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The Allensworth School Prior to the construction of the first schoolhouse being built, the early settlers held classes in Mr. and Mrs. Hackett’s home. In 1910, a one-room schoolhouse was built, and was eventually moved to a different site to make room for the construction of a larger schoolhouse. The first school became the Mary Dickerson Memorial Library. In 1912, Allensworth’s second school was built on this site, at what was then the junction between the town and the farm sections. The school was governed by an elected three-member school board. Mrs. Josephine Allensworth, Mrs. Oscar Overr and Mrs. William H. hall were the first trustees. The capital investment made by the Allensworth school district for the schoolhouse, staff, and equipment was considerably greater than other neighboring districts.
It is a tribute to the Allensworth pioneers that this building, which has always been the town's largest structure, stands today as a lasting statement of the town’s commitment to education. The school housed many of the community’s functions and organizations. Activities involving both adults and children took place throughout the school year on the site. Among these activities were meetings of the Allensworth Progressive Association, the Women’s Improvement League, the Debating Society, the Theater Club, and the Glee Club. One of the most memorable events that occurred every year at the Allensworth School was the commencement exercise. Sunday opened this celebrated occasion and the graduation exercise held on Friday evening would close the weeklong annual event. African-Americans historically have had a great desire for obtaining an education. This desire was in large part due to the fact that they had been systematically excluded due to the practice of slavery and later by “Jim Crow” laws. As a result, the Allensworth community grew and developed around an educational institution. The second building served as a school until 1972. School personnel and the dates they taught at the school are listed below: Professor William Payne, 1909-1922 |
