Rosenwald School Replica (Community Center) - Smyrna, TN

Located in Hilltop-Rosenwald Park in Smyrna, this community center was built to look identical to the Rosenwald School that had been at this location decades earlier. The park is full of markers discussing local African-American history.

Julius Rosenwald was the owner and president of Sears, Roebuck & Co. and established the philanthropic Rosenwald Fund. This fund was used to build schools in under-served African-American communities in the south. From 1917 and into the 30's, the fund helped build 354 schools. Very few of these schools still remain. For more info on these schools: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenwald_School

Cairo Rosenwald School

This historic school house has worn down a little bit, but I think the building looks happy.

The historic marker is seen next to the school in the picture, but it must have originally been located at the intersection of highway TN25 and Ziegler Fort Rd. The school is down the road from the entrance to Bledsoe Creek State Park in Sumner County. Here is the text of the marker:

Located 2.6 miles south of here is the Cairo Rosenwald School. Completed in 1923, it provided educational opportunities for African-American children until 1959. Funding for the school's construction was provided by the Rosenwald funds. The architectural plan followed the standard Rosenwald School design for a one-teacher African-American school. Closed in 1959 due to the consolidation of schools, this building has remained in use as a community center. The Cairo School building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Free Hills Rosenwald School

Free Hill is a community in Clay County, TN. It is an African American community established before the Civil War. The original inhabitants were the freed slaves of Virginia Hill, the daughter of a wealthy North Carolina planter. After purchasing 2,000 acres of isolated hilly land, Hill freed her slaves and turned the property over to them.

Julius Rosenwald was the owner and president of Sears, Roebuck & Co. and established the philanthropic Rosenwald Fund. This fund was used to build schools in underserved African-American communities in the south. From 1917 and into the 30's, the fund helped build 354 schools. Very few of these schools still remain. For more info on these schools: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenwald_School

The Free Hills Rosenwald School was used from approximately 1925 to 1949. The structure, which is believed to be one of only about 30 Rosenwald schools still standing, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The school is also stop #56 on the TN Trails and Byways Ring of Fire trail