HOLLY SPRINGS ROSENWALD SCHOOL
LETTERS FROM ROSENWALD STUDENTS
The historic Holly Springs Elementary Rosenwald School has had a lasting effect on its students, faculty, and community members. Browse below to experience the first-hand accounts of former Rosenwald students.
From A Holly Springs Elementary Student, Jewel Graham Freeman
March 25, 2020
Let me just tell you,
Holly Springs Elementary School was one of the best ever. I still remember a lot of our teachers, and friends.
There were Mr. Lucas, our Math Teacher, he would get the ruler in hand, if we missed behave. He didn’t play around with us, he was a disciplinarian. It helped us to stay in line.
Mrs. Hunt was amazing, “I got to spend a weekend at her house and we had an amazing time.”
Mrs. Nelson was an “Awesome Teacher, too!”
But my favorite was Mrs. Beckwith, she was our Librarian. I had the privilege of riding to school with her every morning, that way I didn’t have to walk. One of the best things that I remember about Mrs. Beckwick, her car seats were covered with plastic. That was back in the day, the seats would be cold in the winter until the car warm-up.
What I loved most about our school is every morning; we had to pray🙏, we had to say “The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States it’s an expression of allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of which we stand.”
All of these things have been taken out of schools, and it makes me very sad. I loved my daily routine. It allowed me to easy into my day without stress. Routine allow me to create structure and predictability in my life. The love and support I received helps me today.
I love Holly Springs Elementary School!
Yours Respectfully,
Jewel Graham Freeman
Holly Springs Black Community Schools
May 1, 2020
The mission of the Historical Holly Springs Elementary/Rosenwald Schools is to help people learn the history of Holly Springs, North Carolina, African Americans Education in 1920’s - 1970
Even before the Rosenwald Schools was established Booker T. Washington, President of Tuskegee, and Julius Rosenwald, President of Sears, Roebuck, company had a friendship and partnership, started building schools in the south for Black Children to learn. These schools where build from 1917-1931.
Over 5000 Rosenwald Schools were build in 15 southern states. For a greater benefit for mankind. (Rosenwald put his money were his mouth was, and Washington use his knowledge to help establish the training schools.
Unlocking lost Treasures that has been lost, or at the less laying dormant. The Holly Springs Rosenwald School was build in 1923 with collaboration of Julius Rosenwald Foundation Funds, Holly Springs Black Citizens and the Public moneys was raise to start a school for Black citizens.
Truly Blessed,
Doris Battle
From A Holly Springs Elementary Student, Gerald Taylor, Sr.
Charles Burt, Patsy Harris and Oscar Farrell all were drivers of bus 222 back in the day they were my favorite Bus Divers.
Charles Burt was like a Big Brother. Later in life he was my school bus driver. Patsy (Susie Belle )Harris was my bus driver too. They were great.
I remember when we lived down in the (Bamas). The State would not let the school bus drivers (Charles or Patsy ) come down a dirt road were we lived to pick us up to go to school.
But the State of NC let the white school bus come down the same road to pickup the Lawbaker’s children-up (they were white). But not the Taylor’s, sometime our Dad would drive us up to a bus stop on Ten-Ten Rd. front of Ellis & Mary Woodards house when they lived on Ten-Ten Rd.
But I Thank God for Charles Burt & Patsy Harris because, (they broke the camels back) they started coming down the road to pick us up. Sometimes my sister Judy and me had to walk back home in the evening. There were many days was a long walk. I glad we did not walk anymore.
Respectfully,
Gerald Taylor, Sr.
From a Holly Springs Elementary School Student, Doris Taylor Battle
April 27, 2020
Holly Springs Elementary and Rosenwald School Marker, Lest We Forget
Our generation is the last generation to tell our “Truth” about Holly Springs Elementary School.
One day Doris Battle was working at the Election Polls in Raleigh, NC.
Randy Harrington (President of Apex Consolidated School) arrived and he asked Doris a question. He asked, If she had any information on Holly Springs Elementary School? He knew she had gone to school in Holly Springs.
Doris said, “Yes,” she was sure she could get some information on Holly Springs Elementary School. She said, she had some information in her procession (Pictures, Report Cards, Materials from the school).
Doris called, Katherine Harris, Barbarette Utley, Furman Beckward and Gerald Taylor, and asked if they had information on Holly Elementary School. All said, “No.” Some suggested, Ham (Parish Womble) had preserved some items of Holly Elementary School. There’s a area in the W.E. Hunt’s Center with information on the school.
