Hamilton Primary School - Otterville, Illinois - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"In 1834 Dr. Silas Hamilton, physician and humanitarian, bequeathed $4,000 for construction and operation of a building for educational and religious purposes. A stone school was opened in 1836, and the tuition-free education for local students attracted families to this area. The school was razed in 1872, rebuilt and enlarged, with the original stones at the base. Classes were held here until 1971. George Washington, a slave freed by Dr. Hamilton, studied here, became successful, and established a perpetual scholarship fund for Americans of African descent. He also provided for the erection of a monument to his former master." ~ text of historical marker at site

To read more about the school, Dr. Silas Hamilton or freed slave George Washington see the secondary website below.

Street address: 200 ft. East of the jct. of Otteville and McClusky Rds. Otterville, Illinois County / Borough / Parish: Jersey Year listed: 1998 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1850-1874 Historic function: Education Current function: Vacant Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/02/2006 YoSam. visited it