Historic Harrington School & Fairview Colored School for African Americans Georgia Face Demolition

The Harrington School, a historical Georgia school for African Americans, located in St. Simon, Ga., in danger of demolition after falling into disrepair.

I guess, in some circles, black history and its relics mean nothing. According to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, in its 2011 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state, the Harrington School in St. Simons Island is in danger of being demolished. Why am I singling out this school? Well, it is the last African American school on St. Simons Island. It was built in 1925 and is "the most viable and valuable venue to interpret the Gullah-Geechee heritage of St. Simons Island." The building formerly served as the school from the 1920s until its desegregation in the 1960s, when it was converted to a daycare facility and served as such until the 1970s, the press release states. It is painfully evident that the school has fallen into disrepair in recent years. It was purchased by Glynn County and the St. Simons Land Trust as part of a 12-acre park. Of course, that's a hint of what's to come for that historic building -- demolition.

The Fairview Colored School in Cave Spring, Floyd County, also faces a similar fate as the Harrington School. Fairview is also one of the few remaining educational structures specifically in place to provide education for black children in Georgia during the height of segregation and racial unrest. It is a sad commentary that these buildings are ignored by many famous blacks with the financial means to have purchased these institutions. Shouldn't we as blacks in this country be embarrassed that we have ignored the relics of our past and let them fall into disrepair? Shouldn't our early struggles be preserved and used as a tool to teach our young people about the significant contributions blacks made to America, never losing sight of their goal for racial equality and justice ?

Last fall, after a grant request was denied, Glynn County declared the building beyond repair and placed its demolition on their 2010 agenda. Supporters of the school rallied. Plans for demolition were tabled, and supporters obtained a second opinion by preservationists that the building's foundations were solid and restoration was possible.

Sites on the list include: Zion Church in Talbotton; Rex Village in Clayton County; Craigie House (DAR Building) in Atlanta; John Ross House in Rossville; Harrington School in St. Simons Island; Medical Arts Building in Atlanta; Fairview Colored School in Cave Spring; Martin House in Columbus; historic buildings of Sparta in Hancock County; and, Berrien County Courthouse in Nashville.

"This is the Trust's sixth annual Places in Peril list," said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Trust. "We hope the list will continue to bring preservation action to Georgia's imperiled historic resources by highlighting ten representative sites," McDonald said.

Places in Peril is designed to raise awareness about Georgia's significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources, including buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes that are threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. Through Places in Peril, the Trust will encourage owners and individuals, organizations and communities to employ proven preservation tools, financial resources and partnerships in order to reclaim, restore and revitalize historic properties that are in peril.

The Trust will provide on-site preservation assistance to each of the 2011 Places in Peril through its Partners in the Field program, funded by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a number of charitable organizations in Georgia. Source

Knowledge of our history helps to define who we are in the grand scheme of things. Why can't this historic school building be renovated and kept as a historic site?

Photo credits:  The Harrington School & Fairview Colored School, The Georgia Trust