Bigelow Rosenwald School, schoolgebouw in Arkansas, Verenigde Staten van Amerika
The Bigelow Rosenwald School is a single-story wooden building from 1926 designed in the Craftsman style to serve African-American children during segregation. The structure features large windows for natural light, a gabled roof, and simple but sturdy construction typical of schools built through the Rosenwald Fund program.
Built in 1926 through funding from the Julius Rosenwald Fund, a program aimed at improving education for Black children in the South, the school operated until 1964. Its conversion to a community center after closing as a school helped preserve it as an active gathering space for decades.
The school served as a gathering place where the Black community came together for learning and celebrations. Today, locals continue to share stories about its role in their everyday lives and heritage.
Located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 60 and Bethel AME Road near Toad Suck, about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bigelow, the site is relatively easy to access. Visitors can walk through the grounds and examine the building's structure to appreciate its simple, functional design and remaining original features.
Only one of fewer than twenty Rosenwald School buildings still standing in Arkansas today, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This rarity makes it a valuable witness to the history of school segregation and educational efforts during a transformative period.
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