructed on two and a quarter acres of land and cost $4,125. Of this total, $350 came from the Black community, $3,075 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 from the Rosenwald Fund. The Sylvan School was located in Lebanon Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan.

Like other Rosenwald schools in Durham County, the Sylvan School replaced a "recycled" school, one decommissioned for use by white students. Its funding and construction followed the familiar path of the Black community petitioning the Durham County school board and promising to split the costs and labor.

Union School

This one-teacher school was built for the 1923-24 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $1,900. Of this total, $200 came from the Black community, $1,300 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $400 from the Rosenwald Fund. The Union School was located in Patterson Township and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Carrie Jordan.

In 1922, the Black community that would be served by the Union School began pursuing its construction. Like other Black communities where Rosenwald schools were built, approval came after the community pledged to provide funding, materials, and labor for the project.

Of the many Black people who appeared before the Durham County School Board, few were named in the minutes. The Black patrons of Rougemont School who were named in the minutes from October 2, 1922 are W. O. Carlton, Doc Scott, Mrs. Hedgepath, Joseph Eades, W. P. Green, and C. E. Carlton.

Walltown School

This four-teacher school was built for the 1922-23 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $8,300. Of this total, $3,300 came from the Black community, $4,000 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $1,000 from the Rosenwald Fund. The Walltown School was located on Onslow Street in the Walltown area, off of West Club Boulevard, where Northgate Mall stands today. It was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Mattie Day and was the second Rosenwald school built in the county. The surprisingly large amount of money raised by the Black community for this school may reflect support from the Black business community or some similar set of donors. In 1927, it was among the many county schools annexed into the Durham city school district.

For the 1924-25 school year, a one-teacher addition was built at a cost of $1,450. The Black community provided $85, the school board $1,165, and the Rosenwald Fund $200. Like other schools in Durham County that were built and quickly expanded, the Walltown School's growth reflects a huge growth in the local population.

Woods School

This two-teacher school was built for the 1926-27 school year. It was constructed on three acres of land and cost $3,750. Of this total, $300 came from the black community, $2,750 from public funds (provided by the Durham County school board), and $700 from the Rosenwald Fund. It was insured for $3,000. The Woods School was located in the urban part of Durham County (Mangum Township) and was completed during the tenure of Jeanes supervisor Gertrude Tandy Taylor. Her predecessor, Carrie Jordan, laid the groundwork for its construction.