Bordentown School, residential high school for African-American students, located in Bordentown in Burlington County, New Jersey
Bordentown School is a historic high school building in Bordentown Township, New Jersey, situated on extensive grounds with multiple brick structures displaying traditional architectural design. The campus features large windows, sturdy walls, and open spaces typical of early 20th-century institutional buildings.
The school was founded in 1886 as an industrial training institution for African American youth and relocated to its current Bordentown site in 1896. It became known as the Tuskegee of the North for its innovative curriculum and closed in 1955 after the state integrated school systems.
The school served African American youth and combined academic learning with practical training in trades, farming, and domestic skills that were directly useful for employment. This approach reflected a belief that education should prepare students for real work and self-sufficiency.
The site is best explored on foot, allowing visitors to observe the historic structures from the exterior and across the open grounds. Keep in mind that many buildings are in disrepair and the property remains largely undeveloped, so viewing is limited to what is visible from public access points.
Booker T. Washington, the prominent educator and reformer, visited and recommended in 1913 that automobile repair and domestic sciences be added to the curriculum. This endorsement by one of the era's most influential educational thinkers helped shape the school's practical focus.
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