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We
are excited to report that upon completion of this historic
renovation, this site will be re-purposed as: a river/community
center; an interpretive site to tell the Rosenwald story; and an
economic incubator to cultivate eco-tourism and cultural heritage
initiatives throughout the Roanoke River Region. Soon it will once
again serve as a vital hub in the community where it has survived
for almost a century!
Since
acquiring the Hamilton Rosenwald School in 2007, RRP has been
working with regional representatives to preserve this historic
building as well as its legacy.
To date, about 100 former students have been identified and added to
our Rosenwald database. Some have been interviewed in an effort to
capture their memories of this historic school.
On September 11, 2010,
a reunion
was held at the Hamilton Fire Station to bring
folks interested in the project together. Over 100 people from nine
counties attended. Those in attendance included former Hamilton
Rosenwald alums; alumni from other regional Rosenwald Schools; and a
host of regional folks interested in this exciting preservation
project.
Among the related historical artifacts collected so far are: a desk
bell used by Edna Andrews~ a beloved teacher at the old school; a
collector’s set of McGuffey Readers and a book from the Dick and
Jane series; a doll in period dress; a recipe for school soup; a
segment of 16 mm film from 1939; and some old school photographs.
Additionally, some books which contain information about the
Hamilton School and others about Julius Rosenwald have been
gathered. Upon completion of this renovation, this collection of
cultural heritage treasures will be housed in our Rosenwald River
Center in Hamilton, N.C.
Get your
copy today!
To buy a copy of our book, Hamilton Rosenwald School
Preservation Story: Preserving the memories, the faces and the place,
which contains an overview of our project and our findings, or more
information about this historic preservation project, contact Carol
Shields (Hamilton Rosenwald Researcher) at (252) 826-5719 or
cjshields@touchnc.net
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