1114 West Johnson Street
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Last updated on November 21, 2024
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The Booker T. Washington Community Center occupies the former Booker T. Washington High School. During the 1920s, the disparities between Staunton’s black and white schools were widening, and the parents and leaders in the African American advocated for improvements. The Art Deco building was built in 1936 as the African American high school for Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. The school was given the name of the African American school in Sunnyside Street, which became D. Webster Davis School. The building cost $75,000, including a combined auditorium and gymnasium, five classrooms, a home economics room, a shop, and office and storage space. There was a 1060 addition to the school for more space. The school served as the center of African American life and pride. The school was used during non-school hours for social activities, community organizations, and other events. The library became public during the summer, adult night classes were held at the school, and adult recreational athletic teams used the gymnasium. The first graduating class of Booker T. Washington High School occurred in 1937, and the last class of graduates was in 1966. In the 1960s, Staunton began integrating schools twelve years after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision striking down public school segregation. However, Staunton schools operated intending to keep it segregated. In 1966, Staunton’s public schools were fully integrated. The administrators, teachers, coaches, and support staff at Booker T. Washington were absorbed into the now-integrated Staunton public school system. Booker T. Washington High School was closed. The former Booker T. Washington High School building served as the Staunton police department from 1967 to 1986. The building was vacant from 1986 until 2001, when the Booker T. Washington Community Center was formed.
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Donations for may be sent to:
Booker T. Washington Alumni Association, Inc., P.O. Box 503, Staunton, VA 24402-0503 Contact at [email protected] and btwalumnistauntonva.org |
