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Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative

Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration InitiativeCape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration InitiativeCape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative

Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative

Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration InitiativeCape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration InitiativeCape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative
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Cape Charles, Virginia Rosenwald School

Our Past

The town of Cape Charles, VA has an important piece of history within its boundaries: the Historic Cape Charles Elementary - A Rosenwald School. The school was affectionately called “the school over the hump” by its students because of its location just outside of town, over the railroad bridge. It was built in 1928 as part of a movement inspired by a partnership between education pioneer, Booker T. Washington, and Jewish philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald, to educate African-American children during legalized segregation. Over 5,000 "Rosenwald Schools" were constructed in the rural south. Incorporating state-of-the-art elements of school design, our brick school had four class-rooms, an auditorium and office and was staffed by 3 teachers and a principal/teacher. It taught children in grades 1-7 and served as an important part of local African-American life for many years. The school closed in 1966, and the property was converted to a seafood processing plant that closed in 1977. The building has been sitting vacant for nearly half of a century. Despite neglect, the building maintains a great deal of its historic integrity.

Our Booklet of the History

Virginia Humanities funded the publication of a booklet documenting the significance of the Historic Cape Charles Elementary - A Rosenwald School. Click below to see it in its entirety.

Learn More

Cape Charles Elementary

Invisible History of African Americans in Cape Charles - A Walking Tour

The Invisible History of African Americans in Cape Charles is a community service project of the Rotary Club of Cape Charles with support from Virginia Humanities and the Frances Bibbins Latimer Fund.  The tour celebrates amazing stories and accomplishments of African Americans in Cape Charles. The Historic Cape Charles Elementary School - a Rosenwald School - is the final stop and capstone on the tour.

Visit the Tour

Historic Architectural Renderings

    Links to Our History

    Watch the Short FilmRead the E-bookletListen to the StoriesRead the National Register NominationNorthampton250 Driving Tour

    Learn More

    about the Washington-Rosenwald Schools
    Visit the National TrustVisit WikipediaVisit Virginia Humanities
    • The CCRSRI
    • History of the School
    • Plans for the School

    CCRSRI, Inc.

    P.O. Box 294 Cape Charles, Virginia 23310

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