By Laurin Penland
Wilmington, NC – An old school in Pender County that was originally built for African-American students will soon get a makeover. The old Canetuck School received $40,000 in grants.
The Canetuck School in Currie is one of eight Rosenwald Schools chosen for a grant program funded by Lowes and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The small wooden school was built in 1922 and was part of a push made by Booker T. Washington and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to build schools for African-Americans in the rural south.
John Hildreth works at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
"These were state-of-the-art rural schools at the time that they were built and represented a huge advancement for the education of African Americans."
The distinct design of the Rosenwald Schools is characterized by large windows, gabled roofs, and retractable partitions to make room for larger gatherings. The $40,000 will be put toward repairs.
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