Street Manual Training School, African American vocational school in Richmond, Alabama.
The Street Manual Training School is a former vocational campus in Richmond with seven main buildings constructed between 1906 and 1964. The site includes a water tower built in 1943 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Emmanuel M. Brown, a Harvard graduate, founded the school in 1904 and directed it until 1960 using Booker T. Washington's educational approach. The buildings that remain show how the institution grew and adapted over several decades.
The school served as a vital learning space for Black students who gained both classroom knowledge and hands-on skills during segregation. Walking through the buildings today, you can sense how the community built and maintained its own educational resources despite severe barriers.
The site is registered as a historic property and visitor information is available through the Alabama Historical Commission. The buildings can be viewed from the outside, so check ahead to see if additional access or guided tours are offered.
The original campus spread across approximately 200 acres, making it a substantial educational complex in early 20th century Alabama. This expansive land allowed the school to offer students extensive hands-on training in multiple trades.
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