Hamilton Primary School

Hamilton Primary School, constructed in 1873, stands at 107 East Main Street with an Italianate design featuring limestone walls and tall narrow windows.

The institution, established in 1835, holds the distinction of being the first free and integrated school in the United States through Dr. Silas Hamilton's bequest.

George Washington, a freed individual who attended the school, later funded a monument near the building to honor Dr. Hamilton's educational vision.

The limestone structure, measuring 200 feet from the town center, remained active until 1971 and now requires substantial preservation efforts for maintenance.

The school grounds contain one of the rare instances where a formerly enslaved person and their previous owner rest in adjacent burial sites.

Location: Otterville

Address: 107 East Main Street

GPS coordinates: 39.05110,-90.39720

Latest update: September 23, 2025 14:25