Christiana Public School #111-C (NC 205) - Christiana, DE
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 40.112 W 075° 39.535
18S E 443483 N 4391176
Formal education for African American children in Christiana began in the 1880s with the construction of a one-room schoolhouse. The marker is at 40 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE 19702
Waymark Code: WM119VF
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 09/13/2019
Views: 2
The text of the Historical marker is: Formal education for African American children in Christiana began in the 1880s with the construction of a one-room schoolhouse. Many African American schools in existence at this time were marked by dilapidated facilities, a lack of running water, insufficient lighting, and poor heating sources. In an effort to remedy these and other deplorable school facility conditions, philanthropist P.S. du Pont dedicated a substantial portion of his wealth towards the renovation and rebuilding of African American schools during the 1920s. Christiana Public School #111-C was one of the first of over 80 schools to receive such attention. Designed by the New Jersey architectural fire Guilbert and Betelle, school construction began April 20, 1920 and was completed on September 6, 1920. The one-story, colonial revival-style building was a one-teacher school and featured a main classroom with three smaller rooms for the furnace, washrooms, and work and lunch room. During the 1920-1921 school year enrollment numbered twenty-eight students. Richard and Esther Neal, whose family was one of the first African American families in Christiana, donated the two acres upon which Public School #111-C was built. Such a donation of land was required of all African American communities looking to establish new schools during this time. After the school closed circa 1952, it was used often by the community to host parties, dances, and picnics, building upkeep and use was overseen by the Christiana Community of #111-C, formed by local citizens when the school closed. In the wake of a devastating fire on February 18 199, efforts to renovate the property were spearheaded by former student Lavenia (Neal) Cole. The Christiana #111-C Community Center Restoration Committee has since worked in earnest to restore the property.
Christiana Public School #111-C was named to the National Register of Historic Places on October 18 1979
2014 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-205.)
Photo taken by Bill Pfingsten and posted on HMDB.ORG
Visit Instructions:
Please include a picture of the sign with your GPS in the picture.