The historical marker honoring Holly Springs Rosenwald School was orchestrated by a passionate team of community members, town officials and former students. Pictured above are: Pastor Jahmar Cobb, Matt Scialdone, Randy Harrington, Doris Battle, Rennie Thorpe, Victoria Judd, Christine Kelly, Gerald D. Givens Jr, Mayor Dick Sears, Angie Staheli and Randy Harrington
Not pictured: Ann Hunt-Smith, Gerald Hinton, George Kimble, Reginald Hinton, Tanya Dennism, Florianna Thompson
Holly Springs recently installed a new signpost commemorating a historic elementary school that served the community for more than 50 years.
The dedication ceremony for the Holly Springs Elementary School historic marker took place on November 22. Keynote speaker Ann Hunt-Smith, center, is pictured with her family.
Approximately 100 members of the community, including Mayor Dick Sears, town council members, former students and teachers attended the outdoor gathering.
Singer, composer and former student Gerald Hinson performed, below.
Photos by Willie Miller Photography.
This special event may not have occurred without an accidental mix up between two men named Randy Harrington.
The Holly Springs Rosenwald School, later named Holly Springs Elementary School, stood on the site of the W. E. Hunt Recreation Center from the 1920s to the 1970s. Rosenwald schools were created to combat underfunding in education of African American children, a program developed by Booker T. Washington and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, resulting in about 5,000 schools in the segregated South.
Originally a wooden plank schoolhouse, the Holly Springs structure was replaced by a brick building around 1950 and renamed Holly Springs Elementary School. Local historian Doris Battle attended the primary school before it closed in 1970, but never knew about the Rosenwald school that came before it.
“I was looking in the book that Barbara Koblich had written (“Images of America: Holly Springs”) and oh my goodness, my heart just jumped for joy, because I didn’t know that school was in Holly Springs, for one, and sitting on the same property as the elementary school, for two. I thought, ‘Why weren’t we taught this?” says Battle. “Then I thought it’s up to us to teach our own history.”
A former teacher turned historian, Battle set out to establish a historic marker that would educate residents and visitors about the bygone school and stand as a testament to the wonderful teachers and school leaders that influenced so many in the community.
This is where the two Randy Harringtons enter the story. Battle thought she was corresponding with Randy Harrington who had attended Apex Consolidated School, another former Rosenwald School, and who serves as president of that school’s alumni association. But in reality, she had texted Randy Harrington, town manager of Holly Springs.
“I looked at my phone, and sure enough I was talking to Randy Harrington in Holly Springs. I’m talking to the wrong Randy Harrington,” says Battle.
The mistake turned out to be serendipitous, because town manager Harrington connected Battle with the Holly Springs town council, and a committee was formed to plan the historic marker, which culminated last November at the unveiling ceremony.
“It was dear to my heart,” says Victoria Judd of the outdoor ceremony that brought together town officials, former students and teachers and local residents. “I love to see the community getting together.”
Judd attended the Holly Springs Rosenwald School her first grade year, which was the final year the original plank building was occupied.
Doris Battle
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was notable playwright and author Ann Hunt Smith, the daughter of William Earl Hunt, who was principal of Holly Springs Elementary School for more than 30 years — the man for which the W. E. Hunt Recreation Center is named.
Additional information and photographs of the Holly Springs Rosenwald School can be seen on a website created by Middle Creek High School (MCHS) students, under the guidance of teacher Matt Scialdone.
“I knew we couldn’t get everything we wanted on the marker,” says Scialdone, an English teacher turned History instructor by sheer demand.
“I taught an African American Literature class and noticed the kids were more interested in the historical context of the texts we were reading,” he says. Born from that interest, Scialdone began a course entitled Hard History and Civic Engagement, which started the website project.
The MCHS Social Justice Club continues to add to the digital archive. Students are in the process of interviewing former staff and pupils, and cataloging the interviews for the website and a forthcoming documentary.
Visit the site at: rosenwaldhse.wixsite.com/website
“This man was just remarkable,” Battle says. “He lived in Raleigh, but would come to Holly Springs and stay during the week.
“During his beginning years, he would go to the farms and talk to the parents and owners to try to allow the black children to come to school.”
“The Holly Springs Elementary School was such a big part of my life, and the people that went to school there,” says Battle. “It’s 50 years (in 2020) since the school closed down.”
Town council member Christine Kelly, a 28-year resident of Holly Springs, served on the committee that coordinated the marker.
“(Holly Springs) was a predominantly black town when I first moved here. Seeing how much the town has changed — we are losing the history and stories of the people who lived here,” says Kelly. “This is a great example of the community respecting our past.”
Angie Staheli has also been crucial to preserving Holly Springs’ stories. Staheli penned the stage production “Finding Patience,” about the history of town and plans to debut a historical musical in 2022.
“There are stories that need to be told. I’m thankful for people like Doris who are working to find the heroes and bring them to the forefront,” Staheli says.
Battle intends to pursue historical designations at other N.C. Rosenwald Schools. Next up — Fuquay-Varina Consolidated School.
“There were something like 800 Rosenwald schools in North Carolina. North Carolina had the most Rosenwald schools of any other state. Overall, only 12% are left,” she says.
This article records an historical event that celebrates the dedication of my father, William Earl Hunt, to the Holly Springs community as a teacher and principal of the elementary school .
I commit
Just happen to stroll the memories of such a grand school. Being a graduate of WT Sims High School & remembering the good old days was such a pleasure for me. I now live in Memphis, TN. But still visit family and friends there. So glad that this is part of my greatest memories. I graduated from WT Sims High School and will always cherish the good old day’s. Luella Moss Shelton.
This is history. The history that our children need to know. It’s rich beautiful history had been buried until Doris Battle brought people together and dug it up. People can no longer say thar they did not know about this rich history. Thank you
This is history in motion! Thank you Ms. Battle and all the other people for marking a historical moment in the lives of collective people coming together to honor the significance of African American education. March on soldiers of education.
Great job! This is awesome!
Awesome history reclaimed and remembered. I did not know that Holly Springs was once an black township in NC.
I would like to know more. Dr. Lafayette Maxwell 919-656-9067
Lmaxwell@nc.rr.com.
So thankful for the work that Ms. Battle and others have done to tell those stories that have, for too long, been ignored.
MAIN AND BROAD MAGAZINE
Emily Uhland,
Thank you so much very much for this article. It a Black History Month Treasure. The Rosenward Schools has contributed so much to our learning. At one time 1 out of 5 public schools were Rosenward Schools. These schools were not only for Black Students, but some White Students benefited as well.
We are looking forward to researching Fuquay School, and Apex School, next.
The Team, Thanks you for sharing this rich history.
Sincerely,
Doris Taylor Battle
Job well done 👍, Mrs. Doris Battle and Committee, this history is just right on time for Black History month. Today’s Young people and others need know about our history that is hidden.
This feels like a win!! As people of color we are told to forget the past way to often like we don’t matter. I’m glad there are people like Ms. Doris Battle that’s taking the battle of remembering our past in our future!!