Douglas School

Douglas School
Douglas School, April 2012
Location598 N. Kent St., Winchester, Virginia
Coordinates39°11′33″N 78°09′30″W / 39.1925°N 78.1582°W / 39.1925; -78.1582
Area9.5 acres (3.8 ha)
Built1927 (1927)
ArchitectLong, R.V.; Gardner & Newcome
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.00000558[1]
VLR No.138-5002
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 26, 2000
Designated VLRSeptember 15, 1999[2]

Douglas School, also known as the Douglas Community Learning Center, is a historic school for African-American students located at Winchester, Virginia. It is a central auditorium plan school built in 1927, with funds from the John Handley Endowment. It is a one-story, dark red brick building with a four columned, Classical Revival style entry. Additions to the building were made in 1940, 1951, and 1962. The school served as the only African-American school in the city until 1966, when it was closed after integration of the Winchester schools.[3]

Built in 1927 as a "separate but equal" school for African American students but converted to a community center in 1966 after desegregation; may have been named for Frederick Douglass, despite the spelling difference.[4]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Scott Brooks-Miller and Joanna J. Evans (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Douglas School" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
  4. ^ Sieff, Kevin (December 12, 2010). "Alumni, NAACP in Winchester, Va., fighting over spelling of Douglas School's name". Washington Post. Retrieved May 20, 2012.