Leighton Training School
Colbert County Alabama; Leighton Alabama; African American school; African American History; Leighton Training School
Leighton Training School was a trade school established with the help of a grant provided by Julius Rosenwald. Like other Rosenwald schools, the African American community was required to raise additional funds for the school to be built. The African American community was also required to provide the land for the school. The African American community in Leighton raised sufficient funds in 1928 to secure five acres of land for a school building. Julius Rosenwald also provided $400 in additional funds that also went towards securing the five acres of land. The building, which was made from brick, cost around $8000 and was finished a year in 1929. Like other Rosenwald schools the building was very simple and did not include a dining room or cafeteria. Instead, the women in the local community prepared the food. The school operated until 1970 when integration became the law of the land. The school still holds reunions to for its graduating classes every two years. The school has also been placed on the Alabama Register of Historical Landmarks in 1977. The school can still be found on N. Washington Ave in Leighton, Alabama.
Sam Keiser, University of North Alabama
Colbert County Heritage Book Committee (Colbert County, Ala.). 1999. The Heritage of Colbert County, Alabama. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants. 59
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
text
Sterling High School
Colbert County Alabama; Sheffield Alabama; African American History; African American School; Sheffield Colored School; Sterling High School.
Sterling High School was another prominent school for African Americans in Colbert County. The origin of the school is in a Baptist Church on East 20th St. Originally, the school only served five students and a man named Henry Hopkins was hired as their teacher. Due to a fire, the school was forced to relocate to another church. Sheffield Colored School was then built in 1918 and served as an elementary school for African American students. It was during this time that the school’s eventual namesake Benjamin J. Sterling served as a teacher and principal for the Sheffield Colored School. In 1921, the school expanded to teach high school level children. At first only grades one through eleven were offered until 1922 when grade twelve was offered. In 1942, the name of the school was officially changed to Sterling High School. Sterling High school established an athletics program that included basketball, track, and football. They even went up against Trenholm High School during the season. The school was eventually closed in 1968 due to integration. The building was finally destroyed ten years later in 1978. The location of the school can be found at E 19th St in Sheffield Alabama.
Sam Keiser, University of North Alabama
Curott, David. Colbert & Lauderdale County History Written on Signs of the Past. Bluewater Publishing, 2011. 155
Colbert County Heritage Book Committee (Colbert County, Ala.). 1999. The Heritage of Colbert County, Alabama. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants. 64-65
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
text
Trinity School, Athens
Limestone County, Alabama; Athens, Alabama; Trinity School; African-American Education
The Trinity School Cistern, which is located on Market Street near the railroad track in Athens, Alabama, is the last remnant of the Trinity School.
Trinity School, which was in operation from 1865 to 1997, was a school for the children of slaves. Miss Mary Frances Wells who served as the school's principal and advocate was largely responsible for establishing the school on the old Richardson family property.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Still Image and Text