So Saturday, Doris went to Holly Springs Elementary School location. Her heart dropped, it was broken -- Holly Springs Elementary Administration, Classrooms, Library Building were gone.
It had been a long time since Doris had been back to the school. She began to think, “Why didn’t our community fright to keep this Historical Building?
As tears were running down her face, she started to remember Mr. Perry (principal), teachers (what happened to them). The "why"s started to come and keep on coming.” It may be strange for some people to understand this emotion. Maybe it was just a building to some. But for the ones that were educated there, it was a totally different situation. The Beloved Holly Springs Elementary School. It was there when there was another school to except us.
Doris went inside “The Center” just to see the memorabilia on Holly Elementary School. There were some good information, but not nearly enough for her satisfaction, she thought. How could it be, precious time, and memories was of this school.
Doris started to walk around. Still in her feelings, she asked the young lady behind the greeting area. “Did you know that this was an Elementary School?" She said, "No, someone had mentioned something about it." She was not from the area. I told her it was Holly Springs Elementary School. “This history needs to be preserved.” She agreed, and gave me a card for someone to contact.
Doris continue to look around the school. She was looking for anything that was familiar to her. Doris was still in her feelings, trying to adjust to part of the school not being in it previous location.
Doris realized the Gymnasium/Lunchroom and Kitchen were still intact. She start taking pictures of the inside and the outside of the reminding Building. Then she walked to the back of the building, and to the Playground Area. She remembered playing on the field (playing games, running, softball, first school fight, etc.). She took more pictures, things looked the same. (Just a few amenities had been added).
When Doris got back to my car, she text Randy Harrinton. She was venting on the feeling she was feeling at the time. She didn’t feel there was enough information about Holly Springs Elementary School that I attended.
There was not a sign on the Road that let people know that the school was even on located in Holly Springs, NC. (I was hurt). I was disappointed in myself and the community because we didn’t try to stop the “Beloved Holly Springs Elementary School” from being destroyed. (Did we go to sleep? Where we not interested in our history. Our generation is the last generation to tell our “Truth” about Holly Springs Elementary School.
Doris drove to the Holly Springs Community Library. She was looking for some information on Holly Springs Elementary School. Doris saw a picture of the White Holly Springs School, didn’t find anything in books about Holly Springs Elementary School.
However, a picture of Holly Springs Rosenwald School. This was a great surprise because Doris had no idea there was a Rosenwald School in Holly Springs. Doris was had been researching Rosenwald Schools, so it was rewarding to see this information.
Doris asked, Mrs. Christine Utley about the Rosenwald school. Mrs. Christine and Mrs. Cara Lassiter had given pictures of Holly Springs earlier years. Some of these pictures were used in Holly Springs’s Book.
The Holly Springs Book for sell at the Art Center. Doris bought four books, she gave them to Mrs. Utley, Victory (Mrs. Lassiter’s daughter) Katherine Harris, and keep one for herself. Just wanted to say, “Thank You” for your help.
Holly Springs Elementary School was so very personal for Doris. Just as the “Mr. Lynn Council’s Truth” was personal for her, too.
She wanted to do everything to help with Holly Springs Elementary School’s History. She ask the Town for a Historical Marker to place on the road that leads to the school.
Doris already had Manager Randy Harrington, and Council Christine Kelly’s information, because they were very informative helping with Mr. Lynn Council.
Doris had been talking to Mr. Matthew Scialdone, and the Students At Middle Creek High School (they help with Mr. Lynn Council’s “Truth.”) So she asked them to help with the research of Holly Springs Elementary School.
Doris had been in the classroom at Middle Creek, one of the students lived in Holly Springs, had attended Pre-K Program at the school. She had not idea it had been an Elementary School. Doris felt very comfortable asking for their help. A “Big Shout Out” to Middle Creek School Students.
Doris asked for a Historical Marker for the Historical Holly Springs School. She was honored to met Holly Springs Town Mayor Dick Sears, Council Cassie Hack, Mr. Mark Andrews, and Other Council Member’s. They agreed this history should be remembered and agree to purchase a Historical Marker.
Doris contact some of the students that attended Holly Springs Elementary School. They all were very interested in the Historical Marker. Some even wanted to have a “Holly Springs Elementary School Reunion.” Some of us have not seen each other in 50 years. The unveiling of “The Holly Springs Elementary/Rosenwald School would be a great time to all come together.
The Town Council of Holly Springs, Doris Taylor Battle, and community has worked very hard to get the Historical Marker for The Historical Holly Springs Elementary/Rosenwald School.
Truly Blessed,
Doris Taylor Battle